Lighter recoil spring for Shield v1

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RenoHuskerDu

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The Shield 2.0 is out and reviewers say both trigger and recoil spring are slightly improved. But we already have three 1.0s in the family for our ladies' carry. I'm not paying good money for small improvements. We like our 1.0 models, except that racking the slide is hard for ladies. Thanks, I know the alternative racking methods.

Has anybody tried an aftermarket recoil spring on the 1.0? Which one? How did that work out?

Or, does the 2.0 recoil spring fit the 1.0??

Thanks
 
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No difference in 1.0 and 2.0 for the recoil spring at least in what I've read. I would lock the slide open for a week and see if that doesn't ease it up a bit. Fine balance between function of the slide and power of the spring.
 
Shield 9s do not get much easier to rack with use, unless you build up your muscles by practicing with it. ;) The recoil spring assembly on my Shield has 3,000 rounds on it and it is still hard to rack. Some of our Forum members have tried the $40 aftermarket spring from Stainless Steel Guiderods (I haven't), and have reported that it makes racking the Shield 9 much easier. However, because it is a weaker spring, it cannot be used with +P ammunition.
 
Got my new 2.0 9 last Thursday...can't feel any difference in the slide from my Shield 45. Can notice a difference in the trigger..
2.0 crisper, no grit.

I personally would not alter the recoil spring to a lighter spring.
????could cause problems - don't know that as a fact but if a lighter spring would surfice it would already be in the weapon from S&W
 
I am geting rid of my Shield 1.0 because of the hard to rack slide. I got to where I could rack it OK but pulling back far enough to unlock the manual lock wasn't going to get it.
About twenty years ago I tore one of the two tendons that go into my right shoulder completely out of the shoulder and I can't afford to mess up the other one.
 
Thanks guys for the replies. The Shields are lady carry guns, we don't drill heavily with them. The main reason I suspect that I could get by with a lighter spring is that S&W uses the same spring on 40 and 9 versions. If we carried 40, I wouldn't try a lighter spring.

I think I'll order up one spring from Stainless Steel Guiderods and give it a try. One of our friends is in her 60s, has arthritis in her hands, and can never actuate the slide catch on her Shield. I taught her the spare empty mag option. She'll be my guinea pig, as it were.
 
My experience was different. My first Shield (now my gf's) has about 5-700 rounds, we locked the slide open for a few days since she kept having trouble. I added talon grips to the slide for her.

My Performance Center Shield has almost 2k rounds, no talon grip on the slide and I think it has gotta a little easier to rack (than her lesser shot Shield).
 
I have the SSguide rods in both my Shield 9 and 45. Works good, no problems, and easier to rack. If you just have to run +P or +P+, then I'd say keep the stock spring. I'm running Colt 115 SCHP in my Shield 9 and PMC Gold 185 JHPs. Neither are rated +P, even though the Colt is fairly impressive. All my reloads mimic the above, or real close.
 
ultratec00 said:
I have the SSguide rods in both my Shield 9 and 45. Works good, no problems, and easier to rack. If you just have to run +P or +P+, then I'd say keep the stock spring. I'm running Colt 115 SCHP in my Shield 9 and PMC Gold 185 JHPs. Neither are rated +P, even though the Colt is fairly impressive. All my reloads mimic the above, or real close.
Click to expand...

What am I missing here ?? :confused::confused: here is Stainless Steel Guiderod's description of the new Shield 2.0 9mm guide rod..

This is a “drop-in ready” stainless steel guide rod assembly for a Smith and Wesson Shield 2.0 pistol, made out of solid 304 stainless steel. The rod is made of only the finest stainless steel materials to replace the factory guide rod assembly that comes in your Smith and Wesson Shield 2.0 pistol. Our rods are measured to factory specification and we ensure the finest fit and finish on all of our components. This is a great upgrade for reliability and durability, from the factory guide rod assembly that comes in your Smith and Wesson Shield 2.0 pistol . Our stainless steel guide rod assembly will fit the 9mm and 40 caliber Smith and Wesson Shield 2.0 pistols. Our solid, one piece, 304 stainless steel guide rod is rigid and will not flex or bend like the factory two piece version. Also, this rod WILL fit the performance center model.

No where does it mention that this is a lighter guide rod spring..in fact it says it is measured to factory specification.

Please elaborate ..... thanks....
 
I guess we can infer that it's lighter if they say no +P rounds. But it would be better if they came out and said "it's n% lighter" or something similar, eh?
 
dben002 said:
Please elaborate ..... thanks....
Click to expand...

The SSGuide Rod is a single stage/rate spring compared to the OEM double stage/rate spring. While I didnt scale them or measure them in any way there is a NOTICABLE difference.

========================

Tried the SSGuide Rod with spring, didnt work for the wife.

While this helps greatly with the racking, locking back type issues that the weaker handed may experience we determined that my wifes wrists were not strong enough to back the recoil properly and she went from -0- failures to a 50% failure rate on FTL's sooooo back in went the OEM spring that provides more pressure to return the slide to battery.

I WOULD state however that it worked perfectly for me with no problems at all.

She is small in stature 55 with mild arthritis.
Im 6' 225 and fairly large handed.
 
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