An injection device, comprising: a generally cylindrical tubular barrel including a first end having a needle cannula having a sharp distal end and a second open end having a radial flange adjacent said second open end; a tubular holder surrounding said barrel including a first open end adjacent said first end of said barrel spaced from said sharp distal end of said needle cannula and a second open end having a chamber receiving said flange of said barrel, said chamber having an abutment surface facing said flange of said barrel; a tubular shield releaseably retained by said holder located within said holder surrounding at least a portion of said barrel, including a first open end and a second open end, said tubular shield axially moveable with respect to said barrel between a retracted position, wherein said sharp distal end of said needle cannula is exposed, to an extended position, wherein said sharp distal end of said needle cannula is enclosed by said shield; a fitting within said tubular holder having a tubular portion surrounding said tubular shield and a radial flange portion located within said chamber of said tubular holder between said flange of said barrel and said abutment surface of said chamber; and a spring operably biased between said shield and said holder urging said shield from said retracted position toward said extended position when said shield is released from said tubular holder, characterized in that said fitting has at least one resiliently deformable projection extending toward said abutment surface, whereby said resiliently deformable projection on said flange portion of said fitting damps movement of said flange of said barrel in said chamber, reducing damage to said flange of said barrel when said spring urges said shield toward said extended position. a generally cylindrical tubular barrel including a first end having a needle cannula having a sharp distal end and a second open end having a radial flange adjacent said second open end; a tubular holder surrounding said barrel including a first open end adjacent said first end of said barrel spaced from said sharp distal end of said needle cannula and a second open end having a chamber receiving said flange of said barrel, said chamber having an abutment surface facing said flange of said barrel; a tubular shield releaseably retained by said holder located within said holder surrounding at least a portion of said barrel, including a first open end and a second open end, said tubular shield axially moveable with respect to said barrel between a retracted position, wherein said sharp distal end of said needle cannula is exposed, to an extended position, wherein said sharp distal end of said needle cannula is enclosed by said shield; a fitting within said tubular holder having a tubular portion surrounding said tubular shield and a radial flange portion located within said chamber of said tubular holder between said flange of said barrel and said abutment surface of said chamber; and a spring operably biased between said shield and said holder urging said shield from said retracted position toward said extended position when said shield is released from said tubular holder, characterized in that said fitting has at least one resiliently deformable projection extending toward said abutment surface, whereby said resiliently deformable projection on said flange portion of said fitting damps movement of said flange of said barrel in said chamber, reducing damage to said flange of said barrel when said spring urges said shield toward said extended position.