3914 recoil spring

[smithman 10]

So I picked up this used 3914 Lady Smith some months ago and thought maybe a new recoil spring would be in order. I go to Numrich and they have factory 15lb all the way up to 18lb. Prices from about $4 up to $17. Firing pin springs included with most.

So what's the reason for these heavier springs? Are they a good idea or not? Do they protect the gun better from wear? If so, I'd spring (pun intended) for the heavier one.

[armorer951]

The standard factory 15 pound spring is S&W part # 100950. No real reason that I can see in using a non-OEM recoil spring, unless you're planning on shooting very heavy reloads??


smith and wesson spring 100950 - MidwayUSA


PDF of a partial factory parts list is available here on the forum:

PDF's of the Parts Lists



Carter

[smithman 10]

And not +P. I'll go with a factory spring. Thanks for your reply

[stansdds]

Factory rated spring is the best for S&W pistols. Some say that you should use a heavier spring with +P ammo so as to slow the slide's impact on the receiver during recoil. Although there may be a slight decrease in slide impact, there will be a greater forward force as the slide moves forward to chamber the next round. That extra force is absorbed by the slide stop pin and its pin holes in the receiver. The extra force certainly has the potential to wallow out the holes in the aluminum receiver.
I use factory rated springs, and I change every 3500 rounds, deduct 500 rounds if using +P ammo.

[ACEd]

Originally Posted by smithman 10

So I picked up this used 3914 Lady Smith some months ago and thought maybe a new recoil spring would be in order. I go to Numrich and they have factory 15lb all the way up to 18lb. Prices from about $4 up to $17. Firing pin springs included with most.

So what's the reason for these heavier springs? Are they a good idea or not? Do they protect the gun better from wear? If so, I'd spring (pun intended) for the heavier one.

Lots of folks seem to think they can do better than factory engineers.

Stay with factory springs and I would avoid +P in an aluminum framed pistol.

[smithman 10]

So I got a new standard weight recoil spring for the 3914. It's fully an inch longer than the old one in the gun!

I thought the old one felt a little light. Maybe the previous owner had a reduced power spring in it. A standard spring wouldn't be that much shorter would it? It does not appear to have been shortened by clipping.

It fired just fine with the old spring. I'll test the new one in the near future.

[kbm6893]

The new springs on the 39 series are much longer when new, but once seated the compress to the same length as the older one.

I’ve replaced every used 3rd Gen magazine, recoil, and firing pin spring with Wolff. Never had an issue.

[smithman 10]

But with the new spring installed, racking the slide seems to require a bit more effort. Which is no problem, just feels a little stronger.

[stansdds]

Originally Posted by smithman 10

So I got a new standard weight recoil spring for the 3914. It's fully an inch longer than the old one in the gun!

I thought the old one felt a little light. Maybe the previous owner had a reduced power spring in it. A standard spring wouldn't be that much shorter would it? It does not appear to have been shortened by clipping.

It fired just fine with the old spring. I'll test the new one in the near future.

Originally Posted by smithman 10

But with the new spring installed, racking the slide seems to require a bit more effort. Which is no problem, just feels a little stronger.

Weak, worn out recoil springs are a leading cause of damage to the receiver. There seems to be no shortage of people who buy semi-auto pistols, shoot the snot out of them and never replace the recoil spring. There are areas on the S&W aluminum receivers that should be inspected for wear. The tops of the slide rails, the impact surface where the slide makes contact during recoil, and the barrel cam lugs. Deep impact marks are often a sign the pistol has gone from being used to being abused.

[rosewood]

Originally Posted by smithman 10

But with the new spring installed, racking the slide seems to require a bit more effort. Which is no problem, just feels a little stronger.

A sure sign the old spring was in need of replacing.

I have them in my favorite list on Midway, ended up picking up several spares when they are on sale so I have enough to last for many years in my 3913/6904/908.

Rosewood

[kbm6893]

Originally Posted by rosewood

A sure sign the old spring was in need of replacing.

I have them in my favorite list on Midway, ended up picking up several spares when they are on sale so I have enough to last for many years in my 3913/6904/908.

Rosewood

Yeah. Couldn’t hurt to pick up a spring pack from Wolff, which has all the springs, and maybe a three pack of mag springs. Just to have on hand.

[rosewood]

Originally Posted by kbm6893

Yeah. Couldn’t hurt to pick up a spring pack from Wolff, which has all the springs, and maybe a three pack of mag springs. Just to have on hand.

I have also started a collection of other small springs and parts for my 3rd gens. Midway has lots of them for the 3rd gens.

Rosewood

[LVSteve]

If a used pistol is flinging the cases of low power, 115gr FMJ range fodder into the next zip code, the recoil spring needs replacing.

[Fastbolt]

The factory 3913 recoil spring is painted green. Fits the 3913 (and variants) and the 6904/06.

These are brand new springs:


If the gun is used, and old enough for the recoil spring to have become a bit shortened, if it were mine, I'd also replace the magazine springs.

I prefer the factory springs in the single stack 3rd gen 9's, but have used the 5% extra power Wolff springs in the double stack 9's with good effect.

The factory mag spring for the single stack 9 (also the mag spring for the 4040PD) has been painted red at one end, and completely, at different times. Those springs are the same at each end, so the red color on the partially painted springs don't denote orientation in the mag.

[smithman 10]

Thanks for all the info. The new spring is green, the old spring I took out has no color.

The magazine springs are red and seem to be strong. Takes some effort to insert the last round.

Never mentioned it but the pistol has still functioning night sights on it. When I bought it I dickered with the sales clerk and convinced him they were likely dead and got $25 off their price. But they still got some glow I found out one evening.

Again - thanks for all the helpful information.

[kbm6893]

Originally Posted by smithman 10

Thanks for all the info. The new spring is green, the old spring I took out has no color.

The magazine springs are red and seem to be strong. Takes some effort to insert the last round.

Never mentioned it but the pistol has still functioning night sights on it. When I bought it I dickered with the sales clerk and convinced him they were likely dead and got $25 off their price. But they still got some glow I found out one evening.

Again - thanks for all the helpful information.

If those sights are Trijicon, you can send them back to Trijicon and they’ll relamp them for $57. I’ve done that to 7 3rd Gen guns. I consider dead Trijicon sights a selling point on guns I’m looking at.

[IndianaDave]

Thank you all for the combined wisdom. I just got my 3913 and ordered some springs from Midway. It was an LE trade in so it might have a few rounds through it.

Dave