Does anyone know if I can order a lighter spring for a magazine catch. I have looked but no luck. Is it possible to cut the spring down to make the catch lighter when depress to eject a magazine?
Wolff www.gunsprings.com offers 4 differing strengths of reduced-power mag catch springs.
Brownells has a 4 spring trial set that offers the Wolff springs in a number of different tension settings. I had no difficulty replacing the spring. On one older 1911, I am having difficulty removing the securing screw. I know it only turns 90 degrees, but one of mine is frozen in place. I used a gunsmith screwdriver, but may have to drill out the screw as I cannot get it to budge on a 30 year old Govt. model.
I don't think that cutting the spring will give you the results that you want. The trial set is inexpensive.
I have smoothed mine out by disassembling the catch and wrapping fine sandpaper on a small drill and inserting it where the spring and screw travel.
Ed Brown sells a lighter mag catch spring.
Yes, you can trim/tune the factory 'heavy' spring. A couple of coils is usually all it takes, so don't get crazy. Be careful if you are using side/wire cutters!
Insert the end you CUT OFF into the mag catch first, keeping the remaining 'flattened' coil against the catch lock.