S&W M6906 and M3913 Recoil Spring Replacement Interval?

[msmp5]

A question for you knowledgeable folks: Is there a recommended interval (time? number of rounds?) to replace the recoil spring of a S&W 9mm Model 6906 and 3913? Both are my primary EDC guns, usually the 6906, but I take the 8 shot M3913 when I travel to states with high cap mag bans. I've had both guns for about 25 years, and I probably put 200-250 rounds through each one per year..... maybe 5000-6000 rounds total (each) through them over the 25 years I've owned them. They were both used when I bought them, with no idea of how many rounds had been through them before (though I'm guessing not too many). I still shoot both guns regularly, and both function flawlessly with any ammo I put through them........ which makes me a bit reluctant to do anything to them, but...... springs do weaken over time, so that's why I am asking. And, where would be a good place to buy recoil springs for these guns? (I searched on Brownells and couldn't find them.)

 

[Bama59]

From what I've read depends on where your brass ejects , Wolff Springs should have recoil springs. I bought a service pack with factory rated recoil spring, the mag release spring and plunger has been the only thing replaced on my 5906

 

[1911art]

If they were my guns with 5k rounds I would replace the springs. Like Bama59 said Wolff has good springs, I’ve gone through a lot of them. I tune my guns to eject brass 4-6ft. Farther than that, depending on the gun, you might have the slide coming back harder than optimal. Less than that, you might have reliability issues or battering of the frame and slide - springs work both ways.

Here’s the S&W springs.

https://www.gunsprings.com/SMITH & WESSON/NUMBERED SERIES/cID1/mID58/dID261#876

 

[msmp5]

Hmmmm..... While we are talking about springs, with a 5000+ round count on these guns, should I also replace the other springs, like the firing pin spring, main spring, (any others)? My reluctance to do so stems from the fact they they continue to run flawlessly, with nothing more than regular field stripping and cleaning. Like: If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it? OTOH, I know mechanical things do usually require preventative maintenance to keep them operating properly, and as EDC guns, I do basically “bet my life” on them. Your input and opinions are greatly appreciated.

 

[GRIZ22]

The agency I worked for issued 6906s for about 10 years from the late 80s to late 90s. We had few issues with them but somewhere in the 90s we were told to swap recoil springs every 3000 rounds. That would be about every 3 years for the agent who just qualified and shot exercises every quarter. Other springs lasted the 10 years with no issues. That would be about 10,000 rds plus.

A more problematic issue was the way people were cleaning their guns. Many just inverted the slide, slopped solvent on the inside and wiped the solvent off. The solvent washed debris into the firing pin channel and eventually locked up the firing pin. I saw this happen to or 6 times out of a few hundred guns.