CS9d Hard To Rack

[willydd]

Why would the CS9d be harder to rack than my 3913? Is there a difference in the spring or do I need a new spring? Thanks.

[Hill_Country]

I can't tell much difference racking my CS9, 908 or 6906. Grab 'em by the ears and push with the other hand.

What seems to be the problem? Pulling the slide back or it not going in to battery?

[willydd]

Pulling the slide back. My 3913 is much easier. As I have had a hand surgery, I can really tell the difference. Both my CS9(d) and 3913 have two springs. Thanks.

[Hill_Country]

Two recoil springs? I think I see the problem here. <G> Have you replaced them?

My CS9, 908 and 6906 all have a single spring - which is what S&W sent me.

I think I'd call Customer Service tomorrow and order springs and make sure there are no changes in the spring, but I just checked and the parts listings for the CS9 and 3913 both show only one choice for a recoil spring.

The CS9 uses recoil spring PN 263210000 which costs $3.26
The 3913 uses PN recoil spring 100950000 which costs $1.45

The parts listings are here:
https://docs.google.com/viewer?url=h...ist_Retail.pdf

[Fastbolt]

Unless they've changed something since my last order of CS9 & CS45 recoil springs, the recoil spring for the CS9 is a single flat-wound, non-captured spring, painted dark red (green for the CS45/40).

The CS series have short slides and short slide travel, meaning the recoil springs are somewhat stout. They have less space (length) in the CS guns with which to work, so the springs are flat wound instead of the round wire coil design used in the 3 1/2" 3rd gen guns.

Something else to perhaps bear in mind is that the mainspring (hammer spring) is shorter, and also seems to be a bit robust (also having less space in which to perform its function). This is also going to contribute to the resistance of retracting the slide by hand.

FWIW, I have never heard of anyone using a dual, non-captured recoil spring setup (inner/outer springs) in the Chief's Special guns. If the company had figured it was necessary, I suspect they'd have figured out a way to do so by this time (as they did with the compact 3rd gen .45's and the 4013TSW & 4040PD).

[willydd]

Thanks for all the comments and suggestions. I am sure I will find a solution here........

[Fastbolt]

BTW, the 3913/3914/908/69XX uses a single recoil spring of the round wire type design. It's painted green, but it's NOT the same green painted recoil spring used in the CS40/45's.

The 4040PD, being the same size as the 3913 but which is chambered in the harder recoiling .40 S&W, uses the same light blue nested (inner & outer) recoil springs as the 4013TSW (and 4513TSW/457), but those are not listed as being applicable to the 3913 (or needed for the 9mm's recoil).

If you have 2 recoil springs in your 3913, were they there when you bought the 3913 (used, I'd suspect)? I'd be curious how you ended up with a dual spring setup in the 3913 & CS9D. That's weird.

I've never heard of them using a dual recoil spring set up in the Chief's Special guns, and 3 of my 3rd gen pistol armorer recert classes occurred after the introduction of the Chief's Special guns.

Maybe you'd like the guns better if they were running the stock single recoil springs, of appropriate design, in each of your 3rd gen guns?

[willydd]

Thanks again - the springs have been ordered from S&W. They were very helpful as usual.