RE: change of grip

Question
QUESTION:






Hi! I changed the recoil spring of my M1911 rock island
commander size pistol with Wolff 16lbs. I notice that the
original recoil spring of my firearm is shorter than by
the one I bought "Wolff" by at least an inch. I already
installed it and it shoots good and cocks the slide smoothly. My question is this Okey? Does it will not affect
the reliability and accuracy?
Thanks.... Rickie







ANSWER: Rickie,

The Rock Island guns are good guns, but to be the bargain they are they had to skimp somewhere, and the place where most firearms manufacturers do that is with the springs.

I don't think I own a pistol that the recoil springs and magazine springs have not be replaced on with either Wolff or ISMI.

Bottom line is that I'm not at all surprised that the original spring is that short, which shows how much of a set the spring has taken.  If the Wolff spring is working in your gun, it's fine, and you've probably just increased the life of the frame by several thousand rounds simply by changing that spring.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for your prompt response, by the way not only the
recoil spring has been changed also the firing pin spring. I already shoot my firearms by more than a thousand rounds. Can you give me the advantage of using a wolff spring than the
original factory made recoil spring. Have a Merry Christmas!
Thanks

Answer
Wolff springs have been a standard in the industry since the 1970s. It is common to see Wolff springs spec'd on a trigger or action job. The original Wolff springs are the same "piano wire" type springs as are commonly used, but use higher quality material and better quality control to produce springs that are more consistent and last longer.

ISMI springs are made of a newer material called Chrome Silicone. This material is reputed not to take a "set" like piano wire does, and because of that Wolff has begun to offer springs in this material, although they don't like it as much, saying that it is softer than the material their other springs are made of.

The ISMI springs advertise that they are shot-peened and stress relieved to insure that they do not break. I'm certain that the Wolff springs are also stress relieved, and have never heard of any of their springs breaking.

Generally, the advantages of the Wolff springs are 1) true weight (if it says 16#, it generally is a little heavier than 16# and will take a set down to 16# - most cheap springs are at or below the rated weight and go down from there), 2) They do not easily take a set so they last longer. 3) They are more consistent in the stacking of weight over the distance of the travel.

Wolff sends an extra power firing pin spring with the recoil springs because the firing pin on 1911s is inertial. Since the new spring will undoubtedly cause the gun to lock up faster/hard, they want to be sure that you don't get a slam fire (which cheap, under weight fp springs have been known to cause).

Although I've never had any problem with any Wolff fp spring, I couldn't hurt to change it out every time you change a recoil springs, since the fp spring comes with the recoil spring.

Merry Christmas to you as well.