recoil springs

How do you test a recoil spring for poundage if its out of its package?

There are a few threads on the subject. Use the search feature for "spring weight".

Thread 1
Thread 2

Dillon sells a spring tester for around 40 bucks, unless you have a bunch not really feasible.
If you have a known spring in a pack you can measure the coil diameter and see if the one you have is stronger (thicker wire) or lighter (thinner wire)












i

In this discussion to misquote Einstein on relativity and matter I think He said "If your not relative you don't matter"or maybe it was "all things are relative" . I have a lot of springs and even though I mark them or file them or think I know what is in a certain pistol there is sometimes some confusion about what spring I am changing out in a pistol. I made this spring tester out of parts I had in the garage. If you know the strength of just 2 springs you can make something just like this.Exact weight of the testing weight and how far it compresses when you place a weight is not important.All things are relative.Mark how low it goes with a 12lb spring and how low with a 16 (or whatever springs your sure about) and calibrate from there.

I said that the exact weight of the testing weight doesn't matter but it is important that you use enough weight.I use two lead weights that total 10 lbs.

The K.I.S.S. principle.  I love it.

Jim

Steve Bathje on the Bullseye mailing list sells a simple spring tester.  You use a trigger scale.  Only costs 25.00.  It will check weight on Govt., Commander, and Officer models.  He sells them through ebay with a number of other handy tools.  His username is rrpmi. 

I have one and it works perfectly.

sixftunda wrote:Steve Bathje on the Bullseye mailing list sells a simple spring tester.  You use a trigger scale.  Only costs 25.00.  It will check weight on Govt., Commander, and Officer models.  He sells them through ebay with a number of other handy tools.  His username is rrpmi. 

I have one and it works perfectly.

many trigger scales wont work as they don't go high enough , luggage or fish scale works better.

Thanks for the info.