Originally Posted by
Wlfman13
Lee1000,
(Please understand that I’m not a gunsmith, and I may be corrected. If so, I will definitely edit this post.)
The recoil spring is critical to placing “pre-tension” on the striker. It is what holds the slide forward. For that reason, the slide is hard to hold back. When the slide returns to battery, the striker catches on the trigger cam. The trigger cam won’t move forward. Because of that, something has to give. That thing that gives is the striker spring. The striker spring is strong. The recoil spring forces the slide forward, which “pre-cocks” the striker.
When you pull the trigger, the striker is pulled back the rest of the way, and at the end of the trigger travel, the “2nd nodule” on the trigger cam pushes on the rectangular piece, which removes the “barrier” that keeps the striker from hitting the primer cartridge.
if the slide is not fully in battery, then the trigger cam can only pull the striker back a little bit. Also, if the slide is TOO far back, then the trigger cam will only pull the striker back a little bit, AND will let go of the striker before it pushes the rectangular “button”, which allows the striker to hit the primer cartridge. So, you get a really light strike that doesn’t even touch the primer cartridge.
Now, on to a real-life example:
1. Unload your gun
2. Unload your gun again.
3. Remove the slide stop pin.
4. Remove the recoil spring and guide rod.
5. Remove the barrel.
6. Install the slide on the frame. Yep.
7. Lightly... rack the slide slowly. Until it snaps back over the trigger cam.
8. If you’ve never done this, you may now feel like you are in a bind. You can’t remove the slide without pulling the trigger. However, the slide needs to be in he correct spot.
9. Go ahead and pull the trigger with the slide where it is. Feel the sponginess? Let go of the trigger.
10. Now, push the slide forward until the rear of the slide is even with the frame. You will have to “force it”, since you will be working against the striker spring. Normally, the recoil spring does this work for you.
11. When the rear of the slide is pushed forward enough to be even with the rear of the frame, pull the trigger. Do you feel that? It feels like a normal trigger because it is pushing the striker spring back. For some reason, the trigger has no “power” unless the recoil spring pushes the slide forward, after the trigger “resets”.
12. After you pull the trigger, things will feel normal, and you will be able to slide the slide forward, over the trigger cam, like you would normally do just prior to cleaning the gun.
In short, the recoil spring HAS to have enough “oomph” to keep the slide in battery, which also “precocks” the striker, and also places the correct pressure on the trigger system to give it the power to pull the striker the rest of the way back.
If your recoil spring can’t keep the slide forward all the way, it can’t pull the striker back all the way (among other bad side-effects).
I REALLY hope this makes sense. And, I really hope I explained it correctly.
Everyone, PPPlease correct me if I am wrong.
Again, I did this on my phone. I’ll correct spelling and other issues (if needed) after I post this reply.
-Wlf