Reduced Recoil Spring for S&W 9mm 1911 Pro Series?

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

I spend most of my time on the revolver page, but I have a question about my S&W 1911 and this seems like a good place to ask it.

I bought this 9mm S&W 1911 Pro a couple of years ago. A guy at the range had one and I liked it, so I bought one. Overall, I am quite pleased with it. I like the sights, the trigger, the grip and everything else. But it's a bear to rack the slide for the first round.






My club just built some action bays, and we are gong to start to do some steel shooting. I don't want to run out and buy a new gun right now, and I thought this 1911 might be just the ticket. Although I have been shooting steel in Cowboy for a bazillion years, I will be a rank beginner at the various steel events with a semi-auto, but plenty of guys at the club are very experienced so I'm sure they will take me under their wing for a new shooting sport.

So back to the question. It really is a bear to rack the slide, which I am probably going to be doing a lot of in the action bays. So I'm wondering if I can put a slightly lighter spring so the slide won't be quite so difficult to rack. I went to the Wolff gunsprings sight, I have bought springs for revolvers for them before, but I am a bit stymied about this pistol. Wolff does not list this model for springs. So I went to the Colt 1911 section, and there are a bazillion choices, but I'm not sure if their springs will fit my S&W 1911. Yeah, I can probably call them and ask, there is a 800 number for technical support.

But I wanted to ask here about the feasibility of putting in a slighter recoil spring. Obviously it has to do its job correctly. Also, do I have to change out anything else? I'm perfectly happy with the trigger pull, and frankly I don't expect to be a top competitor, so I don't think I need a race gun. I just want to know what I should be aware of and if it is a good idea to install a lighter recoil spring.

Thanks

 

[JTQ]

But it's a bear to rack the slide for the first round.

Cock the hammer first. Truthfully, this is what I often do.

However, you can get a reduced mainspring or a reduced recoil spring. Find what works for your gun.

There shouldn't be anything odd about the S&W other than it is a 9mm gun, and those typically have a lighter recoil spring anyway. The factory recoil spring is probably 14 lbs, and you should be able to go to 12 lbs easily.

 

[Walkalong]

Cock the hammer first.

This really helps.

 

[UncleEd]

This might help:

Point gun down range.

Cock hammer as advised.

Grip slide firmly with off hand by serrations at back of gun.

Now push frame of gun forward with strong hand while holding
slide. (And of course keep finger away from trigger.) Then let
slide slam forward.

Also, JTQ is correct; recoil spring weight is probably 14 pounds.
You could replace it with a 12-pound spring weight. I suspect much
of the difficulty in racking the slide comes from a mainspring hammer
weight for total reliablity of ignition of all primers/brand
ammo that is readily available.

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

You don't want to go too low on spring strength. Unless you reduce your loads. Wrong spring for your ammo can beat the gun up more than desired. Work on your grip strength and pre cock the hammer like suggested.

Beautiful gun BTW.

 

[Tallball]

That is a very nice 1911. I'm more of a revolver guy, but nice 22 autos and 1911's make their way into my range bag pretty often.

 

[railroader]

The factory hammer spring should be around 23lbs. Go with an 18lb or 19lb spring. Go with a 10lb. recoil spring. I run a 9lb. recoil spring in my kimber 9mm. Here's a recoil spring chart that is helpful. https://dawsonprecision.com/recoil-firing-pin-springs-1911-government-size-by-wolff/?revpage=2

 

[Cemetery21]

And, as implied in the responses above, S&W uses standard 1911 recoil and main springs (mainspring controls hammer and recoil spring returns the slide to battery). I've had no issues going to 19 lbs on mainspring in many 1911s. Recoil spring really should be matched to your load. Light enough so that your load cycles and heavy enough to keep emptys in the same zip code on ejection.
With my ancient hands, I still do better when hammer is cocked.

 

[PO2Hammer]

I use a 22# mainspring and a 10# recoil spring in my 9mm Kimber. Still cock it first.