Buffers anyone?

[c east]

Just got back from an old Gunsmith that eats and breaths 45 auto..Fixed 4 problems and put in a buffer free...I have fired 50 rounds thru it and it shows a slight indentation .
Any thoughts?.....Charlie

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[Johnny Peppers]

Buffers were made to sell but not to buy. John Browning and the Colt engineers beefed up the receiver to take the recoil with the proper spring, and a buffer shortens the slide travel. Most warn not to use them in a pistol you will use for self defense.

[WarPig1976]

It's doing its job that's why it's indented. I use them to keep wear and tear down, yes JB designed his master piece without them but I feel it can't hurt a range gun. They do get removed if the gun is to be carried.

[Johnny Peppers]

Has anyone ever shown that the buffers keep wear and tear down? If you have wear and tear you probably need a new recoil spring. The design was balanced between the correct weight recoil spring slowing down the slide and barrel the proper amount without putting undue strain on the slide stop when the slide assembly goes forward.

[WarPig1976]

True Johnny but also one could have paid $1000 for a pistol that sees hundreds if not thousands of rounds on the range, those rounds like mine could be HOT handloads $5.00 piece of mind I suppose you could call it which I chose with or without "proof". The pads do there work in recoil not when the gun is returning to battery.
Why the aversion to them? A bad experience?

[Johnny Peppers]

No bad experience, just that they are useless in a 1911 design with the proper springs. I guess they are like big rims on a car in that they serve no purpose, but if you like them go ahead.

[jmoore]

I've used them in pistols that have accumulated tens of thousands of rounds through them without drama. They get replaced when cut through. Don't hurt a thing if you've a pistol that's not finicky.