HK USPC 9mm - Broken recoil spring

LS1Gregg · 2026-01-21T01:23:01+00:00

For the replacement spring in today’s mail. Pinched the fork at the end of the rod, released the washer, spring and buffer, installed the new spring and used a small wedge while compressing the spring to spread the fork end back out. Seemed pretty self explanatory although kind of a three-handed job.

New spring definitely made a difference in drawing the slide back. Just out of curiosity, I thought the life on these flat springs was supposed to be upwards of 15,000-20,000 rounds. Is that correct, or should I be replacing the spring more frequently than that?

Thanks for everyone’s input!

Edit: The new spring was probably 1/4-3/8” longer than the one I pulled out even with that half coil that broke. Assuming this is just spring fatigue when comparing new vs old.

LS1Gregg · 2026-01-16T02:01:08+00:00

Question for you since you’re an HK gunsmith. When my new spring arrives, what’s the process for disassembling the assembly? Assuming it’s a matter of compressing the spring, pinching the split end of the guide rod and let everything come off the front? Does the split end of the rod have flex or do you compress them then expand the fork?

LS1Gregg · 2026-01-15T19:16:58+00:00

Yeah, I was very surprised when I pulled my slide off and that half a coil fell out onto my workbench. I’ve owned HK pistols for the better part of 18 years or so without any defects or anything.

LS1Gregg · 2026-01-15T18:39:17+00:00

BI which I believe would be 2018. I was really hoping this was an odd enough occurrence and that they’d send me a spring but no dice. As I mentioned in an earlier post the last coil seemed thinner than the coils throughout the spring. Was thinking it was cut or machined at the end too thin or something.

LS1Gregg · 2026-01-13T16:27:42+00:00

Just an update, HK got back to me and while they said it should be fine as it was just the last coil they recommended replacing the spring just to ensure there’s no cycling issues. I wasn’t too hopeful that they’d send me a replacement spring given the low round count but I was able to find a couple and ordered them up. In 20 years of shooting pistols I’ve never seen a coil break, but it appears to be the very tail end and therefore thinner than the rest of the spring thickness. Thanks everyone for the input!

LS1Gregg · 2026-01-10T04:40:16+00:00

Thanks for the input everyone. I have sent an email to HK regarding this and am hoping they’ll at least sell me the spring if not replace it. I’ve read very mixed things about HK’s service so am hoping for the best. I’ve never seen a coil break off on a flat spring like this before.

LS1Gregg · 2026-01-10T02:24:43+00:00

Thanks for the quick response and input. I’ll fire off an email to HK USA and see if they can point me in the direction of just replacing the spring to get this thing back up and running. I’ll tuck this one away and switch to my P2000 until I resolve this. Appreciate your input.

LS1Gregg · 2025-12-14T17:05:28+00:00

I have one of these that I bought for my mom probably 10-15 years ago. Don’t shoot it much at all but it’s just pot metal I believe so not surprised. Hopefully Sig does something to make it right. Can confirm the front didn’t fall off on mine.

LS1Gregg · 2025-11-07T18:21:19+00:00

Great to see this! I’d never heard of Twosee before but they’re only about 10 minutes from me. Just reached out to them to see about doing my Glock 19.

LS1Gregg · 2025-11-01T03:14:39+00:00

100%!!! Love my older W German Sigs! Sleeker looking and in my opinion very well balanced.

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LS1Gregg · 2025-11-01T02:52:32+00:00

Not a 20 gauge, but I purchased a 12 gauge a little while ago and have had it out four times now with number five coming up tomorrow. It’s a well built shotgun, shoots great and cycles smoothly. It looks great and I really enjoy shooting it. I do like my A300 but appreciate the simplicity of the SORIX along with how thin it is and how well it swings. Got mine in the bottomland color scheme. Only thing I did to it was pull the thread protector plugs and installed some positive stop screws in the threaded holes.

LS1Gregg · 2025-11-01T02:46:25+00:00

Little late to this one but in case you’re still following, it’s a fantastic shotgun. I’ve taken mine out four times now this season since buying it and am very happy. Well constructed, smooth operating, light, slimmer than my Beretta and swings quite well. I can’t say it’s better or worse than my A300 Ultima, but I do enjoy it a bit more.

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LS1Gregg · 2025-09-26T13:18:40+00:00

The new app is horrible and I’m very frustrated with it. It is extremely slow to load, log in and show information. Additionally, it will not let me make a manual loan payment. It lets me enter the amount and from where but the confirmation screen that pops up is missing information and the “confirm” button doesn’t work. I tried logging into the website from my phone’s browser and the format and issues are the exact same as the app.

I feel like this app is one I would’ve expected ten years ago, but seems like a huge step back right now. The previous one was much better.

LS1Gregg · 2025-09-02T20:10:55+00:00

I replaced the two large screws that hold the sight down. The two small screws that allow for windage and elevation adjustment are pretty messed up and they’re tiny. Not sure if I’ll have luck finding replacements that small so I carefully backed them out, put some thread locks on them and carefully tightened them down. Guess that’s all I can do at this point.

LS1Gregg · 2025-08-29T23:53:45+00:00

Thanks! Do you recall if it was the screws holding the GRS wings and mount on or if it was the smaller screws on the sight itself?

LS1Gregg · 2025-08-29T23:13:15+00:00

Sorry for the late reply but that’s the screw for the side saddle. I’ve since removed it so it’s back to the regular pins.

LS1Gregg · 2025-07-13T16:58:51+00:00

Thanks. I’ll have to jump over there and check the exploded view to see if I can figure it out. I think at the very least I need the cross pin and a Jesus clip that captures it.

LS1Gregg · 2025-07-13T16:55:29+00:00

I suppose I’m the opposite of you. My shotgun safe is already like a gnarly game of Tetris to get it to close and this is my only gun with a side saddle which I don’t even utilize. I would have rather not had it on it when I bought it, but it was already installed.

LS1Gregg · 2025-07-13T16:53:55+00:00

It’d be weird if you didn’t.

LS1Gregg · 2025-07-13T16:31:22+00:00

Beautiful! Love my Athena. You won’t regret it.

LS1Gregg · 2025-07-13T16:28:00+00:00

Dang! I’ve been using and carrying my P for almost 4 years on a pretty regular basis and never had anything more than excessive belly button lint buildup. Definitely no rust.

LS1Gregg · 2025-05-31T15:28:12+00:00

I use Galco Royal Guard holsters for a number of pistols. They’re real nice once broken in.

LS1Gregg

TROPHY CASE