The damaging potential of mechanical shock experienced by resiliently mounted equipment is discussed in general terms. It is pointed out that the displacement, relative displacement, and acceleration of the mounted item, expressed as nondimensional quantities, describe the likelihood of damage in particular circumstances.The performance of mounting systems has been judged by their response to a step‐like shock displacement. The nondimensional quantities above have been determined as functions of the steepness of the leading edge of the step displacement for one‐ and two‐stage, linear, viscously damped spring mountings. Heavy damping is beneficial in a mount in several respects, and its adverse effects on transmitted acceleration can be mitigated by the use of the two‐stage mountings.