I keep three different weight recoil springs for my 1911 (yes, a real Colt 1911 from WWI) for use with different loads. I try to keep them separated, but they all look about the same. Has anyone come up with a simple foolproof way to visually distinguish among different weights of multiple springs such as color coding?

I have the same problem with my EAA Witness. I have four different springs for it, for three different calibers.

paint, a different color for each weight.

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Sceva
OGCA SWCA NRA

For years I've used a standard weight (16 lbs?) spring for everything in my Colt 1911s, light target loads and heavier loads without problem or damage.

If you have a caliper measure the wire diameter

I bought a spring pack from Dillon years ago. Out of curiosity I measured the spring diameter and found that as it rose so did the spring rate. Coincidence? I don't know. Try it yourself.

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Made it, Ma! Top of the world!

I agree.. paint code them.. no math involved

Paint or dye would be good options.

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VCDL, GOA, NRA

I use Wolff springs in my 1911s and keep the bag/inserts with a note saying which pistol the springs are in.

Spray paint both ends, and forget the middle as the flex will most likely pop the paint off in the long run.

I used to buy 20 packs of US Army surplus springs and cut the coils to the level I wanted, then paint the original end to match the back end of the plunger. If I changed a spring, I changed the plunger. In the 1980's this spring/plunger set cost me less than $2!

Wilson used to sell a Spring Index of several springs from 13# to 21.5# You had to go by the empty pocket to know which spring it was! That's when I started color coding.

Ivan

Life is simpler with just one spring.

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Live long and prosper

I tried separating springs in numbered plastic baggies but that did not work very well. They still get mixed up. Color coding with paint might work better, but I was thinking that the paint might flake off quickly. Maybe just painting the ends might work better. I have a home-made device to check the spring strength.

I change springs to keep all empties from all loads falling within a couple of feet of where I stand.

I used Key tags with the lb. marked on it. (The paper tagswith the metal rings and a string to attach.)

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

I thought about tags, but it would be a pain to tie and untie strings. Now if there was some small clamp that could be easily attached or released from the spring, that would be ideal. Maybe a small size of binder clip would work. Or an alligator clip.

I mark the bag with a Sharpie

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BTDT, Got The T-Shirt

I use metallic Sharpies and mark them as I get them. A little card in the drawer I store them in has the colors and weights if I happen to forget.

They are so similar to my P220 springs that I mark 1911s on the end, and Sig in the middle in case they get mixed up.

As my daughter in law would say, "It's not rocket surgery.".

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BT
EGO VOLUNTAS HAUD OBEDIO

I use sharpies to mark snack size baggies. Even so, I still get them mixed up. The only way to go is to have some positive ID directly on the springs. I think paint in different colors is probably the best.

Learned this with artifact tags at the museum. Tie both ends of the strings together. Put the tag through the strings and loop them over the spring. No need to tie and untie.

Paint 'em! Also keep them in separate and marked zip lock bags. The one missing is in the gun.

I've got a 1970's Colt Gold Cup NM that came with both a standard 16 lb. spring and a 12 pound for light target loads. I have found that the standard 16 lb. spring works 100% reliably with my light target loads as well, so the 12 pound spring is 50 years old and brand new. I've not had one singe malfunction of any kind and my Colt GCNM is my favorite and most shot pistol that I own. It has been used for many competitions and matches and again, has never malfunctioned regardless of the heavier spring. My feeling is the gun gets less beat up with the heavier spring and reduces recoil a bit. this GC has to have well over 30,000 + rounds through it by now! I throw a new 16 pound spring in every year or two.

One spring for everything ... that's just no fun at all .

My motto ... Is 6 enough , is 12 too many ?

Paint them different colors but you must have a color code .
Gary

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Certified Cajun
NRA Member

Rather than paint, you might want to consider nail polish.

"...foolproof..."

The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits.

(Often attributed to Einstein, but like most witty quotes, that may or may not be true.)

The actual quote is

Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former.

Albert Einstein


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