When it comes to me counting how many rounds I shoot- I suck. So I’ll be guessing. Anyway, how often do you change springs, and what is the malfunction that happens when you don’t change soon enough? FTF?
I have two five inch and one 4.25.
I’m assuming you’re talking about recoil springs here…
Depends on the spring and the round count. The standard factory springs (16 pounds, usually for 5" guns) start to go south after about 1,000 rounds of standard ball ammo. 18 pound springs tend to last a bit longer. Opinions on their replacement vary, but 2,000-3,000 rounds is the range generally accepted for changing them out.
What happens if you don’t change the recoil spring in a timely manner? The gun can stop working.
A 1911’s feeding cycle can be charitably described as “delicate.” If the spring is too worn it impacts the speed the slide moves at. If you have a worn recoil spring that lets the slide move faster than it should and a magazine spring that doesn’t move the next round into proper position fast enough, whammo…you’ve got a malfunction. If you shoot on a worn recoil spring you are also needlessly battering the frame. As the spring weakens the slide comes back with more and more force which, over time, can damage/destroy a frame.
The shorter the 1911 the more crucial it is to make sure mag springs and recoil springs are in spec.
JW777, thank you. My TRP definitely needs a new spring. Would you guess that a SA TRP, (Not the Pro) would be 18lb?
I used length when I was a 1911 shooter. I don’t recall what my go/no-go was but I would compare the length of the spring in the gun to a new one and change it out when it was x% shorter. (don’t recall my x value though) And I always changed the firing pin spring at the same time. It came with the recoil spring, so I figured why not.
This is also correct. I had a Kimber Compact Aluminum that I bought used that wouldn’t run at all when I first got it. Researched the factory spring weight, replaced it, and the gun ran fine after that, and with proper x% maintenance.
2500 rounds with the wolff progressive rate 17.5’s. my guns are very reliable with a wide variety of spring rates, so i use springs that tailor how the gun recoils and returns to battery.
eta, i use 230gr ball, almost exclusively for training, competition. and 200gr hornady +p TAP for HD ammo
Where do you guys like to purchase your 1911 parts like springs? After reading this mine is probably due.
I buy mine from either Wolff Gunsprings http://www.gunsprings.com/Semi-Auto%20Pistols/COLT/1911%20GOV’T%20PISTOL/cID1/mID1/dID1 or from Wilson Combat http://www.wilsoncombat.com/a_springs_recoil.asp (with good results on both products). FWW, I prefer 18.5# recoil springs on my .45 ACP 1911’s. 
I typically change mine about every 2-3000 rounds or when racking the slide starts to feel soft.
I get my Wolff springs from Brownells because I am usually buying some other stuff at the same time.
Thanks. Got a full set of springs on the way for the Combat Commander.
The change rate for Officer and shorter is at 500 rounds.
3-5k on full size. Every 1-2k on Officers
3500 rounds…
I do the 5" guns at 2k and only use Wolff 18# springs.
Assuming the 1911 is chambered in 45ACP I would recommend changing the recoil spring every 2000-2500 rounds in Government and Commander Models. This may be sooner than what is actually needed but fresh recoil springs are cheap insurance for pistol longevity.
If you’re talking about the recoil spring, I try to change mine out around 2500 or so.
Here’s some good reading on 1911’s as well:
http://www.10-8performance.com/id9.html
http://www.10-8performance.com/id8.html
http://www.10-8performance.com/id32.html
The third referenced article goes pretty indepth into maintenance and longevity.
Not sure if you’ve seen this: http://www.gunsprings.com/faq#Faq6 I’ve had good experience using Wolff gunsprings in my Kimber 4" Compact.
For 5" models:
Change the recoil spring every 2,000 rounds
Change the firing pin spring every 5,000 rounds
Change the main spring every 25,000 rounds
is this why my 1911 commander 70 series .45acp is starting to short stroke on the last shot? probably has the original spring in it and maybe 5-6k rounds since 1982 ( or so) thru it.
When you say short stroke, do you mean failure to return to battery, or failure to pickup a round off the magazine?
Springs are cheap. I would go ahead and replace the recoil, mainspring, and firing pin spring just because of the age.
If it is failing to pickup a round off the magazine then it is probably a weak mag spring.