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
yomama wrote: "Also, interesting that Wilson Combat makes them, advises to use them, but not in their guns."

My WC CQB did indeed come equipped with a shok buffer.
 
I use them on my Colt Gold Cup because my gun smith recommended them.
My gold cup is over 40 years old and more rounds than I can count. When I had the pin on the rear sight fall out, when he replaced it he showed me some marks on the frame and suggested that I start using them.
They are cheap, easy to install and replace and I will not own a range 1911 without them.
Now for my carry Kimber. Simple is better and if it ant broke don’t fix, so it doesn’t have one. But then again my Colt has more cases of ammo than my Kimber has bullets fire through it.
 
My Wilson CQB came with one, and I've replaced it regularly without issue. No problems.

So I didn't think twice about putting one in the last full-size 1911 I bought, a Kimber Super Carry. Caused regular malfunctions related to the slide stop. Called Kimber, they said, Take It Out. I did and the gun has run like a top.

Each gun is a law unto itself.
 
My primary carry gun is a 5" Wilson CQB - it came with a full length guide rod and the shok-buff ......and I will not carry or shoot it any other way !!

I've never had a shok-buff come apart inside a gun / if you notice they're worn - then you just replace them / not a big deal. I keep a package of shok-buffs around / as well as replacement main springs, recoil springs and firing pin springs ...it just makes sense.

Some guns / will require some guide rod adjustments - in order to allow you to put a shok-buff into the gun and get it to cycle reliably - and I've seen that happen on 5" Kimbers. I don't think the shok-buff is mandatory / but if you're going to shoot full power loads / how can it be a bad thing....

Wilson Combat isn't the only 1911 maker out there ...but everyone of their guns I have has been almost 100% reliable right out of the box ...shok-buffs and all ( and in 9mm, .40S&W, and in .45acp ) ....and I can't say that about my Kimbers, Ed Brown or Les Baer 1911's ...
 
When they do fall apart (and they will eventually) I've seen pieces get in the action causing the gun to jam. I've also seen them prevent the gun from locking back or cycling fully. I just replace my slide spring at a reasonable age...
 
A Gimmick Like The Magnant On Your Cars Fuel Line To Save Gas

I bought a hybird that my gunsmith put built. An Essex frame with a older Colt slide. It came with the shock buffer. I noticed that I couldn't use the slingshot method after slide lock and reloading. Too tight, and I figured not enough room. So I removed the shock buffer, and glory be, the sling shot method worked perfectly.
Tight tolerences in a 1911, so no need for one. Just keep the recoil spring changed if you want your gun to last. Best' Lyle
 
My 'smith said not to use them so now I do not although I did try them in one gun. I voted that they are not needed.
 
I'd never heard of a "shock buffer" 'til I read this thread. My 1911 (S & W) came without one and there's nothing in the gun's manual or on the Smith website recommending that I install one. I've owned the gun for about 2 1/2 years and it's made at least a hundred trips to the range and fired about 10,000 rounds without a shock buffer. It runs like a top.

I won't be installing one based on what I've read here. Aside from the fact that my gun doesn't seem to need one, I'm of the firm belief that, if a manufacturer thinks that it can make money by recommending/selling a legitimate product, it will do so. Smith's silence on the subject speaks volumes to me.
 
For all of you who think a shok buffer is "worthless", I have on my bench now a 1911 with a crack going up each side of the frame just even with the vertical impact surface. A shok buff might have saved this frame. Perhaps not. I use them in my guns.
 
Interesting thread.
I'm surprised a 3+ year old thread was brought back instead of just starting a new one.
I guess someone decided on October 17th they had seen those worthless "use the search feature" :rolleyes: responses one too many times.

I'm reluctant to use the Shock Buff. If it is "that" good seems like other makers would install it as standard equipment to prevent wear and possible warranty returns. Are there not numerous 1911 pistols that fire thousands of rounds without ill effect without this accessory?
 
Recoil Spring Guide Buffer

As a bit of anecdotal evidence...I put one of these on my Kimber. Being as the tolerances were just a little closer on this gun, that extra .0700" of material, was enough to make it impossible to rack the slide, to drop the slide stop.

I actually had to actuate (push down on) the slide stop, to let the slide go home. It certainly will not be on the piece, when I am in "mixed company"....
 
They do help prevent slide and frame battering in 1911s configured to shoot very hot rounds - .45+P, 10mm, .45 Super, hot 9x23mm etc.

That said they shorten the stroke of the pistol, which will negatively affect reliability and can break apart in chunks and jam the gun. I would never use one in a gun I was trusting my life to.
 
8 1911s never had 1 break and cause a malfunction. Are they "great". I don't know but they never hurt anything in my guns so I use them. Would I use them in a carry gun... No but a recreational gun that's getting 10s of thousands why not.
 
Jerry Kuhnhausen, the gunsmith who's two volumes on the 1911 pretty well document it's use, maintenance, and customizing, recommends buffers. I'd say that's good advice. Rod
 
I don't use them myself, but they are cheap and easy to change out so one could try them on a range gun to see if you like them.
 
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