[azasadny]

Les,
Excellent question, as always! I've seen older springs become shorter (more compressed) over time, but this recoil spring was bent and obviously "pulled" out of spec. The replacement spring was about 20% shorter, but not bent and in spec. After installing it, the gun went back together like the manual shows and I'll take it to the range next weekend to try the replacement spring out.

Evidently, at some point, the spring became "stretched" and "bent", probably due to improperly disassembly/reassembly of the gun and the spring made the gun extremely difficult to reassemble. When I have an unfamiliar gun, I find the manual and follow the instructions carefully, but unfortunately many others do not and they screw things up by forcing the gun apart, then they get frustrated and force the gun back together and probably never shoot it or take it apart again. The gun was filthy when I acquired it, so apparently the previous owner decided not to take it apart again...