What is the last step when assembling the recoil spring?

The last step when assembling the recoil spring is to insert the end of the recoil spring guide into the slide recoil spring housing. This is critical as it ensures that the recoil spring is properly seated and secured within the slide, allowing it to function correctly when the pistol is cycling during firing.

When the recoil spring guide is fitted into the housing, it allows the recoil spring to exert the correct pressure on the slide, effectively controlling its movement during recoil and forwarding the slide back into battery after a shot is fired. This step is essential for proper gun operation as it completes the assembly of a key component involved in the cycling of the firearm.

The other steps mentioned, while important in the overall assembly process, occur earlier and do not represent the final part of integrating the recoil spring into the system. For instance, aligning the recoil spring with the barrel, attaching the barrel to the frame, and inserting the recoil spring guide into the frame are all preliminary tasks that need to be performed before the recoil spring can be secured in its final position. Consequently, understanding the sequence and significance of these actions is crucial for effective firearm assembly and function.