I called S&W to order a new recoil spring for my 6906 and they graciously offered to send me one for free. However when I pulled the new spring from the package it's an inch longer than the old spring with the same number of coils per inch. Am I supposed to trim the new spring or is this the wrong spring?

I called S&W and explained that the spring they sent seemed too long and described the spring to them. The person I talked to said it should have been green and only a little longer than my old one. The part that arrived a week latter was indeed greenish in color and only 1/2" longer than my old spring. However it fit like a new glove (a little stiff and tight) and works fine with both factory ammo and my reloads.

Thanks for the suggestion that I replace the spring. I think it needed it.

There is no reason that I can imagine where you should have to 'trim' a factory-replacement spring!

If the spring that they sent you has the same number of coils, and the wire is the same diameter, it is more likely that the spring they sent is the correct and your old spring has just taken a 'set' over time and does not rebound as far as it did, so it looks shorter .

Why not measure your springs, then give S&W Customer Service a quick call and ask them what the 'free length' of the recoil spring should be? This should give you the answer you are looking for.

It sounds like your old spring has compressed with age. When new it likely looked like the replacement.

Guys, he said "..same number of coils per inch." That sounds like the wrong spring to me.

Larry

I agree the spring is probably the wrong one. If the number of coils per inch is the same, then the spring is probably from a full-size pistol. Trying to use the spring in the Model 6906 will likely result in coil bind, which will result in the slide being stopped too short to complete its cycle properly. Try it and see if the slide will fully cycle and lock back on an empty magazine.

Count the total number of (full) coils on each spring and see if they match.

Coils per inch are measured in the compressed state. You really can't judge in the free state. When a spring is spec'ed out a compressed length, poundage at a given specific length, and an outside or inside diameter is given (either / or - not both). OR They specify outside diameter or inside diameter, Wire size, total number of full coils and poundage at a given length. Very rarely does an overall length get spec'd as it is pretty much immaterial. If it is the I.D. (or O.D.) the compressed length, and poundage that matter.
Springs fairly quickly shorten and take a set ( stabilizing at a shorter length) then they are pretty stable. Springs, good ones anyway, do not weaken from being compressed and they won't weaken or be harmed by leaving them compressed. Cycles are what weakens a spring over time. That said, I still like to relieve tension on hammer or striker springs when storing my firearms, I know that it does no harm to leave them compressed but it still make me feel better to relieve them. Go Figure.

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Sceva
OGCA SWCA NRA

All of my spare 3913/6906 factory recoil springs are painted a rather bilious green, have 19 coils (or 19 1/2, depending how you count the windings ) and are 4 1/2" long when new (never having been installed and compressed in a gun).

They'll take a set when left in a gun (which is normal).

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Ret LE Firearms inst & armorer

OK, this one is 23 1/2 coils, 5 1/8" long and plain steel colored. I cannot get it to compress enough to fit on the recoil guide. Guess I need to reorder a replacement. Thanks.

Oops.

Every once in a great while I've gotten the wrong part. It can happen if the customer service person enters the wrong part number, or the parts dept reads the number incorrectly, or pulls from the wrong bin, or the wrong part has somehow ended up in the right bin.



You want part# 100950000

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Ret LE Firearms inst & armorer