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Factory spring weights

149K views 106 replies 68 participants last post by  ieathollows357 
#1 · (Edited)
Please make this a sticky.

All Wolff springs

Full sized .45 18.5 lb
Full sized 10mm 20.0 lb
Full sized .40 S&W 16.0 lb
Full sized 9mm 10.0 lb

Commander .45 20.0 lb
Commander 10mm 22.0 lb
Commander 9mm 12.0 lb

These are all standard springs. No variable springs.

Full sized mainsprings 18.5 lb

Bobtail mainsprings 23 lb

Firing pin springs
Extra power or Extra, Extra power
 
#33 ·
Recoil Spring for DW Razorback Sportsman & Limited Edition 10mm

So the Recoil Spring for DW Razorback Sportsman & Limited Edition 10mm are here:

http://www.gunsprings.com/Semi-Auto Pistols/CZ/75 Series/cID1/mID16/dID91

this one:

53820 CZ75/85/97B Models, XP Recoil Spring 20LB ?

and this one if shooting hotter loads:

53822 CZ75/85/97B Models, XP Recoil Spring 22LB ?

Any recommendations? Thanks in advance!

WMF (Jay)
 
#34 · (Edited)
So the Recoil Spring for DW Razorback Sportsman & Limited Edition 10mm are here:

http://www.gunsprings.com/Semi-Auto Pistols/CZ/75 Series/cID1/mID16/dID91

this one:

53820 CZ75/85/97B Models, XP Recoil Spring 20LB ?

and this one if shooting hotter loads:

53822 CZ75/85/97B Models, XP Recoil Spring 22LB ?

Any recommendations? Thanks in advance!

WMF (Jay)

No... actually, the location for the Razorback springs would be located here:

http://www.gunsprings.com/Semi-Auto Pistols/COLT/DELTA ELITE/cID1/mID1/dID64

You want to refer to the location of Colt Delta Elite springs. Keep in mind that the spring names are a bit misleading since the 18, 20 and 22lb springs show as being "RP" or "Reduced Power". They are labeled this way because the ORIGINAL FACTORY Delta springs were 23lb.

For the record, 20lb is THE WEIGHT to use for a 10mm in 90% of cases. For the other 10% of the time, 22-24lb springs could be used (ie, consistent firing of heavier loads). Make sure you install the XP Firing Pin Springs that come with the Wolff recoil springs for safety.
 
#35 · (Edited)
DW Sportsman and Limited Edition 10mm Recoil Springs

Thanks for the info NickE. I will be consistently shooting full power 10mm loads, e.g., 180 grain Montana Gold CMJ, New Starline Brass, CCI 350 Primers and 9.2 grains of Longshot Powder ~ 1350fps.

What spring weight would you recommend in my Sportsman and/or Limited?

Side Note: I built a G20LS with a 6" KKM Precision Barrel/Wolff non-captured guide rod and 24lb spring and the above loads (and down to 8.4 grains of Longshot ~1250fps) were bending and/or breaking the locking block pins after 500~800 rounds. My slide is a full length/solid slide which I think was/is too heavy. Anyway still trying to figure that one out. :confused:

Invested in the Dan Wessons with the idea they will handle full throttle 10mm loads. Plus I like the 1911 10mm platform.

Looking for any advice. I'm a huge fan of the 10mm and pretty much roll all my own. Primarily target shooting, some hunting and load development.
 
#36 ·
Thanks for the info NickE. I will be consistently shooting full power 10mm loads, e.g., 180 grain Montana Gold CMJ, New Starline Brass, CCI 350 Primers and 9.2 grains of Longshot Powder ~ 1350fps.

What spring weight would you recommend in my Sportsman and/or Limited?
[/QUOTE)

20-22lb if you have a flat bottomed FPS. Purely preferential if you ask me.

I'm surprised you bent a locking block pin on the Glock. Wow!
 
#38 ·
Brass flying 25 feet!

I've been to the range the past couple of days with both my DW's and must say they are fine shootin' guns! My loads consisted of 9.3 grains of Longshot, CCI 350's, 180 grain Montana Gold CMJ's, Starline Brass and an OAL of 1.250. Chrono'ed and got right at 1250~1300fps. (My 1350fps mentioned in previous posts appears to have been overly optimistic with 9.2 grains of Longshot.) :eek:

I did have several FTF's and brass was getting flung a good 20-25 feet over my right shoulder. (A few pieces whacked me in the forehead.) I suspect part of the reason for the FTF's is both guns are new. But, I am also wondering if I changed the recoil spring to a 23# that the brass would not travel as far and I'd possibly have fewer or no FTF's.

