Pistol recoil tolerance

[threefortyduster]

I don't have any short barreled guns bigger than .357 Magnum. However, shooting .480 Ruger even out of a 7.5" barreled Super Redhawk with a red dot on it still wasn't comfortable. I would only probably put about 12 or 18 rounds through it in one day (cost is also a major concern with that gun).

.44 Magnum from a 7.5" barrel isn't bad at all, but I really want to see the difference with a 4" or so barrel.

 

[Shadow 7D]

SOLD
a KT P40
believe it's the lightest production 40 ever made
they stopped it, seems too many got returned that weren't broken
I couldn't shoot it fast, reset was long, even trying to 'ride' the recoil, ended with my hands over my head.

OH, and EVERY pull of the trigger felt like someone taking a ballpeen hammer to my hands...

 

[OilyPablo]

I shot a .500S&W. It was a HUGE BOOM. It rattles buried 8x8 posts. But the recoil was smooth and not that abusive. I shoot hot 10mm all day long out of my Glock 20 and S&W 1006. YET - I have shot a Glock 27 (.40S&W) that was so totally abusively snappy I knew instantly that combination sucked.

That said what is the .510 GNR all about? How is that?

 

[bhk]

I am 63 and have shot handguns since my early 20's. A few months ago, I was shocked and extremely dismayed to find my wrist hurting after firing three magazines through my .45 auto. It hurt for almost a week. Subsequent shooting has had the same results. Since shooting is my most important hobby, this has me really, really depressed. More .22s, I guess.

 

[Stress_Test]

I am 63 and have shot handguns since my early 20's. A few months ago, I was shocked and extremely dismayed to find my wrist hurting after firing three magazines through my .45 auto. It hurt for almost a week. Subsequent shooting has had the same results. Since shooting is my most important hobby, this has me really, really depressed. More .22s, I guess.

bhk,

If you don't reload .45 auto, try some of the Winchester white box ammo (often found at Walmart) in the 185 grain FMJ flatnose variety.

It is a pretty light target load and may be easier on your wrist.

 

[clg114]

I agree with kozak6. I'm a big guy with big hands and don't have too much of a problem with big recoil. I have a AMT Backup in 380. This a very small gun and it just plain hurts to shoot it. I think it is the only handgun I've ever shot that is not fun to shoot.

 

[Teachu2]

I am 63 and have shot handguns since my early 20's. A few months ago, I was shocked and extremely dismayed to find my wrist hurting after firing three magazines through my .45 auto. It hurt for almost a week. Subsequent shooting has had the same results. Since shooting is my most important hobby, this has me really, really depressed. More .22s, I guess.

You might want to try a new recoil spring - if yours isn't up to snuff, it will cause the symptom you describe.

 

[481]

It really depends. I can shoot a .44 Magnum out of a single-action pistol and it's no big deal.

Yeah, that's kind of my upper limit, too.

Out of my 7.5" stainless SBH, 240 gr. JHPs run about 1350 fps and give it a free recoil velocity of 20.1 fps- just at the edge of discomfort for me. Lotsa folks complain about the squared-off rear of the trigger guard giving 'em all sortsa pain, but it has never bit in all these years.

 

[Iggy]

I shot a dozen "Elmer Keith loads" out of my Model 58 S&W .41 mag, on my days off for 13 years.
I would draw and fire them one at a time. They weren't fun but I got pretty handy with that gun.

I can tell you that recoil is cumulative.

I get a lot more enjoyment out of a K-22 or K-38 these days..

 

[Pete D.]

56:

My actual recoil tolerance comes in at about 65 ft-lbs of energy. That's what my snub nose 500 does with 700 grain bullets.

Do you think that you are getting 1100 fps with those Tyrannosaur Thumpers out of a 64 ounce snubbie? Or less velocity and a lighter gun? Pretty thumpy in any case.
My Encore is about four pounds; velocity is above 1100. It hurts to shoot it as I noted earlier.....wouldn't have thought that recoil was up that high though. Wow.

 

[56hawk]

Do you think that you are getting 1100 fps with those Tyrannosaur Thumpers out of a 64 ounce snubbie?

970 fps out of a 52 ounce gun. Recoil looks like this:

 

[Pete D.]

Recoil

970 fps out of a 52 ounce gun. Recoil looks like this:

Yipe!

Pete