Question for the 1911 gurus

[HotLeadSolutions]

I have 2 RIA 1911 .45 (Officers Model) Bought roughly 10 years apart. The externals look identical, but there are some subtle changes in the inner workings of the pistol. The main question I have is about the recoil spring/guide rod. I have attached a photo of the two guide rods and springs side by side. On has a one piece rod, with one spring...the other has a "collaspable" rod with multi spings. What is is advantage, or disadvantage to having either?





Edited to add caliber of weapon

[Pawpaw]

I have the same pistol, bought new last summer, and it has the single spring like the one on the bottom in your pic.

That top one looks an awful lot like the setup in my 3" Kimber. I'm going to guess you bought that pistol used and the previous owner added it for recoil reduction.

I'm assuming they're both .45 caliber pistols. Is that right?

[HotLeadSolutions]

I have the same pistol, bought new last summer, and it has the single spring like the one on the bottom in your pic.

That top one looks an awful lot like the setup in my 3" Kimber. I'm going to guess you bought that pistol used and the previous owner added it for recoil reduction.

I'm assuming they're both .45 caliber pistols. Is that right?

They are both .45

The top spring has always been a booger to get back in after disassembly!

[Keith B]

I have always heard that the double recoil spiring was supposed to help dampen the recoil better, but not really sure it makes that big a difference. Maybe some of the 1911 guru's on here have used the two enough to see if there is a major improvement from one to another.

[jtran987]

there is no real difference its very similar to the argument about a full length guide rod is better for accuracy and recoil than a gi guide rode. there supposedly a recoil advantage to the double spring, but you cant really tell the difference

[dadoo]

I'd suggest you go to:
http://forum.m1911.org/forumdisplay.php?f=17

and ask your question there. That is a RI forum that is monitored by the excellent customer service folks at RIA. Lots of very knowledgable people there. I love my RI compact and I also have the standard single spring in mine.