In a carry gun, NO. In a high round count range gun, yes. Inspect regularly and change often as they will disintegrate and crud up the system.
1911 shock buffs. Yay or nay
- Thread starter ACORN
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pantannojack
US Veteran
A NM HP Rifle mentor referred to his WW2 Dive bomber as a Platform
Faulkner
Member
I've used them on my 1911's through the years. You get varying degrees of longevity out of them depending on the material they are made of. I've had some last as few as a hundred rounds before they started cracking and coming apart. I've had others that I replaced at around 500 rounds that appeared to still be in good shape. I've never left one installed past 500 rounds . . . why tempt fate.
I've never installed one that caused the 1911 to malfunction and that includes my USGI 1911's and my commander sized Tisas. Seems to me I can tell a slight softening of the slide recoil when they are installed. What actual good they do is anyone's guess.
I agree I would not use them on a carry gun, but then again, I seldom ever carry a 1911 as a self defense gun anyway.
I've never installed one that caused the 1911 to malfunction and that includes my USGI 1911's and my commander sized Tisas. Seems to me I can tell a slight softening of the slide recoil when they are installed. What actual good they do is anyone's guess.
I agree I would not use them on a carry gun, but then again, I seldom ever carry a 1911 as a self defense gun anyway.
No.
1) A Shok buffer reduces slide over run and reducing feeding reliability for no real benefit.
2) Change the recoil springs on schedule:
- 1500 rounds for a full size frame 1911s in .45 ACP, 10mm or .40 S&W;
- 1800 rounds for a full size frame 1911s in 9mm or .38 Super;
- 800 rounds for Commander frame 1911s in any caliber.
-1500 rounds for officer frame 1911s.
3) Stick with standard strength recoil springs unless you have a legitimate need to deviate:
Full size 1911:
- 9mm, 12 pounds
-.38 Super, 14 pounds
-.40 S&W, 16 pounds
- .45 ACP, 16 pounds
-10 mm, 18.5 pounds
Commander size 1911:
- 9mm, 14 pounds
-.38 Super, 20 pounds
-.40 S&W, 22 pounds
- .45 ACP, 22 pounds
1) A Shok buffer reduces slide over run and reducing feeding reliability for no real benefit.
2) Change the recoil springs on schedule:
- 1500 rounds for a full size frame 1911s in .45 ACP, 10mm or .40 S&W;
- 1800 rounds for a full size frame 1911s in 9mm or .38 Super;
- 800 rounds for Commander frame 1911s in any caliber.
-1500 rounds for officer frame 1911s.
3) Stick with standard strength recoil springs unless you have a legitimate need to deviate:
Full size 1911:
- 9mm, 12 pounds
-.38 Super, 14 pounds
-.40 S&W, 16 pounds
- .45 ACP, 16 pounds
-10 mm, 18.5 pounds
Commander size 1911:
- 9mm, 14 pounds
-.38 Super, 20 pounds
-.40 S&W, 22 pounds
- .45 ACP, 22 pounds
My 5" CQB 9mm came with one installed from the shop. It's still in there, hasn't caused a malfunction with anything (fmj rn, fmj fp, jhp). It's just a range gun so I'm going to leave it in unless it falls apart or starts causing issues.
If designed to use a shock buffer, leave it in, if you wish. Some pistols NOT designed to have one may malfunction if you add one. Paraord 1911 and 2011 instructions specifically forbid putting in a shock buffer because it causes the recoil spring to "go solid" when fired. Ask the maker.
3 for $10, standard recoil springs, less $ than a pack of Shokbuffs. Joe
1911 RECOIL SPRING 1911 FULL SIZE SET OF 3
1911 RECOIL SPRING 1911 FULL SIZE SET OF 3
Ivan the Butcher
Member
Sorry I didn't read everybody else's experience. Of the 40 or so 1911's I built for other people, not one had a recoil buffer! Of the one I built for me, It has a buffer. My buffer came from Wilson, but I think they are all alike.
For your guns with very light recoil springs, the buffer adds a half coil length to the spring power.
Ivan
For your guns with very light recoil springs, the buffer adds a half coil length to the spring power.
Ivan
I've haven't used one in years and don't see the need to start.Buffers are not all alike. There is one, I don't remember which brand, but it is a translucent slightly whitish-yellowish, which is superior to all the others, as in it doesn't get pounded to pieces anywhere near as soon as ALL the others. However, even it takes up space, which with some springs makes a difference, as in difficulty in manually retracting the slide to where the slide stop will engage it.
I am not qualified to evaluate the criticisms made above. I have never had a malfunction due to a buffer, but I keep a close eye on them, which is why I know that some (most?) are inferior. I don't think that use in a carry pistol is wise, but if you have experience with them, you may know better than I.
I bet they sell a lot of things you won’t find on Bill Wilson’s guns
03hemi
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A solution to a problem that doesn't exist. So no. Yes, Wilson sells them, but only because he makes money off this snake oil, question: does Wilson ship their 1911's with a shock buffer?
There's your answer.
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OP
ACORN
Member
I found this that pretty much answers my question.
Firing the 1911 without a recoil spring, will it hurt the pistol? - RangeHot - Expert Firearms Reviews & Guides
Firing the 1911 without a recoil spring, will it hurt the pistol? - RangeHot - Expert Firearms Reviews & Guides
I am NOT a fan, they cause more problems than they solve. Poly buffs feel weird while shooting too.
If I really felt compelled to use a buff I use an Aluma-buff...they won't disintegrate at the worst time and the traditional ker-chunk feel is maintained.
