6906 recoil spring
- Thread starter Jim1247
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1911Jeeper
Member
A guy on eBay has genuine S&W recoil spring. Wolff recoil springs have never disappointed me.
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They're available on backorder from MidwayUSA, or you can buy a replacement directly from Wolff. I usually order a few from Midway if springs I need are backordered, and they ship them when they receive them.
https://www.gunsprings.com/SMITH%20&%20WESSON/NUMBERED%20SERIES/cID1/mID58/dID261
https://www.gunsprings.com/SMITH%20&%20WESSON/NUMBERED%20SERIES/cID1/mID58/dID261
My first call would be Customer Service at the factory.
If the factory doesn't have any available at the moment (meaning if they're backordered from their vendors), you could see if they'd take a backorder, or you could use the Backorder option for Midway.
Smith & Wesson Recoil Spring S&W 3953TSW 3913 3914 3914DAO 3953 3954
Either way, when I was doing a lot of shooting while serving as an instructor, I used to order recoil springs in 5-12 unit orders, just so I'd always have at least a few on hand (and especially if I had 2-3 guns that used the same recoil springs).
Smith & Wesson Recoil Spring S&W 3953TSW 3913 3914 3914DAO 3953 3954
Either way, when I was doing a lot of shooting while serving as an instructor, I used to order recoil springs in 5-12 unit orders, just so I'd always have at least a few on hand (and especially if I had 2-3 guns that used the same recoil springs).
If you need the OEM spring right away I can send you one.
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Armorer951, you are easily among the most generous, kind and gracious, not only among our Forum family, but that family we once called "The Family of Man" (using it as I did likely will cause some to "school" me in a more "proper" way of saying such when all I wish to do is praise a very generous, kind and gracious fellow who has made our world a slightly better place in which to live).
Not only have I watched you, but have attempted to emulate your actions so that others might perhaps learn to do the same - if not today then tomorrow - accumulating knowledge along the way that will be dispensed to future generations unknown in name to us today.
Thank you!
Later
DC Williams
Unless it's changed recently, whenever I've called S&W looking for a part & they did not have it in stock, even if they were expecting some, they would not take a back-order. They always told me to "try back later".
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Unless it's changed recently, whenever I've called S&W looking for a part & they did not have it in stock, even if they were expecting some, they would not take a back-order. They always told me to "try back later".
.
I wasn't sure how they handled normal retail orders, as I've always placed orders as an armorer, which sometimes meant I'd have to wait for parts of orders to be filled and arrive on a backorder basis.
Tex1001
Member
I recommend Wolff also. I always slightly overspring my 6906/469/5906/4006 models just in case.
Something to perhaps consider, at least in the aluminum-frame models, is that using a heavier recoil spring means the slide/barrel may be returned to battery with greater force than when using a standard recoil spring.
The slide and barrel are retained on the frame by the presence of the slide stop lever pin, meaning the barrel hits against it and is kept from moving further forward.
Over the years some users of the aluminum models have experienced cracked frames where the cracks started at the frames slide stop pin hole.
Why add more force to the impact between the barrel bottom lug and the slide stop assembly's pin, which is secured in the pin holes of the aluminum frame, than needs to occur when the normal spring is used?
Now, I did once see an original 3913TSW which had developed a very odd crack at the front of the left side of the frame's dustcover. It extended about half an inch behind the front of the frame, paralleling the lower edge of the dustcover's inside frame rail. The owner thought it was a scratch in the frame, but couldn't explain how he'd managed to scratch it. When I examined it closer I determined it was actually a crack.
I called S&W and arranged to send them the gun (cop's off-duty weapon). When they called me back they were puzzled how that particular crack had occurred, and the tech told me he'd never seen one in that spot. He asked how many rounds the gun had seen, and I told him the owner claimed to have fired it approx 12,000 rounds.(He shoots a lot on his property.)
Now, I've seen similarly well-used aluminum 3rd gens run for that long, and longer, without developing cracks.
I had an issued 6906 that I tried to wear out, which I eventually estimated had seen approx 45+K rounds fired through that frame (I replaced the slide once). No cracks, but the frame rails were becoming a bit "well polished" along their edges.
