1911 recoil spring weight

[762rocstarr]

What are you running for spring weights and why? I'm trying to dial in 3 different 1911's chambered in .45acp. What type of problems will encounter with light recoil spring weights?

[blaese490]

I'm interested in the same Question. I have a STI Trojan and it runs reloads great... Why would i want to change the springs... what are the advantages... Would i change bases on shooting major or minor loads?

[Pat Miles]

Too light a spring and the gun will beat itself to death. Spring weight depends on the velocity of the ammo you are shooting. The hotter the ammo, the heavier the spring. Generally, a 14# spring is a good choice. If you want to set the gun up for USPSA the video below will give you a good idea how to and why.

Pat

Edited September 10, 2014 by Pat Miles

[Steve RA]

I run a 17lb mainspring and a 15lb variable rate Wolff recoil spring in my .45. Also with a shock buff and a 1 piece guide rod.

[762rocstarr]

Thanks for the responses. That video was very helpful! I think I will try an 11 with a buffer. I'm shooting Major 200gr swc and 4.5 grains of V310. Thoughts?

[Pat Miles]

If you spring the gun correctly you don't need a shock buff. Just one more thing to cause problems. Some folks spring their guns too light and then use a buff to make up for it. Eventually the buff gets chewed up from the pounding it takes and comes apart causing problems at the wrong time.

Pat

[wheelie]

Thanks for the responses. That video was very helpful! I think I will try an 11 with a buffer. I'm shooting Major 200gr swc and 4.5 grains of V310. Thoughts?

That's full power. You could drop down a bit and still make major.

I'd go with a 17 lb. spring. Shock buff won't hurt a thing.

[2MoreChains]

Thanks for the responses. That video was very helpful! I think I will try an 11 with a buffer. I'm shooting Major 200gr swc and 4.5 grains of V310. Thoughts?

That's full power. You could drop down a bit and still make major.

I'd go with a 17 lb. spring. Shock buff won't hurt a thing.

I think its going to depend on your barrel. In my gun, that load just barely makes major PF. I have to go to 4.7 gr of N310 to get 170-ish PF. A friend of mine using that same load got 180 PF and had to drop it down to 4.4 grs for 170 PF.

For my load I run a 13 lb recoil (no shok-buff) and an 18 lb mainspring.

[wheelie]

That is a lot of VV310 in any barrel.

[2MoreChains]

Patrick Sweeney wrote about Bill Wilson's pet load back in the day which IIRC was 4.6 gr N310 and a 200 gr LSWC. Yeah, its over the VV recommended load. Conservative IMO.