Recoil spring weights.

[JamesArthur60]

My crooked arthritic fingers are making it difficult to pull back my P229 slide. The Sig stock recoil spring weight is 16 lbs. Can I get a reduced spring weight that will help me pull back the slide? I only shoot factory 115 grain ammo. No +P ammo used. Let me know if this is a bad idea, I have had no issues with this 229 and do not want to create any. Thanks

 

[jtj5002]

My crooked arthritic fingers are making it difficult to pull back my P229 slide. The Sig stock recoil spring weight is 16 lbs. Can I get a reduced spring weight that will help me pull back the slide? I only shoot factory 115 grain ammo. No +P ammo used. Let me know if this is a bad idea, I have had no issues with this 229 and do not want to create any. Thanks

Try cocking the hammer first before racking a slide.

Majority of people on this forum will tell you to never mess with factory parts. However it really depends on the individual gun. Manufacturers do not always get it right. CZ drastically reduced the recoil spring in the P-07 from 20 lb to 14 lb when they figured out that no one is shooting 124 gr NATO spec ammo in the states.

In this case,16 lb is already rather light for a compact sized alloy frame gun. But the 229 frame was designed to handle 40 and 357 so it might be able to take more beating. 14 lb is the absolute minimum I would go in my own steel framed full size guns shooting factory standard pressure ammo.

 

[armorer951]

Another option is placing a grip tape on the slide to assist. There are many brands available.

Arachnigrip sells one that is model specific, and fits your model 229 slide perfectly. I have similar problems with my hands and grip strength....these really helped me without permanently altering the gun.

ArachniGrip Slide Spider - Sig Sauer P229

 

[scooter123]

When you reduce the recoil spring weight you run the risk of beating the frame to death with the slide. As JTJ2000 pointed out cocking the hammer will reduce the effort required to get the slide moving. That may be enough to solve your problem for now. Unfortunately Arthritis is a progressive disease so the day will come when cocking the hammer no longer works.

Planning ahead for that I would suggest that you take the time to find a Ruger SR1911 Light Weight CMD in 9mm. Because this particular pistol has the easiest to rack slide of ANY handgun I have ever handled. It's also the softest shooting 9mm I own. BTW, double feeds are common with the Ruger 9mm magazines and the solution is to purchase some Wilson Combat 9mm magazines. Note, my opinion is the feed lips on the Ruger Mags is about 1/16 inch too short which then allows two rounds to be released.

 

[stansdds]

I'd be more inclined to handle that P229 like I handle a Hi-Power. Cock the hammer, then rack the slide. Going to a lighter recoil spring may bring problems with slide cycling velocity, feed and ejection reliability and possible damage to the receiver.

 

[yeti]

If you are careful to not shoot any NATO or +P ammo try a 20# hammer spring with a 15# recoil. I suggest Wolff: https://www.gunsprings.com/SIG-SAUER%20(SIGARMS)/P225,%20P228,%20P229/cID1/mID4/dID253
Will be much easier to rack and won't destroy your P229 as long as you are selective with ammo.

Grip tape is a good suggestion that you may want to try no matter what springs you run.

 

[JamesArthur60]

Cock the hammer, then rack the slide.

What a great solution. Just enough to help. No costs. Thanks.