Mininum Spring Weight For 1911

[EricBudd]

My wife is getting interested in competition shooting (I shoot USPSA and IDPA) and we have started to look for a gun for her. Because of her hand size and the lack of finger groves, she likes the single stack 1911 but she has problems manipulating the slide.

She doesn't have a problem with the recoil on my 14.45 (16 pound recoil spring), but she just can't rack the slide easly. What is the lightest combination of recoil spring/main spring that I can use on a gun for her that won't batter the gun or compromise reliability.

She has considered a 9mm 1911 or 38 super but I don't reload those and it would put her at a scoring disadvantege in USPSA. She is also looking at a CZ 85 combat in 9mm as an option, but she doesn't like the idea of manually decocking the gun in production.

[SiG Lady]

I also began using a lighter-weight lube oil for the 1911's moving parts that made slide-racking easier, the gun easier to clean and pruduced fewer jams and false starts during matches and even during practice sessions. Made a BIG heck-of-a difference.

[cking]

A 12.5 pound spring should be just fine.

[Loves2Shoot]

Sti's heavy recoil master is the easier to rack with the most spring protection for a .40 - .45. It takes a bit to get used to but it works well for me.

[MoNsTeR]

12# is pretty darn easy to rack. Don't forget to cock the hammer first too, most of the resistance to racking actually comes from the hammer spring.

[DogmaDog]

Use a 17# mainspring, and a 12.5# recoil spring. I've used a 10# (by accident) before, and didn't notice anything bad about it...but I didn't use it for long.

Also, it will be easier to rack the slide if your wife cocks the hammer first. Practical at LAMR, but not so in the middle of a stage when she gets a "click!".

DD

[XRe]

For me, right now, it's a 12lb Sprinco in my .40 Trojan. 14 and 16 flip too much. 10lb works, but feels a little harsh. Just burning some rounds in the berm, I didn't notice a performance difference between it and the 12, just feel. Someday, I'll work between them w/ a timer... 12 is real easy for me to rack, and I do cock the hammer first...

[CenTX]

One method of choosing a spring in an article written by dave Koebensky of W.C. Wolff Co. & Brownells GunTechs says:

"A fair indicator is how far from the shooter the ejected cases land. Less than three feet you may indicate the need for a lighter spring, while more than six feet may indicate the need for a heavier spring. Keep in mind too light a spring may result in damage to your pistol."

[lukipsc]

I use 14lb. pounds afters 700 rounds it has 12lb. It is in STI 2011 Edge, .40 SW, PF is 175