Recoil springs?

[riverfox]

With respect to the 9mm (or any other cal. for that matter) when do you switch to different weight recoil springs and why?

 

[lovemyguns]

Load weight. Light loads with heavy springs may not complete the cycle causing a malfunction. Heavy loads on light springs increases recoil and can damage the gun.

 

[riverfox]

Load weight. Light loads with heavy springs may not complete the cycle causing a malfunction. Heavy loads on light springs increases recoil and can damage the gun.

I should've added that I was refering to feed problems more specifically with reguard to bullet weight.

 

[lovemyguns]

By loads I'm speaking about the amount of powder and the bullet speed. Bullet weight is part of that. My Kimber ultra was giving me trouble and the factory polished the feed ramp and put a new spring in. Problem solved.

 

[MichiganScott]

Load weight. Light loads with heavy springs may not complete the cycle causing a malfunction. Heavy loads on light springs increases recoil and can damage the gun.

Unfortunately heavy loads with heavy springs increase the slide velocity as it returns to battery placing additional stress on the parts involved with lock-up. I can't think of any problems with target type loads and lighter springs.

If you feel the need to regularly shoot loads that exceed standard you might want to consider a bigger gun. With the guns that S&W says you can safely shoot +P in they also say that the gun will need service sooner.

 

[OKFC05]

Simple check: look at where your empties land. If the land 3 to 6 feet away, that's just right. Barely make it out of the gun or have ejection problems? Go lighter.
Cases go flying across the range? Get a heavier spring, you're battering the gun needlessly.

The shooter's ability and technique affect this, not just the loads. I put a 15# recoil spring in a standard M&P for my beginner students to insure reliable ejection with standard 9mm. The 16# spring worked fine when I shot it, but not with some beginners.

It is possible to shoot minor power .40 S&W handloads in a G35 or M&P .40 by putting in a 15# recoil spring. Don't forget to switch back to 18# for full power .40.

 

[riverfox]

Simple check: look at where your empties land. If the land 3 to 6 feet away, that's just right. Barely make it out of the gun or have ejection problems? Go lighter.
Cases go flying across the range? Get a heavier spring, you're battering the gun needlessly.

The shooter's ability and technique affect this, not just the loads. I put a 15# recoil spring in a standard M&P for my beginner students to insure reliable ejection with standard 9mm. The 16# spring worked fine when I shot it, but not with some beginners.

It is possible to shoot minor power .40 S&W handloads in a G35 or M&P .40 by putting in a 15# recoil spring. Don't forget to switch back to 18# for full power .40.

I have an M&P CORE 40L and I have a KKM 40to9mm barrel.
I am loading .40 165gr with minimum powder load. And shooting 9mm 124gr again with minimum powder load. I haven't noticed where my empties are landing. Should I be switching recoil springs when I switch to the 9mm conversion?

 

[OKFC05]

I have an M&P CORE 40L and I have a KKM 40to9mm barrel.
I am loading .40 165gr with minimum powder load. And shooting 9mm 124gr again with minimum powder load. I haven't noticed where my empties are landing. Should I be switching recoil springs when I switch to the 9mm conversion?

Why guess? Go shoot it and see where the empties land. It won't hurt it to try.

The information given is insufficient for even a half-baked guess. What type bullet? Which powder? "Minimum powder" according to what manual? Early .40 M&Ps came with the 9mm spring; later ones come with the 18# spring.

 

[MegaCleanCab]

I run a speed shooters non captive setup with 11lbs for my 9mm I really like it and don't notice a front sight dip anymore when the slide comes home