The Art and Science of Keeping Your 1911 Running

[Corse]

I have been using an old series 1 kimber CCO for a while. I needs frequent recoil spring changes, but other than that no issues.

I did try using on of the CMC mags for the officer size, but it would hit the ejector when fully inserted. The good news it that with a base plate swap it is a regular gov mag. I do plan on trying the Wilson base plate next.

[Gary1911A1]

More advice on Compact 1911 types: https://youtu.be/rjOPiZhEwA8

[vcdgrips]

Corse et al

I was greasing up my Kimber Series I Custom Classic over the weekend and was checking its recoil spring.

IIRC, old school advice was 3000 rds for a 5 inch gun, 1000 rounds for a shorter gun with the caveat that if the old spring was 3 coils or more shorter than the new, replace regardless of round count.

As I no longer shoot a 1911 as a Primary platform, I tend to change the spring 1x per year during my birthday month. I am presently about 1/2 of a coil shorter than new. My guesstimate is that I have no more than 750 rounds thru the gun since the last recoil spring change which was probably mar 2019.

I am curious as to the interval you all use for recoil spring replacement?

[theJanitor]

FYI: Nighthawk has Flatwire kits for true commanders (like my Colt cco), and Wilson has kits for 4" guns. My gut feeling is that they will hold their length/strength better.

[BillSWPA]

I keep new springs available, and also follow the 3 coils shorter rule.


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[Amp]

Every 3,000 rounds on a 5 inch gun.

[Robinson]

I am curious as to the interval you all use for recoil spring replacement?

I use chrome silicon springs and change them about every 5000 rounds. They could probably go longer.

[Corse]

Corse et al

I was greasing up my Kimber Series I Custom Classic over the weekend and was checking its recoil spring.

IIRC, old school advice was 3000 rds for a 5 inch gun, 1000 rounds for a shorter gun with the caveat that if the old spring was 3 coils or more shorter than the new, replace regardless of round count.

As I no longer shoot a 1911 as a Primary platform, I tend to change the spring 1x per year during my birthday month. I am presently about 1/2 of a coil shorter than new. My guesstimate is that I have no more than 750 rounds thru the gun since the last recoil spring change which was probably mar 2019.

I am curious as to the interval you all use for recoil spring replacement?

I’m pretty sure the recommendation for the Kimber was around 1,000 rds. I try to stick close to that, since the spring does shorten significantly. I have been slowly moving to flat wire setups in my other 1911s. But I have had trouble finding setups for the commanders and shorter guns.

I’ll have to look at nighthawk and Wilson’s sites again.

[theJanitor]

But I have had trouble finding setups for the commanders....

https://www.nighthawkcustom.com/nigh...ommander-45acp

[Trooper224]

I change the recoil spring every 3k rounds and I found flat wire springs to be under whelming in the 1911.