If you wish to find the best 1911 recoil spring, then we are pretty sure that you’ll end up going through a lot of them. However, to save you installation times and possibly some money, we’ve handpicked some of the best available products that are currently on the market (as of this writing). Each of them has its own set of unique features and even come with some pros and cons.
By the end of this entire article, you may have found the recoil spring you are looking for your gun. At the very least, you’ll have a pretty good idea of what you are looking for. If you are after other 1911 parts, you may click here.
| Recoil Springs | Name | Editor’s Comment | Rating | Get The Deal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Wilson Combat 325 Colt Officers Model Spring Kit | Most Recommended Option 1. Highly reliable with high tensile strength wire | 10/10 | SHOP NOW |
 | ISMI 1911 Government Recoil Springs | Premium Option 1. Heat treated shot peened | 9.5/10 | SHOP NOW |
 | Wilson Combat 325 C Colt Commander .45 ACP Spring Kit | 1. Constructed from high-quality tensile steel 2. Reduced power recoil spring 3. Improve performance | 9.0/10 | SHOP NOW |
 | Wolff Government Model Variable Power Recoil Spring | 1. Recoil re-Calibration pack 2. Comes With seven springs with different spring load weights 3. Greater protection against frame battering. | 9.0/10 | SHOP NOW |
 | Ed Brown 1911 Commander Recoil Springs | 1. Works very well with most bullets 2. Very easy to install. 3. May need some sanding before installation | 8.5/10 | SHOP NOW |
What is a Recoil Spring and What is it Used For?
A recoil spring is one of the important parts for a semi-automatic pistol. They are a central constituent of how it should operate. Not forgetting to mention, they also are connected to some common malfunctions within your gun. So, it’s important to be well-informed of that.
Without the best recoil springs, your gun will be reduced to being useless. It would be like a car without a working engine. It’s always imperative to keep your pistol in proper working order, especially if you’re using it or even carrying it.
A high quality recoil spring is definitely the heart of the 1911. Regardless if it’s a gas-operated, blowback, or short-recoil operated pistols, they all will rely on the recoil spring to function.
Are All Recoil Springs The Same?
This is a worthy question to ask. Are all recoil springs the same other than their ability to help semi-auto pistols? The answer is that it depends.
Some of the differences may include, but not limited to the type of material that it’s made from, length, or weight. While the purpose is the same, it may be different in some other aspects. This is something for you to keep in mind while you are looking for recoil springs of your own.
Aspects and Criteria: How to Choose the Right Recoil Spring For Your 1911
Finding the best fitting spring for your 1911 is not difficult if you know what you’re looking for. If you don’t know what to look for in terms of particular features, you risk picking one off the shelf or online and thinking that it is good. However, it may be the worst option you can make. Here are some aspects and criterias to consider while finding the right spring for yourself.
Materials
A great spring will often be crafted from high-quality steel. If the spring is broadly tested by way of heat treating or shot peening, odds are that it can be a very durable spring. Durability and longevity are a couple of other things you should consider before making a final decision.
Time of Use
Some manufacturers may need you to change out the recoil springs after a certain number of rounds are fired. Not all suggestions are exactly the same. One manufacturer may want you to change the spring after 1000 rounds, while others recommend that you switch it after 5000 rounds.
At the same time, consider how often you plan on using your 1911 spring. If you use it regularly, then you’ll need to buy a spare spring so you’ll have one ready when it comes the time to change it.
Cycling
Your factory spring will generally cycle just fine with most rounds. However, it may not cycle as well if you’re using either high-power or low-power rounds. It’s important to look for a spring that can do a good job at cycling regardless of which rounds you use for your 1911 recoil springs.
Review of the Best 1911 Recoil Springs
Below are some of the best 1911 recoil springs that are currently on the market as of this writing. It is up to you to make the decision of whether or not one of them will become your next spring of choice. That’s why you should review and look into each one of these items carefully before making a final decision. The exceptional features for each one may be something you’re looking for in an idyllic spring.
1. Wilson Combat 325 Colt Officers Model Spring Kit
Our first spring on this review guide is the Wilson Combat 1911 Custom Tune Spring Kit. For 1911 owners and lovers, Wilson Combat is considered to be one of the more popular brands. So, it comes as no big surprise seeing one of their items make the list in terms of having the best 1911 spring.
This 1911 spring is made from the best in tensile spring steel. This guarantees that you’ll get a positive ignition, consistent smooth operation, and proper timing for your gun. As soon as you have this product installed, your 1911 will be custom tuned for reliability. The mainspring is made for reduced hammer tension, which allows cycling to be cooler and reduces trigger pull by around 25 percent.
The firing pin spring increases the tension of the firing pin to add on life expectancy and enhance safety should the pistol accidentally dropping. The heavy-duty quality increases the feeding dependability while you’re shooting factory loads. A heavy-duty, but lighter, spring is also obtainable for lighter practice rounds.
Wilson Combat’s offering proves itself to be well-intentioned of being the best overall. If you want an item that lasts you quite a long time and does a great job of giving your 1911 that custom-made feel, then you’ll certainly want a 1911 spring like this one. You’ll be very happy with the reduced trigger pull and the improved safety feature that comes with this Wilson Combat.
2. ISMI 1911 Government Recoil Springs
If you’re looking for a 1911 recoil spring and just so happen to be on a tight budget, then consider yourself in luck. This is mostly because there are some items for your 1911 that you can get for a decent and affordable price.
However, you should always hold quality to a high standard even if you’re looking for something that is not too expensive. The ISMI recoil spring is considered to be one of the best on the market for the budget-conscious gun owner.
This is a recoil spring that is made for ultimate consistent operation and reliability. It is CAD designed and meets aerospace specifications by means of chrome-silicon or corrosion-resistant stainless steel for brilliant consistency, durability, and reliability.
