How long would it take
 

to weaken the recoil spring by leaving the toggles in a full cocked position?

Herb, I seem to remember a study that was done on magazine springs and it showed there was little weakening dispite many years of compression. I cannot recall where I read this as it was years ago....I doubt if the recoil spring is weakned by compression alone but perhaps more so by use in general. Just speculating as I have no data. Jerry Burney

Jerry, I remember reading this once also, plus I seem to remember, someone like the LA Police Dept did tests on this same kind of thing, (might have been NYPD). I seem to remember that they showed that spring compression was more myth than fact, but they still suggested that magazines be swapped periodically. So, Herb, in a roundabout way, I imagine that the recoil spring could be "weakened" but that it is more likely to have been damaged by over-stressing or use?

Ed

If a spring is not compressed to the yield point (a good design avoids this) it will not weaken by being left in the compressed position. If the spring is constantly flexed it will eventually fatigue and weaken but then it is getting close to failure and should be replaced.

For a softer recoil spring, avoid cutting an original. Aside from questions of original condition, this will reduce the preload too much. For the time being, I will say the way to a soft spring is to buy a Wolff replacement and cut it if required. The Wolff spring has a free length much longer than the original, so cutting it affects the preload less. The preload has as much to do with preventing the Luger from being battered as does the full load strength.