Range officer recoil?

[Tpistol]

Hi, I have a Springfield Range Officer in 9mm and feel the recoil is reasonable for a centerfire pistol in 9mm, certainly less than a 40 or 45. I think the weight spec. is 41 oz. This might be a factor in one handed bullseye shooting, holding out 41 oz. at arms length. It's going to be a trade off of weight vs. recoil.
Are you going to mount a scope, or use iron sights?
Tpistol

 

[Tpistol]

thanks guys.
when i shot the p85 i hurt my elbow.
took weeks to get better.
that's why i'm bothering you with questions.

remember to keep your main arm totally straight so the recoil passes through your arm to your shoulder. Don't let your elbow bend.

 

[susieqz]

i'm sorry to hear center fires can't shoot well.
with my arms resting on a barrel, i can get a 1'' group at 25 yards, with my 22/45.
i'm not real interested in a gun that can't do that.

 

[Jim Watson]

They can shoot well.
Just not cheaply.

 

[susieqz]

t, i gotta use either a red dot or glow sights.
if a dot will mount, i'd prefer that.
jim, what do i need to get great groups/?
i guess the question is what can i shoot one handed without hurting myself that shoots super groups.

 

[TfflHndn]

I don't know what it takes to put a dot sight on one, but if it's doable, you might find what you're looking for in a Rock Island .22TCM/9mm combo. It's a 1911 style frame and comes with two barrels. The 22TCM is very low recoil and easy to rack with a very light (about 8 pounds IIRC) slide spring. It is very accurate, but also very noisy with big flash (which I like). Change the barrel and spring and you have a great 9mm pistol. Adjustable sights (necessary, since the 9mm POI is significantly highter than the .22TCM at most handgun shooting distances) and you get two guns for the price of one Range Officer.

 

[ATLDave]

I don't shoot bullseye or other one-handed/accuracy-only games, so I don't have views on the best particular 1911's (or other guns) for that purpose. However, I will say that selection of powder, powder charge, and bullet can make a HUGE difference in the perceived recoil from a 9mm. A near-max 9mm running a slowish powder will make a fair amount of blast and some snap for someone used to a .22lr. However, a small charge of a fast powder under a heavy-ish bullet can make for recoil and blast that is only incrementally more than a .22.

If you don't reload, do you have a friend who does?

 

[Walkalong]

i gotta use either a red dot or glow sights.
if a dot will mount, i'd prefer that

.38 Super with a 9MM barrel. Weigand mount. Or you can get the slide milled to accept a mini red dot.

 

[MikeInOr]

t, i gotta use either a red dot or glow sights.
if a dot will mount, i'd prefer that.
jim, what do i need to get great groups/?
i guess the question is what can i shoot one handed without hurting myself that shoots super groups.

I would look at an FN57 for a light weight low recoil accurate pleasure to shoot center fire. I think it would be an excellent one handed gun.

My buddies FN57 is plenty acurate and has a great trigger. Compared to most center fire pistols the recoil seems almost non existant.

 

[susieqz]

thanks, guys.
it was kind of you to give me some direction.

 

[Walkalong]

susie,
rimfire person

 

[susieqz]

oooh, pretty.
i want.

 

[murf]

hey, suzieqz.

that model 41 of walkalongs goes for $1,200 new. they are worth the money, though.

if you want a center fire handgun that can keep all shots inside two inches @ 25 yards, i suggest you get a s&w model 15 (combat masterpiece) and run 148 grain wadcutters through it. that is the only reasonably priced gun i know of that will do 2" @ 25 yards.

murf

 

[Walkalong]

goes for $1,200 new.

I bought it used for a much nicer price, but they sure are sweet.

 

[susieqz]

boy!
it's really hard getting to the S&W site.
i'm trying to look at those guns but i can;t get thru.

 

[susieqz]

that model 41 is 3 times the price of my tricked out 22/45, but i can get 1'' groups with mine, with arms rested on a barrel/
i'm not good enow to get a much smaller group with anything,
those model 15s look like fun but hard to find.

 

[JDR]

if you want a center fire handgun that can keep all shots inside two inches @ 25 yards, i suggest you get a s&w model 15 (combat masterpiece) and run 148 grain wadcutters through it. that is the only reasonably priced gun i know of that will do 2" @ 25 yards.

Actually a Model 14, 15, or 19 will each probably shoot .38 spl. SWC reloads close to 2" @ 25 yds. bench-rested. S&W K frame revos are a thing of beauty!

 

[thump_rrr]

I do not think a 9mm 1911oid is uncomfortable to shoot.

But I do not think a mass produced 9mm 1911oid is going to shoot as accurately as a good .22, I don't care what Springfield says about "match grade barrels."
If you follow out the link on the Springfield page to the American Rifleman article, you will see that a 9mm RO averaged 2.43" groups at 25 yards from a Ransom rest, with individual groups from 1.38" to 3.55". There was a lot of variation from string to string and brand to brand.
http://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2014/9/24/springfields-range-officer-m1911s/

More expensive gunmakers like Baer and Wilson put numbers in their advertising.
A standard model Baer is expected to shoot 3" at 50 yards with a 1.5" "guarantee" at substantial extra cost. Wilson says they "guarantee" 1" at 25 yards. (But the nice tight test target that comes with the gun is shot at 15 yards.)


If you want to plow money into a Range Officer, a gunsmith here says they are a good platform to customize. It could certainly get a refitted or replacement barrel that would improve accuracy to the NRA Centerfire and PPC standard. Springfield Custom will put in a real "match barrel" for $390. Will that shoot 2" at 25? I don't know. Would a $75 fitted bushing do nearly as well? I do know it would strongly depend on the ammo.

The Les Baer 1-1/2" guarantee costs $295. Even though $295 is not chump change I wouldn't call that a substantial price increase on a pistol which starts at over $2,000.

 

[susieqz]

YOW! those les baer guns cost as much as a used car !