Springs n things

[Grendel]

I'm posting this here because my question does not pertain (other than generally) to CZs but to my Sig 226 9mm.

I have recently bought a '94 226 9mm. When I do the 'fire a pencil out of the barrel' test, the pencil doesn't make it out. Do I need a new hammer spring?

On the same subject, I have a new set of Sig springs in the gun, what are the advantages (if any) of changing them out for Wolf's (or other manufacturers) spring kits? If I do, what is the relationship between the mainspring:recoil spring in weight? By that I mean, if I install a heavier recoil spring, do I need a lighter mainspring and hammer spring or what?

What difference will the various combinations make to the gun?



Thanks

[Walt-Sherrill]

Make it out of the barrel?

Do you mean, it doesn't go all the way out, or doesn't move enough to be seen (as having moved.)

It shouldn't necessarily shoot out of the barrel, but you should be able to see movement -- if the pencil is long enough.

(If the gun fires properly, you should be concerned.)

There is no hard "scientific" pairing of springs like you ask about.  A ligher recoil spring can be paired with a heavier hammer spring to keep recoil under control (about the same), and vice versa.  A heavier hammer spring, however, will give you a much heavier trigger pull.  

A heavier firing pin spring used to be installed when they went to a heavier recoil spring to minimize the risk of slam fires -- but with firing pin blocks, this is not a big concern.

If your gun is functioning properly, don't replace anything.  Just get standard replacement springs of the same weight as stock for eventual use.

[Grendel]

Thanks..I was just wondering about maybe getting a slightly lighter mainspring to ease up the DA pull, nothing too extreme,

As for the 'pencil test', when I hold the gun vertical, the pencil does indeed move about 3 inches, but not all the way out of the barrel, I was expecting it to 'ping' about 2 or 3 feet (judging by some posts I've seen on the subject). One poster on Sigforum suggested my hammer spring might be worn, but as I said before, the gun functions fine as is. So I am looking for a consensus opinion from other people who have tried the test.

[Walt-Sherrill]

I just tried the "test" on 7-8 of my handguns, all CZ or clones.

The distance the pencil moved varied from a couple of feet for the EAA Witness in .40, to barely 4-inches (up the barrel, not OUT) with a 75B Compact, to 4-5 inches (not out) on a 75B in .40, to 12 inches, total, with a stock Sphinx, and a couple of feet with the 85 Combat.

All of these guns function perfectly -- and it varied from staying in the barrel to going several feet.  I've got different weigth hammer springs, and I can't remember what's got what.

The real test is: do they shoot well and reliably?

[Grendel]

Quote:The distance the pencil moved varied from a couple of feet for the EAA Witness in .40, to barely 4-inches (up the barrel, not OUT) with a 75B Compact, to 4-5 inches (not out) on a 75B in .40, to 12 inches, total, with a stock Sphinx, and a couple of feet with the 85 Combat.

That's quite a range of travel!

I'm not going to worry about it, when the time comes I may just buy an extra mainspring and drop a couple of pounds just to try it out.

Thanks for the input.

[angus hobdell]

I work on about 12" Almost everthing that I teted works with the rod leaving and going 12" bissgets problem is you need the rod out of the correct material. What ahppens is the firing pin make a hole in the lead of the pencil and now it does not work any more I use a plastic chop stick.