Skip to main content
Help Center Community Shop

1911 Govt Model Recoil Spring Weight?

rhmc24
Looking at repro springs in Brownells, available in various pounds weights from 9 to 20 pounds. Question is what is the standard or original weight?

Reason for question is, I need recoil springs for a couple of 1902 .38ACPs I am building from parts I have collected. The 1911 spring fits. I want to select a force of spring more appropriate for the .38ACP. Pistols will be fired very little due little ammo available.

Specific info or thoughtful comment much appreciated. Thanks
0

Comments

3 comments

Date Votes
  • perry shooter
    Hello I would suggest you get a spring KIT This is a cloth pack just like a pocket knife roll that knife collectors use. this spring kit has one spring of each of many weights. . Myself and others use this method to adjust for what load we are shooting and if the pistol has a red dot mounted on the slide or if just standard sights. Also you need to take in account the person that is shooting the pistol and how firm they hold the pistol . Start with a fairly heavy spring and fire a few rounds . pay attention to the last round in the magazine you want it to fully cycle the slide and thus lock the slide back after last shoot . the weaker the spring the more likely this will ocure but too light of a spring will cause the gun to batter. start heavy and work your way down until the slide stays back and then stop. Feel free to email me. On of my match pistols has over 350,000 with no breakage of parts. I do a lot of load matching to recoil spring . "praise the hard-ball gun"
    0
  • Hawk Carse
    Although they do not list the standard spring for the 1902, Wolff makes more springs than Brownell's carries. Look at:
    http://www.gunsprings.com/SemiAuto/ColtNF.html#1911CalNotes

    Note that the standard 1911 spring for all calibers except .40 and .45 is 14 lbs.

    I think the Wolff "calibration pack" is a good idea. Wolff just sends them out in a plastic baggie, no neat cloth roll, though.

    I don't understand the "little ammo available" part, though. It is simple to handload .38 ACP in common .38 Super brass. Just be careful to keep the ammunition separate if you have a Super so you don't beat up the old guns.
    0
  • rhmc24
    Thanks for info folks. I'm looking at Brownell Nbr 60 cat page 193 springs by'ISMI'. From Hawk's ref it looks like 14lbs is a good startinp point. The .38ACP was a pretty hot load for its time, compared to basic 9mm and the later hotter .38 Spl. As for reloading I know about making a downloaded .38 Super but reloading is just another facet of the 'gun thing' but don't have the time/priority for. I keep pretty much involved in my old Colt autos and big S&W DA top breaks when I'm not into a client's restoration of something from the 1600s.

    I appreciate the practical procedure for selecting the best spring. These old 1902s, the Sporting model doesn't have the slide latch but the Military does. My minimal requirement is only that the piece be functional. I'll probably go for the 14lb and leave it at that,

    I really appreciate your guidance in an area where it counts for me. Thanks again. RHM
    0

Please sign in to leave a comment.

Recent Activity