Interarms recoil spring

[gene 1]

Sponsored Links

The small end that fits tight to the barrel goes on first to the rear. Forget about an open & closed end as some springs have both ends closed. One end will be loose & one end will be tight.

[DrE]

You should have to "wind" the recoil spring onto the barrel. If reversed there is the possibility the smaller diameter end will jam the slide to the barrel on recoil.

[MGMike]

Originally Posted by CyberDoctor

I did not see a final response to the initial question. Similarly, I recently purchased a mid-90's Interarms PPK/s. The recoil spring is closed on one end and open on the other, as it if a closed portion has been cut off one end. There is no small or large end as mentioned in the S&W manual. I have been using the reverse from above (open side toward grip) and it seems to function without issue, but it would be good to know which is considered the intended design.

Our posters here have bollixed the matter of "open" vs. "small".

The "open" end of the spring (the end that looks cut) must go to the rear, against the barrel boss on the frame. The closed end is at the muzzle. Otherwise the ragged end may get wedged into the space between the muzzle and the front bearing of the slide.

Most springs have a "small" coil (reduced diameter) on one end. That end goes to the rear, gripping the barrel so that it does not fly off when the gun is field stripped.

M

[Milspec]

So the closed end goes forward and the tight open end goes to the rear? Seems intuitive to me...
.
Wolff could provide instructions though...on the web site if not in the packaging.

[CyberDoctor]

Thanks everyone for the replies.

Whereas it does seem intuitive to put the closed end forward, that would be the opposite of the initial post in this thread which had led to my concern.

My spring fits loosely on both ends and does not "wind" onto the barrel. In fact, it readily falls off once the slide is removed.

I did take some calipers to it and determined that the "open" end is slightly smaller, so it will go on first as recommended.

In any case, I have run over 400 rounds through it without problem. My concern was raised when I saw that the initial post suggested that the spring goes in the opposite direction than I had been using.

Just as a precautionary measure I have ordered a new replacement 20lb spring from Wolffe, as there is no way to tell how or why this odd spring found its way into my PPK/s.

Thank again everyone. Y'all are a great resource.

[Kurt_D]

Originally Posted by CyberDoctor

Just as a precautionary measure I have ordered a new replacement 20lb spring from Wolffe, as there is no way to tell how or why this odd spring found its way into my PPK/s.

On the Wolff recoil spring, check the ID of the ends before you install it. The last two I got from them (a few years ago) had tiny cut-off burrs on them and if you don't stone them off and smooth them, the smaller diameter end of the spring will scratch the OD of the barrel as you push/twist it on or off.

I did call and tell them when I found it but don't know if they did any thing about it. The 20# spring I got is still in the gun after several hundred rounds and is working fine - the original spring broke after about 150 shots.

[JW 759]

Originally Posted by CyberDoctor

I did not see a final response to the initial question. Similarly, I recently purchased a mid-90's Interarms PPK/s. The recoil spring is closed on one end and open on the other, as it if a closed portion has been cut off one end. There is no small or large end as mentioned in the S&W manual. I have been using the reverse from above (open side toward grip) and it seems to function without issue, but it would be good to know which is considered the intended design.

I had a brand new in box PPK blue in .380 from IA back in 1999 or so and one end of the recoil spring was cut (and sharp, cutting my finger during a dis-assembly) just like yours. I thought something must have been wrong with it (the spring) because I also had another .380 all stainless PPK IA and that spring was NOT cut. Both fired but I didn't keep them long enough to really test them over time.

[MGMike]

PP-PPK-PPK/s .380 recoil springs

M

[Dogman]

FWIW, I just replaced the factory .380 S&W PPK/S recoil spring with the 20# Wolff. The instructions for the Wolff spring says to place the open (loose) end on the barrel and the closed (tight) end toward the muzzle. Well, I tried that and it doesn't work real well. I couldn't get the slide to fit on the frame doing it this way and I kinked the spring trying. I reversed it and reassembled and it functions fine. I haven't shot the gun since doing so but I do notice the original spring that came with the gun fit with the closed end over the barrel and the open end toward the muzzle. This is also the way my SIG pistols fit their recoil springs to the guide rod.

Perhaps models other than the S&W Walther fit the spring differently.

[Kurt_D]

Originally Posted by Dogman

FWIW, I just replaced the factory .380 S&W PPK/S recoil spring with the 20# Wolff. The instructions for the Wolff spring says to place the open (loose) end on the barrel and the closed (tight) end toward the muzzle...

Yeah, their assy instructions wording is a little confusing. What they mean about the open and closed ends is the coil spacing. On mine, at the smaller ID end of the spring, the coils are more "open" and the larger ID end has the coils more "closed" for the last turn - see attached.

Note, the lower spring in the photo is one that has been in the pistol for a while (a few hundred rounds). The upper spring is unused. Both are Wolff springs.