Guide Rods >

[SAWMAN]

My hunting load is the DT 180 XTP's. Was practiceing with this load at the range today and got the chance to borrow a friends (G20)SS guide rod and 22# spring. By simply changeing my OEM setup with his,the POI was 2-3 inches high at 2 o'clock from where they are(dead center at 15yds) with my standard guide rod and spring. Switched back to mine and the group went back to dead center.

Will stick to the OEM Glock guide rod and spring and simply buy a spare or two for my hot loads.

Also shooting these setups side by side I noticed a significant increase in the effects of recoil.Feeding and ejection was normal.

Was wondering if anybody else had expieranced this or something similar. ------

[salvo]

Thats interesting, will have to change them back and forth next time I go out.
I wonder what would cause this. Probably the stiffer spring causing more of an recoil impulse?

[ColoradoGlocker]

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[SAWMAN]

I guess that the only thing that I could attribute the difference to would be speed of the slide,or overall weight of the weapon. After all that is the only thing that changed.

The two spring assy's weigh >>.2oz for the OEM and >>.9oz for the SS w/22# spring.(this,as weighted by my Lyman digital trigger pull gauge)

Same amt.of rds were in the mag also.

This is something that I'm not gonna loose sleep over. I guess that I simply wanted to make you guys that hunt with your 20's, aware of this change howerver suttle it may be.

For me,if I ever decide to change the spring/guide rod setup,I will ensure a rezero session at the range. -------

[10mm4ever]

I think a stiffer spring will give you more consistent groups, but I've never noticed a difference in accuracy vs. the factory setup.

[nickE10mm]

Most people think that a pistol with a HEAVIER recoil spring will have LESS recoil, which is false. The purpose of a spring is simply to redirect recoil, not eliminate it. While recoil is definitely subjective, I would have to say that a LIGHTER spring will typically have a LIGHTER recoil impulse than the same pistol equipped with a heavier spring. The frame will take a bit more punishment on rearward slam but it won't take as much while the slide closes home. Also, the recoil cycle will be spread out over more time with the lighter spring, as well.

Its important to match your recoil spring to a "happy medium" to get the best performance and recoil comfort characteristics... thats the bottom line. As I said before, however, YMMV since its all subjective anyways.

[English]

Originally posted by nickE10mm
Most people think that a pistol with a HEAVIER recoil spring will have LESS recoil, which is false. The purpose of a spring is simply to redirect recoil, not eliminate it. While recoil is definitely subjective, I would have to say that a LIGHTER spring will typically have a LIGHTER recoil impulse than the same pistol equipped with a heavier spring. The frame will take a bit more punishment on rearward slam but it won't take as much while the slide closes home. Also, the recoil cycle will be spread out over more time with the lighter spring, as well.

Its important to match your recoil spring to a "happy medium" to get the best performance and recoil comfort characteristics... thats the bottom line. As I said before, however, YMMV since its all subjective anyways.

The total recoil impulse must be the same and equal and opposite to the momentum of the bullet leaving the barrel plus the jet effect of the gas discharge. All that changes is the plot of when that impulse is transferred to the hand. While the slide is moving backwards you feel little other than the resistance of the recoil spring. When it hits the slide stop (not the slide release or catch) you feel an impact. The stronger the recoil spring the less the impact.

So the first question is whether your hand is more sensitive to spring push or impact. I would go with impact and say that the stronger spring reduces felt recoil.

Then you get more spring push as the recoil spring accelerates the slide forwards. The heavier spring once again gives a heavier push and since a spring stores energy quite efficiently and the slide stop converts more of it to heat, the slide is moving a lot faster when it goes into battery. You then get an impact pushing forwards as the slide slams into battery which is disproportionately heavier with a stronger spring. This last impact might be more disturbing to the aim with a heavier spring and is probably why top level IPSC shooters choose lighter rather than heavier springs - especially if they use compensated pistols. They can put up with the higher rearwards impact but don't want the downwards flip of the slide going into battery interferring with their aim for the next shot.

English