I haven't had a very warm reception over on the Colt Firearms forum and you guys have been very accommodating, soo...
I bought a Colt Officers ACP that has been very lightly used although slightly modified and I have never fired it yet. It is very difficult to pull the slide rearward without a mag inserted and slightly less so with a mag in place. I did a basic field strip and notiticed that this firearm has a double recoil spring. Are the two springs some kind of a mod or a factory stock construction? Can the slide pull be reduced and what would be the recoil effect? (I'm a newbie...)
Thanks in advance.

Double recoil springs are common on compact versions of full size autos
and I would bet it is factory. The best way to reduce slide pull effort on
your gun is to cock the hammer before you pull the slide. Any attempt
to reduce the slide pull effort by cutting or removing a recoil spring will
seriously effect the reliability of your gun and possibly damage it. You
might be able to replace your factory springs with aftermarket springs
if you intend to shoot only light loads.

The 1911 design was never intended to accommodate less than a 5 inch barrel. The shorter barrels put considerable pressure on the spring situation, and can be a problem. I don’t know if Colt has started using 2 springs, but S & W went to two springs on the 4516-2 and their 4513TSW that I know of to solve minor recoil related problems. It is actually one spring inside another.

My last Colt Combat Commander in 4 ¼” barrel only had one spring, but the gun was a disaster and the worst gun I have ever owned, bar none. That gun should never have left the Colt factory, and unfortunately I bought it used but in like new in the box condition, so the warranty was not honored. I will never buy another Colt as long as I live.

Good luck with getting an answer from someone familiar with Colts. I will say it was mighty purty to look at.

IIRC the Officer's Model 1911 does use a double recoil spring. No, you don't want to mess with it.
I suggest you try the time honored method for racking the slide used by older folks and ladies who have problems doing so. Hold the slide steady with the off hand and push forward on the frame with the shooting hand. You'll be surprised as to how much easier it makes racking the slide.

Point 357
Welcome aboard and don't worry about questions about "off brand" guns here.
The guys and gals here have knowledge about all kinds of
guns and are willing to help out. I can't help with your question but
wanted to welcome you and say don't hesitate to ask and be
sure to share your knowledge as well.
P.S. We like pictures on this forum...
Chuck

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They hold no Quarter

Old folks....and ladies.....and people like me that just do it that way because it makes sense.

I almost qualify as 'old folks' but that's not the reason I do it.

The Officers model did come with the double recoil springs so no it isn't an aftermarket addition. As Grayfox said, don't try a do it yourself fix. I believe the spring "weight" was 22 pounds compared to 18 pounds for the Commander and 16 pounds for the 1911. Wolff does offer reduced load springs in 18.5 and 20 pounds. They also offer standard 22 pound and heavy load 24 pound. All of their springs are single rather than dual. You might try a 20 pound spring but unless you're going to be using light loads all the time, I wouldn't go to the 18.5. And if you're going to be using +P, stay with the 22 pound or the 24 as Wolff says don't use shock buffers with their springs. Since you said you're a newbie, shock buffers are a pad that goes behind the spring to basically keep the slide from battering the frame with heavy loads. Hope that helps some.

CW

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Welcome Aboard Point 357, you're very welcome here and there are lots of snotty boards, this one isn't, a great question and yes your Colt Officers ACP has a double recoil spring in order to manage the 45 ACP round by slowing down the speed of the slide with spring tension as the shorter slide prolly has 1/3 less mass than the standard 5" guvment model. You have come across one of three weaknesses of the short 45s, which I will call 1. a shorter sight radius, meaning that accuracy will be affected if you don't take care to align the sights, 2. It definitely takes more effort to "rack" the slide, the method grayfox describes is called the sling-shot, the IDF carry their 45s in condition three, loaded mag, empty chamber, hammer down, they "slingshot" as they draw and aim, 3.It is more difficult to achieve 100% functional reliability, as the short slide guns just have less room, the gun and slide have less mass, this lighter gun will recoil a little more, and may be more susceptible to what is called "limp wrist" malfunctions. Now having said all that I would recommend that you invest in a .22 auto, and familiarize your-self with the manual of arms of both weapons.......

There are a number of things however that highly commend the short 45, and myself personally I "much" prefer the single action Colt, S&W 45, etc to the venerable double action auto, I guess because I'm a simple man.... hang in there, and try to find a "shooting partner" who is familiar with your weapon, who will take you under their wing...let us know how it goes, and number one, rule one keep the muzzle pointed away from people, animals, and other objects you do not wish to harm! billy

I carry a Colt Compact, a cheaper version of your gun. You say the slide is easier to retract with a magazine in place. Is the mag empty or loaded with how many rounds? The slide should be easier to retract with no mag inserted, and slightly more difficult with a full mag of 6.

You mention a slight modification. Please describe the mod and who did it.

I think mine is terrific, but it is hard on springs. I put a new set in every 2000 rounds. I don't care since it is for carry and springs are cheap. I do not use a shock buffer on any guns. You may have to buy a replacement spring set from Wolfe, replace every spring and start over with known conditions.

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Dennis

Smiths and Colts , if ya love one , ya gotta like at least one of the other brand.

Yes , the Officers ACP uses dual counter-wound recoil springs. Needed because of how much the recoil spring has been shortened . A single wire spring with sufficient strength would be probably stack.

But if ya think that has a hard pull , try a Detonics!

Less than warm reception at the Colt Form ??
DO Not ask a question at the Sig Forum !
Smith and Wesson Forum is the place to be .

FWIW: I belong to both forums and have found the Colt forum a little "colder" but once you spend time there, it's OK. The Ruger Forum is a bit "rude". The S & W Forum seems pretty well balanced and has more "thinkers" than "feelers", so you can say what you mean without starting a dogfight, (Well, usually).

I carry the enhanced Officers acp a lot (switch between it and my "j" frame=usually depending on what I wear that day). Earlier ones had a problem with the frame cracking. If your serial number ends in an "E" it is an enhanced version. Shock buffers are a good idea but, honestly, I've never replaced mine.

Another trick is to cock the hammer before racking the slide. That way you are fighting two springs instead of three (recoil springs and the hammer/main spring).

A word to the wise is to be low-key when you're a newby.

Good luck!

I don't bother with the other gun forums anymore.The knowledge and on line social skills are better here.

Not to worry we speak Colt hear too.
The Officers ACP was a problem child for Colt and just about everybody else who built a 3.5 inch barreled 1911. Eventually they figured out the curve for the slide velocity vs spring weights.
At on time Ed Brown offer a replacement 24 pound single spring with the reverse plug, but that requires gunsmithing as you have to remove a wee bit of metal in the recoil spring retainer tunnel.
Also your going to want to replace those springs every 1500 rounds.
I had a 1991A1 version, a nice little pocket howitzer I must say!
By the way, welcome aboard Point 357, your among friends here! Dale

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"Long live the S&W 3rd. Gen.!"

My only problem with Colts is I don't own enough of them, same goes for Rugers and Dan Wessons..

I felt the say way on the Shooters Forums. Too much bickering to newbies for my taste. I havent looked there in over a year. Anyway, hope you enjoy this fine site? I sure do.