Spring Issue

[ujiro]

OK, not entirely sure if I'm posting this in the right area of the forum, so I posted it here. I've heard people say that PDI has mistakenly switched up some of their springs, and that people were getting 190% springs in the 150% package. Is this true, and if so, how could I tell if it was in fact a 190% spring and not a 150% spring that I have without having to install it and risk destroying my internals?

[CDN_Stalker]

You really can't. I know the 170% springs are softer in feel than the 150% (don't ask, I don't know why), but th e190% I don't know. All the more reason to avoid PDI springs altogether. BTW, it's not that often that PDI put the wrong spring in the wrong package, it's their quality control that is non-existant. I've seen PDI 150% springs range from a thinner brownish tint 6 3/4" long (the true 150%, puts out around 350fps) to 150% springs that are up to and a bit over 7" long and a thicker shiney black finish.

What gun are you putting that 190% into?

[ujiro]

I was trying to get a 150%, but someone told me it might be a 190% because it stripped my stock TM spur gear. So I was just wondering if there were any defining characteristics between the different springs that I can tell without having to buy each one. Because this one has a thicker black finish like you said, and someone said thats generally the 190%.

Also, if you don't recommend PDI springs, what would you say is the best company to go with?

edit: BTW, it's a TM M4-RIS that the spring is going in. Gears, shims, and bushings have all been upgraded.

[CDN_Stalker]

You just ran into the problem with PDI springs. Measure the length of it please?

I recommend the Prometheus SP springs, they are rated in meters per second and are very good. I have a 110SP in one of my MP5s and it sits around 355fps with 0.20g BBs. And those springs are very easy to buy in Canada. When installing, make sure the end with the tighter coils goes to the spring guide, otherwise you'll lose 20-30fps.

[ujiro]

The spring is about 6.5" long.

[CDN_Stalker]

Ok, that's a better length than most I've dealt with, but because it is of the thicker black steel it caused your bevel gear problem. I bought a used 150%, was black thick steel, I cut it down to the same 6 3/8" as my regular one, it ended up constantly over-riding my anti-reversal latch and bent the latch shaft, so I went back to the 150% I originally had in it.

[ujiro]

I'm still not sure if it is a 150% or a 190%, and I don't really want to buy another 150 only to find out that its the same thing and I've thrown my money away.

[ILLusion]

So then don't.

Just install it and chronograph it. All it takes is ONE cycle to determine whether it's a proper PDI 150% or not. You won't destroy your gearbox or cause much harm (if any at all) with one shot through a 190%.