Im pretty new to springer tuning and had a question for the more experienced tuners out there. Given a set power that you are aiming to tune for (let's say 12ftlbs) do you prefer a longer spring or a shorter spring with some spacers to add preload? Does it matter? Does it affect shot cycle at all? Aside from coil count/OAL, let's assume both springs are otherwise identical.
To clarify what I'm talking about here. Assume you're starting out with a 14fpe spring. Would you prefer to cut away at it until you're sitting at 11.7ftlbs or would you rather cut it all the way down to 10fpe and then add some shims to the spring to bring it back up to 11.7fpe?
Get the correct spring from the beginning. I would advise Macarri when you are going down in foot pounds and Vortek when going up. The gun will be smoother and have less recoil if the spring is left its maximum length. A more compact shorter spring will have a different sort of shorter stroke feel as well.
It is like comparing the HW50 and HW35. Although very similar foot pounds, velocity etc they feel quite different. The HW50 with the longer spring and tube is noticeably smoother. The HW35 has a short choppy kind of stroke with slightly more recoil. The HW35 also has a shorter and harder cocking effort with the HW50 having a longer softer one. They are both quite successful shooters and fun as heck. It is a matter of which type you like. After having both I am just not a short stroke springer guy. Of course this example would be somewhat exaggerated compared to some spacers but it will be noticeable.
Getting the correct spring also means taking the gun down once and only one opportunity to bugger things up. Doing the spacer thing and hacking springs etc the chances of a scratch in the bluing, losing things, things going flying etc goes up considerably.