ISO supplier for 1911 FLAT recoil spring sets

[Gary Wiant]

As the title states I'm in search of a supplier to purchase flat recoil spring set for my 1911 45 acp.

This gun is a recently purchased used Sig Sauer Scorpion so I assume the current recoil spring is stock but I'm not positive. This has a Ruger Magazine if that matters.

I'm having an issue with my slide not returning to the loaded position, (its about 1/8" - 1/4" from closing the whole way) it's the same with factory or handloads. The handloads (lighter target loads) eject but kind of just barely make it out. So I'm thinking I need a lighter spring so it will eject the handloads better but will the lighter springs have enough pressure to close the slide?

Also can I use round wire springs with a flat wire full length rod?

Thanks in advance
Gary

 

[mr45man]

Wolff springs.

 

[DirtySteve]

Yes you can use a FL guide rod with standard recoil springs.

 

[TIMO]

Gary,
Wilson combat makes a flat recoil spring for the 1911, I picked one up from Brownell's but have not had time to install it yet, it requires a smaller diameter guide rod sine the spring inside diameter is smaller. I usually run a 18.5 pound spring in my 1911's with no cycling issues with standard ball loads and moderate target lead SWC loads and usually replace the them somewhere around 3000 to 5000 rounds. I have used both the standard guide rod and plug set-up as well as a full length rod with no difference in reliability or accuracy. The issue you are having could be as simple as using a different magazine or could be several items that prevent it from closing and locking up. Additional info is needed, ie. are you shooting factory ammo or reloads, did you buy this pistol new or used.
Hope this helps some.
Tim

 

[Gary Wiant]

Mr45man - Wolff does not offer flat wire spring kits.

Dirty Steve - i know i can use full length rods with standard springs i was asking if i need a new guild rod or if i can use my flat wire guide rod, which Timo answered.

Timo - thanks for the reply, it is happening with both factory & handloads. Like I said in my post the gun was used so I am not sure if the springs are stock or not. Also I'm not sure how to tell what weight the spring is

 

[riflewoman]

By flat did you mean a “square’ wire recoil spring?

 

[Gary Wiant]

Riflewomen - ? When I ordered the full length rod from Wilson Combat it was called flat wire spring, by looking at the spring the wire looks flat to me but I'm new to semi-auto pistols.

Thanks

 

[riflewoman]

They can be had here https://www.sigsauer.com/store/recoil-spring-set-1911-fullsize-45acp.html
It seems there are longevity issues and other things with these flat wire springs, https://forums.1911forum.com/showthread.php?t=468528

Apparently Wilson makes a kit using a flat wire spring. http://shopwilsoncombat.com/Flat-Wi...-45-ACP-Chrome-Silicon-17-Lb/productinfo/614/

 

[riflewoman]

I see from the images it is a wound ribbon. Sometimes these are used to increase the number of active coils and therefore decrease the pitch between coils making the spring stiffer. From the above threads, the inside diameter is also smaller which would also increase the stiffness of the spring.

 

[Gary Wiant]

Riflewoman - yes i have found the individual flar spring i was hoping to find a kit with a couple different weights so I can tune the gun. If you & or anyone else thinks replacing the guide rod & springs with the standard round wire springs I'll do that as well. Would you recommend a full length or regular length rod?

 

[TIMO]

Gary,
I would recommend a new spring, (Colt (JMB) standard factory weight is 16#) and complete disassemble and thorough inspection and clean and lube. I would be looking at the chamber, extractor and breech face initially. Does it have the internal or external extractor?

Tim

 

[riflewoman]

I would recommend that you swap out the SIG flat wire spring with a Colt style 1911 spring and guide rod ( you may be able to use the guide rod you have) and see if that solves the problem. The spring you have came with the gun and these flat springs have a set lifetime. You just don’t know what happened to these springs you have. If the Colt springs work I’d just run with those. JMB wasn’t a genius but I see no reason to “make it better” as it was good enough.

 

[DirtySteve]

For what it's worth guide rods don't do any thing for accuracy. Some rods just make cleaning a pain.

 

[LitLBoy]

Here is a guess. previous owner cut the recoil spring so it would eject light loads. doesn't work for two reasons, it won't eject right and now you have the second problem in that it won't close the gun fully in to battery. If you want to shoot light loads buy a 10 or 12 # spring, it will eject the light loads and still close the gun fully in to battery.
LitLBoy

 

[LitLBoy]

For what it's worth, I think John M. Browning was a genius! No one will ever improve on his design by adding more parts and plastic parts!
LitLBoy

 

[mr45man]

Please don't take offence,
But some times "limp wristing" will cause
Problems .

 

[nicholst55]

I do three things with any used 1911 pistol that I buy:

1. Completely disassemble, clean and lube.
2. Inspect the sear and hammer for evidence of a 'bubba' trigger job. Replace as needed.
3. Replace the recoil spring. They definitely do have a finite life, and you have no idea how many rounds are on that recoil spring. With a new spring, you have a benchmark to judge spring life.

 

[Gary Wiant]

Ok so we got it working my son finally had a chance to check it out &he helped me out . I just had surgery on my shoulder so right now I'm one handed. He pulled it apart,cleaned lubed (with good lube) and polished some part on the rail & fired 2 magazines perfectly.

Yes I did disassemble & clean it when I bought it but apparently I either didn't lube the right parts or I didn't use enough lube. Which makes sense because i wiped everything down with a seal 1 rag & he put a lot more lube on it than I did.

Thank you to everyone for the help