I've used both Wolff and Wilson Combat in other revolvers but not in a SAA. Both brands worked well and accomplished what I was looking for in performance.

 

I have used Wolffe hammer springs, they help trigger pull dramatically while still going bang reliably.

 

Any of the so called “improved” spring kits will give you a softer feel in both trigger pull and cocking the hammer. Performance-wise the only benefit they will give you is easier cocking - so your SA will feel like a DA. :-/

Be sure both your bolt and bolt stop cuts in the cylinder are in good condition. (Don’t use them in a rusty older 1st or ill-cared for 2nd gen gun)

A lot of other guys will replace those springs when they do a tune up because it gives the feeling something dramatic was done during the tune up.

 

I used their kit with wire-form hammer spring in my Uberti SAA. Works great.

 

I don’t know if the spring in my pic is a “Wolff” or something else but this was in my 3rd Gen Nickel and the trigger pull
was less then 2#. It also had a different mainspring. I talked to Lever Bill and I went back to original Colt type
springs and trigger is now clean at 3.5#. Also,in my gun it now has “4” distinct clicks when cocking where it didn’t
before. Just something to think about before trying to improve that which has already been proven. Pete

 

I used Wolffe spring kit in my P-64 Radom and it made the trigger pull much lighter both single and double action.

 

I did the same really helped the single action but my double is still stiff on my old hands.

 

I am considering trying a piece of leather between the hammer spring and frame on one of my 3rd generation guns that I have used in cowboy action shooting as it’s really stiff in cocking. If I like the results, I’ll buy the next lighter spring.

 

Just go with a lighter spring - the leather pad, as espoused by Skeeter Skelton - will get oil-soaked.

As to the wire sprigs- if I want my Colts to feel like Rugers - I'll buy a Ruger...

 

Amen on the wire trigger/bolt springs. Can’t stand that mushy feel they give when you cock the gun.

 

Ahhh , but they don't break like flat springs. It's 2019 , not 1873 , and spring wire metallurgy has come a long way. Flat springs , not so much.

 

Bill tuned one of my 3rds, using only the Colt springs, & it works as designed. I’m not trying to win fast-draw with it, & he stressed the safety aspect.

 

A lot of other guys will replace those springs when they do a tune up because it gives the feeling something dramatic was done during the tune up.

That's a little sneaky but it sure make sense.

Thank you everyone for all of the very helpful information. This is a great forum.
I have always said shooters are just about the best bunch of people you will ever meet.

 

MKK41: I don’t know the exact number, but since this time last year I’ve had maybe 40-45 Colt SAAs come across my counter for some sort of work: Broken triggers, broken hammer notches, firing pins, front sights, parts rust frozen...even a cylinder jammed in the frame so hard it took some real ingenuity to get it out.
But one thing I haven’t seen...A broken flat spring.
Plenty of them were cut through the screw hole and mangled - but no broken one...yet.

 

Bill, With all due respect I have one. It is the only spring that has broken on any gun both Colt or any brand. It's a little hard to forget.

 

I'll take yer word on that Bill! Most of the SA guns I've seen broken hammer and trigger/bolt springs on were non-Colts. Have seen more than a few broken hand/pawl springs on all makes though.

 

"leather between the hammer spring and frame"

A local old gent who worked on my 1900 converted SAA with a spring that would bust hulk hogan's thumb, told me that in the old days they would use a ladies corset stay as a shim between the spring and the frame.

No more corsets about- at least the ladies, I asked denied wearing them, so he used some type of a flat metal like a cylinder feeler gauge instead, worked good.

lol

 

A properly lightened spring works better.

 

I've had two bolt/trigger flat springs break, both Ubertis several years ago and it was the trigger spring arm in both cases. I've never had a Colt or Wolf flat spring break, at least not so far.

 

I've had Uberti/Cimarron bolt springs break as well. Replaced with ones from Janis and they work fine but they might be just a little different, don't recall for sure. Can't remember if I've had a Colt one break on me and I've never had the wire kind.

 

I've got a couple colt's I've been shooting in competition since 1959,& If I told u how many rds that have been thru them I doubt anyone would believe me,both still have the original Flat sear & bolt springs & hand springs & only one time did I break a mainspring.As far as the piano wire springs not breaking it's true BUT what they do is fatigue while they are being used & can cause damage to the bolt or lock slots or both unless they are changed out on a regular schedule because they don't lock up positively like a flat spring does,they ease into the notches rather than firmly resulting in a mushey action,although I found a really good purpose for them,they are good for opening up the hole in a bottle of loctite or glue.

 

LOL, Jim! They also make a good back scratchers for grasshoppers.

In all the blown top straps I've repaired over the years, at least 25, all of them had wire springs or lightened flat springs, along with altered bolt head, hollowed out bolt heads, or shimmed springs that barely popped up the bolt. Most came from former cowboy action shooters or fast draw people. That bolt fit is super critical for fast draw or fast shooting with standard loads. Add in a worn cylinder and notches and that's a good recipe for a blowup, and I know, this is not news to you. Hope the others in here take heed.

jp

 

I had a bolt spring broken in one of my .44-40 Peacemaker Centennials which I replaced with a Colt spring from Peacemaker Specialist and I know of several broken hand springs in USFA Rodeos. My Peacemaker Centennials where used in CAS for about 15 years without further issues.

 

Good quality, well heat treated and properly polished and fitted flatsprings can last almost indefinitely.

 

I’ve used Wolff springs in some of my SAA’s and like them. I’ll be putting a full spring kit in my 1918 1911 this week which will be the first full kit for a 1911 I’ve used. Usually I just change the recoil and firing pin springs.

 

I use Wolff springs: trigger and hammer. No problems, and my Colts still feel heavenly.

I've read/heard the leather will attract moisture which will invite rust.

 

Joe: I’m sure it does happen.

I’m not exactly sure how one could break. The movement is minimal - it’s just a guess but I’d have to think the spring was damaged in some way

 

No disrespect intended here just an opinion based on my own limited experience shooting a SAA. I'd guess one aint shot enough guns if you haven't yet seen a broken hand, sear and main spring Bad springs aren't that uncommon if the guns are getting used. Mind you I haven't seen a lot of broken SAA springs...but I have seen at least one of all of them break. One is all it takes to keep a spare for each close at hand. I like Wolfe flat springs myself and I like the Gunfighter main spring. I like not having to tune a spring. But if one is up to the task Colt springs are a good place to start for something to tune. Jim Martin on the other hand has mentioned he does not like the "dbl" Wolfe main spring because of failures he has seen. I like the Wolfe spring but I did take note of Jim's comments and his own observation from use. Jim doesn't like use a wire sear/bolt spring. Neither do I but I have them in some of the guns I shoot. I'd rather hear all four clicks (you usually can't hear all 4 clicks with a wire spring) but they also change the timing which might be good..or bad in your gun. The most common spring I have seen broken is the flat trigger/bolt spring. Hand spring would be second and main spring the least often. Doesn't really matter. They all break. If a spring breaks the guns won't run. I'd rather have an over sprung gun that runs than a gun that won't run because of a broken spring. Spares are cheap and easy to replace.

 

FWIW, the only Colt's flat spring I ever broke was around 1983 and it was the original trigger/stop spring installed in my 1880 SAA when it was manufactured (I assume). My 1957 SAA has had many more rounds through it and lots of kids learning SAA manipulation with it. So I'd say flat springs are fine but do keep a spare or three.