Wolff Springs
Posted: March 25th, 2007, 9:39 pm
Hey all,
I wanted to try out my new springs today. However, I could not get the 22# spring installed. I have always had to work at getting the standard spring in, but the 22 just wouldn't go. Has anyone had this experience?
I decided to put my P64 in a homemade softjaw rig to get the spring in. I had the pistol slide clamped in, slightly at an angle, upside down so I could push forward and downward on the frame to compress the slide spring fully. Anyhow, no matter what I did, I could not get the rails to pop into place and engage the slide with the frame.
I marked the slide on the serrations so I could tell where the standard spring is forward enough and compressed to allow the slide to slip into the rails on the frame. I looked at the frame position compared to the mark on the slide. Once I marked it, I tried to put the 22 in again. I could see that I was at the same spot for the frame as compared to the slide serrations, but the frame would just not pop onto the slide (or slide on the frame if you like that better). It was like the slide would not pop down vertically into place, although the slide position compared to the frame position, was correct horizontally.
I think I had the 22 spring fully compressed since I was pushing forward and down on the frame with my full force. Remember, I had the slide in the softjaw vice upside down, pushing forward and downward on the spring by pushing on the frame/grip.
The 22# spring wire diameter is larger and it may be that I simply can' t compress the spring as small as the old spring assuming I compress the coils to where they are all touching.
Anyhow, I backed out of all this and put the 20# spring in with the matching firing pin spring. It fit, just barely, like the original spring. I have to have the recoil spring compressed all of the way, feels like.
Anyone have this problem? Should I grind away a bit where te slide rail engages the frame rail to make it work? I don't like the idea of it..... I will wait for advice here before I try something else.
Incidentally, I put the 18# Wolff hammer spring in also. I don't have a pull gauge, but it feels like the pull is stiffer than the Walter 16# I had in there. The trigger pull is more consistent all the way through the trigger pull now in my opinion. With the Walther 16#, I like the light trigger, but it was looser at first, then as I pulled the trigger it would stiffen very slightly right before tripping. I would say the 18# Wolff hammer spring is overall a better, more consistent hammer spring as far as trigger pull.
My advice on the new recoil springs is to install the recoil spring 1st before doing the firing pin spring! If the recoil spring won't fit, then you don't have to go back and pull the modified firing pin spring. The recoil goes in and out easy if it will work, but the firing pin spring is a bit harder, though I can always get it.
I went to my range and the 20# recoil works fine. I can't tell a significant felt decrease in recoil. Maybe just a bit of an improvement. I was shooting silver bear 94g HP's and Mesko FMJ. Also, casings were still flying at least 15 ft away.
I wanted to try out my new springs today. However, I could not get the 22# spring installed. I have always had to work at getting the standard spring in, but the 22 just wouldn't go. Has anyone had this experience?
I decided to put my P64 in a homemade softjaw rig to get the spring in. I had the pistol slide clamped in, slightly at an angle, upside down so I could push forward and downward on the frame to compress the slide spring fully. Anyhow, no matter what I did, I could not get the rails to pop into place and engage the slide with the frame.
I marked the slide on the serrations so I could tell where the standard spring is forward enough and compressed to allow the slide to slip into the rails on the frame. I looked at the frame position compared to the mark on the slide. Once I marked it, I tried to put the 22 in again. I could see that I was at the same spot for the frame as compared to the slide serrations, but the frame would just not pop onto the slide (or slide on the frame if you like that better). It was like the slide would not pop down vertically into place, although the slide position compared to the frame position, was correct horizontally.
I think I had the 22 spring fully compressed since I was pushing forward and down on the frame with my full force. Remember, I had the slide in the softjaw vice upside down, pushing forward and downward on the spring by pushing on the frame/grip.
The 22# spring wire diameter is larger and it may be that I simply can' t compress the spring as small as the old spring assuming I compress the coils to where they are all touching.
Anyhow, I backed out of all this and put the 20# spring in with the matching firing pin spring. It fit, just barely, like the original spring. I have to have the recoil spring compressed all of the way, feels like.
Anyone have this problem? Should I grind away a bit where te slide rail engages the frame rail to make it work? I don't like the idea of it..... I will wait for advice here before I try something else.
Incidentally, I put the 18# Wolff hammer spring in also. I don't have a pull gauge, but it feels like the pull is stiffer than the Walter 16# I had in there. The trigger pull is more consistent all the way through the trigger pull now in my opinion. With the Walther 16#, I like the light trigger, but it was looser at first, then as I pulled the trigger it would stiffen very slightly right before tripping. I would say the 18# Wolff hammer spring is overall a better, more consistent hammer spring as far as trigger pull.
My advice on the new recoil springs is to install the recoil spring 1st before doing the firing pin spring! If the recoil spring won't fit, then you don't have to go back and pull the modified firing pin spring. The recoil goes in and out easy if it will work, but the firing pin spring is a bit harder, though I can always get it.
I went to my range and the 20# recoil works fine. I can't tell a significant felt decrease in recoil. Maybe just a bit of an improvement. I was shooting silver bear 94g HP's and Mesko FMJ. Also, casings were still flying at least 15 ft away.