1911 Shock Buffer bushing real or worthless?

Are the 1911 shock buffer bushing things real or not?

  • Yes, I use them, they are great

    Votes: 38 28.4%

  • No, they are of no value

    Votes: 71 53.0%

  • I have no idea what you are talking about

    Votes: 25 18.7%
  • Total voters
    134
H

Hornett

New member
I just bought a little blue palstic shock buffer thing that goes on the guide rod between the end of the rod and the spring.
The guy I bought it off of siad he uses them in any 1911 with a 4 1/4 inch barrel or larger.
He says if you keep them changed when you change the springs it will cusion your slide and make a 1911 last for a 100,000 rounds.
Is there anything to this or is the buffer just a bunch of hype.
It cost $1.00 BTW
 
Hype, nothing more. The only purpose they solve is to make the manufacturer money. This being said, they really dont hurt wanyhting, except to limit slide travel. If you decide to use one, remove it before carrying it for social purposes, as the limited slide travel can induce stoppages. Furthermore, a broken ShokBuf can tie a gun up in a heartbeat.
 
Exactly. Bout as useless as a full length guide rod. I've had the Shock Buffs fail and jam the gun. I have over 12,000 rounds through my Kimber without the use of shock buffs. No cracks or abnormal wear. Matter of fact, no visable signs of wear anywhere on the gun except the blueing.
 
Your 1911 should last 100,000 rounds anyway without them. :)
Also, interesting that Wilson Combat makes them, advises to use them, but not in their guns.
 
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shok buff

I'm not sure of the benefit's, but I don't see no drawback in using them, Although I agree that I wouldn't use them in a personal defence pistol, I do believe in the KISS principle. But as a range gun or plinker, I use them and I do feel it is softer on the frame when the slide is cycling. I've never had one fail, but then again, I don't wait for them to deform before changing it. I know the 1911 is solid gun but it just makes me feel better having one installed, maybe it's because I have only one 45.
 
Yomama hit it right...I read where Bill Wilson doesn't use them on his pistols, but sells them to anyone wanting them...Having said that, I use them on my full-size 1911's where slide-travel isn't a crucial point....
There was a poll conducted some time ago amongst gunsmiths where it ran nearly 3 to 1 that it really wasn't necessary and save your money...
I look at this way (my 2 cents worth): for the measly cost it is cheap insurance...Just monitor the buffs while cleaning, change them out when needed.
 
Actually, all Wilson Combat pistols come with ShokBuffs. I use them in my Wilson KZ45 because they came with it and they're cheap. I don't think it's necessary, but I don't use that gun for personal defense and I don't see anything wrong with using a cheap device that may prolong the life of my investment. There are always going to be people who will decry anything on a 1911 that's not "original to the design" as being useless and stupid no matter what it may be. My 1911 has a FLGR too, and even though I don't see how it's any better, it came on my gun and I don't see the need to spend money to change to a standard GI guide rod just to keep it "original".
 
Did not vote

Only one buff I will use - CP.
CP buffs for range only and then only sometimes.

NEVER for CCW , or anything else!

I prefer bone stock 1911s, like Gov't Model, with USGI/ Colt 7 round magazines with the dimple.

Gun gotta run. Gotta feed, extract and being as magazine is part of what makes a semi run ...
I see no reason to re-invent the wheel JMB invented.
Any one component changed can start a Domino Effect on the rest of the gun..
 
My aluminum-frame SA came with one so I keep fresh Wilson buffer doohickeys in it. I don't know if they are really needed but what the hell... it shoots very well so I'm not going to change anything.
 
There are many types of guns that have buffers that reduce metal to metal impact .I use on on my 1911 .However they will deteriorate so inspect them regularly and replace at the first sign of deterioration !!!! :rolleyes:
 
I like 'em.

I guess I'm cool with the idea of cutting down as much metal to metal contact in all of my guns.

I use Shok-Buf brand buffers from Wilson Combat in my 1911 with ZERO problems.

I replaced the rear pin of both my Ruger 10/22's with Urethane ones. My first 10/22's rear pin was so hammered it would fall out once you took off the stock. That will never happen to either of the 10/22's I have now.

I have been using Shok-Bufs in my Glock G17 for almost 20 years without a hitch.

I have Shok-Buf's in my Krinkov's. Compared to my other AK's the Krinks are the smoothest shooters. The Buffers do make a noticable difference.

I have a Enidine Hydraulic Buffer in my Bushy M4gery.

I realize that there are allot of old timers here that haven't used them and don't need them. I respect that. But I have been using recoil buffers in allot of my guns for years with no problems, so when I hear someone say that Shok-Bufs cause feeding problems of fall apart and jam-up their guns, Well, I gotta wonder why it's never happened to me? Once installed, I forget about them. I check them of course after every shooting session but I wouldn't hesitate and DON'T hesitate to have one in my G17 that I carry with me sometimes for protection when checking my shop late at night. (usually it's my G26 which already has a 2 stage recoild rod so I don't have a buffer in it.)
 
Shock buffers

Hi, Folks -
Sounds some use them and some don't - reasonable arguments for both sides.
A somewhat dumb question: does the use of one "change" the pounds of your recoil spring?
Thanks - regards and standing by.
magboy
 
One of my guns will chew up a buffer in about 250 rounds, and another one shows almost no buffer wear after even 1000 rounds, so I don't use buffers in either one. I use a Cominolli frame-saver in my 10mm, which is a special guide rod that accepts a thin buffer on both sides of the head so there really is no metal-metal contact. Might be overkill, or it might be unncecessary, but the original Colt guide rod had a plastic head that acted as a buffer, so apparently the manufacturer believed a buffer was a good idea in the case of the Delta Elite.
 
I use them in my high round count range only guns. I don't use them in SD guns or safe queens that will never see 1000 rounds.
 
Exactly. Bout as useless as a full length guide rod. I've had the Shock Buffs fail and jam the gun.
Click to expand...


This. I have had my Kimber jam when the buffer disintegrates. Maybe OK for the range. Not SD.

I got suckered into buying these by my gun shop. Never again. If they need to be used,the manufacturer should or would have included them
 
Honestly, I can't see what use they are. You already have something in your gun to prevent the slide from battering on the guide rod. It's called a recoil spring.

If the buff went between the rod and the frame, then they might have a point. But it doesn't, it goes between the spring and the rod. Honestly, unless you see real signs of battering on the slide itself, a new guide rod is like $5-15. Cheap enough that if it receives any significant damage you can treat it as a wear part.

If your slide is regularly striking the rod, then you probably need to change your recoil or mainspring rates not add a disposable slice of elastomer with a short lifespan to the machine.
 
I use them. I use them because the United States Marine Corps uses them. I use the same ones they do because the smiths at Quantico have prolly seen stuff I'll never see and find that they're worth it. I mean geez, package of what, 6 for 20 bucks? Extra insurance so why not.

What I have found is the FLGRs don't move much so you don't really need them. But when I changed that out and went original guide rod I noticed that I could hear that lil sucker rattle when I shook the pistol so even with an 18.5 lb recoil spring that's broke in, it does move in there even with my lil blue shock buffer. With the buffer you can only hear it hit the sides when you shake it so that's good. Lil play in it seems to not effect performance. Coarse, it never hurt an AK either. :)
 
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