Various gun & recoil spring manufacturers recommendations for recoil spring replacement:

[Gary Wells]

Handgun Recoil Spring Recommendations: 07-13-2011

Currently in my handguns:
1) Springfield Armory Trophy Match: Wolff V.R. 16.5 #.
2) Les Baer Premier II: Wolff V.R. 16.5 #.
3) Jim Hoag Long-Slide: Wolff V.R. 16.5 #.
4) Ed Brown Executive Target: Original Issue non-V.R. 16.5 #.
5) Wilson Combat Classic SG: Original Issue non-V.R. 17.0 #.

Ed Brown Custom recommendations:
(1) Recoil spring replacement: Every 1K-2K rounds. (EB # 9165-G). (2) Firing pin spring replacement: Every 3K-5K rounds. (EB # 908). (3) Mainspring replacement: Every 3K-5K rounds. (EB # 919). (4) Correctly match recoil spring to the load being shot. (5) No Shok-buffs. (6) Ejected brass should land 8-12 feet away. (7) If brass is falling within a few feet, the spring is too heavy for that load. (8) If brass is falling beyond the 12 feet, the spring is too light for that load.

Springfield Armory recommendations:
“Mil-Spec” & “Loaded” models in .45 ACP are factory supplied with a 16 lb recoil spring. Their 1911 .45 ACP long-slide uses a standard length recoil spring for a 5” gun @ 15 or 16 lbs. The .45 Super V16 (ported) uses the same recoil spring when using .45 auto ammo, but a 18.5 lb recoil spring when using .45 Super ammo.

Wilson Combat recommendations:
WC 5” .45 autos are shipped with a 17 lb spring. Wilson Combat recoil spring on-line blog recommends a 15 lb.-18.5 lb. spring. Recommended recoil spring replacement: (mechanical failures / issues).
(1) A return to battery failure. (2) Torn Shok-buff within a few hundred rounds of installation. (3) ½” or more shorter than a new one. (4) Purchase of a second-hand gun. (5) Ejection - extraction pattern changes suddenly.

W. C. Wolff Gunsprings recommendations: If cases are landing in the 3 ft-6 ft: recoil spring is approximately correct If cases are landing less than 3 ft: recoil spring is too heavy for that load If cases are landing beyond the 6 ft-8 ft: recoil spring is too light for that load.

Integrated Spring Management Inc. (ISMI) recommendations:
“The recoil spring should be changed, at the latest, when it has lost .500” of free length from new. At this point, the spring has suffered a considerable reduction in load exerted at installed length. (When it is in battery).

 

[charlief1]

Are you asking or telling Gary?

 

[Gary Wells]

Are you asking or telling Gary?

Other than where I show what springs are in my guns, Those are recommendations made by various gun manufacturers & spring manufacturers. I guess that makes me telling. Not too sure why the query, Charlie?

 

[charlief1]

Couldn't tell if you were asking for advice on new springs or offering it to those of us that own 1911's Gary.

 

[Gary Wells]

That's just some miscellaneous info & data that I collected from manufacturers, their sites, their catalogs, instructions, & other sources.

 

[SPOOLFOOL2]

Great info.
My Kimber Classic Custom came with a 18.5 lbs spring. That's proven to be a bit too heavy for the target reloads I shoot on the weekends. I now run a 16.5 lbs recoil spring. This 1911 typically sees 400-500 rounds between cleanings with zero issues.

Hey Gary, With all those high doller 45s you've got, When you have a bad day at the range, (unlike me) you can't blame it on the gun.

Mike B.

 

[Gary Wells]

Great info. My Kimber Classic Custom came with a 18.5 lbs spring. That's proven to be a bit too heavy for the target reloads I shoot on the weekends. I now run a 16.5 lbs recoil spring. This 1911 typically sees 400-500 rounds between cleanings with zero issues.
Hey Gary, With all those high doller 45s you've got, When you have a bad day at the range, (unlike me) you can't blame it on the gun.
Mike B.

Considering that I load my own ammo, I can't blame the ammo either. That leaves only old age, bad eyesight, & the meds. A good stiff shot of Yamazaki 18 YO SMW & a splash of water will straighten me right out. If not, I'm going to start spiking my drinking water with that stuff. Hmmm! Now there's a plan.