New Recoil Spring After 1,000 Rounds?

[CatnPhx]

I was on another forum and someone was at 1,000 rounds on their CW9 and they had one FTF occur. Nothing big ... it was his first one in 800 rounds. Anyway, someone replied that since the gun was at 1,000 rounds that most semi-autos need a new recoil spring.

That's the first I've heard that semi-autos need a new recoil spring at 1,000 rounds ... any truth to that? Thanks


P.S. My CW9 is at 800 rounds and I've got a few other semis well over that mark.

[Bawanna]

Seems like Kahr recommends 1200 to 1500. At about the 1000 mark I'd probably order one and have it on hand but probably wouldn't install it till I had an issue.

I'd not be the least surprised to see a recoil spring go twice that without issue.

I'd not get to over wrought on spring replacement unless of course you have an issue and then do it.

I find this difficult to believe myself but I've never replaced a recoil spring in my personal guns. Oh I take that back, I did have to replace a Glock 27 recoil assembly once as its captive end broke, one of a bad batch. Then it wasnt the spring but the rod that gave.

[CatnPhx]

Thanks ... good to know.

What is a symptom or sign that a recoil spring would need to be replaced? What would be happening in the gun that would indicate to me that a replacement is needed?

Thanks again.

[Thunder71]

Kahr actually recommends them around 750 for a personal defense gun.

[CatnPhx]

Kahr actually recommends them around 750 for a personal defense gun.

What is the source for that information? Thanks

[Thunder71]

Kahr representative.

You're welcome.

(I believe it's in the manual as well.)

[CJB]

Not in the manual....on the PM series, maybe in the others, dunno.

A weak recoil spring would result in more energetic slide action.

Just a guess, but one thing you're likely to see is failure to strip a round from the magazine. Why? Because you might not notice the little bit of extra battering things are getting, but at some point, the slide is going to be moving fast enough to get a significant bounce effect when if moves fully rearward. Since the Kahr has little over-travel in its design, the rebound forward may occur in a length of time that disallows full cartridge rise in the magazine. Nose dives (hitting the edge of the cartridge before its risen fully) and total lack of stripping from the magazine. All conjecture, based on how things operate. Expect more violent ejection as well.

[MikeyKahr]

No such thing in my manual, and never have seen it stated anywhere officially. Maybe just the representative's personal opinion?

[Bawanna]

750 seems insanely low to me. I looked at the website and I know I've seen it and I thought sure it was 1200. Many guys like to change stuff like springs for piece of mind or whatever.

I'm a firm believer in preventative maintenance but not nearly that often.

[Thunder71]

Some suggest to buy a new spring kit and set it aside after testing it for functionality - use the new one for self defense and the 'old' one for the range.

[bigbob68]

Some suggest to buy a new spring kit and set it aside after testing it for functionality - use the new one for self defense and the 'old' one for the range.


I would NEVER use a new recoil spring without first testing it with my carry ammo. One for Carry and one for Range sounds silly. Just buy a couple Wolff replacement springs and change them when you notice problems, IMO. While ordering new Slide springs from Wolff, get some new mag springs and be sure to test them as well.

I always shoot a mag of ammo thru my carry gun after every cleaning to make sure I am good to go.

[MikeyKahr]

I always shoot a mag of ammo thru my carry gun after every cleaning to make sure I am good to go.

I've never thought about that, but that's a great idea (newb here). Great way to make sure one is good to go. I usually shoot and clean then load (without shooting again). Looks like my habits are going to change a bit.

[Bawanna]

I thoroughly clean and lube after a range session and then just function test the heck out of it including dropping a pencil down the barrel and launching it to assure function. I check trigger reset, safeties on guns that have them, the whole ball of wax.

If I shot a mag thru to make sure it was good to go I'd feel the need to clean it again and it would just be a vicious circle.

Back in our dept Beretta days I had an officer clean his gun and unknowingly knock the trigger bar spring out, very easy to do if you take the grips off and not difficult even with the grips on if you brush out the mag tunnel.

Fortunately or luckily he only worked for a few days before a range session where he had one shot and then a paper weight.

Function check thoroughly.

[jocko]

Rcoil springs don't wear out like most think. They wll last a long time. If one shoots the pi-s out ofhis gun for range time to and personal carry after just change ever 2000 + - and be done with it, I for some reason prefer arecoil spring in my gun with 500 rounds through it over a BRAND NEW ONE unfired. Sometimes new is not good. A fewhundred rounds will give that recoil spring combo the now pre-designed set that it is needs toallow perfect function and aqlso to allow much easier hand racking. recoil springs are cheap in price, so IMO replace as u feel ge beed , get a routie established also and just stick with it. I probably have no real routine "anymore" like I did when I was shootig the PM9 every day,so for me if the sun is shinning and I feel good. they have a good chance of getting replaced. Same thing with magazne springs

[ripley16]

All springs and guns are not equal. The smaller the gun, the more work the spring does and as a generel rule of thumb the shorter the life of the spring. Some of the small 9mm pistols require replacement after as little as 100 rounds. 1000 rounds sounds pretty reasonable on the tiny Kahrs.

Because the spring effectiveness never drops to zero, but remains at a high but reduced rate, the change is subtle. Replacement by the numbers, (a particular round count), is the logical way to maintain your gun. especially if it is a CCW. If one shoots a lot, keeping a log is an excellent idea.

