I just got an excellent shape 4516-1 for a great price and need to replace the old single recoil spring with a new one. I know the -2s went to the dual recoil spring and the -1s have the single spring, but could a -1 use the newer -2 springs?

Short answer, yeah if you send it to S&W for modification. I sent my 4516-1 back to S&W in the mid 90s and it now takes the dual spring set. I'm not sure if they did a little machining, but they added a washer type plug in the front of the slide where the recoil spring guide pokes through. The diameter of the dual spring guide is much smaller than the one for a single spring.

S&W use to do this modification routinely on 4516-1 pistols returned to them with feeding or ejection issues. Call customer service and tell them you want a call tag for you 4516-1 to send back for the dual spring set modification because you've started to have feeding/ejection issues. Good luck.

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1st Signal Brigade, RVN '70

The dual spring setup requires a smaller dia rod. When S&W repaired single spring units they would use the smaller rod and put a bushing in the slide to fit it. They don't supply the single spring anymore, you would have to get one from Wolff(who doesn't make the dual spring, go figure?). I never had one so modified, but I take it the bushing is pressed in like the muzzle bushing so that the smaller rod doesn't move around. I would call S&W and see if they will modify your gun under warranty.

Bushing! That's it! Darn it, that's the word I was looking for . . .

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1st Signal Brigade, RVN '70

Thanks for answering the question about the recoil springs. I wasn't aware Wolff still made a single spring for the 4516-1. I guess the next question is it worth getting the pistol modified to use the new springs? I picked up the 4516-1 today and went to the range and shot an AZPOST qualification with it with the result of 250/250. The pistol shot perfect and it even uses the 4506 magazines I carry for my full-size pistol.

I ended up shooting 400 rounds through it, including duty ammo, and it never had one problem. The guy next to me said he didn't know S&W made a metal frame gun.

Where can you get a set of springs for the 4516?

The 4516-1 springs are at e-gunparts.com and at gunsprings.com. The -2 dual springs are currently at e-gunparts.com and at midwayusa.com ... I ordered a few springs from Numrich Arms (e-gunparts.com) for my -1.

You should be able to get a few recoil springs from S&W. Call customer service. As a matter of fact, if you only want one and speak kindly about S&W, they may put one in an envelope as a courtesy.

Here's an excerpt from the current parts list for 4516:



You want the part no. 201330000


Good luck,

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1st Signal Brigade, RVN '70

You can double check, but I was told a couple of weeks ago that the #20133 was discontinued by S&W.

I called S&W last week to order a recoil spring for my 4516-1 and was told it is no longer available from them. They recommended I contact gunsprings.com who had the springs. I plan on sending my gun back to S&W to have the gun set up with the 4516-2 guide rod and recoil springs.