We've all seen the threads about magazine springs under tension and that they last pretty much forever. Then there are the threads about changing striker springs and extractor springs.
What's the difference? Isn't a spring a spring and shouldn't they all last an equal amount of time?

I'm picking up a 20 year old 92FS this week that doesn't appear to have seen much use and am now thinking what do I have to replace if anything.

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Back to back World War Champs.

Comrad, all springs will lose performance over time. This happens and there is nothing you can do about it. All springs have a finite useful life, it's just that this time is greatly extended by modern spring materials. Most manufacturers recommend that certain springs be replaced at intervals. This is to maintain peak spring performance. For instance a manufacturer may say to replace a recoil spring every 1000 rounds. That doesn't mean the spring will not work beyond 1000 rounds just that in order to get PEAK performance they recommend replacing at 1000 rounds. You will and do see posts and diatribes saying that a magazine can be left loaded for years and will still work fine. I agree but that mag will not be operating at peak performance.

As for as your 20 year old 92FS is concerned it's probably best that you replace the recoil, firing pin, main and magazine springs. They're not expensive and then you'll know they are the best they will ever be and should not give you any problems.

As an aside I rotate my magazines every month. I know I don't probably need to but it makes this old man feel better.

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Quando omni flunkus moritati.

When you (the general you) buy used, you have no idea how many times those springs have been cycled (Cycling wears springs out) round count or anything else. Why not start with a new baseline with new springs?

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Thread Killer.

I would say that unless your 20 yr old Beretta 92FS is having any
spring related problems you don't need to replace anything. All springs
are not equal quality obviously and so all springs will not last an equal
length of time. Small coil springs that are fully compressed, like 25 acp
auto striker springs tend to weaken, probably because people leave
them cocked. I would imagine that modern springs are better than
ever and I have guns from the 20s and 30s that function just fine with
their original spings. Unless it's worn out I doubt your 92FS needs
any new springs.

I find that most guns are never shot enough to replace springs. I have never replaced on any used gun

It's a function of repetition and environmental details.
A recoil spring sees a violent compression and corresponding decompression in an environment that gets hotter than pagan lust in a hurry.
Mag spring sees a gradual compression and decompression in a more temperature stable environment.

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it just needs more voltage

springs are cheap replace them since your skeptic about it seems like 10 bucks well spent.and then you get to see how the rest of the gun is.

I have replaced the recoil springs in a number of my guns, and it's always interesting to note how compressed the old is vs the new.

If the recoil springs aren't up to the task, it can batter your gun in a real hurry and changing them out is simple and cheap. The other springs will let you know there's a problem when they start to affect firing, extraction, etc.

If I could carry I would be more concerned, but for range weapons I find this is is a good compromise.

I'm getting more concerned by the day, this is a 20 year old FS, didn't know that until I went home and looked up the SN. Only sign of wear is the tip of the barrel where the slide makes contact. I can't tell if it's seen 1000 rounds or 100,000 rounds. Springs seem to be inexpensive and easy but I worry about the locking block and some say change the barrel with the locking block. I'm buying another mag and suddenly I am in the neighborhood of a new gun. I'm going to the LGS tomorrow and seriously considering if he will release my deposit and apply it to a new 92.
Am I nuts?

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Back to back World War Champs.

At 20 years old it was made in 95 or so. I have a Sig P220 from 1977. So far only replaced ammo. My mid 90s HK USP 9 hasn't had any replacement parts and it was a police gun. Late 80s - early 90s Glock 19.....nothing.

These are not my primary guns and thus are not shot often but none of them were bought new. All were bought in the last 2 years and all are used not NOS. I doubt you have much, if anything, to worry about

Comrad I wouldn't call you nuts but you do seem to be fearful and
overly prone to anxiety. I responded to your other post about your
anxiety about the slight bluing wear on the 92FS barrel. I can tell you
about my Browning HP, bought new in 1977 that has fired more rounds
than all of my other 9mms combined. I like it and have shot it some
for that reason but it has been shot the most because I have used it
to chronograph every different type or brand of ammo I have acquired
since I got my first chronograph over thirty years ago. For the sake of
consistancy I have used the HP to check velocity and shoot groups
with many many different 9mm rounds over the last 30+ years. And
guess what? I have never replaced any spring in the gun or the spring
in the factory magazine and the HP's springs are still so strong it will
jam on the weak ammo sold today that some of the other autos I own
will cycle with. But you seem to be one of those people who will let
no amount of reassurance calm your anxieties and it could be that
your best course of action is to always buy new. Actually I prefer to
buy new when I can but when you like some of the older stuff better
you just can't always do that.

It's not fear or anxiety but a desire to do it right. Buying a handgun in NJ is a major undertaking and takes months to complete. LGS are few and far between and if I have never needed to service a gun and I would like to keep it that way. I love old revolvers and if this were a revolver I would be second guessing but I have read so may "experts" say it needs springs, locking block, better change the barrel too and on and on.
Long story short, I went new, got two magazines, cleaning kit, lock and hard case. I think it was the best bang for the buck.
I appreciate the help and advice, I am not a very experiences pistol buyer and have nowhere else to turn to talk about it.
Thanks

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Back to back World War Champs.

Enjoy your new Beretta!

When the gun you desire is available new then that's really your best
option.