AFCO Big Gun vs. Big Gun X Shocks: What’s The Difference For Drag Racing?

At first glance, AFCO’s Big Gun and Big Gun X (BGX) drag racing shocks look nearly identical. That’s where the similarities end. Internally, these shocks are engineered very differently because they’re designed to excel in two distinct types of drag racing applications.

Let’s take a closer look at what separates the AFCO Big Gun from the Big Gun X and why choosing the correct shock is critical to your suspension setup.

The Big Gun Shock: Built For Bias-Ply Small Tire Racing

The rise of small tire drag racing changed the way racers approached suspension tuning. As classes like Outlaw 10.5 grew in popularity, AFCO recognized that a conventional double-adjustable shock wasn’t providing the level of control racers needed.

To address that challenge, AFCO developed the Big Gun shock.

The Big Gun features significantly stiffer rebound valving, giving racers greater control over the suspension during the launch. That additional rebound control helps apply more horsepower to the racing surface while working in conjunction with the characteristics of bias-ply slicks.

By better controlling how the suspension works, racers gained a much larger tuning window for optimizing traction on launch.

The BGX Shock: Designed For Radial Tire Racing

The only constant in drag racing is change, and the rapid growth of radial tire racing created an entirely new suspension challenge.

Unlike bias-ply slicks, drag radial tires have much stiffer sidewalls. That construction creates higher-frequency suspension movements and causes the tire to react differently when loaded during the launch.

Radial tire cars also rely on increased anti-squat geometry, which places even more load on the tire as the suspension separates.

AFCO’s answer was the Big Gun X (BGX).

Instead of emphasizing rebound control like the original Big Gun, the BGX focuses on compression damping. Its increased compression control helps manage how aggressively the tire is driven into the racing surface, keeping the tire planted and reducing its tendency to bounce or unload during the launch.

That additional compression control is one of the keys to making today’s high-horsepower radial tire combinations more consistent.

Choose The Right Shock For Your Combination

Although the AFCO Big Gun and Big Gun X may look similar from the outside, they were engineered with very different suspension philosophies in mind.

The Big Gun is optimized for bias-ply tire applications, where rebound control is critical, while the BGX is designed specifically for the unique demands of radial tire racing, where increased compression damping helps maintain tire contact and maximize traction.

Before ordering your next set of AFCO drag racing shocks, make sure you’re selecting the model that’s designed for your specific suspension combination and tire package.

To learn more about the AFCO Big Gun and Big Gun X (BGX) shocks, visit the company’s website.