Recoil spring question

I'm shooting 200gr  LSWC, over 4grs Bullseye in a 1911. Pistol is not ejecting reliably, spring is obviously too heavy. I have the Wolff assortment of springs, what do you use/suggest?

I would replace your spring with the highest one you have and fire it. Work your way down in springs till it runs the way you want.

OK. I have a 17.5 in it for Major IPSC right now, I was just asking to get a good starting point, I will work my way down.

I have shot a few rounds of 4.0 bullseye through my hardball gun with factory 16 spring. 25 rounds with no problem.

Depends a lot on whether you use a dot sight mounted on the slide, which adds a lot of weight. Bomar rib would do the same.  If so, you are going to wind up somewhere in the 10-12 pound range.  If the slide is unweighted you will be higher.  Stock springs are about 16 usually, so you will probably be below that.  Your IPSC spring is clearly too much.

I shoot 3.8gr Bullseye under 200gr LSWC and with iron sights I run an 18lb spring and I was going to go up to a 20lb because the brass comes out so fast, it bounces off my brass catcher instead of going in.

When I shoot the same gun and the same ammo with a slide mounted dot, a 10lb recoil spring is perfect. Just stiff enough to allow the last shot to lock the slide back.

Thanks guys!

Rob, if I may suggest go with a heavier main spring instead of going up in your recoil spring.  Heavier main spring will slow the slide down "better" then a heavier recoil spring that is going to make the front of the slide dip when it goes back into battery.  You may also want to go with a small radius firing pin stop to help retard the slide as well.

That's a good idea.  I didn't think of that!

kc.crawford.7 wrote:Rob, if I may suggest go with a heavier main spring instead of going up in your recoil spring.  Heavier main spring will slow the slide down "better" then a heavier recoil spring that is going to make the front of the slide dip when it goes back into battery.  You may also want to go with a small radius firing pin stop to help retard the slide as well.

Won't this also raise the trigger pull weight though? 1911 newb asking.

Yes, it will effect your trigger weight, but KC knows that I know how to change the leaf spring tension to compensate without messing up the function of the gun.

KenO wrote:I'm shooting 200gr  LSWC, over 4grs Bullseye in a 1911. Pistol is not ejecting reliably, spring is obviously too heavy. I have the Wolff assortment of springs, what do you use/suggest?

If your gun is on the verge, saying it works most of the time but not locking back some of the time, either up your powder a tenth or two or try cutting one coil off the recoil spring, many times this cures the issue.