Recoil Spring Selection

[jakester]

Need some input on recoil springs. I've been out of shooting so long, the "optimum" spring rate to bulet wt/velocity has been erased from instant recall. My new rounds of choice are as follows:

1) SA 1911A1 45acp - will be handloading 200gr LSWC @ 850-900fps. Probably will go to 230gr LRN @750-800fps with next bullet purchase. Spring Rate? Constant or Variable rate springs?

2) Witness FS 10mm - will be handloading 180gr SWC @ 950-1000fps & 1200fps(second for a little more fun on the side). Spring Rate? Constant or Variable rate springs?

OK, I know all you 10mm hot rod fans are questioning the "lite" 10mm loads. Just aiming for a safe margin over the "Major Power Factor" for USPSA/IPSC competition. Strongly considering a shift from the 1911A1 to the new Witness 10mm (when it arives) for my competition pistol. Shot my first USPSA match in years without thinking! Was shooting 152gr 45's @ 1150-1200fps about six years ago in competition. Didn't change the recoil spring before shooting the match with 200gr & 230gr bullets. I removed the Shok Buff with a copper brush (well, almost). The gun cycled fast though.....at least on the ejection stroke.

 

[ArmySon]

For your 1911, @ 850-900 fps, an 18.5 lb spring made by Wolff is perfect.

For 750-800 fps, you'll have to step down to a 14 lb spring.

 

[TMC]

The majority of top USPSA shooters are using light springs for faster slide speed and sight recovery. I use a 11 lb. in my Para .40 shooting 180grn at 950+ fps for major PF. Some guys I've talked with are using as low as 9lb with .40. There is a long discussion on this on the glock forum, check it out.

http://glocktalk.com/docs/gtubb/Forum3/HTML/015988.html