Should I install the Wolff trigger spring?

[bidemhi]

I have received the Wolff recoil (20 lb.) and hammer (18 lb.) springs for my two P-64's. These installed easily and greatly improved the double action pull. Wolff also includes a trigger spring that I have not attempted to install because of the difficulty. Is the Wolff trigger spring worth the trouble? What kind of improvement will I see, if any? Any comments would be appreciated. Thanks!

[juniustaylor]

I know nothing of a Wolff trigger spring. There will be a long coiled spring that came with the heavier recoil spring. This is the firing pin return spring. Wolff recommends you install it because it gets the firing pin recessed into the slide during ejection faster. This prevents the firing pin from catching the primers as the empty case ejects. This can damage your firing pin tip. Evidence of this dragging can be seen on the primer and they're called striation marks. I'd recommend you replace that spring. It's not terribly bad, just remove the safety out the side of the slide. Be sure to catch the detent and its spring. Norm suggests using a large clear bag so it'll be caught in the bag. Once the firing pin is out, you can swap the spring, reinstall it, install the safety detent & spring, and last the safety. It's not too awful. Go to the assemly guide here:
http://p64resource.com/board/P64_%20Assembly_Manual.pdf

Start at page 18 and go up to page 7 for removal. To reassemble, start at page 7 and work down to page 18.

The trigger spring is inside the frame and is a bit of a bugger but as with everything else, a little work and stick your tongue out, it'll go together. You can find it elsewhere in that assembly guide.

Here's a picture with a drag mark on the primer due to the firing pin not getting inside the slide fast enough.

[bidemhi]

You're right, it is a firing pin spring. I guess I'll have to bite the bullet ( no pun intended) and give it a try. Thanks for the reply.

[bidemhi]

Replaced the firing pin springs in both P-64's. Not too bad, thanks to the help from this Board.

[juniustaylor]

Glad to hear you got it figured out. These little pistols are pretty simple to work on. Most anyone with any form of handgun experience, general tool knowledge, etc. can figure it out pretty quickly. I think the Wolff firing pin return spring is like 40% stronger or something like that. It basically retracts the firing pin with more force than the original spring. I've also heard it prevents the firing pin from causing light strikes on the loaded cartridge primer as the slide returns to the closed position due to the extra power of the heavier recoil spring. Wolff didn't say anything about that, but they did say it's just to get the firing pin retracted quicker.

[kansas]

Is it worth changeing out the springs? What size to reduce the recoil is recomended?

[juniustaylor]

There really isn't much difference in the recoil. The only spring that really changes much is the hammer spring. I use a 17# but normally folks say to go no lower than an 18 or 19#. That's going to help the trigger pull tremendously. As for the recoil spring, there is very little perceived change in the recoil. It's really not worth messing with. I did it to mine only because I read some misinformation on the internet but being wiser now, I wouldn't have bought it.