I replaced recoil springs about every 2500-3000 rounds, which was sooner than the typical 5K rounds fired/5yrs of service recommendation mentioned in the armorer classes.I had an issued 5903 (aluminum frame) that saw close to 10K rounds fired by me, and then it was issued to someone else for at least another 10 years of normal use.
My own 4013TSW has seen upwards of 5K rounds and still looks the same as it did at the 2K rounds point. Once when I showed it to a factory rep (who was also a competitor on his own time) after I'd reached the 2500rds fired point, asking him how it looked compared to other aluminum .40's he'd seen, he told me he owned a pair of 4003TSW's he used for competition.
He said that he'd exceeded 25K rounds fired in each of his own aluminum-framed 4003TSW's, using factory recoil springs (normal replacement intervals), and that the wear on his aluminum .40 frames didn't look any different than the wear on my "lightly used" (2500+rds) 4013TSW frame. He was also a gunsmith on his own right, as I recall (also being a 1911 and 945 shooter, and having co-authored a 1911 'smithing book), and he told me that my 4013TSW was just barely broken in, and I just needed to keep cleaning, lubing and shooting it (and periodically replacing recoil springs
).Oh yeah, that original 3913TSW that developed the weird crack? The factory cheerfully replaced it with a new one for the owner, apologizing that they had to replace it with the current one, because they no longer had any of the original cutaway grip frames in their inventory. He said he shots that replacement 3913TSW a LOT (on his own range), and he's long since stopped keeping track of the thousands of rounds he's fired through it. (I also gave him a handful of factory recoil springs for it and told him to replace them at least annually, considering his shooting fetish.
) The last time he brought it by for an inspection it was dirty as hell, and he said it had been running like a top for him. After cleaning it I noticed (could finally SEE beneath the fouling 
) that he'd started to develop a couple small chipped spots on his extractor. I fit a new one, replacing the spring while I was at it ... and asked him if he needed any more recoil springs.Another well-used 3913 belonging to a now retired cop I know was used by him when worked a special enforcement UC unit, and he likes to shoot. I think it dated from the early 90's, according to what he remembers of when he first bought it. I saw his extractor also had some minor chipping (but he said it had never experienced a malfunction). I fit a new one and updated a couple other parts and springs. It's still running strong for him. No cracks anywhere in the frame.
Come to think of it, I also serviced a personally-owned 3913 from the early production period of the model for another cop with whom I worked several years ago. He said he'd bought it when working for a previous agency, and had used it for both off-duty and for weekend competitions for many years. He hadn't kept exact records, but said he'd easily fired more than 12K or more rounds just for his competition interest. The guy liked to shoot (and he was good). He originally brought it to me because he'd started to experience some Skips-DA issues (DA hammer fall occurs too soon in trigger pull, causing light strikes due to a hammer fall timing problem). That might happen with a hard used TDA gun which experiences excessively worn hammer and/or drawbar notches. He also had some minor chipping on the extractor hook, but that's not surprising as guns are used for a long time. I had to replace his hammer and drawbar (just replacing one or the other didn't resolve the problem), and I fit a new extractor. No frame cracks, though.
Sorry I got sidetracked and wandered around in this thread, but I'm relaxed and enjoying my morning coffee.
Tex1001
Member
As a gunsmith and armorer myself I don't believe that there is any may to it. You are correct. Over springing a pistol slide does cause stress on the frame when returning to battery. The only question is how much stress. In my youth I was a great fan of grossly oversized springs and hot rodded reloads. I quickly realized the folly of this thinking.Something to perhaps consider, at least in the aluminum-frame models, is that using a heavier recoil spring means the slide/barrel may be returned to battery with greater force than when using a standard recoil spring.
I have had pistols come to me with damage and excess wear caused by over springing the recoil system. The stiffer the spring, the greater the potential for failure. This is why I used the word slightly (Underlined) in my description.
Many people take the attitude of "If a little is good, a gross overload must be fantastic". These are the ones that put 22lb. springs in their aluminums and wonder why a frame cracks.
