Anyone Running A Shock Buffer On Their 1911's ?

[billt460]

People seem to have strong opinions on these things either way. All the way from, "I wouldn't shoot my 1911's without them".... To,...."If they were needed, John Browning would have put them on!"....

All criticism aside, I decided to order a few from Wilson Combat a few days ago, with the intention of giving them a try. These things appear to be manufactured from a type of synthetic material that has the consistency of the material used on those better grade silicone garden hose washers.

They simply slip over the guide rod between its face, and are sandwiched between it and the recoil spring. There are quite a few videos on these things, and I'm posting this one because it really shows how much wear they absorb.

I don't shoot 10 MM, but this guy shows how his 10 MM Colt Delta Elite 1911 literally beat the hell out of one of these things. So they are absorbing a lot of banging that otherwise would have been transferred into the frame.

The method to my madness of ordering these things, was to try them on my Colt Gold Cup. I shoot a lot of hardball through it, and I know Colt ships the Gold Cup models with a slighter lighter recoil spring to accommodate lighter target loads. So I think it will be a good pistol to try it on. If it runs OK, I won't have to keep changing out recoil springs, from light to hotter hardball loads.

I was watching a video of Bill Wilson field stripping his everyday carry 1911 for cleaning, and he runs one. And he's one of the most knowledgeable 1911 guys out there. When I shoot my new Tisas, I'm going to bring one to the range and run 100 rounds without it. Then try a hundred rounds or so with it.

Regardless of how it runs, I don't think I would carry a 1911 with one, just to be on the safe side of any malfunction it may cause.

https://wilsoncombat.com/shok-buff-recoil-buffers-1911-package-of-6.html

 

[Pablo]

I tried those years ago. To me gimmick.

 

[billt460]

I found these photos of a Dan Wesson Pointman 9, with an 11 pound recoil spring. This is a Stainless Steel, forged framed gun, with a round count of between 10K to 12K.

Make of them what you will, but I think it's a safe bet to say a buffer sure couldn't have hurt. This regardless of the type of loads being fed.

 

[DuckRyder]

Ive tried one in a Gold Cup. Didn't cause any problems, didn't see any advantage.

Unsurprising that when you take X amount of space as designed for recoil and reduce it by Y amount of space the thing you put in Y around of space takes a beating.

Every Gold Cup i ever bought had 2 springs in the box.

Colt knew knew what they are doing with the Delta recoil system, I'm against messing with it.

 

[GRUMPYDUDE2]

I found these photos of a Dan Wesson Pointman 9, with an 11 pound recoil spring. This is a Stainless Steel, forged framed gun, with a round count of between 10K to 12K.

Make of them what you will, but I think it's a safe bet to say a buffer sure couldn't have hurt. This regardless of the type of loads being fed.


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Agree, no harm, cheap insurance against this type of damage.

I use them with no down side.

Good compromise would be to use in practice, remove when carryng, or when locked and loaded at bedside.

 

[billt460]

If anyone is interested, this is a link to the thread I got those pics from. There is a lot of back and forth over shock buffers. With many opinions given both ways. You can read through it, and make of it what you will.

https://www.northeastshooters.com/xen/threads/normal-1911-wear.334286/

 

[JWC86]

I've ran them in my custom built Atlas 2011's as suggested by Atlas(they ship their guns with them installed), probably around 150,000 -200,000rds of 9 major between 3 guns and no issues with the shock buffs. Those guns were "stroked" a bit however so maybe not a fair data point.

 

[ripcord]

I thought I needed one on my Delta Elite until I realized that the #20 spring the guy at the gun counter sold me was for Commander length slide.

 

[KJSmith]

I think you're on the right track.
Use them at the range, remove them for carry and you should be fine.

The EDC/SFX has the shok buff as part of the original design.
I have never heard anyone have a problem with them in those guns.

 

[oil pan 4]

Unless you're running 10mm or 38super it seems like personal preference to me.

 

[Elkins45]

I use them in my old 1911 that gets shot the most. My experience with the Wilson ones is that they get pretty chewed up after about 1500 rounds. That tells me they must be doing something in terms of dissipating recoil energy.

 

[JohnnyJohnson]

Used them for years. Two things it didn't hurt the accuracy or the muzzle velocity, so I stayed with them.

 

[billt460]

I use them in my old 1911 that gets shot the most. My experience with the Wilson ones is that they get pretty chewed up after about 1500 rounds. That tells me they must be doing something in terms of dissipating recoil energy.

That's my thinking as well. If these things are getting consumed in 1,000 - 1,500 rounds or so, they're taking and dissipating A LOT of energy that otherwise would have been transferred into the frame of the gun.

 

[Tempest1]

I've had them come apart inside a gun and cause issues (.45). I would never use them in a defensive gun.

This was quite a few years ago so don't know if the newer one's have superior materials.

 

[Pablo]

I've had them come apart inside a gun and cause issues (.45). I would never use them in a defensive gun.

This was quite a few years ago so don't know if the newer one's have superior materials.

That's what I remember. They shredded. There would have been close metal contact but no contact, then put these in and sure you contact the pad, but that not how the gun was designed.

 

[dubber09]

Just use recoil spring suited for the ammo you use. SD ammo is often a little hot, use stronger recoil spring.

 

[f355spider]

I have been to a number of shooting schools and they universally say no to Shok Buff. They are fine for a range gun or even a competition gun, but not for self defense. It has been repeated by those instructors that they would often see the Shok Buff come loose and lock up the slide, and taking much time to clear...often times requiring removal of the slide to remedy.

The other issue is since it impedes the full retraction of the slide when they work, with some guns, it may prevent you from locking open the slide to perform a "remedial action" drill. Even for an "immediate action" drill, the reduction in slide movement could impede successfully clearing the stoppage.

I was in a class and it actually happened to student (the Shok Buff came loose and locked up the slide) which then brought up the admonishment to not use them for self defense guns.

The are totally fine for a range gun if you think you need one.