9mm vs.45 recoil

[McCall911]

So I guess the velocity has to do with the snap or flip of the 9mm and the bullet weight has to do with the push of the .45ACP. And, yes, I agree that some loadings of the .40 S&W can kick almost like a 10mm. I guess you could call the .40 flippy-pushy.

 

[Ankeny]

Try this comparison. Shoot a 20 ounce Glock G26 with 147 grain Golden Saber. The heavy bullet and fast powder will provide a "push" but it's a mouse fart push because it is a 9mm.

Now pick up a 20 ounce sub compact .45 auto that weighs 20 ounces and torch off a magazine full of 230 grain Golden Sabers (for that big push). Now tell me the .45 is as easy to shoot.

 

[joe sixpack]

I've not a lot of experience with .45, but the S&W 4506 I had a chance to use, even though a fairly heavy gun had more recoil than any 9mm I've shot.
I do prefer to use something that allows me to devote more of my attention to the tgt rather rather than dispersing it via the "kick" factor.

Now, where is my phaser?

cheers, js

 

[jmilliron]

Only time I shot a 9mm & .45 back to back was a Glock 17 & Glock 21. For me, the recoil from the .45 (Glock 21) was more manageable.

Glock 17: 22.04 oz
Glock 21: 26.28 oz & physically a little larger.

-jason m

 

[kbheiner7]

I think there's a significant difference between 9mm and .45 ACP.

Granted, the .45 slugs travel a little slower, but they are twice the size of the 9mm bullets.

There's a reason the 9mm all steel, full-size 1911s are so popular - they shoot soft in comparison.

 

[poesraven]

What I've percieved/ I usually take a G17/ G30 / & a Kimber stainless target 45acp to the range....

The G17 seems snappier- using WWB 115-fmj./warm-up gun/and if I have friends w/ me since its a bit cheaper for the ammo
The G30 seems alot smoother- Not sure but I think because the dble spring/it seems to push instead of rise-using 230fmj/ or 185 jhp, I can also get back on target easier.
The Kimber target -has a little of both snap and push, using 230fmj /but is smoother when using the 185 jhp, also I get dble taps easier out of it/ *note-i believe trigger pull has alot do w/ it.
Out of the 3 I tend to shoot the Kimber the most.....

Disclaimer: comfort and control may vary w/ user, as well as perception w/ ammo used and user experience w/ variouse models.

 

[brickboy240]

I really think the 45 has more of a push, but the shooting comfort of any pistol really has to do more with its size/configuration rather than caliber.

I have shot some small 9mms that I thought were way too snappy to be comfortable shooters, but a full-size 9mm like a Beretta, Sig 226 or Hi-Power...to me at least...is a comfortable shooter. I have also shot some subcompact 45s and 40 that were not pleasant at all, but I am not really bothered by full size 45 or 40s of any make.

Yes, the 9mm may be a bit snappier, but I find the 40SW to be more "snappy" than a 9mm in the same sized gun and not as comfortable for long range sessions as say a full size 45 or 9mm. The 40SW seems louder than the 9mm or 45acp too...I don't know why.

-Brickboy240

 

[Mikul]

I do not understand why people think the .45 has more recoil than the 9mm. They're quite comparable. I find the .357 Sig to be unpleasant in prolonged practice, but give me a 9 or 45 and I can shoot all day.

 

[gc70]

I was somewhat surprised by some comparison shooting at the range today.

I had my Colt 1991 (40 oz.) and Beretta 92 (34 oz.). With the ammo I use (115gr. Remington 9mm and 200gr. Zero .45), my guns have nearly identical calculated recoil energy and recoil velocity. I intentionally chose to duplicate recoil in the two guns to help my son transition from the 9mm to the .45.

My perception is that the .45 has more push and the 9mm has more snap.

The eye-opener came when my son tried one of the range's Glock 17 rental guns. At 22 oz., the Glock's calculated recoil energy and recoil velocity are substantially more than either of my guns. However, actually shooting the G17 back-to-back with the Beretta, I did not feel any - none, nada, zip, zilch - difference in recoil.

Unless I slept through a chapter in high school physics, something about the Glock has to make up for its weight deficiency, but I can't figure it out.

 

[Ivy Mike]

Now if you're up for some 'recoil' try a full house 158 gr. .357 in one of them S&W Scandium thingies Please use both hands.

Been there, done that. Don't anticipate doing again any time soon. Each time I squeezed a round off, the gun jumped 3/4 of an inch out of my hand. It did this consistently even when I gripped as hard as I could (white knuckles and popping joints)

 

[Alan Fud]

Autopistols have recoil?

I agree with 1911Tuner. To me, autoloaders do not really have a kick to them. Revolvers, on the other hand, no matter what caliber, seem to kick more than any autopistol.