what spring weight

cheezhed · July 1, 2011, 12:56 AM

What weight spring should I use in a stock steel framed commander?
I use mostly a semi mild reload of 5.1 grns of 231 behind a 200 grn. semiwadcutter. will this function a 20 pound spring? I think a 18 pound spring is stock.

Clark · July 1, 2011, 12:45 PM

I just measured mine by taking out the magazine and hanging a rope in the trigger guard while I pull up on the slide. Then I weighed the weights I had to hang on the rope.

It measures ~ 31 pounds.

I got that pistol ~ 13 years ago used with various custom changes, and one was the Sprinco recoil reducer assembly. It feels like I put a beefier recoil spring around the recoil reducer.

GURU1911 · July 1, 2011, 05:47 PM

According to mr. Bill wilson's "1911 maintenance guidelines" here is the info you requested:

Commander (.45 acp): Light target loads----#12
full power loads------#20

GURU1911

sidewindr · July 1, 2011, 06:47 PM

I'm running a 15# spring for my mild/moderate loads and it helped quite a bit on felt recoil.If you run a lighter spring just remember to not shoot full power loads in it,you'll bash the heck out of your frame. My stock was 18.5# I believe ,PT1911.

GURU1911 · July 1, 2011, 11:13 PM

The forum member was requesting recoil spring weights for use in his "commander" size 1911 pistol. The spring compression weights you were quoting, is for a full-size gov. Model (taurus 1911) which you currently own.

Recoil springs for the commander & government model are not interchangeable with each other. The recoil spring for the commander is shorter in overall length & requires a different compression rating.

Guru1911

sidewindr · July 1, 2011, 11:43 PM

sorry about, that I kind of thought they were the same and it was the "officers" model that is different. Someday you'll have to explain all the differences between them, this is my first forray into 1911's

Hunter Customs · July 2, 2011, 07:44 AM

Quote:

What weight spring should I use in a stock steel framed commander?
I use mostly a semi mild reload of 5.1 grns of 231 behind a 200 grn. semiwadcutter. will this function a 20 pound spring? I think a 18 pound spring is stock.

For the load you have listed I would try an 18 pound variable recoil spring, however you may have to drop down to a 16 pound variable.
I set my commanders up with 18 pound variable power recoil spings and even shoot +P ammo in them with no ill effects.
I've seen many shooters over spring their 1911's and all they are doing is increasing the forward battering the gun is receiving.
Best Regards
Bob Hunter
www.huntercustoms.com

dahermit · July 2, 2011, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Recoil springs for the commander & government model are not interchangeable with each other. The recoil spring for the commander is shorter in overall length & requires a different compression rating.

Not according to Wolf Gunsprings.

From Wolf:
http://www.gunsprings.com/Semi-Auto%...cID1/mID1/dID2

"COLT COMMANDER SERIES PISTOlRecoil Springs
Recoil springs for Colt Commander series pistols are available in both conventional and variable power designs. Please refer to our FAQ section for information on conventional vs. variable design. Each recoil spring for Colt pistols includes an extra power firing pin spring. Recoil Calibration Paks are available offering a range of spring weights to tune your pistols recoil function.

CONVENTIONAL RECOIL SPRINGS - .45 ACP

Reduced Power...: 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, & 17 Lb.
Factory Standard.: 18 Lb."

GURU1911 · July 2, 2011, 09:38 AM

You can believe what you want to, but the recoil springs are not interchangeable with each other. The government model, commander, & officer models do not use the same recoil spring. Yes, the compression weight ratings may be similar, but the overall length is not the same.

Example: The gov. Model spring is 5.750" in length.
The commander model recoil spring is 5.125" in length.

If you still think i am wrong, then you need to take this up with bill wilson, john nowlin, ed brown, or walter wolff.

I rest my case.

Guru1911

Clark · July 2, 2011, 10:29 AM

The force could be the same, but the springs different. For a full sized, the more massive slide and barrel as well as the gentle slope of Hooke's Law for a longer spring, would combine to allow the full sized to be tuned for hotter ammo with the same peak force when the slide is pulled back. If you are still reading this you are a nerd.

dahermit · July 2, 2011, 04:30 PM

Whoops!!! I was wrong...I misread the Wolff Gunsprings chart. It does list a different part number and specifies "Commander" in its discription.
My Bad!

GURU1911 · July 3, 2011, 05:12 PM

You are hereby officially forgiven----all contributors to this forum periodically make mistakes, but the real men have no problem admitting when they are incorrect.

I have apologized for verbal blunders at least 5 times since joining this forum in 2010 !!!!!!

The majority of gunfolk i have personally known in the past 50 years seriously want to be correct especially when giving advice & council to other shooters of less knowledge or life experience.

Thanks !!!! Guru1911

July 1, 2011, 05:47 PM	#3
GURU1911 Senior Member Join Date: December 22, 2010 Location: SEALY, THE REPUBLIC OF TEXAS Posts: 501	Recoil spring question According to mr. Bill wilson's "1911 maintenance guidelines" here is the info you requested: Commander (.45 acp): Light target loads----#12 full power loads------#20 GURU1911 __________________ NRA LIFE MEMBER (1984) & PRESIDENT: S.W. LA. R&P CLUB, LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA (1994-1999) METALLIC CARTRIDGE RELOADER (1977) & GENTILE CHRISTIAN ZIONIST INFIDEL !!! "THERE AIN'T TOO MANY THINGS THAT YOU CAN'T FIX, WITH $500 DOLLARS OR A .30-06"