Or just skip it altogether.
If I really felt compelled to use a buff I use an Aluma-buff...they won't disintegrate at the worst time and the traditional ker-chunk feel is maintained.
Or just skip it altogether.
The EDCX9 I bought from Wilson Combat came with a buffer installed.........
bruce381
Member
does not matter shoot a lot is all that will help and have good technique
crstrode
Member
Depends upon what the gun is used for.
When shooting hundreds of rounds several times per week practicing for IPSC competion, the shock buffers reduced wear and tear for me to a very large extent. During the actual competition events, they were always removed - just in case.
My frame rails and slides doubled their lifespan while using buffers.
Nowadays, I shoot less in a year than I did in a day. Don't need the buffers anymore.
When shooting hundreds of rounds several times per week practicing for IPSC competion, the shock buffers reduced wear and tear for me to a very large extent. During the actual competition events, they were always removed - just in case.
My frame rails and slides doubled their lifespan while using buffers.
Nowadays, I shoot less in a year than I did in a day. Don't need the buffers anymore.
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Bill Lear
Member
First question to ask yourself is, "Did the manufacturer install a Shok-Buff and specify its use?"
Second question, "Did the designer of the 1911 install anything remotely like a Shok-Buff and specify it's use?"
Third question, "Can running a Shok-Buff negatively impact my 1911 while engaged in a life-threatening shoot-out? Or is this just a fun range toy and I like to play with difference accessories?" (Which is perfectly fine, it's how we learn).
First answer - "No." Second answer - "No." Third answer, absolutely!"
So what's the downside? The simplest place to start is that Shok-Buffs take a beating and tend to get mashed up and broken into pieces which could find a way to impede the pistol's function. Many will point to the damage seen on Shok-Buffs as evidence of vital they are to "saving the frame," but no such linear relationship exists. Shok-Buffs REMOVE about 1/4" of slide travel, while inserting a springy substance that WILL impart energy into the slide. Both of these work against reliability. By reducing slide travel, the gun's timing is altered - dwell time reduced, increasing the chance of an overrun during chambering, or a feedway stoppage due to the breechface smacking the rim slightly lower than full lift, thus forcing the rim downward and under the breechface as the nose is forced upward creating a classic stoppage.
It gets worse - the slide as designed should arrive at full back with very low "energy" - remember, the "recoil spring" doesn't do anything materially to retard slide cycling, it's the mass of the reciprocating parts. The recoil spring's job is simply to get the slide moving forward with sufficient force to strip off another round and complete the chambering, lock-up cycle.
[This is why you can shoot a 1911 without a "recoil spring" all day long without breaking it]
The Shok-Buff acts like a "helper spring" in that it gives the slide a bit of forward assist, or "kick" which seems innocuous enough, but this too acts to shorten dwell time, making the pistol less reliable. Doesn't mean your particular gun will become a jam-o-matic with a Shok-Buff, but it's moving AWAY from reliability.
As for saving the frame claims, the 1911 has been around longer than most of us with millions of frames, meaning billions of shots fired. Limited to standard pressure "mil-spec" ammo, 1911s have recorded well in excess of 100,000 rounds fired with no frame damage. That equates to approximately 28 hours of continuous firing, or broken into normal usage terms, well beyond the average number of shots most shooters will EVER fire from a single gun. Granted there are people who blow off ammo like someone else is paying for it, but FEW will expend $30-$50 THOUSAND dollars in ammo purchases unless they're a pro and someone else is paying the freight.
So the final answer is, No, do not add a Shok-Buff. The only benefit it will provide is the transfer or money from your pocket to their pocket.
There does exist an "upgrade" that will make your 1911 frame last as close to forever as the laws of metallurgical physics currently allow and that's the V2 Recoil damper available from 460 Rowland. While marketed for use in .460 Rowland conversions, the V2 pneumatic piston system replaces the guide rod (you should not have) and slide return spring (which you should NEVER replace with a stronger one), with a tiny "motor" that brings the slide to a halt fractionally before it meets metal, but more importantly, with ZERO residual energy! Thus, even with the mighty .460R pushing over 1,000 foot-pounds of energy, one need only run a slide return spring adequate to chamber the pistol, and coincidentally, the spring that allows it to run .45 ACP from a compensated Rowland, is the same spring that a standard, non-modified .45 ACP would run which is around 9-11 pounds believe it....or not.
I currently have a 9 pound reaction spring installed in my 1911 Rowland and the gun shoots softer than it ever did with the 20 pound spring, with zero timing issues because dwell time is preserved. I never ceased to be shocked when shooting it that it's putting out .44 magnum power and kicks no more than a standard 1911 with OEM ammo.
So if you want to add money for something that actually works, THAT actually does what it says it will do.
What is always forgotten in the world of "upgrades" is that the purpose of a fighting handgun is to RELIABLY function under as broad a range of conditions as possible, NOT to last forever, though they last plenty long if not abused.
Shok-Buffs should never be used.
Any spring rated higher than stock should never be used! As said before, the slide return spring job is to chamber and lock the pistol, NOT to "resist recoil" that's the duty of the reciprocating mass. Adding more spring weight does NOTHING for the first half of travel other than force the muzzle upward sooner, and at the back half, can limit travel - damaging dwell timing, but also siphon out just enough energy to induce stove piping - COMMON with over sprung guns, AND feedway stoppages!
Best way to modify a 1911 is to not, other than the V2 system but that's costly modification not needed for STOCK pistols.
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