How and when to replace the recoil spring on your Kimber 1911.
The recoil spring on your 1911 is critical to the proper functioning and performance of your firearm. However, just like any other spring, it eventually wears out and becomes weaker.
When this happens, your firearm will not cycle properly and you will start to experience malfunctions such as a failure to completely load a new round into the chamber. When the spring gets weak, the slide may not move at the correct speed. The spring may not have enough forced to strip a round off the top of the magazine, load it into the chamber and place the gun back into battery.
For most 1911 pistols, your ejected brass should land 6-8 feet to your right and slightly to the rear. If it travels further than this, your recoil spring may be getting weak.
Fortunately, this can easily be remedied by replacing the recoil spring with a new one, typically at a cost of less than $10.
Can I replace the recoil spring myself?
Yes, on most 1911 pistols, the replacement of the recoil spring can be done by the user. 1911’s with a barrel bushing can be very easily replaced. After field stripping the gun, the recoil spring simply pulls off of the guide rod and can be replaced at that time. Replacing the spring on the Pro models is a bit harder to do, but you can do it by following the steps below.
The manufacturer recommends sending the guide rod and recoil spring assembly to them for replacement on Kimber Ultra Carry models. Alternatively you can purchase a new assembly from Kimber by following this link. Kimber Springs.
When should I replace my recoil spring?
General guidelines recommend 500-1500 rounds for a 1911. This will vary by manufacturer and size of the pistol. Shorter barrels tend to be harder on springs than the full size 5″ barrel models. If you want to be proactive, you should replace the recoil spring on the manufacturer’s schedule.
See the Kimber 1911 Recoil Spring Replacement Guide.
However, if you are like me and you do not have any idea how many rounds you have fired through your gun, you will probably end up starting to get a lot of malfunctions, and replacing the recoil spring will be the first thing to try to resolve these issues.
If this is your carry gun we are talking about, do not wait to replace the recoil spring! If you even think you may have 500 rounds through it, REPLACE IT!! You do not want it to malfunction when you need it to save your life. It is easy and inexpensive, so do not neglect this important maintenance requirement.
I always have a spare recoils spring on hand for all of my guns and keep it in my range bag. If I experience any malfunctions out on the range, I have a spare so I can take care of it right away.
Kimber 5″ Barrel Custom Models in .45 ACP should be replaced every 1,500 rounds.
Kimber Pro Carry Models should have the recoil spring replaced every 800 Rounds.
I can attest to this as I have had to replace mine several times and although I do not count my rounds, I am certain that I did not yet have 1,000 rounds through my Kimber Pro Carry when I started experiencing recoil spring related malfunctions.
Are recoil springs all the same?
No, you will need a specific spring for each kind of gun. Springs are rated by weight in pounds. This specification is critical to the proper operation of the gun. The Kimber Pro Carry and all other Pro models use a 22 lb. spring.
All 5″ Kimber Custom models use a 16 lb. spring. Colt and Springfield 5″ 1911 models also use a 16 lb recoil spring as the factory standard.
1911 .45 ACP pistols generally use 16 lb springs on 5″ models, 18 lb springs on 4.25″ models and 22 lb springs on 3.5″ models.
There are springs with higher and lower ratings available for special purposes, such as if you are using more powerful loads (+P for example). For detailed information on reduced power and extra power springs, go to this link from Wolff springs.
Where can I buy a replacement a recoil spring?
You can get the spring you need at your local gun shop. Amazon does not have much in the way of gun parts, and I did a search and came up with next to nothing. Amazon as a general rule does not knowingly sell gun parts, although you can find some that slipped in between the cracks.
For complete disassembly (Field Strip) and reassembly of this firearm, see my tutorial on: Disassembly of a Kimber Pro Carry II.
**Always wear safety eye protection while working with springs!!
Field Strip the gun and remove the guide rod assembly and barrel from the slide.
Place the guide rod assembly back into the spring tunnel of the slide with the take down tool still in place.
Firmly grasp the slide assembly with the ejection port facing the palm of your hand.
Using one or both thumbs, push the guide rod forward, increasing pressure on the spring. This will relieve pressure on the take down pin and so it can be removed. Alternatively, use both hands and both thumbs to apply pressure and the tool will fall out.
Now slowly and carefully allow the guide rod to back out, relieving pressure on the spring until it is fully relieved.
Clean and lubricate the guide rod and spring sleeve.
Slide the new recoil spring onto the guide rod, closed end first until fully seated.
Place the assembly back into the spring tunnel on the slide just as you did to remove the take down tool.
Using one or both thumbs, push the guide rod forward until the take down pin hole is visible.
Once the tool is inserted, the guide rod and recoil spring can be removed and the gun can be reassembled.
After reassembly, Perform a 1911 Function and Safety Check.
If you need assistance reassembling your Kimber Pro Carry, See my tutorial on how to clean a Kimber 1911.
I hope this tutorial has helped you to easily replace the recoil spring on your Kimber Pro series 1911 pistol.
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Ajibola40, thanks for commenting on my tutorial! I hope this helps you!
I noticed that when I fire my Kimber pro 1911 carry it fails to reload and some times when I try to reload it manually , but the brass is popping out, becomes stuck and difficult to handle, sometimes it doesn’t come out at all, can this be the fault of the recoil spring??
Thanks for reading my tutorial on replacing the recoil spring in your kimber 1911. Yes, it could be the recoil spring, but it could be something else as well. The gun may not be properly cleaned and lubricated, or in some instances, if you are not holding the gun tightly enough (also called limp-wristing) the slide cannot cycle with enough force to eject the empty and reload another.
I appreciate you for taking time to write this article about How and when to replace the recoil spring on your Kimber 1911. It has added to my knowledge though still a beginner on how to handle guns. I will also like to ask, can you use a recoil spring for another gun to replace with the one in another gun.
I’m also happy to tell you that I now have a tutor but he recommended something different for me; GLOCK 19 in 9 mm Luger.
Thank you for reading my tutorial on replacing the recoils spring on a Kimber Pro Carry 1911 and leaving a comment. To answer your question, I would only replace a recoil spring with a new one. However, if you are not able to get one right away and you need to take a recoil spring from one gun and put it in another, you would need to be sure they are the same spring. Springs are specific to a particular type of gun.