July 1, 2011, 11:13 PM	#5
GURU1911 Senior Member Join Date: December 22, 2010 Location: SEALY, THE REPUBLIC OF TEXAS Posts: 501	Mr. Sidewinder The forum member was requesting recoil spring weights for use in his "commander" size 1911 pistol. The spring compression weights you were quoting, is for a full-size gov. Model (taurus 1911) which you currently own. Recoil springs for the commander & government model are not interchangeable with each other. The recoil spring for the commander is shorter in overall length & requires a different compression rating. Guru1911 __________________ NRA LIFE MEMBER (1984) & PRESIDENT: S.W. LA. R&P CLUB, LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA (1994-1999) METALLIC CARTRIDGE RELOADER (1977) & GENTILE CHRISTIAN ZIONIST INFIDEL !!! "THERE AIN'T TOO MANY THINGS THAT YOU CAN'T FIX, WITH $500 DOLLARS OR A .30-06"

July 2, 2011, 09:38 AM	#9
GURU1911 Senior Member Join Date: December 22, 2010 Location: SEALY, THE REPUBLIC OF TEXAS Posts: 501	MR. DAHERMIT You can believe what you want to, but the recoil springs are not interchangeable with each other. The government model, commander, & officer models do not use the same recoil spring. Yes, the compression weight ratings may be similar, but the overall length is not the same. Example: The gov. Model spring is 5.750" in length. The commander model recoil spring is 5.125" in length. If you still think i am wrong, then you need to take this up with bill wilson, john nowlin, ed brown, or walter wolff. I rest my case. Guru1911 __________________ NRA LIFE MEMBER (1984) & PRESIDENT: S.W. LA. R&P CLUB, LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA (1994-1999) METALLIC CARTRIDGE RELOADER (1977) & GENTILE CHRISTIAN ZIONIST INFIDEL !!! "THERE AIN'T TOO MANY THINGS THAT YOU CAN'T FIX, WITH $500 DOLLARS OR A .30-06"

July 2, 2011, 10:29 AM	#10
Clark Senior Member Join Date: December 4, 1999 Location: WA, the ever blue state Posts: 4,678	The force could be the same, but the springs different. For a full sized, the more massive slide and barrel as well as the gentle slope of Hooke's Law for a longer spring, would combine to allow the full sized to be tuned for hotter ammo with the same peak force when the slide is pulled back. If you are still reading this you are a nerd. __________________ The word 'forum" does not mean "not criticizing books." "Ad hominem fallacy" is not the same as point by point criticism of books. If you bought the book, and believe it all, it may FEEL like an ad hominem attack, but you might strive to accept other points of view may exist. Are we a nation of competing ideas, or a nation of forced conformity of thought?

July 1, 2011, 12:56 AM	#1
cheezhed Senior Member Join Date: November 28, 2007 Posts: 302	what spring weight What weight spring should I use in a stock steel framed commander? I use mostly a semi mild reload of 5.1 grns of 231 behind a 200 grn. semiwadcutter. will this function a 20 pound spring? I think a 18 pound spring is stock.

July 1, 2011, 12:45 PM	#2
Clark Senior Member Join Date: December 4, 1999 Location: WA, the ever blue state Posts: 4,678	I just measured mine by taking out the magazine and hanging a rope in the trigger guard while I pull up on the slide. Then I weighed the weights I had to hang on the rope. It measures ~ 31 pounds. I got that pistol ~ 13 years ago used with various custom changes, and one was the Sprinco recoil reducer assembly. It feels like I put a beefier recoil spring around the recoil reducer. __________________ The word 'forum" does not mean "not criticizing books." "Ad hominem fallacy" is not the same as point by point criticism of books. If you bought the book, and believe it all, it may FEEL like an ad hominem attack, but you might strive to accept other points of view may exist. Are we a nation of competing ideas, or a nation of forced conformity of thought?

July 1, 2011, 06:47 PM	#4
sidewindr Senior Member Join Date: June 4, 2011 Location: somewhere out there Posts: 101	I'm running a 15# spring for my mild/moderate loads and it helped quite a bit on felt recoil.If you run a lighter spring just remember to not shoot full power loads in it,you'll bash the heck out of your frame. My stock was 18.5# I believe ,PT1911.

July 1, 2011, 11:43 PM	#6
sidewindr Senior Member Join Date: June 4, 2011 Location: somewhere out there Posts: 101	sorry about, that I kind of thought they were the same and it was the "officers" model that is different. Someday you'll have to explain all the differences between them, this is my first forray into 1911's

July 2, 2011, 04:30 PM	#11
dahermit Senior Member Join Date: October 28, 2006 Location: South Central Michigan...near Posts: 6,501	Whoops!!! I was wrong...I misread the Wolff Gunsprings chart. It does list a different part number and specifies "Commander" in its discription. My Bad!

July 3, 2011, 05:12 PM	#12
GURU1911 Senior Member Join Date: December 22, 2010 Location: SEALY, THE REPUBLIC OF TEXAS Posts: 501	MR. HERMIT You are hereby officially forgiven----all contributors to this forum periodically make mistakes, but the real men have no problem admitting when they are incorrect. I have apologized for verbal blunders at least 5 times since joining this forum in 2010 !!!!!! The majority of gunfolk i have personally known in the past 50 years seriously want to be correct especially when giving advice & council to other shooters of less knowledge or life experience. Thanks !!!! Guru1911 __________________ NRA LIFE MEMBER (1984) & PRESIDENT: S.W. LA. R&P CLUB, LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA (1994-1999) METALLIC CARTRIDGE RELOADER (1977) & GENTILE CHRISTIAN ZIONIST INFIDEL !!! "THERE AIN'T TOO MANY THINGS THAT YOU CAN'T FIX, WITH $500 DOLLARS OR A .30-06"