Shok Buffs

drail said:

Somewhere on this forum are posts showing Logman's shok buff setup using a steel washer in front of the buff to prevent it from getting cut up if your slide's dust cover has sharp corners (some do - some don't). All you need is a correct sized washer and 5 minutes with a file to shape it the same as the buff. The buff lasts for a VERY long time. Of course, in a lot of guns this will not allow you to "slingshot" the slide to release it. I have never seen a good reason to "slingshot" the slide anyway.

Click to expand...

Here is a good reason to slingshot your slide: If you train with multiple platforms of the semi-auto pistol the slide stop release will not always be in the same position. Slingshotting the slide ensures that a round will be chambered quickly and efficiently with basically any type of semi auto you are running. It also allows more force to generate when you pull the slide back that extra little bit to ensure the next round is fully chambered. Sometimes when a semi auto gets real dirty just hitting the slide release will indeed release the slide, but the force may be less due to some dirt/debris and the next round may not fully chamber.

I also don't agree with adding any type of washer in front of your shock buff just so you can run a shock buff which no one really "needs" to do in the first place. I understand a lot of people like them, and that is fine, but if your dust cover has sharp corners and is eating up your shock buff wouldn't it make sense that if you add a washer it is now going to be hitting a piece of metal? If I was going to run a shock buff I would much rather it get beat up and torn to pieces then my dust cover slamming into another piece of metal every time the gun recoils. I just don't really think adding parts to the 1911 is very necessary when it could compromise reliability.

Well, your slide IS slamming into a piece of metal (the frame) every time it cycles without a shok buff. With the washer it is slamming into a cheaply replaceable piece of metal with a buff behind it (instead of the frame). The only way it compromises reliability is if there is not enough room for the buff (easily fixed) or if you never replace the buff and just let it fail. Also, some guns will not slingshot to release, with or without a buff installed. I have used buffs for over 25 years and never saw one disintegrate in any of my guns. Some of these guns were competition guns and would sometime fire 1000 rounds in a day. I have also seen people who never replace the shock absorbers on their car until they rust and start to fall off. That doesn't "prove" that shock absorbers are a dumb idea. Buffs only fail if you never inspect it when cleaning the gun. As far as not being able to find and trip the slide stop - I'd love to know who started that silly idea. That's like saying you should never use the brakes on your car because you might not be able to find the pedal because it's in a different place on different cars. Extremely simple minded "logic" that just doesn't make sense.