Spring Length

[Gunnar897]

I have heard many people cut 4 coils off a standard length spring for 1911/2011. Not sure why- to ensure the slide can travel a the full distance?

I have run full length(uncut) springs with out issue.

I accidentally put a commander length spring in and it ran fine. The commander length spring is obviously much shorter than a standard.

I recently had a new barrel and lightened slide put on my 2011 and have a 40SW 167pf load.

I plan to order a range of springs(11-14) standard and variable and see what I and the gun like best. Should I start with standard springs and cut as I go or just cut 4 coils and start there.

Any help would be appreciated

[LilBunniFuFu]

What bullet weight are you running? Some use different spring weights for different projectiles at the same PF. If it were me I would use a standard length variable spring, most likely around the 12.5 lb weight.

[Gunnar897]

185's

I assumed that I would end up at 12.5 but wasnt sure on variable vs standard and full length or cut. I have tried both(standard and variable) in other guns but never spent the time to figure out what was best

The new barrel is a 5"hybrid so I lost some weight in the silde

Edited May 23, 2015 by Gunnar897

[kmca]

If you don't get spring bind, why would you want to cut the spring?

[Gunnar897]

No spring bind, I have heard from several shooters that said they ran springs that were cut 4 coils short. I thought there was a common understanding it needed to be done and wasnt sure why

[ParaGunner]

Only reason I would cut a recoil spring is if it was stacking.