Need new springs?

[ZVP]

Seriouslly, how do you determine when you need to buy new springs for your gun?
My N.M .4 5/8 Vaquero .357 shows no signs of needing a replacement yet I keep reading of the custom Wolfe kits.
Do you just change the springs to have them in the gun or what?
I would like a little quicker locktime but with the long hammer fall, I don't think that a heavier spring would do anything but punish the hammer.
I keep hearing of 18 & 19lb springs, what are they?
ZVP

 

[flatgate]

I use 23, 25 and 26 lb. mainsprings in my Big Bore shooters. Hammer punishment? Nah........

flatgate

 

[TRanger]

Seriouslly, how do you determine when you need to buy new springs for your gun?
My N.M .4 5/8 Vaquero .357 shows no signs of needing a replacement yet I keep reading of the custom Wolfe kits.

ZVP

Some folks change springs in an effort to improve the trigger pull or cocking action. As far as needing a new spring, I suppose that happens when the gun stops working. Couldn't say when that might be. I have a Colt New Frontier .22 that has been fired more than 100,000 times and still works fine. A good friend has an old flat gate Single-Six that has been shot at least as much. No sign the springs are worn out yet.

 

[ZVP]

Flatgate,
How'd you know which springs to pick?
I'm new at this ruger modification stuff and have been looking for some mode that might help my N/M Vaquero. Thanks for the help,
ZVP

 

[contender]

ZVP,, most folks buy a "kit" of springs that offer different spring weights. Then they experiment to see which ones work the best for them. What's wrong with the Vaquero that you need to "fix"???

 

[Jayhawkhuntclub]

People most often change springs to lighten the trigger pull. BUT it is a waste of money. Trigger pull can be lightened well below 2 lbs by simple manipulation of the factory spring. The only spring change I would consider is for a heavier main (hammer) spring.

In general, the factory springs are just fine 99.999999999% if the time. I'd save the money for ammo if I were you.

 

[ZVP]

Thanks for the answers guys!
Contender,
Nothing is wrong with the Vaquero, I just wanted to speed up the hammer fall is all...
I guess I should have a gunsmith look at it and give me his opnion before I go fiddling around with what I don't know about!
ZVP

 

[J Miller]

Seriouslly, how do you determine when you need to buy new springs for your gun?
My N.M .4 5/8 Vaquero .357 shows no signs of needing a replacement yet I keep reading of the custom Wolfe kits.
Do you just change the springs to have them in the gun or what?
I would like a little quicker locktime but with the long hammer fall, I don't think that a heavier spring would do anything but punish the hammer.
I keep hearing of 18 & 19lb springs, what are they?
ZVP

ZVP,

There is no maintenance schedule for spring replacement. Your Vaquero, unless abused or bubba'd will never really "need" new springs. The coil springs as used by Ruger just do not quit. All of my Old Model single actions have the original factory springs and they work fine. Well, the exception is my Super Single-Six. It came with chopped up springs. I replaced them with a set that came out of an even older Single-Six and they are more than fine.

Some folks just cannot leave things alone and insist on fixing something that isn't broken. Ruger's springs fall into this category.

You said " My N.M .4 5/8 Vaquero" so I'm going to assume you mean NEW VAQUERO, in that case the lock requires a shorter main spring than the non-lock guns do and I've not heard of anybody making stronger springs for it.

Joe

 

[ZVP]

Yes it's a new Model with the lock mechanisim.
Yea I know Ruger springs last because my N/M Single Six has shot thousands of rounds without a hitch!
I think I am going to leave the Vaquero alone and just spend money on ammo and targets LOL!
ZVP

 

[J Miller]

Yes it's a new Model with the lock mechanisim.
Yea I know Ruger springs last because my N/M Single Six has shot thousands of rounds without a hitch!
I think I am going to leave the Vaquero alone and just spend money on ammo and targets LOL!
ZVP

Yep, that'll work. You'll be ahead of the game with more practice as well.

Joe

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

Most of us who change out springs do it for a lighter hammer pull and lighter trigger pull, not because the original springs have worn out. I have never heard of Ruger springs wearing out. It is true that if left fully compressed some coil springs can take a set, but I have never heard of it happening in a Ruger. Don't put the gun away with the hammer cocked.

The New Vaquero already comes stock with a lighter hammer spring than the 'original model' Vaquero did as a concession to Cowboy shooters. Lightening the springs further will not cut down on lock time, it will increase it.

 

[ZVP]

I was wondering about a stronger hammer spring to quicken the lock time. The trigger spring is a little heavy but nothing to worry about.
ZVP