ALERT - (now with updates) WHEN CHANGING RECOIL SPRING ON MODEL 41..........

[gwpercle]

If you get tired of monkeying around with it yourself , I can honestly say the reliability work , tune up and target trigger job that Clark Custom Guns did on my 1973 model 41 was worth every penny. The target trigger job made it a joy to shoot .
I don't know what they do but the results are just magical .
Gary

 

[Jim Watson]

Thanks for the information.
My M41 is fine with the stock spring for CCI and Aquila SV.

I have a quantity of Wolf and SK that is apparently loaded lighter. It will do fairly well with five in the magazine, but a full clip puts enough drag on the slide to give short recoils. I was thinking about a soft spring to get better use out of the weak ammo, but maybe I would do better just to plink it up five at a time.

 

[leinster lad]

I would definitely recommend one of those little "recoil buffers"
At about $10 buck, very good insurance.
The slide "stop" on the M41 is actually the front of the trigger guard. It is that little bit that sits just undre the recoil spring.
If you look closely at the slide, you can see the impression / indent of that shape as it gets pounded into it.
So with HV ammo, the slide slapping into it can and will damage it.
A fellow shooter at my club had his trigger guard actually snap in two !

So

Get a buffer
Use the correct weight spring.

The heavier the spring, the more control there is over recoil, BUT, if the spring is too heavy, the action will no longer work correctly.

Lighter springs mean more recoil and more beating up of the gun.

How to tell ??

Look at where your empty shells are landing.
If they are more than a couple of feet from you, the spring is too soft.

 

[gwpercle]

Another thing to look at is the Magazine spring.
When they get weak they can cause feeding problems and you don't think about it.
Clark Custom Guns tuned my magazines as part of the accuracy and reliability work they did for me.... I hadn't even thought about those springs becoming weak over the years but I guess they do .
Gary

 

[wetdog1911]

Bump

Wet

 

[chief38]

For me, (M41) magazine springs have never been an issue and in fact mine have the original springs from 1979. I've lost count of just how many rounds I've put through my M41, but if I had to guess I'd say at LEAST 20 - 25K.

Doesn't hurt to change them if you suspect or are having issues feeding of course, but since the M41 is not a self or home defense gun, I won't be changing mine until they present a reason to do so. They work perfectly as they did 40 years ago when new.

 

[BigBoy99]

I won't be changing mine until they present a reason to do so.

That is the reason why I don't replace springs in my guns. "If it isn't broken, don't fix it!"

 

[cfplinker]

FWIW I got a calibration pack some time ago ans measured the wire diameter. They were all .0285 inches as compared to the .0305 for both the Wolff 7.5 pound spring and the Brownells factory spring. All of the springs had 35 turns and the reduce power springs differed only in length. The reduced power springs were all longer than the Wolff 7.5 pound spring but as mentioned had a smaller wire diameter.

 

[MJK-MOD-547]

After reading this thread a couple of months ago I also purchased a Wolf calibration pack. I have always used OEM springs but decided to experiment a little. I also bought a couple of buffers and I already replaced the S&W extractor with a Volquartsen Exact Edge Extractor. IMO there is no comparison with a stamped or machined part to a EDM made part. Seeing is believing.

Apparently Wolf consulted with their lawyers and instead of giving the correct orientation of the recoil springs in there nomenclature they decided to declare themselves not liable for any damage that could occur using their product.

This is a great thread for 41 owners. Oh, all three springs measured out at .028.

 

[chief38]

I know this thread is 5-6 years old but this info is SO SO IMPORTANT to M41 owners!! Please spread the word - many can still have springs and spring kits before I called and raised Hell with the Wolff Spring Co. I am not aware of their current instructions on newly sold kits or springs and I am also unaware if they changed the design to and possibly now manufacture the springs finished on both ends - that would make too much sense - lol! At the end of the day - pay attention and be aware!

 

[fourbore]

No design change with Wolff. One end finished and one end square cut and edge not even smoothed over. I had to knock off the edge and flattened the end. Then I read this and reversed it.

 

[chief38]

No design change with Wolff. One end finished and one end square cut and edge not even smoothed over. I had to knock off the edge and flattened the end. Then I read this and reversed it.

Have they AT LEAST corrected the instructions stating which way it must be installed??

