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Wolf has a lot of options depending on what ammo you run, and Ed Brown and Wilson Combat springs are also very good but a little more expense.
 
The "Standard" for a 5" 1911 in .45acp using "mil-spec" 230 grain ball ammo is a 16# recoil spring and a 23# mainspring,, and that is what Colt specifies for their pistols.
The original Browning specs called for a 14# recoil, but back in those days the ammo was a bit lighter.
Some companies run a bit heavier on the recoil spring to ensure positive feeding, in more tightly-fitted guns.
For example; Dan Wesson's are fitted much tighter than Colts, so they run an 18# recoil, but only a 19# mainspring.
The lighter mainspring also gives a bit lighter trigger feel.
For lighter target loads, like a 200 grain SWC with smaller powder charges, a 14# recoil spring is all you need.
Some guys using real light loads for bullseye shooting are running 12# springs.
The debate is endless, but for a "range/plinking" gun a buffer is nice.
 
Everybody hears it all the time "You gotta change your recoil springs frequently".
But how often to most 1911 shooters change the mainspring?
A common scenario, is that over time/round counts, the mainspring gets weaker, and the shooter starts using heavier recoil springs to compensate.
The mainspring is by far the "main" thing that keeps the slide closed,.
Unless you're shooting heavy +P loads, heavy recoil springs are an answer to a problem that doesn't exist, and they over-balance the gun.
All the top shooters in IDPA/ISPC, shooting major PF are using lighter weight recoil springs, they give better "dwell" time for feeding reliability, they put less strain on the lugs, and they allow faster sight alignment for quicker shooting.
 
The "Standard" for a 5" 1911 in .45acp using "mil-spec" 230 grain ball ammo is a 16# recoil spring and a 23# mainspring,, and that is what Colt specifies for their pistols.
The original Browning specs called for a 14# recoil, but back in those days the ammo was a bit lighter.
Some companies run a bit heavier on the recoil spring to ensure positive feeding, in more tightly-fitted guns.
For example; Dan Wesson's are fitted much tighter than Colts, so they run an 18# recoil, but only a 19# mainspring.
The lighter mainspring also gives a bit lighter trigger feel.
For lighter target loads, like a 200 grain SWC with smaller powder charges, a 14# recoil spring is all you need.
Some guys using real light loads for bullseye shooting are running 12# springs.
The debate is endless, but for a "range/plinking" gun a buffer is nice.
I always thought it interesting that the Hi-Power uses a 32 lb mainspring.
 

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