Any thoughts, ideas, suggestions would be appreciated.

-Jay (WMF)
 
#42 ·
Regarding the above question as to where to buy springs... I suggest someplace other than the Dan Wesson website. I called in and ordered two recoil springs. The shipping and handling was $9.00... for two springs! Additionally, they were sent via FedEx and required a signature.

From now on, I'll probably go with Midway. At least there I can combine the shipping with other items.
 
#48 ·
Detail stripped my brand new Specialist today. Empty case dated 2-24-14. I measured and compared the recoil spring to the several I have here, and it was a dead ringer for an ISMI 16# spring...blue colored wire .0425" diameter

The sticky it mentions that all DW 5" guns come with an 18.5# Wolff recoil spring?

I also have Wolff 18.5# springs here to compare. Wolff springs have a brownish hue and the 18.5# wire measures .045"

Dare I say that this is indeed a 16# recoil spring?
 
#52 ·
I just bought a brand new DW Valor and so far am very pleased. I've read here and confirmed with DW that it comes with a Wolff 18.5 lb recoil spring. For many years I have been using various Wilson Combat CQBs' which I always equip with Wilson 17 lb recoil springs. Here's the problem, the Wolff 18.5 is not nearly as heavy as the Wilson 17lb spring. While they are the same length it is plainly visible to the eye that the Wilson is a thicker spring. Anyone else notice this? Who do I believe? A bit confused here.
 
#54 ·
I noticed that guide rod head on my CCO looked like it was getting hit pretty hard just after 70 rounds of standard pressure factory rounds. The spent brass was also getting tossed pretty far. I ordered an 18, 20 and 22 lb Wolff spring to try out and noticed that they were much stronger than the stock spring. With a Secure Firearms spring tester, the stock spring measured 6 lbs weaker than the 18 lb Wolff. (Each of the Wolff springs were exactly 2 lbs apart.) Test fired the pistol with the 18 lb Wolff without issue. The brass was getting tossed about 8-10 feet. I marked the slide/plug with a sharpie and it was still making contact with the guide rod head so its definitely not short stroking. The pistol isn't going to get a lot of rounds through it but its good to know that the frame isn't going to get battered too hard.
 
#56 · (Edited)
Effectively the recoil spring weight mainly determines with how much force the slide and barrel lock (and other actions). It seems logical that the recoil spring weight could possibly affect whether the pistol is shooting high or low? (especially a new pistol).
Is this what others are finding? I might pop a 16# in there and see if my groups move higher while I'm in the break in period.
 
#57 ·
Didn't change recoil spring, but did put on regular size grips. Grouping mysteriously moved higher! I'm where I need to be with a POA=POI sight picture.
 
#58 ·
Mer,
Great description of the functioning of the 1911! I do not think you are "FOS" (it took me second to figure out what that meant).
Star4ever, Mer,
Here is a couple of tidbits of info about springs;
First, the materials available today to make springs versus 100 years ago when the 1911 was built is 1000 times better, my opinion! We should never have to worry about a spring taking set if made properly!
2nd, do not confuse spring weight (load) and spring rate (ungineering world calls it spring constant but we will stick with spring rate)!!!!
When we buy a spring for a 1911 it has a number attached to it, example; 19lb recoil spring, this is a “load “at a specific height. What this means is, at a specific height (one time I read it was 1.625"in a government model, not certain) when this spring is being depressed to that specific height it pushes back 19 foot lbs. of force. We commonly referred to that as the "load" of/on the spring. This load is determined from the length of the spring and the spring "rate."
Spring rate is, basically, the amount of energy, in foot pounds in the US, to depress the spring one inch.
Spring rate is determined from wire size, mean coil diameter of the spring, and number of active coils.
So, anytime you change any of the 3 ingredients that makes up spring rate, load will also change. For instance the guy that clips a spring is doing himself a huge disservice, number of active coils decreases thus rate goes up stresses go up and length of spring is shorter. Anytime you reduce amount of active material in a spring stress go up.
Star4ever asked relationship of wire size to load, here is what I was taught as a general rule of thumb, everything staying the same, a 1% change in wire size = a 4% change in spring “rate,” not weight!
Also, everything being the same, a 1% change in mean coil diameter equals a 3% change in spring “rate” not weight!
These 2 little formulas were tools for us spring coilers that we lived by when making springs.
Lastly, if a recoil spring (for the sake of argument) standing erect in a scale measures in height 6.625” (and scale reads zero pounds), is depressed to 1.625” with a subsequent reading on the scale of 20 LBs. indicates the spring has traveled 5 inches, has a load (weight) of 20 lbs and a rate of 4lbs. (load/deflection equals formula to determine the actual spring rate).
Hope this helps and answers a few questions, just my 3 cents.
 