I may be putting stress on ferric based frames and (Once again, slightly) overstressing alloy frames but moderation is the key.
My system may not be perfect, but it has worked well for me so far. To date I've found no excess wear or cracking on the frames of my, or my friends' 469s/6906s, as well as my Walther P1s, but I do remain vigilant.
I agree that you should look to Wolff for a regular power spring. I'm about to take delivery on a 469 and that's the first thing going into the gun before I take it to the range for the first time.
I don't understand where this idea started that it's a good idea to use an over-powered recoil spring. I suspect it's because the thought is that the heavier spring reduces the inertia of the slide coming backwards and hitting the frame. But as has been pointed out above, that spring increases the inertia of the slide hitting the frame coming forward.
I think the factory has done enough research on their guns to come up with the correct weight of recoil spring, so I'll stay with it.
I don't understand where this idea started that it's a good idea to use an over-powered recoil spring. I suspect it's because the thought is that the heavier spring reduces the inertia of the slide coming backwards and hitting the frame. But as has been pointed out above, that spring increases the inertia of the slide hitting the frame coming forward.
I think the factory has done enough research on their guns to come up with the correct weight of recoil spring, so I'll stay with it.
I was treading lightly when offering my opinion.
Over the years I served as a firearms trainer and armorer I came across my fair share of gun owners who took any comment offered about their guns in a personal manner. As a member of some firearms forums I may still be an armorer and offer the occasional opinion, but I'm not an armorer for the individual folks who participate or just read the gun forums on the internet.
Hence, I try to remember to soft pedal my comments.
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Tex1001
Member
This thread interaction piqued my curiosity, so I went to Wolff's website to check some spring ratings:
Factory 5906 recoil spring rating (9mm, steel, full size frame) is 14lb.
Factory 910 recoil spring rating (9mm, alloy, full size frame) is also 14lb.
Factory 4006, 4046 recoil rating (40S&W, steel full size frame) 17lb to balance the elevated energy input.
Technically we could say that the 4006 frame is over sprung, but it's steel so no real over stress.
But:
Factory 410, 410s recoil rating (40S&W, alloy full size frame) also 17lb.
Using the above ratings, If I installed a 16lb. spring in my 910 (Slightly, technically over sprung for caliber) any potential frame battering on recoil would be diminished greatly, but I would still be below S&W's ratings.
Factory 469, 6906 recoil spring rating (9mm, alloy, medium size frame) is 15lb.
I postulate that bumping a 6906 spring up to 16lb. will help alleviate the potential for recoil spring damage while causing no frame battering on returning to battery.
Under no circumstances will I consider a stronger spring than 16lb. for a 469/6906 setup.
I have no problem with an individual staying with S&W's factory values if they are uncomfortable with anything stronger.
I simply maintain that a slight increase in recoil spring tension may help alleviate recoil damage if someone does something stupid and return to battery force is still within factory parameters.
Factory 5906 recoil spring rating (9mm, steel, full size frame) is 14lb.
Factory 910 recoil spring rating (9mm, alloy, full size frame) is also 14lb.
Factory 4006, 4046 recoil rating (40S&W, steel full size frame) 17lb to balance the elevated energy input.
Technically we could say that the 4006 frame is over sprung, but it's steel so no real over stress.
But:
Factory 410, 410s recoil rating (40S&W, alloy full size frame) also 17lb.
Using the above ratings, If I installed a 16lb. spring in my 910 (Slightly, technically over sprung for caliber) any potential frame battering on recoil would be diminished greatly, but I would still be below S&W's ratings.
Factory 469, 6906 recoil spring rating (9mm, alloy, medium size frame) is 15lb.
I postulate that bumping a 6906 spring up to 16lb. will help alleviate the potential for recoil spring damage while causing no frame battering on returning to battery.
Under no circumstances will I consider a stronger spring than 16lb. for a 469/6906 setup.
I have no problem with an individual staying with S&W's factory values if they are uncomfortable with anything stronger.
I simply maintain that a slight increase in recoil spring tension may help alleviate recoil damage if someone does something stupid and return to battery force is still within factory parameters.
Tom-R2
Member
Did you check Numrich? They have them on their website.
