[HIPCHIP]

Sorry if this has been covered, but did a quick search and came up with no previous postings.

I have a Pro Carry II I'm picking up in a couple of weeks. It's been recommended that I get one of the little tools that makes it easier to pull off the slide and take out the recoils spring. I believe someone also mention the flat coils spring. Wilson Combat has these:
Flat-Wire Recoil Spring Kit | 4" Compact-Wilson Combat

Just curious if anybody has any experience with these and if it is recommended or if I should just stay stock and use Wolff springs as it's not that big of a deal to pull off the slide with the bent paperclip tool?

 

[Islander]

Chuck43 will be along shortly. He has the Wilson kit and can tell you all about it.

 

[Chuck43]

I've been using the WCFWS kit in my Super Carry Pro for about 6 months now and I would never go back to the stock Kimber spring and guide rod. A couple of other members on the forum here have just recently installed them on their guns and from what I understand they feel the same way. I'm sure you will be hearing from some of them before the night is over.

 

[PorscheVille]

I have a Pro Carry II and just installed the Wilson Combat flat wire spring kit (#651). Why? 1) I didn't like how the L tool worked —and it was hard to get out. 2) It was scarring the edge of the guide rod bushing. 3) The stock spring must be replaced every 800 rounds. The Wilson spring lasts considerably longer.

I love how it feels, how it shoots and I can break it down and reassemble without a tool. I would recommend it.

 

[v35b]

I also have it and highly recommend it you want be sorry, By the way you will get a factory take down tool with your gun but it is still hard to get the spring off the rod not so with the Wilson combat spring.

 

[Marshall]

I also have it and highly recommend it you want be sorry, By the way you will get a factory take down tool with your gun but it is still hard to get the spring off the rod not so with the Wilson combat spring.

I just changed the recoil springs in my PCII and I took the barrel out,put the guide rod back in and pushed from the bottom up and squeezed the rod spring out of the slide and removed the L shape tool.Visa versa for install.Piece of cake but next time I may try the Wilsons since they last longer.

 

[PorscheVille]

By the way, the Wilson guide rod is about 1/4 inch shy of full length. That makes it easier to remove without a tool. The flat spring is wider, so the rod is narrower and the bushing looks thicker. Here is a pic:

 

[PorscheVille]

And before:

 

[Marshall]

By the way, the Wilson guide rod is about 1/4 inch shy of full length. That makes it easier to remove without a tool. The flat spring is wider, so the rod is narrower and the bushing looks thicker. Here is a pic:

I just watched the video on this and that's too cool.I bought 3 recoil springs for both my PCII,so at the pace I'm shooting each Saturday{150 rounds for the 9mm}and {50}for the 45,I should be ready for the switch around the fall...

 

[PorscheVille]

One more thing...the Wilson comes with a little pin and a hole in the rod, so if you're missing the tool, and the pain in your arse, you can still use their little tool! Or you can be tool free.

The Wilson spring is a lot longer too. I guess there is more compression so the slide feels a little stiffer when you pull it.

Others say it feels smoother, although I can't really tell. My Kimber already felt smooth as a baby's butt.

 

[HIPCHIP]

I just picked up the PC II and looked at all the videos and read and re-read the owners manual. Then I got my nerve up and field stripped it. It was so easy it was actually easier than my full size SA 1911! Didn't attempt to remove the recoil spring from the rod though, but looks like with an extra set of hands to put in the pin tool, or help remove it, shouldn't be a problem.

Now I just need to figure out if the Wilson flat spring is a better deal for $50, or should I stay with the stock setup. From what I've seen, you can take down the stock setup the same way as with the Wilson setup, just that the rod is a little longer on the Wilson setup so the spring won't go flying out.

Does the Wilson setup make that much of a difference with shooting and changing the spring? Seems like the Wilson setup is nice, but the $ has me a little freaked out due to some other bills that came up at the same time as the PC II purchase.

 

[Chuck43]

Since you just got the gun why don't you use the money for ammo to break the gun in. The stock recoil spring has a life of 800 rounds so you have plenty of time to research and decide on whether to go with a stock Wolf spring or the Wilson Combat Flat Wire Recoil Spring Kit. The initial expense of the kit is a bit pricey but if you shoot a lot the money you save not replacing stock springs will eventually be repaid.

Personally, I wouldn't own a Pro model Kimber without the Wilson Flat Wire Kit in it and I don't.

 

[v35b]

+1 on what Chuck said, I would shoot at least 500 to 800 round through it first, that way if you have a problem it will be stock when you talk to Kimber

 

[HIPCHIP]

This will be my carry gun, so not a lot of shooting with it. I have a full size for the range, etc. That's one of the reasons I'm not sure I need to get the Wilson kit as I won't be wearing the gun out by putting a lot of rounds through it, just enough to keep feeling comfortable with it.

 

[Chuck43]

If you're not going to be shooting the gun a lot then I wouldn't invest in the WCFWS kit, your money would be better spent on something else.

 

[sfm629]

Can you use the Wilson flat spring with the original guide rod or do you have to use the rod that comes with the kit?

 

[Islander]

Can you use the Wilson flat spring with the original guide rod or do you have to use the rod that comes with the kit?

I'm not an expert, but I believe you need the kit. Check Wilson's web site. You should find the answer there.

 

[Chuck43]

Can you use the Wilson flat spring with the original guide rod or do you have to use the rod that comes with the kit?

No, the WC flat wire spring won't fit on the Kimber Pro guide rod, you have to use the Wilson Combat guide rod, it's smaller in diameter.

 

[PorscheVille]

As a cross-section, a standard spring is round, the flat spring is....well, flat. So it is wider. Therefore the rod and the plug are both thinner on the Wilson. I read somewhere that the Wilson lasts 10 times longer. That may not be accurate, but it lasts a lot longer. Like Chuck, I recommend it.

 

[PorscheVille]

This is what the shorter WC guide rod looks like from the barrel end.