P01 recoil spring replacement schedule

[Kymarkh]

How many rounds before replacing the recoil spring is recommended?  I'm at around 2500 through my SDP and have not noticed any change in function or ejection pattern but thought I would ask.  Planning to replace it asap.

[SI VIS PACEM PARRABELLUM]

I replace round wire recoil springs at at 3-4000 rnds. The flat wire springs last till the cows come home. I'm letting those go to 5000 plus and not seeing any change in performance.

[jurek]

I switched all my recoil springs for flat wire. As SI VIS PACEM PARRABELLUM posted, you are good for at least 5k rounds.
I bought flat wire recoil spring for my 1911 from Wilson Combat 2 years ago, they said it would last for 40k. I'm in 1/4 of this... still no changes in functionality. But this one is 5" barrel, and they say - shorter spring, shorter lifetime.
My flat recoil in P-01 has +/- 3k and works like new one.

[john seeley]

I have a 5 year old PCR and a 1 year old P01 and both only have about 2000 rounds. Why is my PCR spring a half inch shorter than the P01? Is this from storage/age or the  amount of rounds or both? The PCR works fine... just wondering about the spring lengths.

[SI VIS PACEM PARRABELLUM]

Springs can and will take a "set" over time from use and even after a single range session you'll see a change in length. Storage and age have no bearing on that really. Sometimes they present that way. I've had them "set" at varying lengths in the same gun with the same amount of use many times. If they're the flat wire type spring at only 2K you still have some life left in them.

[john seeley]

I've had them "set" at varying lengths in the same gun with the same amount of use many times. If they're the flat wire type spring at only 2K you still have some life left in them.

Man, you're a wealth of information. Thanks. Yes.. just the factory flat springs.. Why the "set" difference with the same number of rounds if storage/age is not a factor? Just differences in steel properties? Just happened to notice this when cleaning my PCR & P01 at the same time. Sorry if I'm a bit off topic.

[SI VIS PACEM PARRABELLUM]

Hard to say exactly why they set at different lengths although it is strange. When the pistol is just sitting untouched there's not THAT much tension on the spring unless you are storing the pistol with the slide locked back which I doubt. Best I can come up with is that while the springs are SUPPOSED to be manufactured at a certain rate level I'm pretty sure it's not exact so that probably has something to do with it. Some may simply not be as stout as others.
A couple other things could factor in such as maybe a gun that has fired a higher quantity of hotter rnds than another even though each gun has the same number of rounds fired. Also heat will absolutely affect a spring so if one gun was shot enough to reach higher temps than another that will factor in. Remember the barrel can get hot enough to burn a blister on skin and that spring is directly below it. I've had my pistols hot enough to sizzle water on the barrel so take that for what it's worth.

[john seeley]

Cool. Thanks.

[jurek]

Springs are specifically designed to deform in order to absorb energy from outside stress, then return to their natural state when they release that energy.
Temperature, constant compression/decompression and very long time in compressed state - these are factors that weaken the springs.
Perhaps the length of the spring doesn't matter, you can have few different lengths with the same weight, but definitely barrel length  plays a role for spring's lifetime.
Short barrel handguns require frequent recoil spring changes than full size handguns because of more stress put on the spring in smaller gun.

So answering OP question....  3K for regular spring and I'll go with 10K (at least) for flat wire spring.

If casings are ejected 5 yards away - that means it's time for a new recoil spring.

[Kymarkh]

Great feedback and discussion, thanks!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[bullseye717]

Any ones folks recommend.

[M1A4ME]

Somewhere I read that the flatwire springs are supposed to last 3 to 5 times longer than the coil wire springs.  So I bought one for my Colt 1911 (that hasn't been shot in years.)

[jurek]

Somewhere I read that the flatwire springs are supposed to last 3 to 5 times longer than the coil wire springs.  So I bought one for my Colt 1911 (that hasn't been shot in years.)

And that's the true.
I spoke with Wilson Combat support before I replaced my first recoil spring in 1911.
I was given 3 options
- conventional spring (up to 4K rds)
- chrome silicon spring (up to 20K rds)
- flat wire spring (with no lifespan, but tech told me these are good for up to 40K rds)

Conventional and chrome springs work with original guide rod. Flat Wire spring requires .250" OD guide rod.

I setup flat spring and actually lost counting with rounds. 40K rds seems like a pistols or my lifespan...