light main spring

[Nate]

If you use a light mainspring, say 15lbs and a light recoil spring, say 12 lbs, will you feel the recoil differently than if you had a 17 lb or heavier main spring? It takes energy to fight the main spring back as the gun cycles, will I get more snap at the rear of the cycle? Thanks, Nate

[DaG]

Nate

I ran a 15 lb mainspring and a 9 lb recoil spring with shok-buff. It felt better to me than 17 and 14. You just have to try different weights and experiment. It's all about what" feels better " to you, the shooter. Just my 02.

DaG

[TDean]

There's been a ton of discussion on this topic Nate...but what the hell.

There seems to be 2 classes of "recoil" PRECIEVED and ACTUAL.

The force generated with a 180gr bullet @ 950fps is constant. The way the gun, and ultimately, your body absorb that force is variable.

Because the centerline of the force (bore) is above your resistance (hands), the reaction of the gun is to flip up to the path of least resistance. The more you try to make the gun absorb this force (with heavier springs) the longer the duration of the force and subsequent muzzle rise to the least resistant path. This perceived recoil is often considered “soft” feeling. But you can't get something for nothing, you'll pay for this "soft" feel with muzzle rise.

When you reduce the resistance of the springs in the gun, the recoil force moves more quickly through the gun and in a more parallel plane to the ground because the force has transferred through the grip and into your hands, arms and torso quicker. The gun’s muzzle doesn’t rise as much because the force was quickly transferred to the shooter. This recoil is usually perceived as “snappy” or “violent” but the actual recoil (ft-lbs.) is the same. You’ll get less muzzle flip and better sight tracking with this set-up.

Use the lightest spring possible, but heavy enough to ensure reliable feeding and ignition.

[.40AET]

Nate-The springs are one of the cheapest parts to buy. Get some different springs and experiment one day at the range. One setup will stand out as a winner for you. It may not be what the next guy is running, but if your splits are better, that's all that matters. If you are going to go light, then try running a shock buff to soften the blow to the frame.

Mainsprings: 15,17,19

Recoil springs: 10,12,14

[Nate]

TDean, I understand about a consistant amount of energy, I just wondered if the energy spent cocking the hammer before the slide gets to the end of its travel would make a noticable difference. My gun is a freak and will not run a shock buff with out a failure to feed once in a while. I have run from 14 to 10lb springs for a coulpe of years with out any slide damage (that I can see). For me the lighter spring not only reduces the upward flip, but also the dip of the front of the gun on closure.

[mcoliver]

I currently use a 13# recoil and 15# (cut) main. I used to use an 11# & 17#, resp.

When I tried to up the MS to 19#, I felt my trigger pull weight also increased a bit. And when actually firing the gun, it felt like "I needed" to exert more pressure on it to drive the muzzle back down. It became more apparent the faster I go on a Bill drill. It seemed as if the gun was already recoiling up even before (I felt) the slide started to move. So I went back to 15#.

Why not 17#? Because I can't seem to notice any difference between it and the 15, and the 15 ignites my primers just fine.

Oh, btw, my firing pin stop is closer to square than a regular one. And FWIW, I started with an EGW square stop and gradually rounded it. Also have another with an aggressively rounded profile. I think it had more effect on the feel of slide cycling than when I toyed with the recoil and main springs.

Of course, YMMV so you just have to find it out for yourself. Or you can save yourself the trouble and be happy with what you got now and start practicing instead.

[Nate]

Practice when I can think and stink? Actually after shooting other full profile guns, mine seems to have quite a bit more recoil (with my loads). I don't shoot them a bit different but I just wondered. My firing pin stop (and every other metal to metal part) is rounded and/ or polished and it really makes a difference when I hand cycle as far as feel. Does that translate to tracking my sights and not yanking the trigger? No. Anybody using less than 14 pound springs in their single stack .45's?

[BSeevers]

15 lb main can have problems with setting off harder primers but usually work fine with Federals. I use a 17 because I could see no advantage with a 15 except easier to cock. Now that's important Its not an advantage worth sweating about

[LPatterson]

Nate,

I am using a 12 1/2 # IMSI recoil spring with a shock buff because "Da Man" said lighter is better. I tried the 15# main spring but got occasion misfires probably from high primers as I use a RCBS hand primer. Mixed brand brass is only for practice with brand name brass for matches. Remember what the teacher said.

[Dan Burwell]

I am using 15# ISMI main with ti firing pin and svi XXXqb1 hammer never had a light hit using Win small rifle even used CCI mag rifle primers without problems.

I do feel the lighter mainspring reduces muzzel rise, but not recoil.

[steve223]

I use a 10#recoil spring and 2 shok buffs and a 15# main spring in my SS 45 and really like the way the gun feels it really speeds up the recoil impluse

Steve

[schmitz]

On my .40 S&W SVI a 17lbs main and a 18 lbs recoil. Together with a Cylinder&Slide setup. Love it! No buffs.

Henny.

[Eye Cutter]

I like the 14# recoil spring and 17# mainspring combo in my P16-40's handling.

I tried a 10# recoil spring in my P18-9 LDA but the slide action was too sluggish that I was dipping the muzzle way below point of aim. I changed it to a 12# recoil spring and it's now okay. When I changed the mainspring of my P18-9 LDA to 17#, the trigger pull breaks at 4.5lbs, which does not meet the minimum trigger pull in IPSC production division. I need to get a 19# mainspring and check if it now breaks over 5lbs.

[Robert Snyder]

I learned a different approach from Tony Kidd when he built my Open STI. He set the gun up with a 17lbs mainspring and 11lbs recoil with no buffs. The thing that caught my eye was the way he milled the firing pin stop. He basically beveled it from just below the firing pin to the bottom and what this does is provide more leverage on the hammer (Koenig) which makes a super fast reset! It works great and the only change I have made was to cut 2 coils off a 12.5lbs ISMI recoil spring and this thing shoots flat! It's a 40 and with 165gr bullets and a fairly slow powder to work the comp. my major loads are very easy on recoil.

My limited STI 40 6" is set up the same way except that I use an 11lbs ISMI recoil spring and it's a pussycat to shoot!

As mentioned by the others it is a combination that you will eventually find that works best for you. Each of us feels recoil differently.

[Jasonub]

koenig hammer, 15 pound ismi main spring, 12.5 ismi recoil spring. trigger pull is around 1.2 pounds and very reliable.

3000 rounds through the setup without problems, i use winchester primers and 175 power factor in ipsc country.

[Dalmas]

trigger pull is around 1.2 pounds and very reliable.

Whoha, 1.2 lbs an accidental RO fart might send you into AD country..