Speaking about Linear Springs specifically...
One point of discussion that I'd like to note, is the length of the spring should not impact the overall performance of the spring. "325 lbs/in" does not relate at all to the spring length, only to the resistive force of the spring during compression and expansion. The length also effects the spring travel (an 8in spring can compress twice the length of a 4in spring, assuming same rate).
I've heard a lot of talk about 7in vs 8in springs with different rates, and my brain started hurting remembering way back to my Dynamics engineering course in college. So a quick phone call to H&R confirmed, spring length does not affect overall performance (compression and tension).
There are some minor differences (i.e. load at block, block height, etc), but those parameters are outside of the the scope I believe we are discussing here. Also, this comment negates ride height adjustability with different length springs