How many of you are currently using a shok buff

[AriM]

Another vote for CP shok buffs. I have run them in all of my guns for years without a single problem. It would be interesting to know if the problems people are reporting are limited to a particular types of buffs (ex. soft vs. hard).

I only had mine in for a few trips....it was a wilson (which I understand is not a fantastic design)....it did show some "wear", but I didn't have it in long enough...or didn't have any problems....

would you mind maybe telling me how often you replace yours? what kind (color/durometer)?

have you ever had one cause any kind of malfunction or "short-stroke" the slide?

thanks.....I am curious to maybe try one again....

[HRider]

I have used Wilson's for several years in several different 5" 1911s. I have not had an issue with them yet. In my match pistol, I change the shok buff every year when I clean it (I average firing 6k rounds per year). So far, so good.

Hurley

[Julien Boit]

I've always used a shock buff in my standard guns, and I never had any problem.

I've used the Red Buff when they were available. Now I use the Wilson's and I'm happy with them.

I replace them on a regular basis.

[twodownzero]

I like the way they feel, but I won't risk the reliability. I'm borrowing my friend's limited gun, it has one, and so I run it. If it was my gun, I'd take it out.

[GmanGT]

I use it on my G22 but can’t really tell the difference in recoil, “very subtle” I do believe it will protect the frame a bit and have had no problems at all.

[laportecharlie]

I used to use them in my 1911's because it was the thing to do. Haven't used one in years but I don't shoot more than 1000 or so a year anymore.

Charlie

[lucasb67]

I use a hard nylon one plus a brass washer between it and the spring ... the gun feel good, the SB have a very long life with the brass on it, I like it, never a problem ... I accurately clean up my gun at every use

standard/limited gun with lightened slide, bull barrel, full guide rod and reverse plug ... 12,5# spring for major loads with 180 grain bullets

Edited January 3, 2010 by lucasb67

[PONY EXPRESS]

I'm thinking you need to use the recoil spring that does not allow the frame to be smacked by the slide. Then you will not need the shock buff. And it will not bang your hand so bad.

Good luck

[SCV]

I used one nothing but jams... I took it out threw it in the trash.....

[stockton]

Shok Buf !!! Most absolutely useless invention ever! A properly timed and sprung 1911 with a proper steel frame will have NO benefit from one.

[Jody Waring]

I keep one in my singlestack .45 and I recall this year putting alot of rounds through it before cleaning and when I did take it apart for cleaning, the buff was in a number of pieces when it came out. The gun was still working, and I still had no malfunctions. I am not going to say I will stop using them, but I will pay more attention to them for wear when I do use them.

[benos]

I always used Buffs in my Limited Guns. I could tell a noticiably softer "hit" when the slide hit the buff instead of the frame.

But since they do remove 0.1" of the slide's stroke, they can cause feeding and ejection malfunctions - in some guns.

For me, if putting in a Buff caused malfunctions, that told me some tuning work was in order. I tuned all my Limited guns so they'd run 100% with 2 Buffs. And I even had one gun that was 100% with 3! That was a soft shooter.

be

[38supPat]

Fortunately I Chuck Hiett gave me a big supply before he stopped selling them. I usually run two thick buffs in all of my guns, even my single stack.

I miss Chuck...lol

[EDGE PILOT]

I have run the cp buffs in my singlestack and my edge for many years without a problem.

[RussB]

I have used them on and off in single stacks for over 20 years. I've never had a problem, never had one "come apart" either. I know how to maintain my guns

There was one in used open gun I recently purchased, so I left it alone. The gun runs great

[eric nielsen]

I used the blonde-looking Ed Brown buffs for many years & didn't have any problems with them. When they showed a groove or measured wider than the guide rod I tossed them but it took 1000s of rounds for that to happen. Wilson were okay but more fragile and more "bouncy".

As many local matches as I've been to, I don't remember that many times a buff went bad on a club shooter. Maybe a dozen? What I remember are the GM-shooter/well-known-gunsmiths [2 of them] whose guns took a dump at a major match, due to their fancy buff.

Seems like most shredded buffs I've seen were some bright-red or neon-blue-looking thing. Or a home-made sheet-rubber cutout.

Someone on here pointed me to Dawson aluminum buffs & I like them by FAR the best. Turn them around once in while, file them flat when both sides are a little dinged, measure the OD [always good] and just keep using them. A pack of 3 should last you forever.

Recoil is very predictable to the point where I started to shoot faster at long range, knowing I could call the rare 2nd-shot boo-boo.

[fayetteflash]

after reading this thread, i did a range test with my STI Eagle and SVI Limited guns. ran with and without shockbuff and didn't have any noticeable recoil differences. therefore, they are staying out of my guns as any extra parts that can degrade are a bad thing.