broken main spring

L

leon riverrat

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The mainspring on my 1955 target 45acp pistol (S 143xxx) recently broke during a bullseye match. This is the only instance I have ever experinced or heard of in which the mainspring spring of a S&W failed. Was just wondering how often this might occur.
The mainspring in this particular gun was the original and had not been altered as far as I could determine. It broke at about the midpoint.
I bought the gun used in about 1958 and would estimate it has had 50,000 or so target rounds fired in it.
In replacing the spring I noticed that the same mainspring is used in both the K and N frame guns. I assume the same mainsprings are used for all the various K and N frame guns.
 
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The same spring is used in K and N frame revolvers.

I have had one break many years ago, and seen a couple more let go. Its not a common occurance, but it happens. Thankfully, springs are available and replacement is easy.
 
From the response it appears that broken main springs are a very rare occurance and not something worth worrying about.
Does anyone have a simple method of testing the strength of springs? Replacement of the mainspring is one cure that is often reccommended to fix a problem of misfires.
I doubt that there is much variation in the strength of springs and that they are somewhat stronger than necessary to function properly. The only problems I have had with weak springs are those caused by someone altering the spring or failure to keep the strain screw fully engaged.
 
It was probably a (rare) material flaw or tempering error. FYI, some chemicals like blue and rust remover can ruin a tempered spring, too, causing it to break.
 
Retention!

Main springs retain the arch impose by the strain screw. This retention is over a looonnng time period. New springs are almost flat and the spring from a 60 yr old gun will have a definite arch. Replacing an old main spring will increase the spring rate therefore increase the trigger pull of the gun. You will notice the difference in the trigger pull of your gun after a main spring has been replaced@
jcelect SWCA#LM723
 
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