1911 goverment Mainspring, lock time and accuracy

First topic message reminder :

This has been touched on in several topics but thought a topic on its own might be good. We have heard the mainspring does several things, slows or speeds up the slide depending on being heavy or light. Increases or decreases lock time of the hammer striking the firing pin. Weights most say run from 17 0n the light end to 23 on the heavy side. What do you find works best and does lock time have anything to do with accuracy or the ability to fire a accurate shot? It seems a M/S that causes the hammer to fall faster would be better, giving the shooter less time to move off target as the shot breaks but what sounds good isn't always true...

No it holds dimension well. Tapping it is not easy because the hole surface is hardened from the drilling. Sharp carbide cuts it easy but if the cutter get dull it's a bear to cut. Special taps for Ti are available and reamed holes need carbide. Trying to use another HSS drill or reamer in a previously drilled hole that is a few thousandths larger will result in a burned drill or reamer. If a 1/8" hole is drilled then a 1/4" drill us used it will work but if the drill cutting edges are looked at there will be a groove 1/8" in diameter in the face of the 1/4" HSS drill. When I made the frame I used carbide cutting tools.

All in knowing how. Thanks for the info.  What was that about the Hamden HS guns? I've not heard of them.

Two stupid questions, will a light mainspring lead to light primer strikes and if my gun has trouble cycling short line loads does changing the mainspring prior to going to a #10 recoil spring, make a difference? 

I want to run as heavy a recoil spring as possible because the gun seems to group better with 11 and 12 pound springs.

Several factors affect light strikes; too light mainspring, dirty chamber (rounds move forward through the grunge from firing pin strike), headspace too deep, etc. If barrel lock up is marginal you will definitely need heavier recoil spring to keep in battery longer for 50 yard accuracy. 25 yards probably hardly noticeable.

If you increase mainspring for 10# spring it will probably help to keep in battery longer. Also could use square firing pin stop to keep in battery longer.
Jon

Jon got to it while I was typing.  I will only add that springs are cheap, so it is easy to experiment here.  Also, changing mainspring weight will change your trigger pull, so you may need to adjust.