Spring binding in My springfield 1911 A1??

[john from pa]

Hey Guys-
Went shooting to day and proceeded to shoot my standard plinking load of 230 Berry RN over 5.0 231 and the pistol shot very well with no problems .
The temperature was very hot and humid (around 90's) and after the 100 rounds the pistol was too hot to touch so I put it down to cool off and when I started shooting again I was experiencing failure to feed,the slide would not lock up and the recoil spring felt like it was binding inside the pistol !!!
The original spring was replaced last year with a wolf spring (do not rember what poundage it is)
Brought the pistol home thinking it was just fouled out and after cleaning the recoil spring seems to be kinking and binding inside the pistol,I did not test it agian yet.
What poundage is a standard recoil spring for general target shooting
and an occational mag or two of Hydro-shocks ??
Thanks for any suggestions and Help !!!
John;a

[johnniekirk]

john from pa- Your problem does sound like a recoil spring,although lack of lubrication,or dirty or boogered up locking lugs can also lead to a failure to lock up. My advice is to get a different spring and try it in the gun matter of fact,get 2 get a 16lb spring,and an 18 or 18.5lb spring. That way if the 16 lb spring ejects your brass into the next township, you can move up to a heavier spring. I believe a good cleaning and new recoil spring will take care of the problem.

[CCV]

I think most folks run 16 lb springs, personally I like 18.5 lb springs.

[Kruzr]

Sounds like lack of lube to me. The spring will straighten itself out when you shoot it provided the slide gets full travel. You should change the recoil spring in a 1911 about every 2500 rounds. 16# is the factory rating for most Gov't size 1911's.

[john from pa]

Well Guys You are Correct !!!!!
The pisttol had not been fired for over a year this fact combined that I shot it until it was too hot to touch probably burned up any lube that was left.
I lubed it down and cleaned out all the toasted lube went back today and shot 100 rds very quickly,even shot some very hot loads of 230 gr
FMJ with 7.4 power pistol with no jams !!!
However with the slide locked open I did have some fialures to strip off the top round when the slide was released. No probelm loading regularly with the slide closed then pulled back though.This could be my mag (chip Mc Cormic 8 rd) or not enough taper crimp on my reloads. A partially loaded mag would relase just fine but a fully loaded one needed a little help using the slide release ..
thanks
JOhn;g