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2/13/2022 2:32:56 PM

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Section 8: Handguns
Subject: Lightweight Commander and gear Msg# 1152333

From:

Allan Tarvid

Joined 10/5/2000

To:

Mark Freburg (Read) Forum Manager

Joined 4/3/2000

I've never used anything but Wilson's Shok Buff pads so I can't speak about others, and I've never had a Wilson pad come apart. I do keep track of their condition as their working surface gets flattened out over time and once this happens their ability to absorb shock diminishes. I check the pad each time I clean its host gun and when I see "thin" areas forming at the points of contact I replace them. I'm embarrassed to say I never noticed that Wilson had a suggested round count life span for the buffer pads, I've always used the inspection method described above as it was taught to me by more experienced shooters during my competitive shooting days. I picked up a lot of good and bad habits back then. Roll Eyes

Wilson's Shok-Buff pads are blue but if I remember correctly back in the '70s when I started using them they were black. At that time other companies came out with imitations that looked as much like Wilson's as they could get away with, but I never used them. They were made of a harder, less flexible material and I didn't think they would do as good a job.

I use the slingshot method of releasing the slide to chamber the first round out of a fresh magazine and I was surprised to find it didn't work with the 9mm Commander when a Shok Buff pad was installed. It works on all my 5" 1911s and on my 4.25" .45ACP Combat Commander. They also did not work in my first 1911 carry gun that was built with a short, 3.5" barreled Officers ACP top end and a lightweight Commander frame, but the gunsmith who did the final work on it warned me they wouldn't.

For lurkers or others who may not be familiar with the "slingshot" term, it is one of two ways to release the slide and chamber the first round after a semi auto pistol has been shot empty and the slide has locked back. You remove the empty mag, replace it with a loaded one, and then either press the slide lock/slide release lever to allow the slide to slam forward or grasp the slide with your support hand, smartly pull the slide back to its rearward travel limit, and let it go. Competitive shooters usually use the first method because it's faster, but I prefer the second slingshot method because it compresses the recoil spring just a little more and I'm convinced that the resulting extra push from the spring could make the difference between chambering a less than perfectly shaped round, or any round in a gun that's getting dirty, and result in a full chamber rather than a failure to feed. I think in terms of self-defense, increasing the odds of getting that first round chambered is more important than saving a tenth of a second.

I have to agree with you about full length guide rods. I have 1911s with and without them and I have seen no difference in performance or reliability in them either way.

BigGrin

For reference, the above message is a reply to a message where:
Everyone:

In all seriousness, I've had shock buffers get old and shred inside my gun, which is very bad. I will say I don't think it was Wilson brand Shok Buffs. for the forum's information, several companies make shock buffers these days, and they are not all created alike. I don't think I've ever had a problem with Wilson buffs specifically. But I do think it's important to follow Wilson's instructions on replacing the buffers according to a rounds-fired time period. This is not a problem for someone who is diligent in keeping round counts. This could well be a problem for someone who doesn't keep round counts. Shredded bits of rubbery/nylon/synthetic/whatever material throughout one's pistol is a bear to clean out.

Of course buffers do create others minor issues, like the inability to slingshot the slide, and if that is one's preferred method of racking it that can be a problem. If someone decides to simply start using the slide stop because of this, they need to work on this frequently because they are undoing muscle memory and rebuilding a different type of muscle memory. It doesn't matter much on the practice range, but if these pistols are used in competition, or more importantly, for self-defense, changing the way one racks the slide is a big deal until you re-commit your method to an automatic thing.

As to the Wilson product, I know they like to sell "packages," but I am not a fan of full-length guide rods and such. Full length guide rods add nothing to a pistol.

Okay, I've blathered my two cents worth; I'll shut up now.

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