This product is shot-peened, heat-treated, and fully stressed to make sure that it is the most durable on the market. If you think a recoil spring of this quality is a steal for the price that comes with it, then you’re absolutely right.
This is debatably the best that you can afford for your 1911 without having to give up on quality. This ISMI 1911 spring is exactly what you’ll need if you’re looking for a recoil spring that can last you quite a long time and save you money in the long run over some kind of cheap option that will stop working after a short period of time.
The ISMI is the top option in terms of budget recoil springs and for good reasons too. If it’s crafted from the best materials and positively passes the heat treating and shot peening tests, so you know that this will last you quite a period of time. If you’re looking for an option that may end up being the last one you’ll buy for a while, then get this ISMI 1911 recoil spring.
3. Wilson Combat 325 C Colt Commander .45 ACP Spring Kit
This should not be confused with the Wilson Combat 1911 spring kit that we have previously reviewed earlier. This is for the 1911 Commander .45 ACP Spring kit. However, it does serve the same purposes as the previous Wilson Combat Spring Kit.
These Wilson Combat springs are made from high-quality, tensile spring steel that is made to give you a positive ignition, proper timing, and consistent smooth procedure. If you want a very trustworthy 1911 commander, this is what you are looking for. The mainspring is designed to decrease the hammer tension and allow easier cycling for your gun. You should be able to experience a 25% decrease in the overall trigger pull.
This .45 ACP kit also comes with a firing pin spring for additional power. This increases the firing pin’s tension, making sure that the recoil spring will last a long period of time. At the same time, the firing pin spring will make sure that your gun will not accidentally discharge in the event of an accidental drop and having it hit the floor. If you’re planning on firing factory rounds with your 1911 Commander, this is the kind of recoil spring you want.
You may know a bit about the Wilson Combat quality brands. You know that it’s a firearms Wilson Combat brand that a lot of 1911 spring kit owners rely on. Some gun users will buy a recoil spring kit by its Wilson Combat brand name alone. Sometimes, that may be a mistake. However, if you’re looking for a recoil spring kit that will give you smooth operation and an excellent reduction in recoil, this may be the right choice for you.
4. Wolff Government Model Variable Power Recoil Spring
Next on our list, we’ll be looking at the Wolff Government Model Variable Power Recoil Spring. This recoil spring has a rate that increases as the spring itself compresses. This guarantees optimal protection against the frame from becoming battered and enables more consistency in lockup and improves feeding.
At the same time, it allows for cooler cycling of the action. This has a Recoil Re-calibration Pack that comes with 7 springs, each with different types of spring loading weights ranging from 9 to 16.5 pounds. This also comes with 3 extra power firing pin springs. There is also an individual spring pack available that comes with one variable power spring kit and one extra power firing pin spring.
For a recoil spring to come with a package of different springs with different load weights, you get a wide variability to choose from. As mentioned previously, you’ll need to choose one that is most compatible with the round you usually fire. Other than that, this may be your best choice if you want to improve the overall feed of your 1911 spring.
5. Ed Brown 1911 Commander Recoil Springs
Last but not least, we have the Ed Brown 1911 Commander Recoil Spring. Ed Brown is seen to be a reliable brand for 1911 owners and enthusiasts. If you’re looking for an exceptional quality replacement, then this Ed Brown maybe your best option. Especially if you’re looking for one that can attain a higher level of reliability and functioning.
The endless rate design along the entire length helps keep the slide closed longer when you’re firing heavy loads. This also decreases wear from battering and shortens the distance of spent casings. This is manufactured from high tensile strength, round wire recoil spring steel for superior durability and years of reliable service.
The 18-pound recoil spring is the right factory weight and is an excellent choice in restoring your pistol to its original specifications. The 20-pound extra power choice holds the slide closed a little longer to help resolve the issue of the recoil spring brass ejecting too far.
One of the best things that stands out about this Ed Brown offering is that it is stress-free to install recoil spring, which means you don’t need any price pistols gunsmithing skills in order to install it. It should take a little bit of time and you should be set and good to go. If you don’t want to waste time with complex installation things, then you’ll want to go with this Ed Brown recoil spring just so you can install the recoil spring quickly and watch it weight go to work.
Conclusion
The bottom line is that finding the best 1911 spring comes down to knowing what you’re precisely looking for. You’ll obviously want one that will last you a long period of time and will be able to keep your 1911 recoil spring functional. Without a good quality recoil spring, your 1911 is pretty much dead in the water. Choose one based on your personal needs and based on criteria or two that you consider to be a deal-maker.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How long do the best 1911 recoil springs last?
A recoil spring will typically last you between 2,000 and 10,000 rounds of shooting, but as a general rule of thumb, it depends on which gun we’re talking about. If it’s a concealed carry gun, one that you will depend on for your life (if it malfunctions), changing the springs recoil out at regular intervals to guarantee functionality is necessary. If it’s a gun that sits in the safe and only sees a modest variety of customer uses, then changing it as needed is the best course of action. “As needed” may be seen as when the best gun starts getting faulty with its springs.
What Is The Best 1911 Recoil Spring?
The best 1911 recoil spring would certainly be the Wilson Combat 1911 Custom Tune Spring Kit for the reliability, durability and capability. The materials used would ensure the highest accuracy, consistency and precision shots for your gun. Also, the Wilson Combat 1911 Custom Tune Spring Kit allow room for customization of accessories to further enhance the performance of your 1911 to give you the best overall shooting experience for gun enthusiasts out there
Hello there, it’s Michael here. A gun lover since young, served the country for the last 20 years. I started the blog to share my experience and gun-related knowledge accumulated throughout the years. Hopefully, you will find something useful over here or just have fun! You can learn more about me here.