SW1911 Slide Spring

[RenoGuy]

New to the forum and I appreciate the accumulated knowledge you guys have access to here.

Recently got a new SW1911 E Series in .45 ACP

Actually bought this for my wife for HD

Had her try a lot of different semi-autos from full size to sub-compact and she really liked the SW1911

However, the one she was able to fire at the range was a 9MM

We didn't think getting a .45 would be much different, and she shoots my Sig .45 just fine. Problem is (much like with my Sig) the slide spring in the 1991, being it's a .45, is much stronger than the one in the 9MM she fired.

Now, I know the SW is new and not yet broken in, but she can't even begin to rack the slide, and when the slide is locked back, she can't release the slide with the slide release (truth is, I have a hard time with the slide release too.)

Is this all a matter of getting a brand new 1911 cleaned, lubed, (which I've already done) and broken in? Or should I consider changing out the slide spring for something lighter?

Anybody know what # spring is in a SW1911 from the factory?

If I do change to a lighter spring, am I going to create other issues like exceptional wear or substantially increased recoil ?

Appreciate any feedback. Thanks.

 

[OKFC05]

Sorry, you can't just drop in the spring intended for a 9mm in your .45 without battering the frame and risking severe damage.
The spring is for the ammo you intend to use, NOT for the comfort of the shooter.
A .45 1911 uses a 16 to 18 pound spring, depending on whether moderate or heavy loads are used.
My 1911 9mm shooting minor power 124gr 9mm reloads has an ISMI 12 1/2# spring.
Unless you want to handload some minor power .45, you can't do much about the spring in your .45 without risking major damage.
When you release the slide, slingshot it rather than using the slide catch. There is a right way and a wrong way to rack a 1911. If she's not involving her arms, she needs to change the tachnique.

This is an example of why I strongly recommend "shoot before you buy."

 

[rbert0005]

Depending on what ammo you are using you may be able to get away with a 14lb recoil spring.
When to try different springs be mindfull of just how far the empty casings are going. If it seems to be too far you will need a heavier spring, say a 16lb'er.

Bob

 

[RenoGuy]

Sorry, you can't just drop in the spring intended for a 9mm in your .45 without battering the frame and risking severe damage.
The spring is for the ammo you intend to use, NOT for the comfort of the shooter.

I understand that, and I'm not suggesting changing the spring just for the shooter's comfort. I was just asking if their are different # springs that are used and maybe I could drop from whatever is currently in it (let's say 19#) to maybe 17# without damaging anything or getting way off track size-wise.

A .45 1911 uses a 16 to 18 pound spring, depending on whether moderate or heavy loads are used.
My 1911 9mm shooting minor power 124gr 9mm reloads has an ISMI 12 1/2# spring.
Unless you want to handload some minor power .45, you can't do much about the spring in your .45 without risking major damage.
When you release the slide, slingshot it rather than using the slide catch. There is a right way and a wrong way to rack a 1911. If she's not involving her arms, she needs to change the tachnique.

Tried that. The slide release does not seem to allow slingshotting the slide. When you pull the slide all the way back beyond the slide release, then let it go, the slide release "jumps" back up and catches the slide. (Now, that may only be true when the magazine is empty, haven't tried it with rounds in the mag).

This is an example of why I strongly recommend "shoot before you buy."

Yeah, I know! She was really quite comfortable with the 9MM model, and since they're all built basically the same, we thought the .45 would be fine. I had no idea the spring strength difference would be so great, although, like I said before, I think some of this is simply because it's new from the factory and hasn't really been broken in yet.

 

[ericlw]

You dont have to use the slide release. Im not sure why gun people think you must do it that way.

 

[RGPM1A]

IMHO you could use a 14 lb spring with minimal risk with standard 230 grain factory ball or hollow points as long as they are not +P loads.

As far as the slide release you might try an extended unit from Wilson Combat. It is much easier to reach than a standard one.

 

[RenoGuy]

Two responses:

230 grain ball ammo is what I have (been using it in my Sig), so if all else fails, I may be able to change the spring to something slightly weaker. I may call S&W and ask them.

