[warp2diesel]

I ordered up a Wilson Combat 25CO Two Piece Guide Rod for my Para P-13 which is being fitted to a 9mm Officers slide and barrel. When I called Wilson Combat, they recommended using a Wolff 18# spring (The 25OC ships with a 20# spring). Brownell's was out when I passed through Iowa and Wolff was out of stock. Any reason I can't cut off one of the Government 18# springs I have to the Officer's length? My Para P-13 is only going to be a range plinking toy, not for CC.

 

[sawman556]

I think you can with a conventional spring, but not a variable. I'm not an expert so wait until someone else responds. It's just a spring so you could always just try it.

 

[log man]

The answer can get complicated, It is true that if you cut the GM spring so it doesn't stack at the Officers full recoil compressed length of .700", and it will provide the same weight as before being cut, but...here's the problem, it will be weak when in battery and closing to battery may be a problem. You would be way better off going to the flat wire spring for a recoil spring replacement.

LOG

 

[Dave Hoback]

Trying it won’t hurt anything. And you’ll know with one magazine if it’s ok or not. It’s just a spring. Worst case you’ll either have failure to feed or, on the other extreme, rocketing slide speed sending brass to the next county.

 

[USMM guy]

The short answer is yes.

 

[log man]

A shorter answer. NO! Use Some common sense, GM top, Officers bottom, count coils and note how long the cut spring would be by comparison.

LOG

 

[Magnumite]

The wire gauge and number of coils will affect the spring tension. The Officers Model spring will have thicker wire gauge to contribute to a shorter spring providing proper tension.

 

[warp2diesel]

Sounds like the Wolff flat wire 18# spring is worth waiting for.
I can use the 20# spring for building and swap it out when I go to the range.

 

[M-Peltier]

What Log Man said.

We had a customer trade in a Colt defender some time back who claimed his Dad did a trigger job on it. We immediately gave him the obligatory super lowball trade in price on it as any time someone claims something to this effect....we have problems with it. Sure enough it was plagued with problems. The most glaring issue was the cut down govt spring. Everything was fixable with a little fitting and a new spring.......the right spring.

 

[warp2diesel]

I contacted Wolff and requested the part number for the 18# Officer length flat wire spring.
Thanks

 

[USMM guy]

A shorter answer. NO! Use Some common sense, GM top, Officers bottom, count coils and note how long the cut spring would be by comparison.
View attachment 608064

LOG

That is interesting. All of my friends in the Philippines have been doing it for years with no issues. Parts are hard to come by out there.

 

[Oldpistol]

Clipping coils is not a substitute for the correct spring. That said, I have clipped a few. Coil bind/spring bind has to be avoided. Clipping coils will affect preload (pressure keeping the breech closed). It will also affect spring rate. Can work in a pinch. It can lead to misery too. I can’t recall doing it with a progressive rate spring. Flat wire springs sound like the cat’s meow. Thank you Log for the recent tip on sourcing Glock flat wire springs.

 

[log man]

Coil springs that can have a lot of coils close together can last a very long time, versus springs whose coils are placed further apart so that they can have both length and full compressed minimum length. This is why of the three OACP, Commander, and Gm, the GM last the longest, and the OACP the least. Flat wire springs can have more coils for the same full compressed space therefore are much more forgiving.

LOG

 

[USMM guy]

"Clipping coils is not a substitute for the correct spring."

I do not think that anyone would try to argue that a modified substitute part is as good as the correct part.
That is why I qualified my initial statement as being "The short answer".

 

[sawman556]

Wolff makes flat wire springs?

 

[log man]

Wolff makes flat wire springs?

No, but ISMI does.

 

[NoExpert]

Here is a pretty good explanation of the effects of cutting a coil compression spring along with a good practical example using an automobile spring:

The Math Behind Cutting Coil Springs - EATON Detroit Spring

 

[warp2diesel]

I sent [email protected] an email requesting the 18# spring.

 

[TTAC]

Officer's Guide Rod Kit w/ Clark Plug Blue 9mm (16# Officer's Spring)

This product fits:Officer's model 1911s in 9mm with the retainer cut in the dust cover.

www.egwguns.com

Officer's Guide Rod Kit w/ Clark Plug SS 9mm (16# Officer's Spring)

This product fits:Officer's model 1911s in 9mm with the retainer cut in the dust cover.

www.egwguns.com