Carrying an older gun? Get new springs! Scary...

[dbarale]

For the past couple weeks I have been carrying my pre-war M&P project because... well because I can and I like it a lot.
Of course, before that I took it to the range and ran about 300 rounds through it to make sure it was reliable.
Today when I picked up I heard a rattle coming from the grip area. I figured one of the tabs broke off the T-grip (happened before). Well no, the mainspring just cleanly snapped about two thirds up.
Has this happened to anybody else? Just being carried around?
I swapped a wolffe that I had on hand but I won't be carrying it again until I can take it to the range and test it.
So, I you decide to carry an older gun, new springs might be a good idea. It's cheap insurance.

 

[dbarale]

For the past couple weeks I have been carrying my pre-war M&P project because... well because I can and I like it a lot.
Of course, before that I took it to the range and ran about 300 rounds through it to make sure it was reliable.
Today when I picked up I heard a rattle coming from the grip area. I figured one of the tabs broke off the T-grip (happened before). Well no, the mainspring just cleanly snapped about two thirds up.
Has this happened to anybody else? Just being carried around?
I swapped a wolffe that I had on hand but I won't be carrying it again until I can take it to the range and test it.
So, I you decide to carry an older gun, new springs might be a good idea. It's cheap insurance.

 

[Deacon KC]

I have gotten into the habit of ordering new springs for any used gun I buy ever since a 1911 had such a worn our recoil spring I could actually watch the slide run forward!

 

[geriatric woodscolt]

I had a 1917 tie up at a really bad time once; as best we could figure later the springs were too weak to cycle that fast. Definitely another vote for all new springs in an older carry gun.

(Edited because I can't spell!)

 

[dogngun]

I always get new recoil springs for old autos, never heard of an UNALTERED leaf spring breaking on a S&W revolver from just regular use.
Some people used to thin the flat springs to make for a lighter trigger (some still do this on SAA's for Cowboy shooting). There is a right and a wrong way to do this, and the wrong way encourages breakage.

Mark

 

[jpage]

yep, actually heard the leaf main-spring on my victory snap, while it was sitting on a table.

 

[n4zov]

I had a mainspring break completely in half in an S&W, but it was a Wolfe or Trapper replacement spring. It happened in the middle of an IHMSA match, and came as quite a surprise! I have never trusted non-S&W springs since, but I suppose it can happen to any of them.

 

[dbarale]

I guess the part that really surprised me is that it didn't snap while cycling the gun but just being carried.
BTW, I just assumed that the new spring was correct. Were the springs different on the "long action" guns?

 

[handejector]

Over the years, I have owned a few thousand S&W's, and shot several hundred- some long term, some short term. I have owned a few that I put several THOUSAND rounds thru- one well over 10,000.
These guns ran from the Model of 1899 thru 70's guns.
I have never seen an UNALTERED S&W spring break. Sure, it is possible, but the odds are with you. I would simply recommend inspecting the spring to see if it has been thinned or bent to reduce the pull, or has some visible sign of stress. If so, I would replace it. If it showed no problems, I would NOT replace it. How do you know you are not installing a spring more prone to trouble?
If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

 

[dbarale]

I just took another look at the broken spring. It has not been thinned but it is totally flat from top to bottom!
I guess somebody bent it at some point to get a lighter pull.
As far as not fixing what's not broke, I don't know. I still think about it as preventive maintenance... And again, I will not trust it until I put two or three hundred rounds through it.

 

[rburg]

Well, it really worries me when I'm forced to agree with Lee. Usually when I do that I go back and reconsider, figuring I've got to be wrong!

I've had a little experience with springs over the years, too. (Not nearly as much as Lee, I'm only half as old.) As far as replacing springs, I do it for different reasons than potential breakage. If we were talking semi-autos and either recoil springs or magazine springs, I'd agree that doing that routinely may be a good idea. Like every 20,000 rounds or so. Its just easy PM.

With J frames, I do sometimes change the springs because I hate the trigger pull on newer guns. Back in the old days (old for me, to Lee it was just yesterday) I changed out M60 springs for the kits that lowered the pull. Now I put back in the taken out springs from the 1970s guns. Makes a much nicer gun, and I've probably still got a half dozen mainsprings and rebound slide springs. I seriously doubt that S&W uses better quality springs these days than they did back then.

I've read that springs lose about 10% of their ability to rebound after the first few compression cycles. After that, the changes are negligible. I put my money on genuine S&W springs, be they 70 or 20 years old. And I don't mind the aftermarket springs sold these days.

And its scary. This is the 2nd time this year I agree with Lee. Sets an all time record!

 

[handejector]

And its scary. This is the 2nd time this year I agree with Lee. Sets an all time record!

Ahhhh, Grasshopper, do not be afraid. You walk the path to Enlightenment.

 

[dbarale]

Originally posted by dbarale:
I just assumed that the new spring was correct. Were the springs different on the "long action" guns?

Since you bumped up the thread, could anybody answer this?