I picked up a dealer demo full size a few months back and finally got around to shooting it. It ejects the casings a long distance and the slide failers to fully seat on about half of the shots fired. All is takes is a little pressure on the rear of the slide to fully seat the round.
Am I correct in assuming the recoil spring is worn out? If this pistol has been demo'd enough to wear out the recoil spring, should other springs be changed out as well? Anyone have reccomendations as to what weight springs and a source for parts. I shoot most 230gr fmj for practice and 185 to 200 gr jhp.
Thank you

I picked up a dealer demo full size a few months back and finally got around to shooting it. It ejects the casings a long distance and the slide failers to fully seat on about half of the shots fired. All is takes is a little pressure on the rear of the slide to fully seat the round.
Am I correct in assuming the recoil spring is worn out? If this pistol has been demo'd enough to wear out the recoil spring, should other springs be changed out as well? Anyone have reccomendations as to what weight springs and a source for parts. I shoot most 230gr fmj for practice and 185 to 200 gr jhp.
Thank you

Porter,
You didn't mention whether what you were shooting were reloads, and if so whether yours or others?
If reloads, you might want to try some factory 230 hardball and see what happens. If it's factory hardball exhibiting those symptoms, then absolutely get a new spring into her. I do one once a year regardless. YMMV?

Brownells is IMO the best source for parts, I recommend Wolff Springs and for your gun I'd go with a 16 pound recoil spring, part#969-000-190AB for "normal loads" such as what you mentioned or my personal preference a 16.5 progressive recoil spring #969-424-016AB. The progressive helps if you shoot any "hot" or +P loads which I do but is also just a great "all purpose" spring. These springs will come with an extra power firing pin spring which is also a good idea to replace. They cost about $7.50 and if you get into the habit of replacing them annually, your pistol will last a lifetime.

Thank you. I do not reload so all are factory loads. I'll order a few replacements from Brownells.

Is it possible it's fitted w/a lighter spring as opposed to a worn out one? Kevin

16-18l spring willpretty much run anything for ammo no problem. Even light lead.

I do not necessarily think you are correct in blaming the recoil spring. It could be that but it could as easily be something to do with the extractor, chamber dimensions, perhaps even magazines.
The recoil spring is certainly the least expensive thing to try first. If it is not successful I would send it back to Smith and Wesson. They seem very good about taking care of their product and likely will not even question if you are the original owner or not.

I'd check to make sure the extractor doesn't have a burr or sharp edge and I'd also remove it and clean the extractor tunnel out (a Q-tip with some Hoppes works great). A gunked up extractor tunnel is a common cause for feeding malfunctions and one of the easiest things to check and fix. R,

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USPSA TY23298

Except the S&W 1911 has an external extractor, thus no extractor tunnel.

I had a new barrel fitted on my S&W 1911. The gunsmith fitted it very tight and I had several failures to chamber a round. I smacked the rear of the slide to force it closed. After a few hundred rounds the gun has settled and now the slide closes properly on its own.