Colt 45 ACP Spring Tension ?
What is the standard spring tension on a Colt 45 ACP? I was told that it is 16 pounds, shooting 230 grain ball ammo many years ago. I know you can get heavier, but just what is standard out off the factory?
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with the number of springs available it is very easy to tune a 1911 type pistol for 100 % function yet very little wear & tear on your pistol each person "the person firing the pistol" each load "Type of bullet" "Weight of bullet" velocity due to powder charge used " "weight of slide and if red dot sight is added" so lets make it simple The slide needs to fully CYCLE to give proper Ejection of the fired case as well as to give time for the next round to move up from the magazine and be a straight shot when the forward moving slide pushes the loaded round into the barrels Chamber Too light recoil spring will let the slide Bottom out on the frame and cause premature damage to the pistol it also my not have enough closing force to fully chamber a round. too heavy of a spring will not let the slide fully cycle The slide. Added weight to the slide in way of a heavy red dot will act just like a too heavy recoil spring. Limp wrist will also act like too heavy spring. and also recoil buffers can act to keep slide from fully Cycling when you change loads you need to change recoil spring To test get a spring kit from wilson or other spring makers From Brownell's or other aftermarket sources start with 20 pound spring load one round in magazine load that round and fire it as you normally hold the pistol If the slide locks back then the slide fully functioned If you are shooting +p rounds you may want to try 22 Pound spring . so with regular ammo try the 20 pound spring at least 10 time with only one round it should lock the slide back each time if it does not lock the slide back go to 18 pound spring And try that same test 10 times If at any time the slide does not lock back you either need to Hold the pistol tighter or reduce the power of the spring . Now say you mount a red dot and start shooting light lead Target loads you may need to go Much lighter recoil spring
I coached a lady that had to go as light as a 10 POUND spring
to get 100 % function I have over 350,000 rounds through my series 70 Wad gun with no damage and only one broken extractor due to trying steel case ammo I will never shoot steel case ammo again. Feel free to double click on my user name if you have any
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quote:Originally posted by waltermoe
What is the standard spring tension on a Colt 45 ACP? I was told that it is 16 pounds, shooting 230 grain ball ammo many years ago. I know you can get heavier, but just what is standard out off the factory?
I asked a retired Marine Corps armorer, now 1911 gun smith, this same question once and his answer was something like "John Browning is the smartest man that ever lived and he specified a 16 pounder. Why would you consider anything else?" That might answer your question. But I like the answers in the two above posts much better.0 -
Thank you for the information. I have almost always used a 16 pound spring for forty years now on this pistol, never had a problem, did try a recoil buffer once, that was the only time I ever had it jam. 0 -
EDIT Waltermoe The 16 pound spring may indeed serve you well Yes the recoil buffer can and does cause Jams & other Problems the 16 pound spring may also function well with LIGHT loads but I would not use it foe +p loads or any bullet weight over 230 grain the 16 pound with factory 230 grain or military ammo may also reduce the life of the frame or crack the slide right where the dust cover begans but that is thousands of rounds down the load. Most people don't shoot near as many rounds as people that shoot in matches like myself but I saw your posted question and thought I would reply Cheers Karl AKA Perry Shooter 0 -
I carried 1911's for duty for many years we went from the Speer 200 grain flying trash can to the Federal 230 Hydra-Shok to the Federal 230 +p LE load. I always ran the Wolff 18.5 pound spring to ensure chambering the second shot. Never failed me and worked just fine with the generic 230 ball we qualled with.
FWIW0 -
Interesting and informative post. Thanks 0
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