Changing Handgun Springs

I constantly get email from people that change springs and wonder why they have misfires. The gun manufacturers do not generally use light springs, they want their products to be covered legally in case of a law suit for one reason or another, whether it be in a Police shooting or a Civillian shooting or what ever the situation turns out to be. They are deathly affraid of more law suits by the COCHRANS of this world. Factories put their springs out for bid and a particular handgun may have springs made by different spring companies, they will never tell you. Its all about money, follow the money trail, how can they make the most profit.

Most manufacturers over engineer their hammer springs (also known as a mainspring). For instance a 1911 Colt Government Pistol uses a factory rated hammer spring of 23 lbs. In a Colt Double Eagle pistol the factory rated hammer spring is is 18 lbs. In a Colt Mustang pistol the factory rated hammer spring is 9 lbs. These are but a few examples, you can not just change springs and expect an instant trigger job as some people would have you believe. Many people feel very comfortable using an 18 or 19 lb. hammer spring in their 1911 pistol. IN MY OPINION, THIS IS INSANITY. IT IS BETTER TO BE TRIED BY 12, THAN CARRIED BY 6......
I am more concerned about street reliability where your life is concerned.
Beautiful Checkering will not save your life, but my internal work will give you an edge to be able to go home at night.

The factory rated hammer spring of a Sig Sauer P220 pistol is 24 lbs. and yet people do not think twice about cutting 3 or 4 coils off the hammerspring or using a 17 or 18 lb. hammer spring. You are playing with your life, you have no idea what you are doing when you use light hammer springs in a Sig pistol that is designed to incorporate a reset spring. For example, I can easily make a sig 220 totally reliable with a Double Action of 9 lbs and a Single Action of 4 lbs. using a heavy hammer spring. It will still have a glass smooth action.

If I work on a Walther PP, PPK or PPK/S I need to make the Double Action 13 lbs and I can make the Single Action anything I want, the key is understanding how to refine the internals of a specific model handgun.
Over a year ago a gun writer in a bi monthly magazine wrote that nothing could be done to improve these smaller type semi auto pistols. Well this gun writer who has a steady column wrote out of pure ignorance. I wrote the previous editor and he would would not even respond, because he was politically correct and I was not. Neither one had a clue what they were talking about, as long as they sold the publication and sold avertising, it all leads to BENJAMIN FRANLIN, always follow the money trail. THIS IS MY OPINION ONLY.

I really admire some of the machining and beautiful work that some of these talented MACHINISTS / SMITHS can achieve. My expertise is confined to the internals. An HK VP70Z pistol is a difficult gun to work on and so is the Para Ordnance "LDA" pistol , But I understand how to refine these handguns including the Springfield Armory "XD" Pistol, just to name a few.

If you carry a handgun for defense of your life I suggest you think twice before you either cut your springs or install light hammer springs and certainly do not allow anyone to talk you into this kind of situation, YOU MAY NOT LIVE TO REGRET IT. THERE MAY NOT BE A SECOND CHANCE WHEN YOUR LIFE IS ON THE LINE. Having a Novice or a Wannabbeee use a trigger pull gauge tells you nothing but poundage. Don't fall into that trap of BS, I see that all the time.

There is nothing wrong with using different springs when you understand HOW TO TAKE THE FRICTION OUT OF THE SYSTEM. I stock springs of all kinds such as hammer springs, recoil springs, trigger springs, extractor springs, firing pin springs, etc. I stock music wire, chrome silicone alloy wire and stainless steel springs as well as metric springs and straight spring wire so that I can make my own springs. I see many manufacturers that use a spring that I personally feel is inadequate (MY OPINION) such as the trigger spring on a Kahr pistol.

I stock all kinds of factory parts as well as after market parts for all models I work on but as luck would have it many times I do not have what I need. I do my silver soldering using Mapp gas and Oxygen giving me a super hot flame. My Machinist friend "BUBBA" found the best industrial flux money can buy for me.

You will very seldom be able to detect my works by visual observation, this is the way I have always wanted it. Some guns will have my LOGO and when you pull the trigger on any of my work you will instantly be able to detect that this is not a standard factory trigger pull. USE COMMON SENSE, MAKE VERY CAREFUL DECISIONS ABOUT WHAT YOU DO TO YOUR HANDGUN AS YOUR LIFE DEPENDS ON IT. IF IT GOES CLICK AND NOT BANG, YOU ARE GOING TO MEET THE GRIM REAPER.

AUTHORS PERSONAL NOTATION: THIS COMMENTARY AS WELL AS ALL MY PREVIOUS COMMENTARIES ARE MY PERSONAL OPINION AND MY PERSONAL VIEWPOINT ONLY. THEY ARE NOT INTENDED TO OFFEND ANYONE, "IT IS WHAT IT IS" I must comment on the forums and of course this is my personal opinion also. There are some very good forums that are well regulated as in yesterdays commentary. There are some very poorly administered forums where the attacks not only continue on me but others because the owner of the forum has an agenda. The more flame wars the more it attracts people, the more paid advertisers get on board, and it all leads to the bank, the selling of guns so the forum can make a percentage, and people constantly troll for work. There are many people that are reading my commentaries that I do not like and would never help. I can not stop this, but I can tell them that I will never help them or teach them anything as it all goes to the grave with me. I do not have any intention except to help decent folks that are sincere. For those people that troll for work, I suggest you do not quit your regular job, you will starve in the gunsmithing business. Some of these Forums are nothing but BS, ALWAYS REMEMBER IN THE LAND OF THE BLIND, THE ONE EYED MAN IS KING. THEIR CLAIM TO FAME IS NON EXISTANT, ITS ALL BS, LIKE SOME OF THE GUN WRITERS, DON'T GET ME WRONG THERE ARE SOME VERY GOOD GUN WRITERS BUT THEY ARE ALSO LEGENDS IN THEIR OWN MIND. I DO LIKE SOME WRITERS AND I DO HAVE THE HIGHEST RESPECT FOR SOME BUT THE OTHERS, ITS BUY ME, GIVE ME, AND TAKE ME. "WHAT CAN YOU DO FOR ME FOR AN ARTICLE" DO YOU THINK THERE IS ONE HONEST EDITOR THAT WOULD COME TO MY DEFENSE IF I WAS BEING ATTACKED ON A FORUM, "NEVER" GET REAL. I AM THRU WITH FORUMS...................................... PERIOD, EVEN IF I LIKE SOME OF THEM. THE BAD ONES SHOULD BE MONITORED BY THE AUTHORITIES. I MEAN THE FEDS. AGAIN, THIS IS MY OPINION ONLY................................Have a good day............

Teddy Jacobson / Pistolsmith www.actionsbyt.com 281 277 4008 tjacobson@houston.rr.com www.actionsbyt.blogspot.blogspot.com/