We finally took WadeS's RM-600 apart after it chrono's 480fps recently. The spring was broken into four pieces and each piece had wound it's way into the others. It measured 9.5" long when removed. When all the pieces were reassmebled end-to-end, the spring measured 13" long. Not it's a decision on another stock Mendoza spring or try to get a ?Maccari? spring.