Shadow 1 Recoil Buffer

Wizzerd

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Edmonton
Since purchasing my Shadow 1 I have of course been doing lots of reading and watching videos. I keep seeing mention of 'recoil buffers' and am wondering if this is something I should consider or is there more to it. I see some guys mention having to change springs out etc. I am only a casual shooter and really have no plans to get into competition, yet.........

Thanks !
 
Opinions regarding buffers are all over the place. Cerainly if you use one the first rule is make sure it is in good condtion, otherwise you risk a stoppage if it breaks. Other people will tell you they are useless. It is interesting that CZ does market buffers and I seem to recall reading that they are provided with the 40 S&W Tactical Sport and Tactical Sport Orange pistols (although that was a couple of years ago and my memory could be faulty).

Companies like Wilson also market buffers for 1911 pistols so you would think they serve some purpose although some will argue it's just another revenue source for a useles tidbit.

I personally have used them in my 1911s and Tactical Sport pistols with no ill effects so I have no complaints.
 
Probably because people put too light of recoil springs in their CZ and bash the slide and frames. And this is their fix.

Don't know anyone in my group of CZ shooters that run one. I don't run any. Not even my 1911s. Heard they caused alot of issues.
 
Okay Shooter . So if Im reading between the lines a person would want a stiff recoil spring rather than light ? Is the stock CZ SP O1 recoil spring too light and needs an upgrade ? As you know I’m considering buying this pistol .
Thanks
Leavenworth
Probably because people put too light of recoil springs in their CZ and bash the slide and frames. And this is their fix.

Don't know anyone in my group of CZ shooters that run one. I don't run any. Not even my 1911s. Heard they caused alot of issues.
 
Since purchasing my Shadow 1 I have of course been doing lots of reading and watching videos. I keep seeing mention of 'recoil buffers' and am wondering if this is something I should consider or is there more to it. I see some guys mention having to change springs out etc. I am only a casual shooter and really have no plans to get into competition, yet.........

Thanks !

I have shot competitively (IPSC & IDPA) with my Shadow 1 for the past 2 years. I can attest the recoil buffer does change the felt recoil a bit.

Yes, there is extra cost and another maintenance item just like replacing springs on any hammer fired gun.

However, the gun runs fine without one and it was engineered to cycle till the end of time without one.
 
Okay Shooter . So if Im reading between the lines a person would want a stiff recoil spring rather than light ? Is the stock CZ SP O1 recoil spring too light and needs an upgrade ? As you know I’m considering buying this pistol .
Thanks
Leavenworth

Correct me if I'm wrong, my understanding is that a heavier recoil spring means the slide goes back into battery faster which means it is ready for the next shot sooner providing that the shooter is ready for the follow up shot.

Heavier spring is typically used with higher power factor or +P/+P+ ammo.
 
The recoil spring is another "Goldilocks" part - you want it to be just right. Too light, and you may put extra force on your slide stop and the muzzle will probably end up high after the shot. Too heavy, and you may run into cycling issues, as well as the slide being slammed forward too hard, causing the muzzle to drop after a shot.

In a perfect world, the recoil spring will absorb the force it needs to, while allowing the slide to fully cycle reliably, and it'll send the slide back into position so the muzzle remains level - on target. Not too high, and not too low.

If you're new to handguns like Leavenworth is, and use factory ammo, then don't worry about it. Just use the stock spring for now until you're in a position where things like follow up shots really matter. If you start using light loads for competition, then reduce the spring weight.
 
Okay Shooter . So if Im reading between the lines a person would want a stiff recoil spring rather than light ? Is the stock CZ SP O1 recoil spring too light and needs an upgrade ? As you know I’m considering buying this pistol .
Thanks
Leavenworth

Stock spring is fine, all I ever ran. It is people that going with light mainsprings and recoil springs to shave some weight off their trigger, but they end up bashing their frame/slide because it is moving too fast. I know we have a older guy that shoots CZ in PPC house league, and he barely could #### my OEM SP01 with the flat recoil spring. I have a SAM1911, that from the factory they put too light of a recoil spring, and it drove the spring guide into the barrel lugs.
 
It was Armand Swenson, pistolsmith, who developed the ‘shok buff’ and many more innovations like the ambi safety, magwell and high viz rear sights. He was one of the most influential 1911 pistolsmiths of all time. Shooters like Jeff Cooper and Elmer Kieth, used shok buffs. They used leather to make them during the early years and later, polymer.

Shok buffs were never intending to be used for anything other than training.

Lots of opinions on shok buff use, but this is how buffs got started and why.
 
CZ introduced the shockbuff for a reason, extending the life of pistols that are shot a lot. The buffs typically last 10s of thousands of rounds, cost like $2 each, and on the Shadow make a huge difference in the life of the slidestop. In the guns marketed as being for competition, like the Shadowmate and the Shadow 2, they are included and recommended by the factory. Short of using a solvent that eats them, like chlorinated brake cleaner, they don't break down much. Even once they shred your gun will run fine, and until they are cut right through, they will continue to be a benefit to your gun. I've never had one bind my gun up due to coming apart, but I'm also not a moron who doesn't check his gun before each session or match. I run my guns wet and lube a little bit every time I hit the range, which means I look inside the gun. The only guns I've seen have issues with them are guns that are bone dry or the buff is so destroyed pieces are making it into the barrel bushing area. That is user error. That is not something that will happen with a buff suddenly. That's literally a buff that has been cut through ages ago, and is then shot thousands of rounds more. Stupid people deserve bad results.
 
I just bought a Shadow 2 and was curious about the lifespan of buffers and seeing references to them lasting 800-1000 rounds. Then Slavex just said they last a lot longer with proper care….

In the 5 days I’ve had my gun, I’ve put 1500 rounds through it, and here is the factory buffer:

A2741433-70-C2-494-D-A35-F-CC60-B8-E456-AD.jpg


It’s looking just fine!

I still won’t bother with a buffer in my original Shadow though. :)
 
I'm actually surprised to see that crack in there. I've got black ones in a couple of my new guns and I'm at 8600 rounds on the one buffer and it looks better than that. Strange.
 
I'm actually surprised to see that crack in there. I've got black ones in a couple of my new guns and I'm at 8600 rounds on the one buffer and it looks better than that. Strange.
It’s a dent, not a crack. Pic didn’t turn out well. I’ll keep an eye on it. :)
 
It has been 3.5 weeks since I got my Shadow 2. Here is 3500 rounds on the factory buffer. Still going strong. I’m using a 9lb recoil spring so I like the buffer being there.

9-C555-A9-F-5789-4-C3-C-A6-DF-526-BBD93587-A.jpg
 
Nice, I'm over 10k on mine now, still looks near new. Even ran it through the ultrasonic the other day, was worried that might have wrecked it, nope, it was fine.
 
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