Stretched my 2.75" Hammer Spring to 3" for 'higher' spring rate?

[Steel Striker]

Greetings;

My wife's 'new' SASS New Vaquero's had been tuned up for competition, when we bought them.  We're experiencing duds occasionally, from light primer strikes.  No I do not recall brand of primers I used, nor do I know what the hammer spring rate was.

I cold stretched the 2.75" springs to 3".  My fellow CAS shooter claims I may have stretched it, but did not change its 'spring rate'.  That defies my backyard engineering sense.  Will fire them on Tuesday & wait for a failure to fire . 

Until then, I'm curious, so What say you?

[Pettifogger]

Stretching a coil usually doesn't work well.  The spring will tend to go back to its original length.  You would be much better off shimming the spring with washers or better yet spending six bucks and buying a new one with a lighter spring rate.

[Steel Striker]

If I had the means to measure its spring rate, I would order something a little stronger.  We're glamping in Florida so trying a bit of backyard engineering for now.

I think I read the OEM New Vaquero hammer spring is 23#, so I've got that goin' for me.

[Coffinmaker]

Same answer Pettifogger gave you.  Stretching the spring does not necessarily change the "spring rate."  The spring rate is the amount
of force (weight) it takes to get the spring to compress a given distance.  This is accomplished by the thickness of the coil and the
degree of tempering.  If it takes 17 pounds to compress a given spring 1 inch, it will take 17 pounds to compress the spring 1 inch even if you stretch it out.  It may well feel different, but the Spring Rate will remain the spring rate.

Whilst "Glamping" in Florida, Brownells, Lognhunter shooting supply, Slick Magic and others have web sites to cater to your needs.  However, if you don't know what the spring rate was, the way to start over is to start with OEM springs and go from there.

Coffinmaker

[Pettifogger]

The stock spring in a NEW Vaquero is 17#.  I would try this.  As previously noted an easly temporary solution is to go to ACE and get some washers and shim spring.


http://www.brownells.com/handgun-parts/trigger-group-parts/performance-enhancing-kits/new-vaquero-anniversary-blackhawk-shooters-paks-prod22780.aspx