ShadyGrove
Member
- Joined
- Jan 21, 2014
- Messages
- 25
Hey all,
My wife enjoys going to the range with me, but she is pretty sensitive to muzzle blast/noise. Even with plugs and muffs, she still doesn't like shooting heavy calibers. She'll usually just stick to shooting 22lr for this reason. She has fired my GP100 with some mild 38 special target loads, and did fine with it. However, she doesn't really shoot well with the heavy double action trigger on revolvers.
I am trying to determine what would be the best choice for a low muzzle blast, semi-auto centerfire handgun she could try moving up to.
I was thinking 380 could be the ticket since it is a relatively low pressure round, but pretty much all of them have short barrel lengths in the 3 to 3.75 inch range. I know short barrels tend to increase muzzle blast/concussion and noise.
Conversely, I was also considering a 9mm with a long barrel, like a 5-inch 1911. But I know 9mm is generally a high pressure cartridge.
My question is - which of these would have less perceived muzzle blast/concussion/noise:
- A 380 with a 3 to 3.75 inch barrel (ex. Glock 42, Bersa Thunder, S&W EZ 380, etc.)
- Or a 1911 9mm with a 5 inch barrel?
I'm wondering if the reduced pressure of the 380 would be offset by the shorter barrel, making it a wash in the end. If so, then the 9mm would make more sense since ammo is so much cheaper. But I don't mind paying more for 380 ammo if its a noticeably milder cartridge to shoot in this scenario.
Thanks!
My wife enjoys going to the range with me, but she is pretty sensitive to muzzle blast/noise. Even with plugs and muffs, she still doesn't like shooting heavy calibers. She'll usually just stick to shooting 22lr for this reason. She has fired my GP100 with some mild 38 special target loads, and did fine with it. However, she doesn't really shoot well with the heavy double action trigger on revolvers.
I am trying to determine what would be the best choice for a low muzzle blast, semi-auto centerfire handgun she could try moving up to.
I was thinking 380 could be the ticket since it is a relatively low pressure round, but pretty much all of them have short barrel lengths in the 3 to 3.75 inch range. I know short barrels tend to increase muzzle blast/concussion and noise.
Conversely, I was also considering a 9mm with a long barrel, like a 5-inch 1911. But I know 9mm is generally a high pressure cartridge.
My question is - which of these would have less perceived muzzle blast/concussion/noise:
- A 380 with a 3 to 3.75 inch barrel (ex. Glock 42, Bersa Thunder, S&W EZ 380, etc.)
- Or a 1911 9mm with a 5 inch barrel?
I'm wondering if the reduced pressure of the 380 would be offset by the shorter barrel, making it a wash in the end. If so, then the 9mm would make more sense since ammo is so much cheaper. But I don't mind paying more for 380 ammo if its a noticeably milder cartridge to shoot in this scenario.
Thanks!