I don't know about the mechanics of changing out OEM recoil springs as far as it affects the slide, but when I installed a Wolff stainless steel guide rod and Wolff 20# spring in my G-32 it noticeably reduced the recoil characteristics. It now feels like a "hot" 9mm +P+ and very manageable, not that the original configuration was difficult in any way.

 

I do think this may belong here...

You'd get better traction in the Gen'l Glocking section as this has nothing to do with ammo, but rather RSA's.

 

You'd get better traction in the Gen'l Glocking section as this has nothing to do with ammo, but rather RSA's.

I am sorry, it is the section police. I was talking about the performance of rounds with different recoil springs. If it really bothered you, you did not have to open it. Have you spent any time in General Glocking? I distinctly remember talking about a DT round and its velocity spread with stock springs vs. non-captured. The last I looked that was ammo. If my friends at Caliber corner are not concerned about the performance of ammo in this situation then I apologize.

I had solved my problem, but was passing along information that would affect both the accuracy and velocity spread. I am not looking for traction but did wonder if someone else has seen this. I doubt anyone in General Glocking has a chronograph, knows anything about DT ammunition, or even what I mean by Non-captured recoil springs. This is really not to put anyone down in GG, but it is the first stopping place for people who just bought their first Glock. If someone wants to move this, it will not give me heartburn.

 

I am not sure I understand the concept of different recoil spring assembly designs and their impact on velocity?


When things are running right, I think the bullet is gone before the RSA comes into play.

 

I couldn't care less, have had guns with both and never been a problem. Of course I have shot a spring or two across the room, but other than can't tell any real difference.

 

I am not sure I understand the concept of different recoil spring assembly designs and their impact on velocity?


When things are running right, I think the bullet is gone before the RSA comes into play.

I only checked the velocity with heavy 10mm, but as I understand it, a spring like I had can cause small variations in the timing of the breech opening. I know on BB's page he says if you are getting a large spread, go to a heavier recoil spring. I think my old captured spring was causing the same type of variation. Just an educated guess though on my part. I am not saying it gave me lower average velocities, just larger spread between shots.

https://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=114

If I had assembled the slide, it did not take much movement for the spring to drop out. In fact, I found it was easier to get it back together by holding the slide upside down. This was the factory spring on the G29.

It may only be one in a million, but I am passing it on.

 

I only checked the velocity with heavy 10mm, but as I understand it, a spring like I had can cause small variations in the timing of the breech opening. I know on BB's page he says if you are getting a large spread, go to a heavier recoil spring. I think my old captured spring was causing the same type of variation. Just an educated guess though on my part. I am not saying it gave me lower average velocities, just larger spread between shots.

https://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=114

If I had assembled the slide, it did not take much movement for the spring to drop out. In fact, I found it was easier to get it back together by holding the slide upside down. This was the factory spring on the G29.

It may only be one in a million, but I am passing it on.

OK, I see what you are getting at. Going to a heavier spring will slow the opening of the breech slightly on the heaviest loads. It doesn't do as much as adding weight to the slide or adding a comp, but in extreme cases will help a little.


I have chronographed a LOT of hot 10mm loads in G20, G29 and 1911 platforms (all ramped barrel designs, not like his Delta Elite) and I have never seen the correlation of SD and recoil spring rates expressed in the BB information. Frankly. if the breech opened soon enough to affect the combustion efficiency of a given load, your accuracy would be a bigger problem than SD's. I do use a 22lb spring in my G20, but to keep the slide from battering the frame not for SD's. The increased in felt recoil takes a bigger toll on my shot to shot accuracy than anything velocity wise, I think. My G29 RSA keeps the slide off the frame, so I run it stock. I just realized why I am getting better accuracy out of my G29 than my G20, never could figure that out before.


Of course, now, I have something to look at specifically. I will run some back to back tests with velocities equivalent to the BB data you cited (180gr stock G20 barrel at 1300+fps, I have that exact load) and report back the differences in ES and SD with stock and 22lb after market RSA's.


Mainly, I like captured because it is simpler to field strip.

 

You are absolutely right about captured being easier. Even putting a 17 - 20 lb. non-captured spring in a G23 can be a chore. However, my Walther PPQ has a captured spring, but you have to really compress the spring some to install it. I do understand that the Browning tilt barrel timing can be influenced by recoil spring weight, but not by probably much. But I assume BB is not lying. However, I was always taught that recoil springs have no effect on breach opening timing on a 1911. The main string, slide weight and even a firing pin stop with a flat bottom, but not recoil springs.

My original spring was so sloppy on my G29 that it could not be ignored, however, with the hotter loads, I probably would have changed to a Wolff system with a stronger spring, which I did.

 

I prefer steel replacement guide rods. I've had stock Glock polymer guide rods break on me. Rather captured (non- Glock RSA's like Lone Wolfs) or non-captured their is something to be said with being able to quickly change spring rates.