Buffer Technologies 1911 Recoil Buffer

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I have the opportunity to field test and report on Buffer Technologies 1911 Recoil Buffer. Designed to reduce felt recoil and muzzle jump, they also extend the 1911's service life by ameliorating the metal to metal impact of slide to stop.

Recoil spring and recoil spring guide before adding buffer.

The buffer is made from a specific and proprietary polyurethane. It provides a considerable amount of protection to the slide as it reaches the end of motion and slams into the recoil spring guide by cushioning the impact. This is what loosens a 1911, the repeated slamming of the slide against the stop.


For a minimal investment you can protect your 1911, and extend its service life immeasurably.

1911 Recoil Buffers and my Colt Government Combat Model 1911.
It was a factory option back in the early eighties.

Installation is very easy and requires no tools. I carefully cut the buffer from the strip so there wouldn't any extraneous piece. Field strip your 1911 and pull the recoil spring guide and spring out.

Start 1911 Auto Recoil Buffer on recoil spring guide

Buffer Tech 1911 Buffer aligned and in place on Recoil spring guide

Slide spring over recoil spring guide.

Buffer Tech 1911 Recoil Buffer in place.

I took the Colt out and ran a magazine through it. I noticed that the recoil impulse was definitely different. It was a little less sharp and I was back on target perceptively faster. We are talking about fractions of a second overall; this won't make you competitively faster, but that's not the point. It does what it is advertised to do: save your slide, reduce muzzle rise, and reduce felt recoil.

I'm a big fan of inexpensive things that pay for themselves quickly and in large multiples. The Buffer Technologies 1911 Recoil Buffer is one of those items that does exactly what it says and saves me money. With a street price of $6.99 for a package of eight, I give this a "Rock Solid Buy."

Buffer Technologies
Buffer Tech 1911 Recoil Buffer
MSRP: $9.95

(877) 6-BUFFER
(877) 628-3337
Fax: (573) 634-8522

Tactical Reviews: Combat Application Tools - CAT M-4

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Listen up, people!

Here is another one of those tools that you stop and think to yourself, "Why didn't I think of that!"

The CAT-M4

Myself, I wish I had the Combat Applications Tool CAT M-4 back when I was in the US Army, when the M16A1 was ubiquitous, and A2s the cutting edge of the AR platform. The CAT M-4 tool would have saved me a lot of scrubbing.

And push-ups.


Sam Johnson got the idea for the CAT M-4 while discussing weapon cleaning and combat drills with a close friend Jim Hopper who was training the Iraqi National Army. Sam is a machinist and after a couple of prototypes, he forwarded the CAT M-4 tool to Jim, whereupon it became an immediate success.



The CAT M-4 is designed to quickly bring a bolt to tactical tolerances in a matter of moments.

The CAT M4 tool is investment cast from 400 series stainless steel. The bolt cleaning chamber is CNC machined to precisely fit a mil-spec bolt. Investment casting leaves a non-reflective finish on the tools and feels smoother in the hand. All manufacturing is done 100% in the United States of America by American workers.

While the CAT-M4 fits many bolts perfectly, due to very slight differences in bolts, the tool will fit some bolts better than others. All bolts so far encountered by the tech staff at Combat Application Tools have been restored to "tactical tolerance" quickly. Inspection cleanliness can be quickly achieved by the addition of solvent and a patch or two.

Scraping the Bolt's Tail Clean

Patch Holder for Cleaning the Bolt Carrier

Cleaning the Bolt Carrier

Cleaning the Bolt Carrier

1/4" Hex Head Holder

Magnetic hex head extension works great!

Not only does it do a great job of cleaning the bolt quickly, but in a stroke of genius Sam broached a 1/4 inch hex opening in it so that an operator could use any 1/4 hex tool in it. I found that a magnetic extension works best to keep a bit in place and immobile.

For the money, this is a great tool for any operator, soldier, or enthusiast who uses any AR platform or M16/M4. Keeping the bolt and carrier clean has always been the key to reliable operation, here is a tool that lets you do it in mere moments, out in the field, where it counts the most! Another "Rock Solid Buy" from the Team at The Range Reviews: Tactical.

And remember, it's made in the United States of America!

Combat Applications Tool
C.A.T. M-4
MSRP: $35.00