I'm refinishing an exterior front gate with a steel latch mechanism.
The gate is pretty massive, and when it hits the back side of the latch,
it bounces out of the groove that would otherwise make it closed.

Does anyone have an idea how to absorb some of that energy and have the
latch fall into the groove properly? (I wish I had a picture.)

I was thinking I might grind the top part down and add rubber where it
strikes the latch.

Fishing for tips,
--
Uno