Is it possible to trim down an over powered recoil spring to make it less powerful and easier to manage?

Any tips for doing this?

And as always is this a really retarded idea?

Thanks
PJ

A spring of a given weight, say 18 pounds, is an 18 pound spring no matter what length to which it may be cut. It could be a spring to a specified length or a spring of less than specified length. It will still exert the same force on a object. It may be cut too short to function properly and some may percieve this as being 'lighter'. Springs are not high cost items. Buy one that will serve your needs and meet the required specifications. Charles the Gunsmith.  

Thanks. I guess a little thinking would of saved me from looking retarded.  I was told that this was a way of accomplishing (lightening) this.

You don't look retarded. This is a legitimate question. Clipping coils off of springs is an old time coffee gunsmith way to 'improve' a gun. It really doesn't work very well. Charles.