mike campbell
Single-Sixer
...what is the benefit of a reduced power mainspring?
Single action spring kits...
- Thread starter mike campbell
- Start date
Hondo44
Hawkeye
You will get many different opinions and some install stronger mainsprings. But speaking from my perspective and not limited to just the mainspring, the factory springs are overly heavy to insure against liability and be certain of reliable function, even if excessive.
Benefits in order of my preference:
improved trigger pull with reduced power trigger return and/or hammer spring,
ease of operation for cocking the hammer, especially single sixes with their shorter hammers and therefore less leverage,
much improved ability to achieve one's best accuracy,
Longevity of the gun's parts.
These are the main reasons reduced power springs are so prevalent, made for all types of handguns, and used by most gunsmiths when tuning the actions. I prefer the benefits of smoothing and fitting of parts or action tuning for all my handguns. Once done, the gun's parts have less friction as they interact, thus requiring less spring tension to function properly and less fatigue of all parts involved. Even just installing lighter springs will reap benefits, however.
There's such a thing as springs that are too light, also. If unreliable ignition or other problems are experienced like incomplete return of the trigger, the springs are too light and the next heavier springs should be used. Many spring kits come with different tension springs and can be experimented with.
Benefits in order of my preference:
improved trigger pull with reduced power trigger return and/or hammer spring,
ease of operation for cocking the hammer, especially single sixes with their shorter hammers and therefore less leverage,
much improved ability to achieve one's best accuracy,
Longevity of the gun's parts.
These are the main reasons reduced power springs are so prevalent, made for all types of handguns, and used by most gunsmiths when tuning the actions. I prefer the benefits of smoothing and fitting of parts or action tuning for all my handguns. Once done, the gun's parts have less friction as they interact, thus requiring less spring tension to function properly and less fatigue of all parts involved. Even just installing lighter springs will reap benefits, however.
There's such a thing as springs that are too light, also. If unreliable ignition or other problems are experienced like incomplete return of the trigger, the springs are too light and the next heavier springs should be used. Many spring kits come with different tension springs and can be experimented with.
Chuck 100 yd
Hunter
On Vaqueros and NM Blackhawks, I like to use 20 # main springs and 30 oz. trigger springs from Wolf. I also install extra power base pin springs in every Ruger single action I get in my collection.
Jim Puke
Hunter
I just bought a new Cimarron Model P 44 special from a forum member here, about a month ago. The gun is a Single Action Army clone, I bought the reduced power mainspring and wire trigger spring from Wolff Gun Springs and replaced the factory springs...transformed the action feel and trigger pull on the revolver.
SweetWilliam
Buckeye
In all my Ruger 44 & 45 Blackhawks I installed this (Wolff 17112 RUGER SINGLE ACTION XP SHOOTER'S PAK 30-24).
It's the extra power kit with a lighter trigger spring. I have nothing bad to say about it. The only thing is if you also do a back yard trigger spring bend to lighten the pull even more sometimes the trigger will hesitate to return to the forward position. Something you have to play with and fine tune.
I believe the lighter mainspring kit would be good more for cowboy action shooting where maybe speed & ease of pulling the hammer back fast would come into play.
As for a heavier main spring I believe it creates a faster lock time and ensures a good primer strike, not that I've ever had a problem with light strikes.
Now this is just my opinion.
It's the extra power kit with a lighter trigger spring. I have nothing bad to say about it. The only thing is if you also do a back yard trigger spring bend to lighten the pull even more sometimes the trigger will hesitate to return to the forward position. Something you have to play with and fine tune.
I believe the lighter mainspring kit would be good more for cowboy action shooting where maybe speed & ease of pulling the hammer back fast would come into play.
As for a heavier main spring I believe it creates a faster lock time and ensures a good primer strike, not that I've ever had a problem with light strikes.
Now this is just my opinion.
Doc Fillem
Bearcat
Wolff 15# hammer springs in my Cowboy Action Vaqueros and 32 Magnum Single-sixes. I also cut off one leg of the factory trigger return spring.
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