Secondly, I was right about the empty mag thing. You certainly can slingshot the slide as long as there isn't an empty mag in the mag well. (Should have known)

I'll get the wife to the range this weekend and see how things go.

Worst that could happen is I'll have to buy another SW1911, just in 9MM this time

 

[WR Moore]

Being a bit picky here, but the correct name of the part you're discussing is the recoil spring.

Springs will let down somewhat after some firing, you might want to look around for a new 16 lb recoil spring and give that a try. That was the factory specified item for decades. The 14 lb spring was fitted to the Gold Cup series and while it does work, requires more frequent changes to prevent frame battering. It was really intended for use with "soft ball" target loads, rather than military "hard ball" (full power ammo).

Don't get hung up on the question of what is the "right/tactical" way to release the slide and the BS justification some may use for their preffered method. Use what works for you. All machinery gets easier to use as it breaks in.

 

[JoeHatley]

Have her try the "push/pull" method. Push with the strong hand and pull with the weak hand, both at the same time. Kinda like starting a chain saw.

 

[OKFC05]

Couple of added specific comments:
1. Part of the "problem" is the tight fitting of the barrel on your new Smith, which makes it harder to move that first 1/4". I have an old Colt that is easier than my new .45 1911 Smith.
2. I put a 16# ISMI recoil spring in my .45 S&W for the purpose of shooting power factor 170 200gr range loads. If you stay away from +P, that should be fine in yours for normal factory loads. I prefer ISMI silicon steel springs because they operate pretty much at the rated weight from the start and last a long time.
3. You can tell how your spring matches your ammo by watching where the empties land: 3 to 6 feet away is ideal.
4. As WR Moore said, the tactical techniques touted for speed reloads are not the best when dealing with weaker hands. The "hot technique" is to rest the thumb on the slide catch and release as the mag hits home, but that takes strength and a fair amount of practice.
Slingshot is easier.
5. When racking the slide back to lock, insert an empty mag so it will lock automatically, and you don't have to operate the catch.
6. My last resort technique to rack the slide with weak-hand students is to have them rotate the pistol toward the weak hand, firmy grasp the slide between heel of hand and fingers, extend the arms straight downrange, and actually use the shoulder muscles, moving the strong shoulder forward and the weak shoulder back. If they can't mange that (nearly all can), its revolver time.

 

[RenoGuy]

All good points, some of which I was aware, and a couple good suggestions I will consider.

FWIW, my son and I test fired the new 1911 at the range last night (my wife wasn't available to go).

Our first reaction was what a really nice firearm this is. Certainly very well made and fitted, and comfortable to shoot for the two of us.

My son's been seriously considering a SW1911 and I think last night convinced him it's the right choice for him.

On the bright side, we fired almost 200 rounds through the 1911 last night, and except for a couple of jambs (always on the first round which I attributed to exactly how that first round "sat" in the magazine mostly I believe a result of brand new mags which I should have probably broken down and lubed) the pistol performed almost flawlessly.

It was accurate, ejected the spent cartridges just about right (landing 3 to 5 feet away the whole time), and was fun to shoot.

As we got more rounds through it, and got used to the slide and the strength of the recoil spring, it turned out that racking the slide was not as difficult as it was out of the box, which I attribute to, not only the 200 rounds we put through it, but the fact that I disassembled it and cleaned and lubed it well, and that we just got used to using it properly.

Hopefully, I can get my wife to be able to use it as well. Regardless, I won't be changing any springs or anything at this time.

This SW1911 also has Crimson trace laser grips which I think are useful for practice so that you can see how much you're moving the pistol around when firing. I bought it with them to help my wife practice, but I may have to change them out for the factory grip because she says she thinks the CT grips are bigger and make the pistol a little harder for her to hold properly. I guess we'll see how tha works out.

All in all, I'm more than pleased at this point. If I can't get my wife to learn how to handle it properly, I might just have to buy another SW1911, this time in 9MM.

The sacrifices we have to make for our families!