I don't do it myself, because my annual shooting has dropped dramatically, but if I shot thousands or more rounds per year through my CCW, I'd keep a dedicated "carry spring" if I carried a gun that required frequent change. I used to shoot 400-500 rounds per range visit, a couple times per month. Now it's 100 or less, maybe once a month, but I still pay attention to the recoil spring.

[Diocoles]

Most manufacturers will recommend between 800-1500 rounds to change recoil springs. Also change your firing pin spring at the same time.

Check with the manufacturer as to their recommendations.

I've had my Kahr CW9 for several years and probably around 3000+ rounds and no problems with the springs.

Just did a detail strip cleaning of my slide and other than some brass/copper in there and some carbon buildup around the extractor, it was clean.
I did inspect under my scope and I need to touch up a couple spots that have burrs on them. But that's from normal wear and tear. Nothing to do with the springs.

Of course the more you shoot, the more often you may have to replace them.

The Kahr platform is clean and simple. Doesn't take much to maintain them.

[jocko]

My striker spring has over 30,000 rounds thorugh it, never a light strike and I have he 5# striker spring in it even. Not arguing but not sure I buyt the firing pin spring change but again they are cheap in price so if it floats ur boat-- row it. my glock and K9 have the original springs in them wtih over 5000 rounds each.

[paul34]

I think 1k rounds for "most" semi-autos is misinformed, IMO. For a small pistol like many of the Kahrs we have, that isn't an unreasonable interval.

But for many of the popular semi-autos, like Glocks, XDs, MPs, etc, they can go many, many thousands of rounds before requiring a new recoil spring.

Sounds to me like the person you talked to has only worked with 1911s. Many 1911s need new springs around the 1k mark (or maybe they really don't and the spring manufacturers are taking a page out of the Jiffy Lube playbook ;) ). Modern, fuller sized polymer guns can go much longer than that.

[mightymouse]

Hmmm. I wonder how long until Wolff starts producing for the new models. I'm going to drop them a line.

[BeauNC]

My concealed carry instructor, who is also a former shooting sports competitor, and owns the gun range in town, said to watch where your casings land when you shoot. If the casings are flung WAY behind you, then the spring needs replaced. If the casings are flung forward, then your spring is too stiff. It makes sense to me.

[jocko]

not sure about the forward thing but certainly the further away the weaker the spring COULD BE, doesn't really mean the springs are no good either. If your recoil spring from the factory throws them 10 feert, then consider that as what the factory wanted, not a sign of bad sprigs. NOt that u cannot in some guns put in heavier springs and shorten that distance of spent brass.

I am convinced that Ruger put the 9# recoil springs in their little 380 lcp to enable EVERYONE to hand rack it with ease. Casing do fly though, so many have went tothe `12 and 13# wolffs recoil springs and shortened the distance alot and also many said felt recoil was considerable less, which makes sense. But from Rugers stand point that is not the approach they took. IMO they figured that 95% would never complain about where the brass went as long as it didn't bonk them on the head, but hand racking was much easier than most, and the other 5% would soon figure out how to get around that spent brass stuff.

a tight extractor along with an ejector that might need some tlc to it, is what IMO determines where brass goes forward, upward, backwards etc, not the recoil spring, which plays a part of that equation..

[mightymouse]

Hmmm. I wonder how long until Wolff starts producing for the new models. I'm going to drop them a line.
Relied today on inquiry for new series PM9, CM9 springs:


Dear ____,

Thank you for your email and for taking the time to suggest a new item to add to our product line. We’re always looking to expand our product line and depend on our customers to point us in the right direction when determining which springs we should concentrate on. While I can’t give you a time line or a definite commitment to making springs for either the PM9 or CM9 Kahr pistols, I will pass along your suggestion.

Regards,
John Andrews
Wolff Gunsprings

[paul34]

My concealed carry instructor, who is also a former shooting sports competitor, and owns the gun range in town, said to watch where your casings land when you shoot. If the casings are flung WAY behind you, then the spring needs replaced. If the casings are flung forward, then your spring is too stiff. It makes sense to me.

The only issue with this is that many people shoot at indoor ranges that have partitions between the lanes. Casings bounce off that wall, so it is difficult to tell if your casings are being flung out too far.

[Diocoles]

^ +1 on that....

[Ljutic]

I always try to carry a clean gun. The pencil tip is a great one and I will be adding that to my post-cleaning function check.

[Bentech05]

I definitely started to notice problems with my Kahr right around the 1500-1600 round mark, right about 1500 I started to have some slight FTE problems and around 1600 it was just about every single mag/every other mag I was having FTE/jamming issues. I replaced the recoil spring and all my problems went away, so I would say that if you're an avid shooter that replacing the springs at 1000-1500rnds would be a good bet if it's your CCW.

[jocko]

can't argue the 1500 reound mark, sounds sensible and certainly sounds "precautionairy". Always error on the side of caution. That for probably 75% of most people is alot of shootig and I mean alot..

[Bentech05]

can't argue the 1500 reound mark, sounds sensible and certainly sounds "precautionairy". Always error on the side of caution. That for probably 75% of most people is alot of shootig and I mean alot..


That's about 2-3 months of shooting for me, that's part of the reason why I got the heavy 23lb Wolff spring. I wanted to see how much longer they'd last.

[ripley16]

That's about 2-3 months of shooting for me, that's part of the reason why I got the heavy 23lb Wolff spring. I wanted to see how much longer they'd last.

The heavy shooter is the perfect candidate to have a dedicated spring for carry only and use older springs for range use only, and then shoot them until they begin to fail. This solution saves money as well as provides confidence in one's CCW because it always has a fresh spring.