Anyone have any thoughts on Wolf variable power recoil springs?
What would be the purpose in using them instead of stock springs?
I'm no expert but I have an opinion on the matter First lets look at what they are.
Progressive/Variable springs are engineered to have a variable increase in power as they are compressed. Say we have 2 springs, one variable and one static with the same compressed weight. At some point below full compression the progressive/variable spring will be at a lower tension.
Ideally, to minimize battering I would think you would want a spring engineered so that it has higher spring tension at the back of the stroke, through stripping the round and starting to feed it to the chamber, then have it drop off sharply to lessen the impact of the slide locking up.
How the springs are ACTUALLY engineered (if they are engineered at all) I'm not certain but the ones I've seen appear to be an even progression. Where the tension per unit length increases as the spring compresses. So, the deceleration and re-acceleration occurs more at the back of the slide stroke. This gives lots of power for stripping off a round but also means the round may have less time to feed requiring a stronger magazine spring. Plus you may get a "snappier" recoil as more deceleration is done over less time.
Depending on what compression the springs are tested at for weight it may require a heavier progressive spring to provide the same dampening as a linier rate spring.
When I upgraded my Delta Elite, I went with a standard 20 lbs Wolff spring with a conventional guide rod and took other steps for increasing dwell time on the lock-up.
Don't know if this helps or is even accurate. Let's see if I'm praised or get ripped apart by those who know
I'd say mah man Black Snowman pretty well nailed the technical end of it. Put simply, the variable spring gives the rated load at full compression as installed, but feels like a much lighter spring when the slide is in battery and ya hand-cycle it.
Some folks swear by'em... Some swear at'em. I've never used'em, so I can't make a call either way except to say that I don't see any real advantage over the standard rate springs that worked for... oh... about 75 or 80 years. If I get bored this winter, I may order a couple and play with'em to see what's shakin'.
If De Tuner wasn't such a secret agent, I would send him a spring kit to try. I have a custom kit assembled by Wolff for the PATRIOT 1911 Online Class guns that works very well in Caspians. All he has to do is PM me an address and I will send him a kit. I don't care if it's a PO box or even his real address.
I like the VP recoil springs in 16-1/2 lbs for Government Model 1911 semi-automatic pistols. Now I guess I need some valid excuse, but I will have to invent one because I cannot prove any reason for using this kit. The type of guns that I build, and have my students build, run 100% with this spring kit, unless someone else messes with them. I have never felt the need to justify anything I do because what I do, WORKS. That is why I do it!
The springs I use are a part of that formula. I chose them with care and then we install them, and lo and behold, the guns run. I view the 1911 as a highly balanced machine built way back when with a lot of overkill in the factory springs that tend to disturb that original design for safety reasons and now, litigation by bottom feeders.
I like a gun that drops a magazine with ease, fires a variety of factory ammo or hand loads, has a very nice trigger pull and performs like a little machine should without modification after the fact or just because "so and so said thus and so."
I like to change recoil springs when the 1911 reaches a 2000 round count or when I think the spring is too short for reliable service. I like shok-buffs and one piece recoil spring guides in these guns and some other things that are up for discussion by people who think they know all the answers, but rarely do. The fact is , that I can put these guns where my mouth is and have done so in many places. I hope this dumb post gets through to a few of you, and am sorry to do a rant.
PICTURES 404
Secret Agent Man! I... I just can't do it Cap'n. I'm scairt that I might like 'em, and then I'd hafta admit you was right.