#59 ·
re springs -- most buy from Wolff {incl. Wilson. and other mfgrs.}

the sole exception of which I am aware is the I.S.M.1. springs

I have used the spring weights recommended on several brands of 1911's to good effect for almost 20 years. A 20 lb. main spring has worked well in all gov't models over that period, I add a titanium cap and sometimes a titanium hammer strut for a tiny bit quicker lock time......I could be fooling myself, but both the heavy weight {see below} and light weight components when added, + a 3.5 lb. trigger pull do seem to improve my shooting.

Consistently running +P+ in 9 mm will require a stronger recoil spring.

Also, the spring weights rec. for the 10 mm {5 in. bbl.} work for most loads and ammo, however, a full load in a 10 mm, within its pressure limit will beat the snot out of a 1911, and toss empties into the next zip code ....... I ran 22's for a while, and settled on 24 lbs. [from Wolff} as a std. for my 10 {a full sized Delta Elite} ...... I also use a tungsten guide rod {from E.G.W.} and tungsten guide rod plug {from Cominoli via Brownells} in my 10 mm, the added weight helps with muzzle rise and overall recoil.

Don

/.
 
#61 ·
This might be a dumb question, but I'm by no means a 1911 expert. As far as mainsprings go, would a 9mm Valor Commander (non V-BOB) use the 18.5 or 23lbs spring?

As far as I understand, the Valor Commander has the same main spring housing as the full size, but the slide is the same as the V-BOB.
 
#62 ·
This might be a dumb question, but I'm by no means a 1911 expert. As far as mainsprings go, would a 9mm Valor Commander (non V-BOB) use the 18.5 or 23lbs spring?

As far as I understand, the Valor Commander has the same main spring housing as the full size, but the slide is the same as the V-BOB.
As I see it, a Valor commander that uses a full size frame and is not bobbed, should use the 18.5# Spring.
 
#64 ·
Specifications from Wolff gun springs:

=============================
"Standard" 1911 RECOIL SPRING WEIGHTS

Government 5” 16#

Commander 4.25” 18#

Bobtail Commander 4.25" 18#

Compact/Officers 4" 22#



=================================
"Standard" 1911 HAMMER SPRINGS (MAIN SPRING)

Government 5” 23#

Commander 4.25” 23#

Bobtail Commander 4.25" 23#

Compact/Officers 4" 23#


Personally, I have had a few "last round" bolt-over-base jams in Commanders when shooting full-power defense loads (Winchester Ranger 230 gr. JHP). This is typically caused by the magazine's inability to quite keep up with the cycle rate (timing) of the shorter-stroke of the 4.25" Commander slide.

To correct the timing on the Commanders, and eliminate these occasional jams in my carry-duty Commanders, with full-power defense loads, I'm using a 16# recoil spring with a flat bottom firing pin stop. This combination of recoil spring (slows slide return to battery), flat-bottom firing pin stop (retards slide recoil speed slightly), and Check-Mate 7-round magazines (which have a very stiff mag spring for very quick presentation of the last round in the magazine) offers total reliability (no bolt-over-base jams) with high power defense loads in the shorter cycling Commander format.

Simply using the Check-Mate 7-round mags alone may also be a perfectly effective solution to this issue. That's a good place to start of you've experienced a bolt-over-base jam with the last round in a magazine.
 
#65 ·
Keith, what spring weight are you using in your full size 38 Supers? I have a 9mm Specialist I am having a 38 Super barrel fitted and want to make sure I get the correct spring.

Thanks,

Lou
 
#66 ·
I read the first comment about the spring weights from Kieth and thought Thanks for the info.
Then halfway through the comments I was totally confused with all those different comments.
So now what springs do I need for my 2007 factory standard CBOB shooting regular 45ACP 230gr ball ammo.
:scratch:
 
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