[JoleBole]

Hi everyone.

I want to get a lighter recoil spring for my SR1911, but I wanna get some opinions first. What's the exact factory spring weight on the SR1911? Some say its 21lb some say 18lb - I am not sure since the factory spring weight is ridiculous. I reload my ammo and I am loading little softer then the factory range 45acp ammo (not counting the self defense loads). So I was wondering if using a ligher spring 15-16lb will be a problem. Can I go ligher maybe, use a buffer? This is my first 1911 and I can certainly use some expertise. I also use this for IDPA and a lighter spring will help me out a bit.

Thanks.

[sna0403]

Standard recoil spring weight on a 1911 is supposed to be 16#. I run a 17.5# in my 5"ATI, because I didn't have a lot of faith in my stock spring and it just works better for me with full factory loads. Contact Ruger to find out the exact weight and then go to Wolff Spring for your replacement based on what you're shooting. They have a lot of good info on their website. Good luck and stay safe.

[faawrenchbndr]

What weight main spring are you running?

[ca survivor]

deleted.

[JoleBole]

Originally Posted by faawrenchbndr

What weight main spring are you running?

Its the stock Ruger mainspring. not really sure how heavy that is.

[JoleBole]

Originally Posted by sna0403

Standard recoil spring weight on a 1911 is supposed to be 16#. I run a 17.5# in my 5"ATI, because I didn't have a lot of faith in my stock spring and it just works better for me with full factory loads. Contact Ruger to find out the exact weight and then go to Wolff Spring for your replacement based on what you're shooting. They have a lot of good info on their website. Good luck and stay safe.

Mine feels more then 16lb. Compared to my Glock 19 spring (which should be 18lb) its heavier.

[JoleBole]

Just found a topic on the Ruger forums. A guy measured the spring tension with a gauge - It showed 18.5lb. He installed a 16lb afterwards and he got a lot smoother slide action action. No jams or misfeeds.

[Rinspeed]

Depending on how much lighter your reloads are I would pick up a 14# and 16# spring. Try both and keep an eye on how far your brass is flying and of course any malfunctions. You might find the 14# works the best with your loads.

[AK74play]

I run 22lb springs in my Ruger and all my other 1911's. I use only factory ammo and a lot of time some pretty hot stuff, but even with the WWB, Federal cheapos and Remington UMC they run perfect, extract and eject perfect and I end up with less felt recoil and better controlability because of it. Faster sight acquisition shot after shot. These have been my experiences, others may differ, but I certainly aint changing from the 22lb.

[Steel Head]

I played with light reloads and springs in my Springfield.

My soft 185 loads worked well with a 14# wolff spring and would barely dribble out with the stock 16#.

My softest 200LSWC load(under 700FPS) did excellent with stock 16# and my best accuracy load which is a bit hotter seems perfect with 16# spring.

[JoleBole]

Originally Posted by Rinspeed

Depending on how much lighter your reloads are I would pick up a 14# and 16# spring. Try both and keep an eye on how far your brass is flying and of course any malfunctions. You might find the 14# works the best with your loads.

Thats what I ended up doing. I ordered 16# and 13# from Wilson Combat and I will try both with two different loads and see what happens. The purpose for all this is to have more control over recoil when I am shooting IDPA and faster follow up shots. With the stock spring the gun just wants to jump and its hard to make faster target acquisition.

[cciman]

nevermind. good luck