Any consensus on how to reliably run a lighter hammer spring?

[TBmallNinja]

I currently have a 13# hammer spring in my SP-01 tactical, and while I'd like to keep it that way, I would be willing to move up to a 15# spring. I've done a lot of reading about modifying the firing pin, cutting the firing pin spring, ordering a CGW reduced pressure firing pin spring etc. I ordered the Kadet II kit for my SP-01 on the basis of its sturdiness over the SP-01 specific kit, and hopefully it'll be here soon. I'm just not looking to change up the trigger pull too much from what it is now.

[TBmallNinja]

Is there anywhere that sells these parts for the kadet?

[RBRK]

He is talking a kadet kit right? No primers and no extended firing pins available for the kadet kits.

[TBmallNinja]

I'm talking about the kadet kit. Otherwise, I wouldn't be on this subforum. My gun shoots 9mm without a hiccup with the 13# spring, extended firing pin, and reduced power firing pin spring.

[painter]

CGW used to offer an extended firing pin, and a reduced power spring.

They were discontinued several years ago.

I posted the reduced power spring dimensions a while back. You should be able to find something very close, whether online, or at an ACE hardware.

https://czfirearms.us/index.php?topic=104837.msg846159#msg846159

[TBmallNinja]

Wow, that’s very helpful, painter! Do you think I am best off looking for a spring like that or simply removing coils from the stock spring?

[painter]

My understanding of how springs work is that length, or preload, only affects the amount of energy it takes to start to compress the spring further. By shortening the spring, you are reducing preload, not lightening the spring.

Finer, thinner, wire diameter makes for a lighter spring. I'd try to get one that is close to those dimensions. Keep in mind that the firing pin spring also maintains tension on the retaining plate. If you go any finer, the plate may wander.

[Joe L]

TB==even try a spring from a ball point pen on the firing pin.  I used one for a few weeks after losing a proper spring in my shop.   

A little background.  Many of us have tried to do exactly what you are trying to do.  I can only speak for myself, but the best way for me to keep the 13# spring for 9mm was to change out the hammer spring when using the Kadet slide.  I use a 17# hammer spring and Norma Tac 22 ammo and never have light strikes if the firing pin hole is clean.  I use the Kadet conversion in bullseye matches so reliability is very important.  4 or 5 light strikes in a match of 90 rounds is 4 or 5 too many. 

It takes a fixed minimum amount of energy to crush the rim of a .22 round.  You won't get there with a 13# spring no matter what else you do.  You will get there with a 15# most of the time, but not all.  The 17 is what I found I had to have.   You won't get the same feel for first shot DA but such is life.  The minimum is the minimum.  CCI requires a little more energy than Norma.  Again, just a fact of life. 

Joe

[TBmallNinja]

Thanks to both of you for your responses. I found a spring very similar to the CGW spring that painter posted in the other thread, but unfortunately the site required a $40 minimum for an order (the spring itself was $3 I think). I will put a 15# spring in and see if it can reliably ignite the Federal Champion I will put through it. If not, I will consider a 17# hammer spring or hunt more for a reduced firing pin spring. I wanted to keep the 15# spring so I could keep using the CGW extended firing pin for 9mm so that I wouldn't have to admit I wasted money on it lol.

[TBmallNinja]

Also, I got my Kadet in today. Luckily for me, I received the newer version with the Sp-01 length slide rails on it. https://imgur.com/a/3lrUqB9

[Andres B]

TB==even try a spring from a ball point pen on the firing pin.  I used one for a few weeks after losing a proper spring in my shop.   

A little background.  Many of us have tried to do exactly what you are trying to do.  I can only speak for myself, but the best way for me to keep the 13# spring for 9mm was to change out the hammer spring when using the Kadet slide.  I use a 17# hammer spring and Norma Tac 22 ammo and never have light strikes if the firing pin hole is clean.  I use the Kadet conversion in bullseye matches so reliability is very important.  4 or 5 light strikes in a match of 90 rounds is 4 or 5 too many. 

It takes a fixed minimum amount of energy to crush the rim of a .22 round.  You won't get there with a 13# spring no matter what else you do.  You will get there with a 15# most of the time, but not all.  The 17 is what I found I had to have.   You won't get the same feel for first shot DA but such is life.  The minimum is the minimum.  CCI requires a little more energy than Norma.  Again, just a fact of life. 

 I use 13 mainspring cause am too lazy to mess with spring change every time I use Kadet.
 So far worst ammo used was Lapua in a can. HP, square nose, unknown velocity. All kinds of malfs. CCI developed most FTF, but when it fired, worked well. My friend uses 10! lbs mainspring coz he is lazy too. Works with Sellier, totally brainfarts with CCI.
 Best performers so far were Sellier SV LRN and Topshot SV LRN target. No probs whatsoever. So CCI just sucks probably:)))))))
Dunno bout accuracy, coz not tryin to hit mosquito in the eye on 100 meters:))))))) I don't mind. Those just work. Of course, available ammo list in Europe is much different than yours.

Joe

[painter]

Thanks to both of you for your responses. I found a spring very similar to the CGW spring that painter posted in the other thread, but unfortunately the site required a $40 minimum for an order (the spring itself was $3 I think). I will put a 15# spring in and see if it can reliably ignite the Federal Champion I will put through it. If not, I will consider a 17# hammer spring or hunt more for a reduced firing pin spring. I wanted to keep the 15# spring so I could keep using the CGW extended firing pin for 9mm so that I wouldn't have to admit I wasted money on it lol.

ACE hardware stores have great spring selections. If you have one nearby, give it a try.

[Andres B]

 Sry, didn't mean to modify JoeL post.
 My part and personal opinion looks like this,
Paste
 I use 13 mainspring cause am too lazy to mess with spring change every time I use Kadet.
 So far worst ammo used was Lapua in a can. HP, square nose, unknown velocity. All kinds of malfs. CCI developed most FTF, but when it fired, worked well. My friend uses 10! lbs mainspring coz he is lazy too. Works with Sellier, totally brainfarts with CCI.
 Best performers so far were Sellier SV LRN and Topshot SV LRN target. No probs whatsoever. So CCI just sucks probably:)))))))
Dunno bout accuracy, coz not tryin to hit mosquito in the eye on 100 meters:))))))) I don't mind. Those just work. Of course, available ammo list in Europe is much different than yours.

[DenStinett]

Also, I got my Kadet in today. Luckily for me, I received the newer version with the Sp-01 length slide rails on it. https://imgur.com/a/3lrUqB9

Love it
Even-though I have a 2002 KADET (1), I really like your Model KADET
I know it's just cosmetic, but it matches my B-SA Upper

[Joe L]

Best performers so far were Sellier SV LRN and Topshot SV LRN target. No probs whatsoever. So CCI just sucks probably:)))))))
Dunno bout accuracy, coz not tryin to hit mosquito in the eye on 100 meters:))))))) I don't mind. Those just work. Of course, available ammo list in Europe is much different than yours.

That would explain a lot.  Maybe the European ammo is just easier to crush at the rim than the North American ammo.  If so, that is great for folks that want to run the lighter hammer spring. 
Joe