Recoil Springs and Muzzle Velocity

[Sin-ster]

I've heard this talked about, and never really gotten much of a concrete answer.

Can a lighter recoil spring actually cause a drop in bullet velocity as it leaves the barrel? (Assuming the gun doesn't unlock early enough to effect accuracy.)

[Ricky316]

I have done chrono work with my xdm with a light and heavy recoil spring and I dont see any difference.

[Dirty Rod]

Since the slide has barely moved if any by the time the bullet leaves the barrel I can't imagine how spring weight could in an way affect muzzle velocity.

[bikerburgess]

shouldn't make any more difference than the difference in slide velocity, so I would bet on a few FPS probably inside the ED of the load, but I have not done any testing to verify.

Mike

[feederic]

The radius on your FPS and mainspring dictate dwell time more than your recoil spring.

[pskys2]

No.

Too light can cause frame battering.

You can use different weights to affect the way the pistol settles from each shot.

But it won't have any affect on muzzle velocity.

Of course taken to extremes, say 3 or 4 pounds and that's a guess as I don't have a clue what the minimum weight would be that would cause trouble, could allow the action to unlock prematurely and rupture the case causing lower velocity, but the velocity drop would be the least of your problems then.

[Whoops!]

I'm going to go a different route and say definitely, depending on the operating system. In a 1911 - no.