Shock buffers in 1911 's

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nitehawk55

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I've read good and bad on shock buffers but to be honest don't know enough about them to draw a conclusion . They are supposed to reduce damage/wear on the slide from excessive slamming but do they really do any good in the long run as they are supposed to ?
Been thinking on installing some on my shooters but not sure so would like to hear from some who have used them and opinions .
 
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I have run about 40,000 rounds of .45 ammo through an AMT GOVERNMENT and COLT SERIES 80. Both have had various brands of SHOCK BUFF'S in them from the first shot fired and they are still going strong. When you clean the gun you inspect the buff if it is starting to cut or fray replace it, they don't cost much. If you will only shot 5 or 10 boxes of store bought ammunition through your gun in it's life time you probably won't notice any difference. But think of it as a small shock absorber between two pieces of expensive metal gun parts. Shock buffs sometimes don't work in COMMANDER or shorter length guns because of lack of room .
 
I have a spring loaded buffer thing in the recoil spring guide which also pushes the barrel up for "accurization". I think it helps a little when you shoot target loads and fulll loads, since it only has an effect at the last few mm of slide travel when the brass is already leaving.
I haven't done any scientific testing, but I like to think it puts slightly less stress on the metal and the firer.
 
I use them in my Colt Delta Elite 10mm which has a very fast slide speed and replace them as soon as I see them starting to break down.
 
Shok buffs

I won't shoot any 1911's without them, and you do notice the difference without one. They are cheap insurance to what seems like a good idea. Theoretically well used ones can break apart and jam up the gun, but by inspecting them upon cleaning the gun, they can easily be replaced although they seem to last quite a while.
 
At the very least, they're good indicators of your recoil spring wear.

If you start with a buff and a properly tuned new recoil spring, you'll see no wear on the buff (it will be lightly kissed by the slide) but as that recoil spring wears out, the buff will begin to get the crap beat out of it.
 
Gentlemen, all valid points,but to play the devil's advocate, when's the last
time anyone saw a 1911 'fail' because of 'slide battering'?
I would imagine that in a torture test to the point of actual structural failure,
the unit shot exclusively with shock buffs would have a higher round count,
but it would likely be somthing like 135,000 (shock buff) VS 130,00 (non).
Sort of like the oil companies giving a life time warranty against damage
for documented oil breakdown..haven't paid out on that one and never will!

I have seen plenty of locked up units and frustrated IPSC shooter's dealing
with a 'terminal jam' from a chunk of shock buff...never seen one dealing with a slide/frame failure from 'battering'.;)
Having said that, everyone in this thread has rightfully demonstated that if
used properly, with appropiate type, recoil spring selection, and frequent
monitoring for wear, there's really no down side to using them... sort of like
using high tech/ high$ synthetic oil in your clunker... regular maintenace is
the key.
 
I use a Wilson shock buff in my SW1911. It's worked fine except with Winchester NT. With the buffer installed I had numerous malfunctions. The NT ammo worked fine when the buffer was removed.
 
Freedom Ventures said:
At the very least, they're good indicators of your recoil spring wear.

If you start with a buff and a properly tuned new recoil spring, you'll see no wear on the buff (it will be lightly kissed by the slide) but as that recoil spring wears out, the buff will begin to get the crap beat out of it.
Click to expand...

Hey, --- Thanks for the useful note re, recoil spring , i'll keep an eye on that .
I've used one on my P-14 - Para O. for the last ten years, shot 8 thousand handloads ( lead bullets) thru her , & Nada a single hitch with it breaking apart , or causing jams.
At times i wondered when the buff was supposed to be replaced., & did so only as "feel good maintenance ".
I think it's great insurance !!
 
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I have to say that in all the 1911's I've played with for any significant period of time (ok so its only about 5) that in every case the buff caused more reliability problems than anything. Even when new and undamaged.

Besides I actually prefer the feel of an unbuffed gun as the buff will slow the slide return significantly.

I think your rails/slide/barrel fit will wear out before the frame suffers significant damage from slide pounding...
 
I like red buffs out of all that I have tried. Never had any reliability problems with any buff in any 1911 style gun. I think the red buffs last longer. Seems they are not as easy to find thesedays though.
 
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