When should I change the recoil spring?

Doc Maker · January 3, 2011, 03:13 PM

As I posted in another thread... I bought a Beretta 92F from an estate sale. Stamp on the frame is "AT" indicating a mfr date of 1988.

It was fired maybe once or twice before I bought it in Oct. '10. Otherwise it sat in a collection for 22 years.

I have no complaints with the action, so I am loathe to change anything. But I still want to know if long term storage can cause a permanent compression of the springs.

IMG_0128.jpg

Amin Parker · January 3, 2011, 03:20 PM

Your springs are fine in that pistol. There is no need to worry at all.

shortwave · January 3, 2011, 03:33 PM

Agree with Amin Parker.

Clean, inspect, relube and shoot.

Walt Sherrill · January 3, 2011, 04:00 PM

Not until you find your spent casings flying much farther than they once did. Otherwise, it ain't broke -- so don't fix it.

(Exception: if you choose to start shooting much hotter loads than you previously shot, you might want to go to a heavier spring for the new loads.)

Patriot86 · January 4, 2011, 01:44 PM

What walt said!
I was at the range the other day and someone 3 or 4 lanes down was shooting something big(by the sound guessing larger than a .45 ). I bent down to get a box of ammo out of my range bag and what lands on the back of my neck? a nice hot shell casing from 20+ feet away. Based on the size and layout of the range I am dumbfounded HOW this thing got all the way to me but somehow the "magic" shell casing made its way over.

Around that time the guy stopped shooting, probably realizing something was a miss.

bikerbill · January 5, 2011, 09:52 AM

Not a Beretta guy, so just wondering ... if the gun isn't cocked, are any of the springs under compression? I'm guessing not ...

PSP · January 5, 2011, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Not a Beretta guy, so just wondering ... if the gun isn't cocked, are any of the springs under compression? I'm guessing not ...

Not enough to worry about.

I disagree slightly on the recoil spring answers. Because the gun in question is used, and the round count is not known, I'd consider replacing the recoil spring on principle alone. "If it ain't broke..." is worth considering, but on the other hand "If I don't know for sure..." is also a valid position, IMHO. Besides, these recoil springs are pretty cheap.

ET. · January 5, 2011, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PSP:

I disagree slightly on the recoil spring answers. Because the gun in question is used, and the round count is not known, I'd consider replacing the recoil spring on principle alone.

I agree with your disagreement.

scottl · January 5, 2011, 08:57 PM

Go ahead and replace it if you wish.Buying a used gun is like buying used car.First thing most do is routine maintenance stuff.That used car could have 100 miles on the oil or 5,000.

Doc Maker · January 10, 2011, 04:32 PM

The pistol was in the box for 20 years. When I got it last month, it looked brand spanking new. I mean not a SCRATCH. It had obviously been test fired. When I took it to the range for the first time, the action still made new scrapes in the finish inside where the slide meets the frame. I had cleaned and oiled it when it came home.

As part of a large estate collection, It has a low round count. I was just wondering about longterm storage, spring compression effects.

Kreyzhorse · January 10, 2011, 08:03 PM

Unless you are having problems with it, there is no reason to change any thing on it.

Misssissippi Dave · January 10, 2011, 08:28 PM

I would replace it after firing about 5000 rounds or when the cases start flying too far away. Just because it has been in the pistol for 20 years doesn't mean it has gone bad. Now if it is showing signs of rust then I would replace it right away.

Average Joe · January 11, 2011, 07:20 PM

When it goes bad.

Rinspeed · January 12, 2011, 06:28 AM

Springs are cheap.

PIGMAN · January 12, 2011, 07:30 AM

If it ain't broke don't fix it. Baretta makes a fine pistol and it will give you a lifetime of reliable service.

