My favorite load for my 1911 is 6.0 grains Unique behind a 200 TMJ bullet. I currently use a 18.5 Wilson recoil spring. What's happening is that occasionally the spent case will turn 180 degrees and then get jammed in the ejector well.
I'm thinking maybe I need a lighter recoil spring. This doesn't happen with my 220St Sig, so maybe my replacement spring is too strong.
Question #1: What would be a good strength spring for light to moderate loads?
Question #2: If I occasionally pop some factory loads in (with a lighter spring), will they harm the frame with battering?
16 pounds is the standard rate spring for the Government model and works well for standard loads like a 230 grain bullet at 800 to 850 fps. Your 200 grain load may very well need a 14 pound spring. Try the 16 pound spring first, if it is reliable, just use that rate and you will also be set for shooting full power ammo.
Your gun should run okay with a 16-pound spring and that load. Lately, I've been using some 200-grain SWS with 4.5 grains of Red Dot... milder than your 6 grains of Unique by probably 50-60 fps... and my three beaters work like a champ with a 16 pounder. Factory hardball like PMC or Winchester White Box shouldn't hurt the gun at all with a 16-pound spring. You can order a 10-pack of Wolff 16-pound, 32 coil springs from Brownells for about 35 bucks and stick a new one in about every 1500 rounds. Don't toss'em in the can though... They'll still be serviceable for carry guns.
A little tip to prolong the life of your springs about 10-12% is to remove the plug after a range session and let the spring relax until time to shoot it again. They seem to "unset" slightly, and last longer when I do that with my range-only guns. OR... if your gun does double duty, keep two springs for the gun. One for range, and return the fresh carry spring in it when you're done.
I'm sure you guys know this but a full length guide rod extends the life of the recoil spring A LOT... at least it does for me...
New spring every 1500 rounds? Lemme see, I bought this gun in 1978 and I've fired 2000 rounds through it since then. So, at 1500 rounds I'll have to change it again in 2025.