Proper Recoil Spring on 1911 with Red Dot on Slide

[refuse2bafool]

Where should I look for wear on my 1911 if the recoil spring is too light?

Several years ago I had a red dot mounted on the slide of my 1911 MilSpec. When shooting my light target loads (4.8 gr 700x with 185 or 200 gr bullets) it did not cycle well, as the gunsmith predicted.

I tried a variety of springs and ended up with a 14 lb spring that I cut a few coils off of. Still, every few hundred rounds the last round in the magazine would fail to feed. When it came time to change the spring I put in a 15 lb spring I had on hand and I now get a FTF on the last round every 50 rounds or so, and sometimes the slide does not lock back at the end of the mag. With Factory Target ammo other is no problem. I want to try a 13lb spring but want to make sure I don't damage my gun.

My gut says my rounds are light enough that I shouldn't worry, but I would like a second opinion.

 

[kidneyboy]

I wouldn't worry to much about wear on a 1911, especially with light target loads. Check the rails and make sure it's always lubed.
I ran a 12lb spring in mine so it would cycle bullseye loads. As long as it was clean and well lubed it ran fine.
Personally I'd work up a different target load rather than mess with the gun.

 

[barnetmill]

You need to not lighten the spring below the standard target wt spring and load up the loads until adequate functioning is achieved. Upping the velocity will of course increase you recoil and is the downside. But do not always want to be calling out alibi during a match. A malfunction after the last shot is not biggie relative to an alibi. Velocity increase does increase recoil that will be harder on your red dot. If one is worried about battering of the gun one could look into buffers. The gun may or may not work well with them.

 

[Slamfire]

I am shooting 200 LSWC's and 4.0 to 4.1 grains Bullseye in this Les Baer Wadcutter. This load (3.8 to 4.1 grains depending on the lot) has been around in 2700 Bullseye Pistol forever. I am running the stock 12 lb spring. My bullet velocity needs to be close to 740 fps for reliable functioning. I tried a classic 25 yard load of 200 LSWC 3.5 grains Bullseye and that worked as long as the weather was hot, that is mid 80's and above. That load was a National Match winning 25 yard load when everyone was using irons, but add an Ultradot on top, slide movement is too sluggish. I stopped using that load because it was too unreliable. It also was not accurate at 50 yards, so understand its limitations.



I did find I had to bump up the load even more with plated 200 SWC bullets. I am current running 4.2 grs Bullseye with a 200 gr plated bullet or feed and extraction is unreliable. I started off with 3.8 grains Bullseye, had failures to eject or failures to feed, bumped it up to 4.0 grs, same result, now I am running 4.2 grains.

Les Baer told me not to shoot anything heavier than 200 grain in my Wadcutter, said it would beat up the pistol. I shot hundreds of very light 230 LRN bullets through it before finding that out.

If your pistol is unreliable in feed and extraction you are going to have to 1) use a lighter spring, and/or 2) increase the powder charge. And, remember for target 1911's, your elbow is the drip point! Keep a target 1911 well oiled.

 

[tarosean]

Number or mark your magazines too see if it's the same one causing issues with your set up.
There are multiple parts to the equation that your trying to solve.

 

[kidneyboy]

If your pistol is unreliable in feed and extraction you are going to have to 1) use a lighter spring, and/or 2) increase the powder charge. And, remember for target 1911's, your elbow is the drip point! Keep a target 1911 well oiled.

Thats a great line and so true!!

 

[mcb]

Firing pin stop, increase the radius on the corner on the bottom more and it will reduce the effect the hammer spring has on the slide under recoil. This is a large aspect of tuning a 1911. Recoil Spring, Hammer Spring (Main Spring) and the radius on the bottom of the firing pin stop are the three main "knobs to be turned" while tuning a 1911.

 

[barnetmill]

I am shooting 200 LSWC's and 4.0 to 4.1 grains Bullseye in this Les Baer Wadcutter. This load (3.8 to 4.1 grains depending on the lot) has been around in 2700 Bullseye Pistol forever. I am running the stock 12 lb spring. My bullet velocity needs to be close to 740 fps for reliable functioning. I tried a classic 25 yard load of 200 LSWC 3.5 grains Bullseye and that worked as long as the weather was hot, that is mid 80's and above. That load was a National Match winning 25 yard load when everyone was using irons, but add an Ultradot on top, slide movement is too sluggish. I stopped using that load because it was too unreliable. It also was not accurate at 50 yards, so understand its limitations.

View attachment 893098

I did find I had to bump up the load even more with plated 200 SWC bullets. I am current running 4.2 grs Bullseye with a 200 gr plated bullet or feed and extraction is unreliable. I started off with 3.8 grains Bullseye, had failures to eject or failures to feed, bumped it up to 4.0 grs, same result, now I am running 4.2 grains.

Les Baer told me not to shoot anything heavier than 200 grain in my Wadcutter, said it would beat up the pistol. I shot hundreds of very light 230 LRN bullets through it before finding that out.

If your pistol is unreliable in feed and extraction you are going to have to 1) use a lighter spring, and/or 2) increase the powder charge. And, remember for target 1911's, your elbow is the drip point! Keep a target 1911 well oiled.

From the attached picture I would suggest finding a lighter wt red dot. I have a burris sure fire on mine, but I have not done any real shooting with it.
here is a picture from off the internet of one. A lot less wt.

 

[refuse2bafool]

Thanks guys. You have given me a lot of avenues to explore. I would like to keep this load as it is very accurate in my stock Milspec, but I have several options to try now. And I do the "elbow is your drip point" comment. LOL!

 

[Slamfire]

From the attached picture I would suggest finding a lighter wt red dot. I have a burris sure fire on mine, but I have not done any real shooting with it.
here is a picture from off the internet of one. A lot less wt.
View attachment 893152

I have not tried one of those, they are typically more expensive than my Ultra Dot. However, I do like the tube as it is easy to grab and I center the dot in the middle of the tube. I have gone from 30mm tubes to 25 mm tubes because centering is easier. I thought I would prefer the larger field of view but it takes too long to find the dot in rapid and timed fire. You absolutely have to pay attention to your sight picture each and every shot for precision shooting.

 

[barnetmill]

I have not tried one of those, they are typically more expensive than my Ultra Dot. However, I do like the tube as it is easy to grab and I center the dot in the middle of the tube. I have gone from 30mm tubes to 25 mm tubes because centering is easier. I thought I would prefer the larger field of view but it takes too long to find the dot in rapid and timed fire. You absolutely have to pay attention to your sight picture each and every shot for precision shooting.

If you have problems finding you red dot some sort of co-witness might help.
Below a combat glock RMR co-witness set up.