Recoil spring
- Thread starter dla079
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MichiganScott
Member
Semi-autos rely on balance between the springs and the ammunition. Unless you handload weaker ammunition, replacing a stock recoil spring with a softer one will beat your gun to death.
The lesson to be learned here is to allow your wife to pick her own handguns. Buying one for her because you think that it is appropriate seldom ends well.
The lesson to be learned here is to allow your wife to pick her own handguns. Buying one for her because you think that it is appropriate seldom ends well.
MassiveOverkill
Member
This is what you want: Smith and Wesson Shield Stainless Steel Guide Rod Assembly - Stainless Steel Guide Rods
My 95 lb wife can rack my Shield. The stock spring is used in both the 9 mm and .40 cal so it's overkill. I've also dry-Teflon lubed every moving part on my Shield, which helped in making it easier to rack (including the RSA). Firing a hundred rounds or so also helps break things in. If you side with the purists you can always use wet lube after you've treated it with dry lube and you'll find you won't need as much wet lube not to mention the gun staying cleaner\being easier to clean.
The gun has a lifetime warranty. Keep the stock spring handy and if you have any supposed wear issues when you send it back in.
There are various videos for helping woman rack a slide but I found this one the most helpful:
How to Rack a Slide - YouTube
My 95 lb wife can rack my Shield. The stock spring is used in both the 9 mm and .40 cal so it's overkill. I've also dry-Teflon lubed every moving part on my Shield, which helped in making it easier to rack (including the RSA). Firing a hundred rounds or so also helps break things in. If you side with the purists you can always use wet lube after you've treated it with dry lube and you'll find you won't need as much wet lube not to mention the gun staying cleaner\being easier to clean.
The gun has a lifetime warranty. Keep the stock spring handy and if you have any supposed wear issues when you send it back in.
There are various videos for helping woman rack a slide but I found this one the most helpful:
How to Rack a Slide - YouTube
Bozz10mm
US Veteran
Short answer is, no. But it will loosen up some after a few hundred rounds. Also, the hand-over-slide technique may be easier for her than the sling shot method.
It's technique over muscle.
Check out this video.
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbayNc6D9HY[/ame]
It's technique over muscle.
Check out this video.
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbayNc6D9HY[/ame]
Well, you can get a weaker aftermarket spring, but the spring is there to make the gun work right, and going too light batters the gun, while going too heavy causes feed problems. A quick check is to look where the empties land: if they land 3 to 6 feet away, that's just right. Unfortunately, guns with shorter barrels have to use springs that absorb the energy in a short distance. The springs do get somewhat easier when broken in, and the technique of holding the slide firm with one hand and pushing away with the other is easier than just holding the gun and pulling back on the slide with fingers.
Hope this helps.
She might look at the Cornered Cat website for a woman's perspective on techniques for working the slide more effectively.
Hope this helps.
She might look at the Cornered Cat website for a woman's perspective on techniques for working the slide more effectively.
Thanks for the info. I will have her watch the video and see if that helps. If not I will look at changing the spring
Thanks, but that should not be a problem because I don't run +P thru that gun anyway
speedracer12
Member
Question does the spring need to be lubricated?
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One of the problems with the system in the video is that you will observe the muzzle tends to point to the side when someone is doing this. This may not be a safe direction. The same system can work with the hands positioned so that the muzzle is forward.
Also, the top of the slide can be jammed against a table top, door frame or other suitable surface and the frame pushed with both hands if necessary. May not do the table top etc. much good but the slide will be cycled.
BTW, this is a fairly typical issue with itty bitty guns. The recoil springs of full size examples don't have to be as hefty.
Also, the top of the slide can be jammed against a table top, door frame or other suitable surface and the frame pushed with both hands if necessary. May not do the table top etc. much good but the slide will be cycled.
BTW, this is a fairly typical issue with itty bitty guns. The recoil springs of full size examples don't have to be as hefty.
Last edited:
MassiveOverkill
Member
According to the manual, no. I lubricate mine because the spring binds on the rod and lubrication helps.
Inusuit
Member
Just curious why she picked a firearm she could not operate.
And the Shield is not exactly an "itty bitty gun."
Yes, keep the muzzle down range. Grasp the slide overhand. Keeping the firearm close to the chest, punch with the strong hand while holding the slide. Takes some practice.
Racking a slide like a lady
This is also a good video. Anyone that thinks they have a weak hand because of arthritis or any other reason, can probably benefit from this technique. I did.
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Q8ZRlkdWVc[/ame]
This is also a good video. Anyone that thinks they have a weak hand because of arthritis or any other reason, can probably benefit from this technique. I did.
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Q8ZRlkdWVc[/ame]
MichiganScott
Member
I apologize. This statement certainly sounds like you bought it for her.
Left to their own devices, women will often surprise us. The first handgun my wife bought for herself was a M28 Highway Patrolman. I would have never guessed she would prefer 41 ounces of steel compared to something much smaller and lighter. Her favorite carry gun is now a M&P9C, but the M28 certainly doesn't sit in the safe.
