I've tried using reduced springs in different guns over the years. And I've had a single firearm that I never touched the spring,, yet experienced a fair number of mis-fires. It was a S&W .40 S&W model 646 revolver. (It was my USPSA competition gun.) I tried a few things before I was able to fix the problem. I added an extended firing pin. It helped,, but not a 100% reliable cure. I made sure I had the mainspring tension screw tight. I switched to different primers. All this helped,,, but I still experienced mis-fires. I finally added more tension to the mainspring by adding a spent primer cup,, minus the anvil, under the head of the tension screw. Now it's 100%.
If the goal is a smoother, softer feeling action,, I discovered long ago that the BEST method was a simple action job. By having a pro smooth up the internal contacting moving parts,, PROPERLY,, every gun felt a lot lighter & smoother. Spring power is required to give reliable ignition. Ruger is known for it's strong springs,, and many have replaced them with lighter springs, and have been quite happy. But the best method to get a good action is to have an action job done. I have learned to do a fair amount of it myself,, and while my work may not be as good as a professional,, it has provided me with smoother, lighter feeling actions. All of the ones I've personally done have been in SA handguns. If I were to want any of my DA handguns smoother,, I'd consult someone who is very good at working on them.
A side note;
Lots of people do what is called a "poor man's trigger job" on a Ruger NM SA handgun by unhooking one leg of the trigger return spring. Long ago,, at a gun show,, I bought a Ruger .357 Maximum, 10" for $275.00 because the owner had taken it on a trade for work, and the action wasn't working properly. Upon removing the grips,, and finding the trigger return spring unhooked on one leg,, and BINDING the mainspring,, I just smiled. Once I got home, and replaced the now bent spring,, with a new one, and installed it as intended,, the gun is just fine.
And it's the exact same gun I just used to kill that buck with that I posted about in the hunting section here. The post about him committing suicide. A $275 Maxi because of an improper attempt at an action adjustment. I still smile about that one.
, but even better than hearing click instead than boom...
