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How long does a recoil spring last?

3.2K views 25 replies 18 participants last post by  Abbaschild  
#1 ·
So after the range today, cleaning my 1911. It's a 9mm RIA, nothing fancy, but I put about 4-5 boxes thru it each time I go so I always clean it right after.
anyhow, after I got the slide barrel and recoil bits out to clean them, I noticed my recoil spring sort of leaned to one side as it lay on the table. like it had a slight curve in it

Gun shoots fine, but I am wondering is this normal? (gun has full length guide rod if that makes a difference).

I know people say replace them every so often - at what round count is that advised?
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I want to keep it working well, at a min. of 4 boxes each range visit, shooting it once every few weeks (sometimes I shoot other guns) for a bit over a year, I'd say it has probably 3-5,000 rounds thru and works like a champ, mechanically (there is some wear on the parkerized finish) and I'd like to keep it that way :)
 
#2 ·
For a 5" gun, if replacing a spring with one of the same rating and manufacture, I'll change when the old spring appears to be two or three coils shorter than the new one.
 
#5 ·
I noticed my recoil spring sort of leaned to one side as it lay on the table. like it had a slight curve in it
I had a reply to this, and then I had a lightbulb moment about.. banhammers... and "family friendly" and - well...

My recoil springs are all very straight - new and the stuff running 400cb and 45auto.
 
#6 · (Edited)
anyhow, after I got the slide barrel and recoil bits out to clean them, I noticed my recoil spring sort of leaned to one side as it lay on the table. like it had a slight curve in it

Gun shoots fine, but I am wondering is this normal?

A perfectly straight spring will bend and buckle as soon as tension is applied. That slight curve is nothing compared to what occurs when the recoil spring is installed in the gun. Any spring will try to escape sideways, anyway it can. It is only the guide rod and recoil spring plug that keeps it confined.

-
 
#7 ·
Ok second question... looking springs online (my local gunshop has em but won't open til tuesday so trying to get idea of price - wow they are cheaper than I thought) - even if I don't need one yet I should get one to have a spare... : What lb recoil spring for a 5" 9mm 1911 shooting 115-124 grn ammo?
 
#12 ·
 
#9 ·
Springs costs little compared to ammo these days. A set of springs cost less than a box of ammo so you should never skimp if you run thousands of rounds in your gun. Some boutique gun manufacturers, like the defunct Rohrbaugh firearms (Sold off years ago to Remington) would recommend a new outer spring after 200 rounds in its two spring captive recoil system. One recommendation was to have a brand new recoil spring assembly for carry (tested with a minimum of rounds) and a second assembly for target practice at the range. Which is what I often do... buy duplicate parts like recoil springs for all my hand guns.

Its not a bad recommendation for many other makes and models... one set of springs for carry and self defense... and another for the range... swapped out when the gun gets cleaned out or taken to the range.
 
#18 ·
People who sell new cars tell you to change oil every 3,000 miles, even if you put that 100,000 mile synthetic in it. Asking a seller when to replace something is not the most credible place. The manufacturer recommendation I have never found accurate. Unless you have a way to measure the spring, there is no sure way to tell. I do agree that when the brass is being thrown over your car 20 feet away is a clue that you need a stronger spring.

That said, I buy the kits from gun springs, they come 3 or 4 in a package at different weights. You are shooting 9mm, not much pressure there at all. My take is if your brass is landing about 10 feet away to the right or to the rights and rear leave it alone. I have an Officer's model that is over 40 years old and the spring never changed. I do shoot some plus P in it but mostly standard ball ammo. Never had failure in over 40 years. Wilson says to change them every 1,500 rounds in the short one, bah. No reason to change something that is working perfectly.

I have owned RIAs. and never changed a spring in them except for one I converted to 38 Super and another to 400 Corbon. I have a box with several take out springs and several new ones still in the package. When you arrive the spring weight that works 100% forget about any other issues. If you worry about slide battering, put a shock buff i them, they do need to be replaced occasionally and need to be trimmed so they do not drag. My opinion is too many people induce failures by changing spring weights. You may recall the video by Clint Smith and Bill Wilson. Clint says he has never seen a Glock of 1911 fail unless the owner changed parts to enhance the gun. Anything that says enhanced is always going to have the risk of changing slide speed or other important concept.

Springs in the package are basically straight. Some curve and some curve over time. Does not matter, they cannot go anywhere and will not break. So, not anything to worry about. If you worry about things like that change them like Wolff says, just replace them once a year for life and change your oil every 3,000 miles also. People who worry about things like that can have peace of mind by just buying them in bulk and changing them on a schedule.


Personally, I never change one as long as the gun is firing and ejecting 100%. I think it matters in the 10mm and 400 Corbon, maybe, but not in the smaller calibers. It is about slide speed, Faster will still work, slower, maybe not.

My experience with springs is that going down from factory recommendations is not good for reliability, I played with way too many that I had to change back. I do agree with RickB, if it is shrinking better to change out.

FWIW
 
#24 ·
This discussion went on a few years ago and I believe 5k rounds was what most agreed on. And on my Springfield RO it started having issues right at about 5k, not wanting to go back into battery. 10-12lb recoil spring seems to work best. I upgraded to a new steel firing pin and a 23lb hammer spring to improve on light primer strikes and then balanced it with a 10 or 11lb recoil, works very well these days.