shock buffs?

[harytaint]

i hear a lot of people say they hate them and prevent the slife from closing completely but what do you guys think. The way i see it is that Les Baer uses them for a reason and wouldnt release a gun with such a small part that would cause failures. My super tac is going to have them on it and I will find out soon for my self. Looking on brownells there are some buffs for sale and they have some good explanations with them that seem like a good add-on.
What experience do yu guys have with them or what have you heard from realiable sources?

[TN Eleven]

I too have heard plenty of people say they hate them, others say, they use them for range guns only. I've never had problems with them and use them all the time. The only drawback I've found is, you must use the slide stop to release the slide. I've been using that method most of my life, so no big deal for me. The first weapon I saw with them as standard was the H&K Compact .45, then the Wilsons. I'm not implying they were the first, just the first I saw. Several Glocksters I know have started using them too. I swap mine at about 1000 rounds with standard .45's. I have seen one show a lot of wear at 500 or so rounds. I think they are fine.....if you keep and eye on them. All my weapons are full-sized, some that have had problems tried them in smaller guns.

[wichaka]

If they're checked at every cleaning, there should be no problem.
Those who have had problems with them I would say have not looked over the weapon in detail.

Every cleaning I do on mine I check for wear on the slide, frame, and parts that are removed for general cleaning, and address what needs to be done.

Even with a buff in place I'm able to drop the slide on my GM by grabbing it.

Granted JMB didn't have them on his design of the 1911, but then he didn't have all the bells & whistles either. A personal opinion, but if one can reduce the metal to metal slamming contact, why not. I know that there is alot of other metal slamming going on when the 1911 cycles, but if I can help reduce it in a spot or two, then so more for the life of the gun.

[harytaint]

well i resolved all the issues in one purchase. I called sprinco and the owner Allen was extremely nice and honest. I was intending to buy into the tungsten guide rod he has but he told me that there was a flaw and they were falling apart. He fixed the issue but still suggested that i use the stainless since there is not much difference for the 40 dollar increase. Who is that honest when they own a company, seriously?
Now i dont have to worry about what lbs spring to use to prevent damage, and as a matter of fact he is sending me a 14 lbs to replace my 16 lbs. He says that the gun will run more flat under rapid fire and still there will be protection at what ever lbs spring i decide to use.
Allen even offered to go and pick me up a closed end spring plug needed for his product since i live in cali. and i cant seem to find any around. He suggested i go back to the short length guide rod like the orig design since research shows no added benefit with the full length. In his opinion he says the orig. length works best.

So to those concerned about recoil, gun life, doing away with high lbs springs for protection check out Sprinco seems like a great invention. I will repost next week after i get it and try it out.

[John]

I am a bit mixed up here and I would appreciate the clarification.

You got a Sprinco recoil reducing device and you will use it with a close-end spring cap? Last I remember of these things, they are like a full-length guide rod. How will it function with a close-end cap?

Or you just got a short guide rod, with a close-end cap? In that case, a 14 lbs spring would be too light for standard .45 ACP loads.

And you are right, Allen is a great guy.

Rgds

[stans]

I haven't tried the Sprinco device, but I have been through a bunch of shock buffs. Started with Wilson's, back when they were made of a black colored material. I was lucky to get 1000 rounds out them before they were mashed oversize and starting to come apart. Switched to CP Bullets buffer, much better! They will go 1000 rounds and still look pretty good. I use them in Government size 1911's and really like them in my 10mm Colt Delta Elite. I tried them in a Commander size pistol, but they reduce the slide's cycle distance just enough to induce ejection problems.

[Doran]

I haven't tried the Sprinco device, but I have been through a bunch of shock buffs. Started with Wilson's, back when they were made of a black colored material. I was lucky to get 1000 rounds out them before they were mashed oversize and starting to come apart. Switched to CP Bullets buffer, much better! They will go 1000 rounds and still look pretty good. I use them in Government size 1911's and really like them in my 10mm Colt Delta Elite. I tried them in a Commander size pistol, but they reduce the slide's cycle distance just enough to induce ejection problems.
Shock buffs jam my Commander at slide lock and it's almost impossible to release the slide stop without using both thumbs. I went to a 20lb variable spring instead.

[harytaint]

Well John he said that with his device that the recoil spring is now used more for cycling purposes and not for protection. His device protects the gun he said even with a 12 lb spring, he suggested i try the 14 lb if i like and if not go back to the 16 lb spring. If it works with my 16 lb spring then i will stay with it just for comfort purposes. I plan on getting some of those ISMI springs anyhow.

I was a bit concerned about going lighter too but he said that it will improve perfomance.

Yes with his advice i did go to the short system in my TRP which will now require a closed plug that he is going to go out and get for me. (What a nice guy)

His product sure sounds like it kicks but. The idea of any product, that isnt a silly little rubber washer, sounds better to me if it saves life of the gun and secondary to limiting recoil for improved accuracy.

[harytaint]

[QUOTE=John]I am a bit mixed up here and I would appreciate the clarification.

You got a Sprinco recoil reducing device and you will use it with a close-end spring cap? Last I remember of these things, they are like a full-length guide rod. How will it function with a close-end cap?

Hey john if my Baer has a varaible 18.5lbs spring which ISMI should i use? Or should i get the wolf that is exactly the same? I would like to place the order for both at the same time since shiping is damn near the same price as the spring.
Do you think that now with that Sprinco i should use the stock LBS spring or go 1 step up for more protection?

[Gammon]

The shock buff is the cheapest and simplest solution to slide to frame impact. IMHO there is just no reason to go to a more complex (and expensive) solution a la Springco. The only way a shock buff can cause problems is if it disintegrates. Proper maintenance will prevent this. When I first began IPSC competition in the late 70's, cracks where the dust cover joined the thicker part of the frame were commonplace in heavily used pistols. Since the advent of the shock buff, these cracks have virtually disappeared. The shock buff also serves as an excellent diagnostic tool; if they are wearing prematurely, you probably need a stronger recoil spring. The shock buff lets you see exactly how hard your slide and frame are coming together.

[jpm]

JMB didn't use 'em... either do I

[John]

I have no idea, what device you got. As far as I know, and that was from a device Allen send me some time ago, this is a full length guide rod, with an additional spring in the middle. I tried it, with one of the springs he send me, per his suggestion, and I couldn't find that much difference compared to the stock pistol.

At that time, I went back to the FLGR I was using with the standard spring. Lately, I dumped this and went back to the standard guide rod and plug. I do not think that the FLGR offer any additional advantage, they just make disassembly more difficult.

Same with shock buffs. Some years ago, Bill Wilson had send me some to try out. I had to trim the recoil spring to fit them, otherwise I couldn't use the slide stop. Gave them up all together.

Some times I am too old fashioned, I know.

Rgds

[Gammon]

I have been using buffs in all my 1911s and clones for about twenty years with no problems. The same thing with FLGRs; I like the way they smooth out the functioning of the pistol and I believe they increase the life of the recoil spring by controlling its movement. I also like a little more weight in the muzzle for recoil control. I have never had to trim a recoil spring to accomodate a shock buff. Perhaps the gun had too heavy a spring to begin with. A better solution might be to install a lower power spring. This would also help to controll muzle flip.

[JCL]

Does anyone out there know where I can get RED BUFFS by Hiett Technologies? I'm after the 125 and 200 size... Brownells have been out of stock for months :mad: !

Thanks.

JCL