Compensators

[What Just Happened?]

I was browsing brownell's and noticed that there are some compensators for 1911's that are not directly part of the barrel, but are extensions of the bushing. I was wondering how effective they are in comparison to typical compensators that are integral to the barrel.

[Fjold]

They change the mass of the slide significantly. I put one on a 45 in the early 80's and it caused my slide to short stroke. I experimented with lighter weight recoil springs but there weren't that many options back then and I could never get 100% confidence in it.

Now days they probably have all the math worked out in it and you probably get a lot more spring choices.

[What Just Happened?]

They change the mass of the slide significantly. I put one on a 45 in the early 80's and it caused my slide to short stroke. I experimented with lighter weight recoil springs but there weren't that many options back then and I could never get 100% confdent in it.

Now days they probably have all the math worked out in it and you probably get a lot more spring choices.

Hmm... I didn't think about that. I forgot that the bushing moves back with the slide. Man, I hate still being in school for an engineering degree. I see that comment and I start thinking about mass-spring bodies.

[SNEAKS]

I have a Wilson comp on my Sig GSR and have had no problems with it. Recoil was cut down by about 30%. It fit perfect but is alittle more work to deal with when cleaning. Its a fun little extra to add to your gun for a reasonable price.

[JTROKS]

In my experience with bushing type of compensators, they are a waste of money. The only thing working for you is the added weight and it travels with the slide from the start of the cycling to the end of it. Get one that attaches to the barrel with at least 2 expansion chambers, the expansion chambers are tighter leaving more of the gas to hit the walls. That makes it reduce muzzle jump and makes the recovery a lot faster. The recoil is much softer.