January 3, 2011, 03:13 PM	#1
Doc Maker Member Join Date: December 11, 2010 Location: Kent, WA Posts: 67	When should I change the recoil spring? As I posted in another thread... I bought a Beretta 92F from an estate sale. Stamp on the frame is "AT" indicating a mfr date of 1988. It was fired maybe once or twice before I bought it in Oct. '10. Otherwise it sat in a collection for 22 years. I have no complaints with the action, so I am loathe to change anything. But I still want to know if long term storage can cause a permanent compression of the springs. IMG_0128.jpg Last edited by Doc Maker; January 3, 2011 at 11:53 PM.

January 5, 2011, 09:52 AM	#6
bikerbill Senior Member Join Date: September 19, 2007 Location: Lago Vista TX Posts: 2,425	Not a Beretta guy, so just wondering ... if the gun isn't cocked, are any of the springs under compression? I'm guessing not ... __________________ "The welfare of humanity is always the alibi of tyrants." Albert Camus

January 10, 2011, 08:03 PM	#11
Kreyzhorse Senior Member Join Date: April 12, 2006 Location: NKY Posts: 12,463	Unless you are having problems with it, there is no reason to change any thing on it. __________________ "He who laughs last, laughs dead." Homer Simpson

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January 3, 2011, 03:20 PM	#2
Amin Parker Senior Member Join Date: August 19, 2010 Posts: 1,118	Your springs are fine in that pistol. There is no need to worry at all.

January 3, 2011, 03:33 PM	#3
shortwave Senior Member Join Date: December 17, 2007 Location: SOUTHEAST, OHIO Posts: 5,970	Agree with Amin Parker. Clean, inspect, relube and shoot.

January 3, 2011, 04:00 PM	#4
Walt Sherrill Senior Member Join Date: February 15, 1999 Location: Winston-Salem, NC USA Posts: 6,348	Not until you find your spent casings flying much farther than they once did. Otherwise, it ain't broke -- so don't fix it. (Exception: if you choose to start shooting much hotter loads than you previously shot, you might want to go to a heavier spring for the new loads.)

January 4, 2011, 01:44 PM	#5
Patriot86 Senior Member Join Date: December 23, 2010 Location: Chicagoland Posts: 1,293	What walt said! I was at the range the other day and someone 3 or 4 lanes down was shooting something big(by the sound guessing larger than a .45 ). I bent down to get a box of ammo out of my range bag and what lands on the back of my neck? a nice hot shell casing from 20+ feet away. Based on the size and layout of the range I am dumbfounded HOW this thing got all the way to me but somehow the "magic" shell casing made its way over. Around that time the guy stopped shooting, probably realizing something was a miss.

January 5, 2011, 08:57 PM	#9
scottl Senior Member Join Date: January 17, 2007 Location: Morehead,Ky Posts: 752	Go ahead and replace it if you wish.Buying a used gun is like buying used car.First thing most do is routine maintenance stuff.That used car could have 100 miles on the oil or 5,000.

January 10, 2011, 04:32 PM	#10
Doc Maker Member Join Date: December 11, 2010 Location: Kent, WA Posts: 67	The pistol was in the box for 20 years. When I got it last month, it looked brand spanking new. I mean not a SCRATCH. It had obviously been test fired. When I took it to the range for the first time, the action still made new scrapes in the finish inside where the slide meets the frame. I had cleaned and oiled it when it came home. As part of a large estate collection, It has a low round count. I was just wondering about longterm storage, spring compression effects.

January 10, 2011, 08:28 PM	#12
Misssissippi Dave Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2009 Posts: 1,411	I would replace it after firing about 5000 rounds or when the cases start flying too far away. Just because it has been in the pistol for 20 years doesn't mean it has gone bad. Now if it is showing signs of rust then I would replace it right away.

January 11, 2011, 07:20 PM	#13
Average Joe Senior Member Join Date: August 29, 2005 Location: Central Florida Posts: 1,325	When it goes bad.

January 12, 2011, 06:28 AM	#14
Rinspeed Senior Member Join Date: February 1, 2000 Posts: 1,505	Springs are cheap.

January 12, 2011, 07:30 AM	#15
PIGMAN Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2011 Location: ARIZONA Posts: 175	If it ain't broke don't fix it. Baretta makes a fine pistol and it will give you a lifetime of reliable service.