Recoil spring in Kimber 4"

[Ricochet]

Hey guys, I just got a replacement recoil spring for my Kimber Pro Carry II. I got the Kimber OEM spring.

First, I was surprised to find Kimber recommending replacement at 800 rounds. That seems low.

Secondly, it was a bear to install. I didn't have enough strength in one hand to press the spring far enough thru the end of the slide to insert the paperclip tool in the hole. I had to use both hands on the guide rod and get my wife to insert the tool.

After getting it installed and reassembled, I find I can't chamber a round by pulling the slide back by hand. I have to use the slide stop to release the slide.

I haven't been back to the range, and I'm thinking after a range trip the spring will loosen up just a bit and I'll be OK.

I just want to hear from you all. Is this a normal encounter or am I just weak handed?

[Callahan]

Nov 19, 2009 8:05:34 GMT -5 Ricochet said:

Hey guys, I just got a replacement recoil spring for my Kimber Pro Carry II. I got the Kimber OEM spring.

First, I was surprised to find Kimber recommending replacement at 800 rounds. That seems low.

Secondly, it was a bear to install. I didn't have enough strength in one hand to press the spring far enough thru the end of the slide to insert the paperclip tool in the hole. I had to use both hands on the guide rod and get my wife to insert the tool.

After getting it installed and reassembled, I find I can't chamber a round by pulling the slide back by hand. I have to use the slide stop to release the slide.

I haven't been back to the range, and I'm thinking after a range trip the spring will loosen up just a bit and I'll be OK.

I just want to hear from you all. Is this a normal encounter or am I just weak handed?

That's a question I'm sure DA can address. I don't have a 1911, but I can say that after I got my SIG P239 back from having the slide plated, it was pretty tough to get the spring back into the barrel mounts.

I would have someone who knows 1911s check it out before you tried to fire it.

800 rounds does seem low. 16 boxes of ammo. Never heard or that before. Wonder if it had to do with it being a small pistol and a self-defense pistol. Maybe it's a liability thing.

["DoubleAction"]

Ricochet; One way that I found for compressing the spring on to the guide rod, is to this :

Since I had my stroke, I now suffer from Aphasia, just deal me and don't hesitate to ask questions.

With the slide removed, barrel, and the recoil spring & guide rod removed, start off by doing this :

Insert the guide assembly; I have found that pictures are better than words for this.

Use a table to compressed the recoil spring and insert the clip

I have more, on the easier way to install the Slide Stop on these little saw off 1911s

["DoubleAction"]

Does that work for you ?

["DoubleAction"]

This how I work putting the slide stop in, on these short barrels.

["DoubleAction"]

It has a 4" bbl

I was using a 3" inch;for illustration purposes; The four inch is easier. The Colt Commander is only 4.25 " and my Wilson CBQ a four inch.

What LB. Rating is your new recoil spring ?

["DoubleAction"]

One important thing to know; When the recoil spring compresses within the recoil plug, (in this case the recoil plug is a reverse cap), the spring has be completely compressed within the cap. The way to check this out is by the method, I displayed by reversing the plug and compressing the spring against a table. The spring must compressed within the cap.

This the Recoil Spring System that I have in my 3 1/2" Colt Officer's ACP. In my 4" Wilson CQB Compact, I have a standard type guide rod.

Both of my Wilsons 4" & 5" have the standard type guide rods, and they operate much smoother than those with full length rods.

The Guide Rod System that I have in my Colt Officer is a Commonoli Frame Saver, with the Dual Buffers.

["DoubleAction"]

Just One More Detail

Did your Recoil Spring have an open end and a closed end ?

The closed end should be toward the Guide Rod
and
The opened end should be in the Recoil Spring Plug

[Ricochet]

Thanks for the info DA. As a matter of fact I found a big aluminum washer that just fits over the recoil spring end cap, engages the raised section, and allows me to push down against a table . . . much like you showed with the slide end.

This allowed me to more easily test the springs I have:
- Original (needs replacing)
- a new Kimber spring
- a new Wolff XP recommended for Kimber 4" bbl.

I found that the Original and Wolff spring compressed completely with no problem. For some reason the new Kimber spring was binding at the cap near the last 0.20 inches of compression travel.

I could overcome the binding by pressing down a bit harder with my washer over the end cap, but I was not able to do so pulling on the slide after installation. It seems like the coil diameter expands a bit in compression (or is over tolerance to begin with) causing the problem.

Although the Wolff spring is a little more forceful, it functions well and I'm going to leave it in for now. I'll probably get another new Kimber spring and check it out. They are cheap enough.

["DoubleAction"]

My 4" Wilson came from the factory with a 22 lb spring.

On my 3 1/2" Colt I had to take the opened end of the spring and the smooth off the end lightly.