If you carry a 4" 1911, you probably should read this...

[Tangle]

There are two problems with most any brand 4" 1911s, they have a short recoil spring life, about 800 rounds is my manufacturer's replacement recommendation, and you can't disassemble the barrel from the slide without that little wire tool or a paper clip bent to serve as the tool.

Well, Wilson Combat has a flat spring recoil kit that solves both of these problems. Wilson is claiming 10x the life of a standard round coil spring. 10 times! Imagine what used to be 800 rounds is now 8,000 rounds.

And two, they've made the guide rod slightly shorter so the gun can be field stripped without a tool of any kind!!!

It's a little pricey because you have to buy the guide rod, plug, and flat spring. Since the flat spring has a smaller ID, it won't fit standard guide rods. The whole kit costs $49. But, that's mostly a one time cost, meaning that from that point forward you would only have to replace the spring - if you shoot 8,000 rounds! However, if you shot 8,000 rounds with a round recoil spring and changed it out at 800 rounds, that would be 10 recoil springs. At say $5 a piece, that's the cost of this kit!

Here's the info on it - be sure to watch the video. I just ordered two, one for a Kimber Tactical Pro and the other for a Kimber Super Carry Pro. I also ordered three of the full size kits for my full size 1911s, Kimber TLE/RL, Desert Warrior, and Super Carry Custom HD.

http://shopwilsoncombat.com/Flat-Wir...oductinfo/651/

I went to the range and installed the WC kit, it's that easy, in my Tactical Pro and shot 100 rounds. They were all flawless. I had been used to a full-size all steel gun, the DW or TLE/RL so I was expecting a bit more recoil from the aluminum framed 4" Tactical Pro. I can't say that I noticed any difference. Then I did my standard rapid fire drills and recall thinking, "that was pretty fast". Those two things together make me think the recoil spring may have softened the recoil a bit.

The kit is pretty straight forward to install, pretty much just like the video illustrates in the link above.

It's worth noting that the full-size kit, i.e. 5", does not come with a plug like the 4" kit does. Hence it's less expensive, only $19.95 for the spring and guide rod, but if you have a full-length guide rod, you will need a 'closed' plug to replace the open one used with a full length guide rod.

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[lsbbigdog]

link doesn't work

[OD*]

Try this;

[Tangle]

Thanks! I replaced the link; it should work now.

[archer51]

I'm assuming this only applies to guns without a barrel bushing. My DW CBOB has a barrel bushing and disassembles the same as my 5" model 1911.

[Tangle]

I'm assuming this only applies to guns without a barrel bushing. My DW CBOB has a barrel bushing and disassembles the same as my 5" model 1911.

The DW CBOB, is a Commander length barrel, i.e. 4-1/4" and the guide rod/spring/plug set up other than length, is the same as 5" models. So the field stripping wouldn't apply, but the extended spring life would.

Although, this kit is specifically for 4" guns, not commanders. Commander size guns don't use as heavy of a spring as 4" guns and I think uses a longer spring too.

I don't know if WC has a commander kit or not.

[Doodle]

Wait... So your telling me that manufacturers are putting out pistols that have parts in them that only have an 800 round expected life, then you have to replace that part or buy this 45 dollar part?

[Tangle]

Wait... So your telling me that manufacturers are putting out pistols that have parts in them that only have an 800 round expected life, then you have to replace that part or buy this 45 dollar part?

Well, it's true that the manufacturer's stock springs for 4" 1911s have a much shorter life than longer barreled guns, but one doesn't have to replace it with a $49 dollar unit; one can simply replace the recoil spring for $8 every 800 rounds.

Wolff Gunsprings has an extra power spring for $8 that's supposed to have a longer life than the stock coil springs, but it won't approach the extended life of the WC flat spring. Plus, I'm not convinced an extra power spring is the way to go. How hard to we want racking the slide to be?

For me, the WC route is a good deal but then I shoot a lot and I'll pay for the entire unit within a year or so in recoil spring savings.

Even if one doesn't shoot a lot, he doesn't have to worry about how many rounds is on his recoil spring. Most will never approach shooting 8,000 rounds.

[Beans]

thanks for the info.

FYI Kimber also recommends replacing the springs in their Ultra 1911 every 800 rds. (3 1/2 inch barrel)

[rocky]

Thanks for the link, might have to get the wolff spring next. As for having to use the clip to take down, I don't with my Springfield Champ. Not sure what I am doing wrong but it comes apart just fine.

[gasmitty]

Excellent! The marketplace responds...

I'm not a fan of full-length guide rods on the 1911 to begin with, and requiring a tool more complicated than a bullet nose to disassemble the gun is a needless complication that offends my engineering sensitivities. The very first thing I changed on my TRP was to replace that FLGR with the standard recoil spring plug and guide rod.

But my Kimber CDP II Pro was immune from that cure. Since it has a bull barrel, it has no barrel bushing and thus there was no drop-in 'solution.' Looks like a great solution, and the timing is ideal as my CDP is just about due for a fresh spring. Ordering one today!

Thanks for the informative post!

[AKsrule]

The Disassembly caveat does NOT apply to the Springfield Champion series (no tools needed )

I haven't replaced the spring in mine yet - no problems over about 1K rounds.

[Tangle]

Thanks for the link, might have to get the wolff spring next. As for having to use the clip to take down, I don't with my Springfield Champ. Not sure what I am doing wrong but it comes apart just fine.

It probably has a shorter guide rod. That's another solution for 4" guns, a shorter guide rod, but that doesn't solve the short spring life.

The Disassembly caveat does NOT apply to the Springfield Champion series (no tools needed )

I haven't replaced the spring in mine yet - no problems over about 1K rounds.

How often does Springfield recommend replacing the recoil spring?

[DRM]

From an engineering standpoint, the FLAT wire springs (ala G-Lock) are a much better setup. Springs vary from manufacturer to maker, as to life expectancy. The BEST part of a flat wire spring is that it can bottom out on itself without ANY damage. You'd be surprised at how many short 1911's I've seen come across my workbench with round coil springs that were hammering themselves to death.

Thanks for posting this Tangle, good info.

[ANGLICO]

Thanks for posting!