In several reviews people complained that the buffer limited travel of the slide and made releasing the slide into battery difficult. I installed one in my Kimber full size stainless, with a one piece full length guide rod, and experienced no such difficulty. The slide travels at least 1/16" beyond the point where the slide stop engages.This gun is about 12 years old and was a duty weapon for about 10 years (not by me) with the appropriate quantity of ammo through it for regular qualifications and practice. I am not sure if there are any changes to current production weapons would make a difference.

They work perfectly in all my 1911's. When I carry, no shock buff. When I shoot 100-200 rounds at the range, I run them. Never wore one out yet. I also use them in my Mini-14. Do you need them? Yeah, why not.

Works great on my series 80 Colt. Still locks the slide back when empty, and I can still sling shot the slide. Maybe now I will not have to restake my front sight ever again.

Pros is its affordable.

CONS are slide cycle wont lock on empty mag due to limited slide travel.

Would have been a great upgrade. So sad!

great buffer and well made. Haven't worn out one yet, but had no issues on my Colt WWI & WWII Reproductions.

I wish I would have read the reviews closer. As many other shooters have stated, you can not power stroke the slide after loading because the shok-buff prevent the slide from going back far enough to release the slide stop. You must engage it by hand. So if you have small hands then you will have to learn to engage it with your left hand (or send them back to Brownell's like I'm about to do).

1) Shok buffs aren't meant to reduce felt recoil while firing. Instead, these are meant to (theoretically) increase the life of the 1911 frame against slide battering. For many veteran 1911 shooters, loss of ability to "sling shot" or "power stoke" a 1911 slide-locked gun equipped with a shok buff back to battery is already a known issue. The obvious solution is to simply press down on the slide stop to release the slide instead of using the slower sling shot or power stroke methods. Recommend using shok buffs only when practicing, plinking, and perhaps competing too (i.e., when of course the gun is most likely to be fired much). For SD/CCW, law enforcement, hunting, and tactical uses, simply don't install a shok buff (i.e., when the gun is not going to be fired much if at all). 2)I recently discovered that I could power stroke a slide-locked S&W 1911 E Series (SKU-108411 "Enhanced") that is equipped with a shok buff. The slide stop notch in the 1911 E Series slide is cut a little smaller than mil-spec allowing for this capability. In the context of the using shok buffs, I presume this is more by coincidence than by design.



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This is what they don't tell you. I am all for protecting you investment butt. When these are installed they do not allow the slide to move rearward far enough to release the slide stop. You have to release by pressing down on the slide stop. I called Wilson Combat and they admitted to the issue but that was it. If you are installing them on a range only gun that's fine. If you a installing them on a self-defense gun it's a different story.

Installed on my Ruger SR1911 in just a few seconds. I shot mine along with a friends that did not have one installed. The recoil reduction was small but noticeable. It's designed to also protect the frame from constant impact. I can't really comment on that, as it would take many thousands of rounds to see those effects. As a side note though, I would not use this on a carry/defensive weapon. It's one more thing that "could" go wrong, at the very wrong time. Mine is used solely for competition and target practice. I clean it after every range trip and inspect it at that time. Usually around the 1,000 round mark I notice it wearing down and replace it. They are very inexpensive insurance and the benefits completely outweigh the possible concerns for my application. I did not notice any shortened movement of the slide to the rear. The gun will return to battery whether I use the slide release or the "slingshot" method of reloading.

I'll admit, this is a neat idea that is definitely worth considering with an aluminum frame pistol. That being said, these buffers limit the distance the slide can be retracted. As another reviewer mentioned, the slide stop cannot fully cam down with these installed. This requires the user to depress the slide stop to chamber the first round, which is the incorrect way to load a 1911.

If there was a recoil spring that was 1/16" shorter, these would be a perfect product.

I purchased these for my full size Kimber Stainless Raptor. Installation is a breeze and you can really feel the difference when you rack the slide: nice and soft at the end of travel instead of metal on metal. BUT: Because they decrease the distance the slide can travel rearward, the slide release will not move down on it's own when pulling the slide backwards. The only method of releasing the slide is to push the slide release down with your thumb.

easy way to protect the frame and at just over a dollar apiece why not?

I used this on my Taurus 1911..and I can say I have mixed feelings. First, they wear out after about 200 rounds max. I do have a full length guide rod in my 1911 so I'm not sure if that has something to do with their life span. They do reduce recoil for about the first 50-100 shots, then the gun starts to malfunction after that because they start to fall apart inside the gun. when they become distorted inside the gun, they keep the gun from cycling properly. They do indeed lower recoil....however I am not sure if they fail due to the full length guide rod or a Taurus design that may be slightly different than a standard 1911.

Well, I purchase this buffers to make recoil softer and prevent damage on frame. I use them with 18.5 lb recoil spring because I shoot only factory loads 230 gr.Easy to install recoil is soft and double taps are fast!

Shot several hundred rounds on the same shock buffer, and have seen little change in the buffer. I can't say if they help, but it certainly hasn't hurt the function of my firearm, it doesn't get in the way, and it's cheap, so kind of like an aspirin a day, why not?

I have used these buffers as well as others. They all do exactly what they are supposed to do. They keep the dust cover from coming into contact with the frame on your .45. This happens when a spring wears out or when an underpowered spring s put into the gun. It's a fine product that's cheap insurance.

These Shok Buffs smooth out the slamming of the action. Less felt recoil, faster back on target.

I have them in both of my 1911s.

I have always used these on all my 1911 pistols. Great fit, easy install, does what it is designed to do.

It's hard for me to tell the difference but I think it helps with faster double taps. I have not compared it with and without side by side. It will put a cushion between the slide and frame and that has to be good. I am a fan of the buffer concept. There was no malfunctions as a result of installing it. It seems like it makes +P rounds less harsh on the kick. This was installed on a Kimber Warrior that is a 5" 1911 handgun with stock spring.