45ACP Slide to Frame Impact

[ColColt]

Just curious-those of you that shoot the 45 ACP, do you ever use recoil buffers to minimize slide to frame impact?

[marvelshooter]

I only shoot light loads in my .45's - 4gr of Bullseye under 200gr SWC's - and I do not use shock buffs. I think you will find most bullseye shooters do not and I am pretty sure they are not recommended in defensive / carry weapons.

[AnthonyB]

I figure JMB would have put one in if it was needed. I do change recoil springs on a fairly regular basis - probably once a year in my Kimber Compact.
Tony

[Walt]

I have them on my 5" range guns. My defense pistols do not wear them.

[MtGun44]

The shock buffs slightly shorten the slide stroke, but do minimize the impact. I have used
them for many years, and believe that they help reduce the damage. I don't use them in
shorter than full length guns at all and not in self-defense guns.

Bill

[35remington]

Here's a better solution for standard to Commander sized guns.....a small radius firing pin stop as JMB originally had in his pistol, as it was in the original trials with 6,000 rounds without a malfunction.

Reduces slide/frame impact without a a reliability downside.

A small radius stop is a better solution than alternatives, and most especially better than a heavier spring.

[ColColt]

I use to use Wilson's buffs but ran across something the other day I had totally forgotten about. It's a King's recoil buffer I bought decades ago and some have probably never seen what they look like. It's not made of rubber but actually looks like an extension attached to the standard guide but is spring actuated to reduce the impact without shortening the stroke. Fine for the range in minimizing battering but I wouldn't want it on a SD pistol.

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x220/ColColt/Misc%20Stuff/_DEF3784a.jpg

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x220/ColColt/Misc%20Stuff/_DEF3785a.jpg

[fecmech]

I believe one of those Kings buffers are what cracked the bushing in my 1911.

[98Redline]

I have run a shock buff in my Para P-14 since I bought it. I have put tens of thousands of rounds down the pipe with no ill effects.

[Idaho Sharpshooter]

What 98Redline said, plus one!

I started shooting IPSC back in 1978 and people like Ross Seyfried and Ken Heckathorn had ones made of leather in all of theirs. I have them in all of my 1911's. Cheap insurance...

Rich

[bobthenailer]

I have been using shock buffs in all of my 1911 style guns for over 25 years with great results never cracked a frame even with guns with over 15,000 rounds through them & heavyly loaded bowling pin loads. however i did install & fit extended ejectors in all . I also have them on a few other types of guns when avalible.

[casterofboolits]

Used the SB's in my IPSC match guns, but only use them in my SD 1911's for range sessions. One 45 ACP comp guns has over 50,000 rounds thru it.

[Bloodman14]

My RIA .45 has a Wilson Combat full length guide rod and a Shok-Buff installed; nary a problem with Lee TL452-230-Rs in front of 4.5 grs. of Red Dot after a couple of thousand rounds.

[L1A1Rocker]

I have them on my 5" range guns. My defense pistols do not wear them.

This.

My target and IPSC guns have them BUT, I never have them in during a major match or in a gun that may have to defend a life. It's just one of those things that can, one in a million, go wrong.

[MtGun44]

Ihave multiple 1911s with over 75K rounds each, never a frame crack. Normally use a shock
buff in competition guns, the ones that get the heavy use.

Bill

[ColColt]

I only have a couple Wilson buffs left over from when I had another 1911 and think I'll try those. Just for nostalgia, I think I'll try the King's buffer system-may as well since it's here. I can't recall why I didn't use it much before as I didn't have any problem with it with the SA and the plunger spring is still strong.

[Markbo]

I use them on every one of my 1911s

[Iron Mike Golf]

No buffers or pads. Small radius firing pin stop. Mainspring and recoil spring appropriate for load.

[Char-Gar]

I have used Wilson shok-buffs and have also had them come apart when firing and tie up the pistol. I would not use them on a social pistol, but they do no harm and maybe some good on the range.

I put Wolfe 18.5 V springs in my 1911s and go shooting without any worry. All three of mine will function 100% with those springs and a variety of ammo from full snort to target.

[35remington]

It was typical for a 1911 that had fired many thousands of rounds to have no frame cracks whatsoever, and this was long, long before the "shock buffer" was invented.

It perhaps says something about the power of marketing that many of us feel we "need" one, based on a fear of damaging the pistol or shortening its service life if it is not used. That's the result of having an overactive imagination.

Most of the benefit is between your ears rather than to the frame of the pistol. Frame cracks are much less limiting than slide cracks, and that's the cracking that makes you stop shooting the gun to locate another slide. A shock buffer does not help slide cracks, which originate around the ejection port.

Look into the small radius stop. No downside as with a buffer.

[btroj]

I followed 35 Remingtons advice and put in a small radius slide stop. Brass doesn't fly as far, recoil impulse feels better- less muzzle flip for me.

I have no need for a shock buff at all.

[ColColt]

To each his own, I suppose. I can't see that they do any harm and if replaced every 500-1000 rounds they won't shred to death. After I get home from a range trip, every gun gets cleaned and inspected. Army indoctrination I reckon. I also inspect brass before reloading them again and afterwards. Some things get ingrained in your memory and become habit.

[35remington]

The harm a "buffer" does is in shortening the slide stroke. This gives less time for the round in the magazine to make it to the top of the magazine lips before the slide goes forward. A bolt over base misfeed results, which is hard to get unjammed. Not good.

As the 1911 is shortened, the more severe the effect. However, I've known them to cause malfunctions in even full sized 1911's. Absolutely keep them out of the shorter 1911's as they will cause jams in ever increasing frequency.

Keep them in for play, if you wish, but for serious use take them out. You never know when a jam is imminent from their use, nor when they'll shred without warning and tie up the gun completely. In that case the gun must be completely disassembled before you can free it up.