BC45ACP
As a general rule shock buffs do work, and work well. Though some brands do not hold up as well as others. Experience will tell you which brands work in your pistols. One reason shock buffs are not recommended in a carry pistol, is if they break when you need the psitol most, they can interfere with its operation and keep it from working at all.
On the other hand there is a different question. This question is do shock buffs interfere with the operation of your pistol if they are not broken. The answer to this question lies in which pistol you own and how the slide stop notch is cut.
For Kimber, the answer is YES. Shock buffs will interfere with the proper operation of the slide even if they are not broken. The reason is Kimber cuts the slide stop notch longer than originally designed by J.M. Browning. So with the buff installed, you cannot pull the slide back far enough to drop the release and get the slide to go into battery. You must press the slide stop down to release it. Now the only thing that makes this an issue is most shooting schools teach you to pull the slide back to release it rather than fumble with the slide stop. So this becomes a continuity of training thing. You always want to do certain operations one way.
So if you only have Kimbers, use buffs, and always press the slide stop, then using the buffs is not an issue for you. Though if you have more than one carry (competition) 1911, and use the sling shot method this is an issue. Because one gun works one way and the others work differently.
So the key is to think ahead, and set everything up so it operates the same way.
I hope this helps.
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Str8_Shot
The best handgun for self defense, is the one you have with you.