What weight is the recoil spring on a .40S&W 1911?

[Cy Soto]

Hello Folks,

Could someone please tell me what is the "standard" weight of the recoil spring on a .40S&W 1911.

Thanks!

-Cy

[HSMITH]

Standard for competition is somewhere between 10 and 14. Factory springs are usually in the 16-18 range.

[Brian Gonsalves]

ISMI #11 in mine!

[Josh Biondi]

The standard recoil spring is usually 14 lbs. like on STI or SVI, sometime you can find also 16lbs for example specially on Para guns.

[Joe4d]

Actually according to Wolff a Para 16/40 factory spring is 20lbs. Factory rating for Singlestacks is 19lbs

[bkeeler]

From STI web page.

http://www.stiguns.com/faq.html

Q. What is the recoil spring weight in my gun?

A. As follows:

Compensated pistols 9 pounds

5" 9mm guns 12 pounds

5" .40 S&W guns 14 pounds

5" .45 ACP guns 16 pounds

6" 9mm guns 10 pounds

6" .40 S&W guns 12 pounds

6" .45 ACP guns 14 pounds

BK

Edited July 16, 2008 by bkeeler

[stockton]

Different manufacturers are going to have different weights. You are going to get answers anywhere from 14 lbs from the competition guns manufacturers to 20 lbs for the cary gun "tactical" manufacturers.

I believe the question you may have meant to ask was "what is a good weigtht for a recoil spring for .40?" If that is the case, the next question would be major or minor. I run 11lb major, 10lb minor on my doublestack SV. Tried a 9ld for minor, but it felt sluggish.

[mike cyrwus]

love my 40 ss with a 14#

[Demax]

love my 40 ss with a 14#

For me the Heavy Recoil Master is the best for major loads...

[Steve J]

Wolff's data is a good place to start for factory loads. Then you can tune your pistol to your reloads as required.

COLT 1911

FACTORY RECOIL SPRING NOTES

1. Factory rating for super .38 & 9mm is 14 Lbs.

2. Factory rating in .40 S&W is 19 Lbs.

3. Factory rating for the Colt .38 Spl. Midrange is 14 Lbs.

4. Factory rating for the Colt Ace .22 conversion is 14 Lbs,

[Dave C]

I run 14# in my STI and Kimber single stack 40s.

I like 12.5# in my double stack 40s.

[Carloz]

I'm running 12 lbs springs in 5" .40 Single Stack and 2011's

that's my $.02

[want2race]

I'm at 14 in a 6" for now. Down from 18. I tried a 9 but the muzzle climbed a lot. I'm going to try a 16 and 12 as well.

[steel1212]

14# recoil, 17# MS in .45/.40 SS and widebodies in Major PF.

In my 9mms I'm going to try 12.5# as the 9 and 11 cycle to slow.

[XRe]

I run a 12# Sprinco in my Trojan. 10# feels better, but isn't 100% reliable (close, but not quite) - mainly due to the way the Trojans were first built, etc.

Some people go as low as 7#... can't say I like how that feels. 10 is about as low as I'd personally go, as long as it ran 100%...

[Aircooled6racer]

Hello: For major loads I use a 14lb ISMI and a 12.5lb ISMI for minor loads in my 40. Hope this helps. Thanks, Eric

[scirocco38s]

In my sight trackers I run a 9lb progressive spring with a shock-buff.

In my Dawson gun it is an 11lb progressive with a shock-buff

My other 40 has a 11lb progressive with a shock-buff.

None of my guns run anything higher than a 12lbprogressive and that includdes carry guns.

I also run a light recoilmaster in my 9mm/38super limited gun, no shock-buff.

I have some heavier springs, I just dont like the way the gun feels after installing them so they dont stay long.

[Gary1911A1]

I don't think there is a answer for every 1911 and ever shooter. Try different springs and remember your mainspring plays a part in how the pistol feels to you. I like smooth with the front sight returning where it was before.