I use a variables in all my 1911s. Specifically 18.5 in my Governments and 20lb variable in my Commander. It's really whatever winds youir clock. Conventionals are fine and are std.

Being that you asked, Wolff has a FAQ section on their site concerning your question.

http://www.gunsprings.com/faq

 

Well, you've probably realized now that you should keep recoil springs in the original packing until using them.

I don't know any way to tell the difference.

 

Yea. This one is kind of a bummer. Chuck um and try again?
Sorry. Got no good answer for ya.
Dave

 

I lust after the Mk10, but that is like a new gun.

http://wagnerinstruments.com/

There was a link at one time where a fellow built a cheap spring gauge. Can not find it now.

 

Been there done that. So now if I change a spring I put the package with the weight in my range bag.

 

You'll need some sort of Recoil Spring tester. I've got one that works well, but was kinda pricey. Some folks on this forum have described home built units that look like they should work. Try a search for Recoil Spring Tester and see what you get.

 

Simply buying a pack of new springs and keeping them separate from old ones would be a lot cheaper.

 

I would mark them with a number of identifying scratches and keep records or else buy another, they are cheap enough.

 

Look here.

http://www.brianenos.com/forums/ind...owtopic=92961&st=0&p=1108391&hl=recoil spring tester&fromsearch=1&#entry1108391

 

SDM makes a nice one. Not cheap, but not expensive either for those that have lots of springs. I've been eyeballing one for a while now but it's easier to just label the springs in a ziploc bag. However, it would still be a nice tool to have and I may just get one down the road.

http://www.sdmfabricating.com/Tools/tools.htm

 

And it's been temporarily out of stock for about a year.

 

A friend suggested to buy the Wolff spring pack and then compare what you have with the pack thus using them as a reference. Springs take a long time to vary from what my friend says so you can compare what is in the gun with what the ref spring is for a long time.

Lets see why I did not think about this sooner................................................

 

In addition to getting a Wolff calibration pack to compare them visually, you can become fairly efficient at comparing them by feel especially in two pound increments. Put a 16 in the gun and cycle the slide by hand a few times with the hammer pre cocked. It is pretty easy then to detect a 14 and 18 and a half. Apply the same principal to a commander starting with stock, it is fairly easy to feel the difference in a lighter and heavier.

 

If all you have to do is tell them apart, put them both on a rod and push..... the lighter weight spring will compress more...(nut and washer on a 14" long 1/4-20 rod, spring #1, washer, spring #2, washer and nut, tighten nut to compress springs, measure spring length.)

it'll wind up looking like this....

8I/////////I//////I8--------
(8's are nuts, I's are washers, /is the spring, - is the threaded rod.....


Dan

 

Great idea!! Thanks for that one.

 

Here's the other one.

http://www.brianenos.com/forums/ind...ums/index.php?showtopic=3920&st=0&p=311423&hl=99 cent&fromsearch=1&#entry311423

 

Dial Calipers...Lighter springs are thinner.

 

Powder scale. Stronger springs (of the same design) are heavier.
That won't tell you the nominal rating but it will let you keep them in order.
Testfiring and checking gun function and ejection distance will let you choose which to use with what load.