vette78

[vette78]

Hi guys, I have just changed the spring in my springfield loaded model 1911 to a 12 pound. I was loading 200 gr swc with 4.8 grains of bullseye. I would like to know if I can lower that to less than 4.8 with the same bullet and if so what would be a good load. Also I am going to start casting 45's using a lee mold with 230 grain round nose and want to know if anyone has a good load using bullseye for that bullet. It will be a tumble load bullet
thanks

[jmsj]

vette78,
I too have installed a 12 pound recoil spring in my 1911. My target load is 3.6 gr. Bullseye and a 200 SWC.

[Moonie]

With my 12lb spring in mine I load 200gr Mihec HP with 3.1gr of clays, about 600fps. Brass falls right at your right foot.

[vette78]

Thanks guys, anyone have any loads on the lee 230 grain round nose tumble lube bullet I am going to start casing those soon, and I would like to use the bullseye powder on those also with the 12 pound spring.

[gray wolf]

Could you tell us why you are so under sprung ?
I am well enlightened on light mouse loads and 10 or 12 pound springs so spare me that please.
The load you are shooting 4.8 grains of B/E will function fine with the set up Mr. Browning suggested--16# recoil spring and a 23# main spring. I shoot 4.3 of B/E with a 200 SWC
and a modified firing pin stop--flat bottom with a 1/16 radius ( original design ) that slows down the slide impulse even more for less muzzle flip and my pistol still functions fine.
I am thinking your slide speed would be very fast coming back and rather slow going back to battery. Also your ejection must be quite violent.
I can feel my pistol over working and under sprung with a 14 # recoil spring.
As for loads that work-- there is a way to work up loads that are correct for YOUR pistol.
How can you ask if you can go lower ? What does your load book say ?
Mine suggest a load of 3.5 B/E as a good target load.
I would really like to know your thoughts behind why you think this is an OK set up.
Perhaps I could learn something.
I could add more to this but I am not sure you would understand it.
I hope I have the wrong take on what you are doing. But I just can't get my head around
why you think what you have done is ok.
Please understand I am not trying to bash what you are doing
I just don't think it's correct for the pistol, I can understand light springs for light loads so so the pistol will function but 4.8 is not that light.

[MtGun44]

I use a full power spring in two 1911s that I shoot 200 gr boolits at the very light
load of 3.5 Titegroup. They work fine.

The only thing you will do with a lighter spring than needed is beat up the gun.

Use the heaviest spring that will function reliably to minimize slide impact to the frame.

JB knew very much what he was doing.

Bill

[Echo]

+1, Bill. I use stock springs in my house gun and my wad gun, with 200 gr 452460 and 3.6 grs BE. Accuracy and functioning. A 12-pound spring is unnecessary in any practical instance I am aware of.

[gray wolf]

As said in the posts after mine
" under springing of a 1911 in 45 Cal. is totally not needed."
I can see if perhaps there are optics mounted on the slide and you need a little more slide speed to over come the weight of the scope. But then again I would mount any glass on the frame.
The 1911 is a simple yet complex firearm, many people will agree that when you change one thing on it you may have to change three other things to compensate for it.
I hope the OP comes back and asks some questions be for he beats up his pistol.
That's what our forum is all about, asking questions and getting feed back.
It's not about being right or wrong--it's about an exchange of ideas and learning from each other. At least that's the way I look at it.


Sam

[AZ-Stew]

Many years ago I bought a Colt Gold Cup (second hand) which, if I'm not mistaken, was intended to shoot 185 gr SWC factory match loads. I wanted to shoot hardball through it, so I went out and bought a "stock" 1911 spring for it. With the stiffer spring it still shoots the 200 grain 452460 SWC with a target-level powder charge without malfunctions.

Don't beat up your gun with too light a spring.

Regards,

Stew

[mpmarty]

+1 on undersprung 1911s being suicidal. I got a spring assortment from Wolfe and using five grains of Red Dot and a 230 gr cast boolit I kept upping the spring weight until the empties just dropped next to me. Eighteen pounds did it. I believe that overspringing a pistol is as damaging as underspringing it. Battering slide stops etc.:violin:

[Dave C.]

I shoot 4.2 grain of Bullseye behind a H&G #68 (200 grains).
It will run my hardball gun that has a 22# recoil spring in it.

[rintinglen]

back in the 70's I ran a custom 45 with 3.4 grains of Bullseye and a 452-389 bullet. That gun had a lightened recoil spring and a 3.5 pound trigger.
On your quest for a good 230 grain load I shot a lot of 452-374's with 4.5 grains of Bullseye However, I am sure you want a heavier spring if you are going to run the heavier bullets.

[pistolman44]

You may want to use a shock buffer to keep the slide from slamming into the receiver. I build 1911's for a hobby and all my 1911's (12) even the Colt factory ones I always change out the spring for a heavier one. 5" slide replace with 18#, 4 1/4" go up to 20# and my compact 3 1/2" I use 24# spring. But I generally shoot 230gr. +P ammo in them. But they all function with reduced loads and 200gr SWC or HP.