Marvel Spring options

got a used Marvel and am not quite sure which spring is in it. I’m guessing 8 or 9. Everything cycles great except for Aguila Pistol Match, from the few options I’ve tried. The Aguila pistol match will have a failure every mag or two and can’t quit get the round to fully eject. Is this a spring issue? I’ve heard I can try Wolff springs made for model 41? If so any recommendations on spring weight?

CCI SV shot ok for me, but SK Pistol Match special and Aguila Pistol math shot great groups. If I can adjust the springs to make it more reliable than the Aguila is a much cheaper option. Thanks

Buy the marvel springs. Check out their website. The springs should be color coded on one end

I ran the 9# spring in my Marvel and Nelson for a while with no issues. Then I began having issues. Going to the 8# yellow spring helped a lot.

+1 on the 8# spring for CCI SV.  They have 10, 9, 8, 7, and 6# available as packs. If you call Travis Frerking at the number on the web site they will sell you one each of whatever ones you want to try.   I have also found my Marvel runs best when I don't clean it as much.  I take it down for cleaning say every 500-750 rounds and just run a dry bore snake through it afterwards otherwise (plus put a little oil on the ramp, extractor, and recoil rod) and it seems to run better that way for whatever reason.  Curious if others have had similar experience with it running better drirty-ish.

I also meant to say it comes with the 9# (black - no color added on end).

I run Aguila pistol match in my old Marvel non lock back..

I use a 7 - 7.5lb Wolff model 41 springs( yes 41 springs work perfectly in the Marvels. may be what the factory uses ?)

the aguila pistol match is similar to SK pistol match in that it is lighter than most Std. velocity.. in my Marvel it's worth the effort to make it work.

Wolfs did not work on my old Nelsons. I would go with #8 all day, 100% reliable in my experience. If you are using SK or Lapua #7 may be better. However for CCI, CECO, and Aquilla 100% all day with an #8 spring and my Marvel was a 6 inch barrel, my guess is 5 inch would not be an issue with any ammo using #8.

I run a late model steel lock back Unit 1 with a white spring with CCI SV and SK Jagd Std Plus. I found out that cleaning every 400 to 500 rounds is good, because often after a cleaning I have to put a drop of oil on the first round of each 10 shots for maybe 80 to 100 shots gets the unit "seasoned" to where it was before cleaning. From then on out no oil is needed. I count running a bore snake through once or twice as cleaning-it disrupts the reliability and requires the oil trick all over again. Strange but true! It's worth putting up with because it's been accurate and very reliable once it gets "dirty"

Getting a Marvel, or any of the conversion units, working properly is usually a fairly simple matter of adjusting the springs to work with whatever ammo you plan to use.   Basically a total energy thing.   The 22 ammo you use not only has to compress the recoil spring in the conversion to move the slide back far enough, it also has to cock the hammer on the 1911 lower.   People forget about this part.   If the main spring (hammer spring) on the lower is 19# or so, it will likely work with the usually stock 9# recoil spring in the conversion.   Many gunsmiths use a stronger main spring (21-23#) which requires more energy to compress, and therefore to cock the hammer.   In that case you will probably have to go to an 8# recoil spring, or maybe even a 7# if your 22 ammo is a little softer shooting.   Experiment and see what works.   The basic rule is the same as for the 45.   Determine what load you are going to use and then change the recoil spring to make the gun function properly.

CraigB5940 wrote:I run a late model steel lock back Unit 1 with a white spring with CCI SV and SK Jagd Std Plus. I found out that cleaning every 400 to 500 rounds is good, because often after a cleaning I have to put a drop of oil on the first round of each 10 shots for maybe 80 to 100 shots gets the unit "seasoned" to where it was before cleaning. From then on out no oil is needed. I count running a bore snake through once or twice as cleaning-it disrupts the reliability and requires the oil trick all over again. Strange but true! It's worth putting up with because it's been accurate and very reliable once it gets "dirty"

Yup, I used to put 4/5 drops of Lucas oil in a plastic sandwich bag and roll tumble 100 bullets. Same out come but keeps the gun cleaner. In a match I do not use those bullets for the long line and SK do not need that just CCI and Aquilla because the lube gets dried up.

Older (orig.) Marvel target conversion I use a stock S&W 41 recoil spring, modified CP shok-buff and AA magazines. 99.9% reliable. 

My experience: On some (mostly SA) frames the AA conversion mags fit tight & should be filed narrower on the sides. --- Russ

of possible interest:
https://lanbosarmory.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=3&products_id=11405
 

https://lanbosarmory.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=117&products_id=5832