I have a W-mainspring which originally came off a model 1955 Target 5 screw that someone converted to 45 Colt. I no longer have the 1955 Target but kept the W-mainspring as a curiosity. I remember at the time on that gun the W made the DA pull smooth but quite heavy whereas the standard leaf spring gave a lighter DA pull. I don’t remember SA being any different. That was at least a few years ago so I’m hazy on it.
Since I still have W spring I figured I’d try it on an old 5 screw Highway Patrolman, likely first year gun based on serial S106xxx. On this gun the felt weight of the DA trigger pull was about the same as when using regular leaf spring, but the W resulted in more if a mechanical feel and less smooth than the regular leaf. I don’t know that I noticed any stacking beginning or end of the pull, just not as smooth. The hammer tension felt lighter with the W though not so light as to be worrisome for light primer strikes. I returned to the standard spring since it’s smoother and gives more hammer spring tension for better primer whacks while feeling no heavier than the when using the W spring.
I expect each gun might be a law unto itself for which combo works best. I don’t remember the 1955 Target feeling as mechanical as the HP. Here’s some pics. Yep previous owner scratched social and initials on the right side of the grip frame. Left side shows it went back to the factory for refinish in Jan 1973.