 

[shootr25]

Wow!! I've been using Wolff Springs on many autos literally for decades and was thinking of changing out the one in my new-to-me 41 just because. Think I'll be sticking with OEM for this one. I'd always considered Wolff a quality outfit. Disappointing attitude.

 

[Scatto]

@chief38
I had to join this forum just to say thank you! I just received a spring kit from Wolff and can confirm the instructions are still incorrect. Super thankful I stumbled onto this thread and your warning!!
Much appreciated!

 

[Rick H.]

Hard to believe that this issue is still on-going with Wolff Gunsprings. They have been made aware of an issue with their product that could EASILY be corrected, but have taken no action to do so. Yet, people continue to patronize the company! Why? Are they the only company that makes recoil springs? The bad part about this issue is the OEM spring is NON-DIRECTIONAL but when you buy a Wolff recoil spring it becomes completely dependent on installation direction. At a minimum Wolff could paint one end of the recoil spring for installation direction with accompanying instructions for same. Seeing the paint on the end of the spring would no doubt give one pause to check installation and God Forbid read the install directions!

I haven't purchased ANY Wolff springs at all since this issue was brought to light. It just proves how little regard a manufacturer has for their customers. People chastise Smith and Wesson all the time for poorly made products, but let companies like Wolff slip under the radar screen and still buy their recoil springs. Why? There are other sources.

I like to think I am well experienced with my firearms and had my PC M-41 out to the range last week. When I returned home I took it apart for cleaning and put it back together and placed it into the safe. I had this nagging feeling that I forgot something though and a few hours later went downstairs and took my pistol out of the safe and examined it, but I honestly didn't know what I was looking for. I was going to just put the M-41 back in the safe but for some odd reason I field stripped it and discovered I had put the Wolff recoil spring on backwards. Oh so easy to do if one slips for a moment. So at that point I decided to paint the closed end of the spring red to help remind me which way the spring goes on. At least I hope it helps, but at 74 yoa one never knows...

When a manufacturer knows there is a potential problem with their product and does nothing but add a few words to instructions, that we all know are rarely read completely and understood even less, then there is a real problem with that company. Fix the da** problem and keep your customers out of a jam. Literally! Personally I look at this as gross negligence of a high order.

Rick H.

 

[chief38]

Hard to believe that this issue is still on-going with Wolff Gunsprings. They have been made aware of an issue with their product that could EASILY be corrected, but have taken no action to do so. Yet, people continue to patronize the company! Why? Are they the only company that makes recoil springs? The bad part about this issue is the OEM spring is NON-DIRECTIONAL but when you buy a Wolff recoil spring it becomes completely dependent on installation direction. At a minimum Wolff could paint one end of the recoil spring for installation direction with accompanying instructions for same. Seeing the paint on the end of the spring would no doubt give one pause to check installation and God Forbid read the install directions!

I haven't purchased ANY Wolff springs at all since this issue was brought to light. It just proves how little regard a manufacturer has for their customers. People chastise Smith and Wesson all the time for poorly made products, but let companies like Wolff slip under the radar screen and still buy their recoil springs. Why? There are other sources.

I like to think I am well experienced with my firearms and had my PC M-41 out to the range last week. When I returned home I took it apart for cleaning and put it back together and placed it into the safe. I had this nagging feeling that I forgot something though and a few hours later went downstairs and took my pistol out of the safe and examined it, but I honestly didn't know what I was looking for. I was going to just put the M-41 back in the safe but for some odd reason I field stripped it and discovered I had put the Wolff recoil spring on backwards. Oh so easy to do if one slips for a moment. So at that point I decided to paint the closed end of the spring red to help remind me which way the spring goes on. At least I hope it helps, but at 74 yoa one never knows...

When a manufacturer knows there is a potential problem with their product and does nothing but add a few words to instructions, that we all know are rarely read completely and understood even less, then there is a real problem with that company. Fix the da** problem and keep your customers out of a jam. Literally! Personally I look at this as gross negligence of a high order.

Rick H.

And, like I have stated before, I spoke to them personally, they admitted the issue and they fully paid for the complete repair and restoration of TWO of my shooting Bud's M41's. All I can say is WOW! Thankfully I discovered the issue BEFORE this happened to me!