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Don't flame me, but another RSA thread.

969 views 15 replies 10 participants last post by  harold63 
#1 ·
I typically run stock RSA's in my Glocks, but firing UW 180gr XTP's are a little harsh in my G20sf. I plan to shoot anemic range ammo and only the UW's on occasion.
Run the stock RSA?
 
#4 ·
I found if I ran loads similar to the UW 180gr stuff (call it 1275fps+) from my G20SF, I got a fair amount of frame battering from the slide. My solution was a 22lb ISMI Flat Spring and Stainless Guide Rod from Glockmeister.com. It stopped the slide battering on my hottest loads (hotter than UW) and yet will cycle my lightest 40S&W loads (softer than most 10mm blasting fodder).
 
#7 ·
I ordered the 20lb version from Glockmeister and went to testing. 180gr UMC TMG's (1150fps) functioned flawlessly as well as some Hydra-Shoks 180gr (1050fps). Next up were UW's 180gr (1300fps). Two mags were flawless, but I felt the recoil and had a little trigger finger bite. I'll keep in the 20lb spring for now and keep an eye on the frame. The UW brass launched another 4-5 feet from the mild stuff.
 
#6 ·
If your'e going to run 10mm hot, then put in a 22 or 24 lb spring. It will function fine but keep the frame from getting beat up. Even though you can use the OEM plastic guide rod and put on the ISMI flat wound springs, they are too strong to be retained, so also get a steel guide rod. I run 20 lb springs in my carry G31s.
 
#11 ·
I replaced the stock RSA in my G20SF with a standard 17 pound weight Lone wolf spring with stainless steel recoil guide rod. It's ran flawlessly with about a hundred rounds of UW XTP's and a few hundred rounds more of Buffalo Bore, UW and Double tap 230 grain and 200 Grain loads and probably 1000 more rounds of various plinking ammo.

I never found any load to be "Harsh" in the G20 compared to 41 and 44 magnum loads in Smith and Wessons and Ruger Blackhawks. For one thing, the polymer frame of the Glock absorbs much of the recoil. secondly, the wide grip distributes the recoil over a larger area. and lastly, the gun weighs almost two pounds unloaded.

The Glock 20 hardly has any recoil worth mentioning. Recoil isn't "Harsh" until it starts to hurt, and if it isn't hurting you, it probably isn't hurting the gun. The stock spring weight seems to work fine and functions reliably with all ammo.

If I were to go with a heavier spring, I wouldn't go heavier than 20 pounds and in your case if you're planning on shooting a lot of range ammo, a 17 pound spring is what you want.
 
#12 ·
It stopped the slide battering on my hottest loads (hotter than UW) and yet will cycle my lightest 40S&W loads (softer than most 10mm blasting fodder).
I don't remember how you worded it (it was better than my wording) concerning the induced recoil when the frame is hit by the slide. Minimal bottoming, of course, is normal and easy to control, but a hard bottom is definitely felt in the wrist and takes a good bit to control the muzzle where a stronger spring that still allows a full cycle is way easier on the wrist, especially when shooting with any kind of speed.

Absolutely nothing wrong with tuning a RSA in a Glock to match the loads.
 
#13 ·
Yes, also I think the dynamics of felt recoil are so complex and individual, it doesn't lend itself to one size fits all advice at places like these threads. Only the narcissist thinks their experience is the only valid one.

One guy's grip can result in heavy bottoming, significant added felt recoil and a mushrooming frame, while another's with the same load shows no sign of slide impact and a big happy face on the shooters face.
 
#14 ·
My perspective is that the main concern is how the sights return, and that is for sure very personal and individual.

I've never noticed differences in recoil from changing springs. I do notice changes in flip and dive, though. But again, the main thing is how the sights return.

When I shoot slow-fire groups, I manually return the sights to a hard-front focus for each shot. It's intuitive, and I don't think about it while shooting. Splits on a very tight target also require 2 separate sight pictures with a hard front focus - so they are really 2 events, not 1.

But as soon as you start shooting splits as a dynamic process, you need to know that the sights will return flat at the bottom of the cycle - not diving below or stopping short of where they started. That is the main thing I'm looking at when I choose a spring for a particular situation.

I vary my grip between tight and open shots on a stage. Generally, tighter shots get less grip and hoser shots get more. You always want to try and grip hard/well enough to make sure that grip is not a limiting factor to your rate of fire, but I don't see much reason to grip harder than that.

So point is, it takes some honesty and experimentation looking at different targets and rates of fire to make a good spring choice. For the kind of shooting I do, within reason lighter is usually better.
 
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