When to replace a recoil spring

[mesinge2]

All but one of the pistols I have are 1911s. I usually replace government model springs around 3,000 rounds and officer/defender model springs around 750 rounds.

Well, my non-1911 is a Taurus PT-92. It has been a great gun, very accurate and it hasn't jammed yet. Well, it has about 2,000 rounds through it so far and I contacted Taurus to ask them when to replace the spring. They actually said around 100,000 rounds.
I mean come on, really 100,000!!

I can't believe that.

Does anyone know when I should replace the the recoil spring?

 

[JDGray]

Does anyone know when I should replace the the recoil spring?

When your brass flies farther than 6'-8'

 

[bobelk99]

Going to be hard to find a user who knows more than the EOM.

If the gun is not for defense, why not run it till it malfunctions, and insert the spare spring at that time?

Otherwise, 3K is my vote, 1911 or not.

 

[Shadow 7D]

My KT P40 throws brass about 30' in the air, but it lands about 6'-8' away from me...

 

[JDGray]

My KT P40 throws brass about 30' in the air, but it lands about 6'-8' away from me...

If its anything like the P11 I had, the brass goes in all dirrections

 

[Shadow 7D]

Naw, was pretty consistent, except for the ones I sent rainbowing over the line cover. My wife was kinda concerned about what the pa-chunk on the tin was every time I shot. The P11 isn't nearly as bad, I mean I looked up and saw the case really up there, but most of the energy was vertical.

 

[Ron James]

If you are changing the recoil springs after only 3000 rounds you are just wasting money. I might consider changing them after maybe 50000 rounds but only if I was having problems. Why fix something that isn't broke or likely to break? JMHO and I have others. The only reason I change recoil springs in a 1911 is to change the weigh such as changing from a 16 lb spring to a 22 lb spring. The spring manufactures must love you.

 

[9mmepiphany]

If you are changing the recoil springs after only 3000 rounds you are just wasting money.

that might be a little harsh, although i can understand why you'd think that as the .45 ACP really is pretty mild when launched from a 5" GM length 1911.

i think of changing recoil springs much as i do of changing oil in a car...it's cheap and easy to do and it's cheap preventive maintenance

most guns are OK with a spring change between 3k-5k rounds for assured reliability. i wouldn't go beyond 3K rounds with a high intensity chambering like the .40 or 357Sig. on pistols which have a narrow operating window...like a 1911 with a barrel/slide much shorter than 4.25"...i'd be looking at changes around the 1500rd mark and i remember the Wilson Custom ADP 9mm which recommended recoil spring changes every 1k rounds

 

[Oro]

When your brass flies farther than 6'-8'

Good answer. If you are shooting enough rounds regularly to worry about it, you are going to notice when the slide is recoiling differently based on the brass behavior. I don't know the "sweet" spot on the M9/92, but from my limited experience with it, this sounds about right.

Watch the brass, watch the gun. You'll know when it's time. If you get a used gun that you don't know and looks well-worn, do it right away.

 

[Shadow 7D]

Consider that this is the gun that is issued to the army, and that a small unit can do over 100K rounds in a 2 day range, and not because they are such great shots...
so if they say that it's good for that many, then it's probably what is in the TM, and if you want to check
usapa.army.mil
search for the TM on the M9
look for the 30 level, that is the gunsmiths manual (as in the guy above unit armorer, armory rebuild type) they will have all the info you could ever want.

 

[bobelk99]

Link should be www.army.mil/usapa