1911 recoil spring selection

[Hammerlock1]

Looking for input on Para 1911 .45 Elite recoil spring selection. I have the 5" model, maybe 2 mags thru it, and you have to put both hands & one foot on it to rack the slide. Can I soften the spring selection up a bit and still have good results with the action/cycle, or do I just need more rounds thru the gun? It's definitely much tougher than my Taurus 1911 .45 to rack the slide. Firing mostly target ammo (230 grain fmj), not sure of the spring weight currently in the Para from the factory..


Thanks,

HL1

 

[Snow Bird]

Go to the Wolf Spring web site and decide what you want to put in it. I went to an 18 1/2 lb spring in my 1911 and it is like yours. I like it that way. I think the stock spring is 14 lbs but you can get them in almost any weight. There is more information than you will ever use there and it tells you the whys and wherefores about springs.

 

[Nick]

Looking for input on Para 1911 .45 Elite recoil spring selection. I have the 5" model, maybe 2 mags thru it, and you have to put both hands & one foot on it to rack the slide. Can I soften the spring selection up a bit and still have good results with the action/cycle, or do I just need more rounds thru the gun? It's definitely much tougher than my Taurus 1911 .45 to rack the slide. Firing mostly target ammo (230 grain fmj), not sure of the spring weight currently in the Para from the factory..


Thanks,

HL1

That sounds like a tight slide to frame fit rather than a stiff recoil spring. Have you had failures because of it? I have an 18.5 lb recoil spring in mine and it's still relatively easy to rack the slide.

 

[Dan1612]

Unless it affects function, don't mess with it. Kimbers are put together that way. Les Baer's even more so. In fact, baer doesn't want you to even call them until you've put either 500 or 1k rounds through it. I wouldn't worry about it, just put some rounds through it and do some curls.
All that Para needs is polishing of the feed ramp and a trigger job.

 

[Gene]

You could go with the Wolff spring pack that has various spring weights so you can try a few different ones or go with a progressive/variable spring.

 

[Hammerlock1]

Thanks for all the input, I'll put a few hundred rounds through it & see if it softens up any. Doesn't seem to be frame to slide issues, not too tight or binding there. Already polished the feed ramp, so feeds & functions fine with the few rounds shot through it so far. Probably get the Wolff package to have on hand as well..

HL1

 

[ChrisC]

it will loosen up with more rounds through it. It is usually from the stiff 23 lb mainspring. cock the hammer with your thumb and rack the slide.