Anyone replace the recoil spring on a regular basis?

[Warbirds]

I was reading on the American Rifleman website and there was an article on defensive pistol maintenance.

From the article:

"With autoloading pistols it is also important to give consideration to replacing the recoil spring. This spring can become weakened under continued use and, in this weakened state, allow the gun to batter itself unnecessarily. Replacing the pistol's recoil spring about every 2,000 rounds is a good habit to get into. After all, what is the cost of a recoil spring as compared to one's life?"

Defensive Handgun Maintenance Tips

Anyone replace their recoil spring on a regular basis? The spring on my HK is over engineered to reduce felt recoil and the entire pistol is rated to have a life span of over 35000 rounds without failure so I don't see myself doing so.

The site is very heavy on 1911 articles so I wonder if he wrote this referring to a 1911.

 

[SGB]

Replacing recoil springs in a semi auto is like changing oil in your vehicle, it's simple maintenance. I replace my recoil springs every 3000 rounds.

 

[tuts40]

Yes, I have. Some for upgrading, some for more weight, some for the sake of not wanting to test the idea of not doing so...

 

[jimmyjohn]

Yes replacing the recoil spring is a nessesity .

I shoot a lot. I have found that the recommendations of replacing the recoil spring and the firing pin spring every 2000 rounds on a 1911 is a good practice. I have for gotten on occasion and start getting malfunctions when I check my records I find that I have exceeded the 2000 round barrier. I have asked some of the factory help lines and most do not have a recommendation on the short double recoil springs of short barreled autos. It maybe that they are able to last longer. I have a couple of "new" short barreled autos that I have exceeded 2000 rounds on and have yet to experience a malfunction that appears to be spring related. That is not a recomendation just an observation. I just replaced the recoil spring on one of them and will likely order a new one for other. The factory said their standard test was to 10k rounds with out a spring failure. I am not sure I want to bet my like on a $40 spring set, although I must admit the spring rate seems the same as when brand new.

 

[Warbirds]

So does anyone that doesn't carry a 1911 replace their recoil spring at 2k? The recoil assembly on my HK is rated for 15k shots or more.

I have a 1911, but it will probably never make it to the 2k mark and I don't think I have another weapon that requires parts replacement at such a low count.

 

[Glock Fan]

I have a Glock 23 with over 25,000 rounds and a Glock 19 with close to 12,000 rounds. Haven't changed the recoil span on either of them, and no malfunctions I can attribute to a weakened recoil spring.

 

[sigboy]

I replace the recoil spring on my Sig 238 every 500 rounds over kill probably, but it is a notoriously weak spring

 

[SGB]

I have a Glock 23 with over 25,000 rounds and a Glock 19 with close to 12,000 rounds. Haven't changed the recoil span on either of them, and no malfunctions I can attribute to a weakened recoil spring.

Glock suggests changing the spring every 3000-5000 rounds.