What Weight Recoil Spring for My 1911

I've been out of the Bullseye game for about a decade and I'm looking to shoot again with a goal of shooting at Camp Perry in 2018.  When we shot the GI Hardball, I used heavy springs in my 1911.  Now that we can roll our own, I'm shooting 4.0gr of Bullseye with a 230gr ball on top.  What weight spring are you using for your reduced loads?  Thanks for your input!

David
Fort Worth, Texas

US Air Force (Retired)
1989 - 2010
Distinguished Rifleman - Presidents 100 - NRA Life Member - Texas State Rifle Association Life Member

That might cycle with an 18lb recoil spring with a 19lb mainspring. If you still are running a GI mainspring, I'm guessing a 16lb recoil might cut it...

For the last couple of years I have been loading anywhere from 3.6 to 4.0 of B/E behind a 185-200 gr LSWC. I've been using Wolff variable rate 16.5 recoil springs. That might be overkill though. Jon Eulette just re-built my Hoag 6" longslide & set it up with a 12 # RS. I generally shoot target light loads so I will probably be changing out all 5 of my guns to 12 # springs to avoid hammering them to death. YMMV.

usafmarksman wrote:I've been out of the Bullseye game for about a decade and I'm looking to shoot again with a goal of shooting at Camp Perry in 2018.  When we shot the GI Hardball, I used heavy springs in my 1911.  Now that we can roll our own, I'm shooting 4.0gr of Bullseye with a 230gr ball on top.  What weight spring are you using for your reduced loads?  Thanks for your input!

David
Fort Worth, Texas

US Air Force (Retired)
1989 - 2010
Distinguished Rifleman - Presidents 100 - NRA Life Member - Texas State Rifle Association Life Member

David just a heads up, the CMP has changed the rules to any safe jacked ammo for service pistol. Most of us are running the zero 185jhp under 4.0 bullseye(short line) and 4.5 bullseye (long line). You should be ok with a 16lb recoil spring with the 230 load you posted or the 185

Chris,

Thanks for the reply! So 185 JHP is the current trend? I read the rules over the weekend, and they don’t allow semi-wad cutters even if jacket correct?

usafmarksman wrote:Chris,

Thanks for the reply!  So 185 JHP is the current trend?  I read the rules over the weekend, and they don’t allow semi-wad cutters even if jacket correct?

Those are legal as well. Just the 185jhp seem more popular. Also beaver tails and legal, non spur hammers, some plastic guns, even 1911 in 9mm

I have a bunch of 230 jrn bullets. I use 3.8gr BE for both long and short line. They shoot great.
Jon

Chris Miceli wrote:

usafmarksman wrote:Chris,

Thanks for the reply!  So 185 JHP is the current trend?  I read the rules over the weekend, and they don’t allow semi-wad cutters even if jacket correct?

Those are legal as well. Just the 185jhp seem more popular. Also beaver tails and legal, non spur hammers, some plastic guns, even 1911 in 9mm

1911 in 9mm-45acp all legal.

4.2.3 Approved U. S. Service Pistols and Commercial Equivalents
a) U. S. Government or Colt M1911 Service Pistols or commercial versions of the same type (M1911). These pistols may be chambered for any cartridge with a bore diameter not less than 9mm and not greater than .45” and have a barrel length not greater than 5.100”.
- Dave

I've been shooting the Zero 185 jhp with 4.6 gr bullseye. Works with a 16 or 14 lb spring.