Wilson Combat Shok-Buff

RIDE-RED 350r

RIDE-RED 350r

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I have been advised that a good upgrade to my 1911 is the Wilson Shok-Buff system. It seems to be an inexpensive upgrade to help prevent wear to the frame and slide.

Do any of you have any experience with this? Anything good or bad to say about it? Seems like a good idea to me.

Here is what I'm looking at... Shok-Buff® Recoil System | Full-Size-Wilson Combat
 
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Hello,

I may be in the minority, and I freely admit Bill Wilson knows more about 1911s than I...but I think they are a case of fools and money soon parted.

I really don't want a piece of relatively flimsy rubber in a critical part of a firearm. The gun is made of hardened steel for gosh sake, and I'm betting the recoil spring guide isn't hardened like the frame and slide are...they will easily survive any battering from the guide and when the guide is worse the wear because of it, replace the guide with another $10-$15 dollar replacement.

Best,

Heekma
 
Last edited:
The only time I'll use a shok buff is in one of the older original Colt Gold Cups that have the lightened slide. If I had a 10mm or one of the really hot 45 calibers I might consider them.
For other guns they aren't going to do anything except transfer the $$ from your pocket to someone else's.
 
IMHO, I think they are about as useless and a full length guide rod. Like others have said, another item to spend your money on.

I tried them once. After 2 or 3 magazines the shok buff broke apart causing the gun to jamb. Threw them all away after that.

I know of an all steel 1911 with close to 500,000 rounds through it. Yes, that's 500,000. When I was younger and more stupid, I traded that 1911 at a gun shop. They put it in their rental case. I worked there Saturdays for a couple years and we kept track of how many times it was rented and how many boxes of ammo went through it.

About four years later I took the gun apart and inspected it. The gun looks like hell. And it looks like it had that many rounds through it. But it has never broke except for an extractor.

Today, about 6 years later, the gun is still there. Still running strong.

This gun may be an exception. But I still think they are useless except in limited cases as described by Joni.
 
Les Baer told me their a waist of time and money. The only reason he put them on his pistols was he was tired of people whining that Wilson had them why not him. I think I will listen to Mr. Baer
 
I remember in the early days of Ipsc when guys were using lite bullets to keep the muzzle flat and cycle faster guys were cutting lite weight springs and stacking buffs,,,In my opinion its another lure to catch the fisherman.
 
Joni_Lynn said:
The only time I'll use a shok buff is in one of the older original Colt Gold Cups that have the lightened slide.
Click to expand...

Too many people shoot hardball or even +P in GCNM's with the original (15lb) mid-range target SWC recoil spring or don't change the recoil spring when needed.

And they do help in aluminum framed guns like the Colt Lightweight Commander.

And IIRC , Mr. Wilson once said he didn't like them , but since everyone else was selling/buying them , he might as well sell good ones.
 
Shock buffers will mushroom after a limited number of rounds and drag on the slide causing jams. Further they limit slide travel, cannot go back as far, and can cause ejection issues in some guns. Do not use them.

Use standard weight springs, change them every 5,000 rounds and the gun will outlast you and your heir.
 
I use the plastic buffer, no other extra parts, in my Gold Cup and it works fine. I tried one in my Commander and it gave lots of problems.
 
I used the buffers in a stock 1911. They got chopped up in about 100 rds, leaving little bits of ShokBuffs in my gun. Not using them again. Joe
 
i usa them in my delta elite gold cup. after close to 40,000 rds. i have not had any problems. only thing is to change them and don't let them get hardened. also makes the takedown different than the g.i. style. if you have a tight gun, you will need a bushing wrench.
 
Thank you all for taking the time to reply with your experiences on this issue. You are a credit to this great forum, and a big help to a brand new auto owner... Other than semi-auto rifles, this is uncharted territory for this wheel-gun man!
 
Think about it this way

Howdy,
I think they help. They need to be maintained and replaced when they show wear.
Think about it this way. Say someone was to smack you in the head with a bat.
You have a choice of covering your head with a boat cushion or using your head to deflect the blow as it was originally designed... with just a little hair. I'll take the cushion, thanks.
With the price of a good 1911 and as much as I shoot I think it is a small price to pay to extend the life of my investment.
Thanks
Mike
 
I've removed several Shok-Buff (and other similar products) from a number of malfunctioning 1911's. The buff had mushroomed or otherwise come apart, causing functional failure in an otherwise perfectly okay gun. No way would I use one in a self defense gun.

As far as slide wear, I've seen more damage done by improper poundage recoil springs. Improper can mean just too weak when new or can mean worn out and should have been replaced. Replace your recoil springs when they are two full coils shorter than new; your gun will appreciate you.
 
My vote...NO. I used to use them, but now I think they are nothing but a problem waiting to happen.
.38 Super Commander, home defense gun. Decided to lube and clean and found this. Won't use one again.

standard.jpg


Bruce
 
I use them in my Colt 1911 NM. Everytime I clean the gun I inspect it and change if necessary. I also use them in my S&W autos and soon in my CZ75.
 
I saw a Thunder Ranch video recently where Clint Smith said something like; if you have one of those damn things in your gun take it out right away, it will fall apart at just the wrong time and get you killed. Not an exact quote but that was his message.
 
I am just going to repeat what has already been said. I tried one in my Commander and it gave lots of problems. Like the full length guide rod, it was another bad idea I wasted good money on. Went back to my old WW2 GI issue magazines as well. They may only hold seven rounds but they work, every time, all the time, and in any position.
 
I have a 1991A1 that I try all sorts of goofy stuff in that one. I have been using a Harrt's recoil reduction guide rod and a nylon shock buffer in that gun for close to ten years. That gun has seen I don't know how many boxes of WWB and now my own reloads by the bin. The nylon buffer still looks almost brand new with only minor wear and the FL guide rod spring gizmo hasn't exploaded. I can't swear either one is really doing much, but it's in a range gun and not my night stand gun.
 
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