Competition striker springs are usually lighter than stock. I'd get a new stock striker assembly from Brownell and try that. Also, using Federal primers could definitely help as they are much softer than Win and CCI.
SSS makes a extra power striker spring, I'm thinking that's what he was talking about.
Yes, it's longer and stiffer than the factory spring.
We shall find out tomorrow in Sparta, if we don't get flooded out.