Recoil 9mm vs 45acp reloads

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JBrady555

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I've always wanted a 1911 but the one time I rented one and shot factory ammo it really hurt my wrist due to a problem I have in my right hand. I've been shooting gssf with my g17 with only minor issues with high round count. I have started reloading and am now wondering if I can revisit the idea of getting a 1911 and loading my own. My question is how little recoil can you get when loading your own for a 1911? G17 with factory ammo levels? I would still need to load to power levels suitable for competition. Thanks for any info.
 
Your gonna get a lot of responses on this one from one end to the other.

I could ask my 7 year old granddaughter if the .45 jumps more or less than the .44. She prefers the .45 (1911A1) because the .44 (S&W 29-2) is heavy to hold up.

My feelings are that the 9MM has a faster recoil, snappy and the .45 is more of a delayed longer push. The 9MM is a high intensity loading, 35K PSI or something like that. The .45 is a softer 12 to 18K PSI, depending on the load.

Try a 200 grain LSW, loaded to a light target level (starting load in your loading book) and see what you think.

Oh, FYI, I started my daughter with a .45 when she was 2. She has provided me with 4 beautiful grand daughters, ages 12, 10, 7 and 20 months. Just no boys.
I started my son with a Browning Hi-Power 9MM at 3.
 
As a reloader, you can definitely reduce recoil over factory loads depending on powder, weight of bullet, and powder charge but only by experimenting will you find out if it's enough. Another option would be a 1911 in 9MM. You have all the advantages of a 1911 and very little recoil.
 
You can load light 9MM loads that will be very pleasant to shoot in a 5" steel 1911.

One of my favorite guns/loads to shoot is a Colt Series 80 .38 Super with a 9MM barrel. I like it so much leave the 9MM barrel in it and stick to shooting .38 Super in my SA 1911 (Hot .38 Super) and my Witness .38 Super (Normal .38 Super). (Love those as well.)

A FPS from EGW with a light bevel will help reduce recoil as well. Drops the brass closer to you as well. It also keeps the extractor from "clocking". Makes extraction/ejection more consistent.
 
Not only could you load lighter, but you go full size all steel to absorb the most recoil.

Was the one you shot a lightweight aluminum model??
 
Might be worth trying a full size in all steel then. With light loads, you can customize springs as well to really dial it in.

Best of luck!
 
What oldpapps said. You can also get a lighter spring for the 1911. I shoot 3.6gr of bullseye under a 200gr swc. Shoots soft.
 
Recoils for us Wimps.

I mean no disrespect and if I have misunderstood or misread something I apologize in advance BUT in reading the thread twice I have not read whether or not the OP has yet specified is he speaking about a 1911 styled platform which was/is in 45ACP or a 1911 platform period (caliber not specified)

OP said he had wanted to try a 1911 for a long time and Walkalong posted twice (I think) that a 1911 in 9mm can be down loaded to a very soft shooting gun & both 9mm and 45ACP loadings can be worked so as to produce a soft shooting experience. Others have pointed out similar facts.

Seems like the kicker is the OP's statement that he still would need to load for competition levels. Why? . No one from Glock SSF is going to come check your power factor for 99.9% of your daily shooting and GSSF competition is not at the top of the competition pyramid. (MANY GOOD SHOOTERS THOUGH)

JBBrady555 I agree with nearly all previous posters who have effectively said you can tailor either 45 ACP or 9mm loads to shoot soft and the 1911 PLATFORM in a steel frame gun is a great gun to do it with. The kicker is the widely accepted Competition Power Levels mean you have to work with your "loadings". It depends if you are a shooter impacted more by the "sharp crack" of a high pressure 9mm (115 gr load at two kajillion FPS) or the "heavy push" of a slow moving 45 ACP (230 gr load at walking speed). Either way a reloader can do the deed.

regards,
:):)
 
Kimber Aegis 1911 5" 9mm, aluminum frame, noting that its 9+1 round capacity can be increased to 10+1 for competition with new mags.

KimberAegis9mm.png

After shooting mine, I can't imagine any complaints about weight or recoil.
 
JBrady555 said:
I've always wanted a 1911 but the one time I rented one and shot factory ammo it really hurt my wrist due to a problem I have in my right hand. I've been shooting gssf with my g17 with only minor issues
Click to expand...
Looks like OP posted the desire for 1911 but the recoil from factory ammo hurt the wrist which is not the case for shooting Glock 17 at GSSF matches.

I have started reloading and am now wondering if I can revisit the idea of getting a 1911 and loading my own. My question is how little recoil can you get when loading your own for a 1911? G17 with factory ammo levels?
Click to expand...
Yes. You can definitely achieve G17 with factory ammo level of recoil. 200 gr lead SWC with 4.0 gr of Red Dot/Promo is the mildest load I currently load.

I would still need to load to power levels suitable for competition.
Click to expand...
GSSF doesn't have power factor requirements so with 45 caliber Glocks, you can load it as low as you want as long as the load will still reliably cycle the slide but if you are looking to shoot IDPA/USPSA matches, you will need to load to power factor requirements.

IDPA SSP/ESP and USPSA minor load require 125 PF. So for 200 gr bullet, you only need 625 fps which is very doable with even lighter powder charges that produce milder recoil.

IDPA CDP and USPSA major load require 165 PF. So for 200 gr bullet, you will need 825 fps. Depending on the powder used, these loads will produce definite "thump" when fired from 5" 1911.
 
I load .45 ACP very lightly for IDPA ESP; like a 200 grain bullet at 650 fps.
That is very mild and pleasant to shoot, no harder kicking than a 9mm with a 115 grain bullet at 1150 fps.

You can also tone down the 9mm. I find a subsonic load more comfortable than the usual high velocity job at the same power factor.

Power Factor = bullet weight in grains x muzzle velocity in feet per second, divide by 1000 for easy comparison. That is a measure of recoil in same weight guns.
 
Contrary to the notion many hold regarding heavier metal frame pistols doing better job of reducing felt recoil, IMHO flexible polymer frame pistols do a better job of absorbing the recoil impulse and shock with stiffer captured recoil springs than solid frame pistols that directly transfers recoil impulse and shock to the shooters hand.

When I helped shooters with arthritis issues select pistols, I had them shoot metal framed pistols along with Glock/M&P pistols. Many ended up choosing M&P pistols with better ergonomics than Glocks as their fingers don't have to stretch or reach as much and the captured recoil spring assembly with stainless steel rod seem to produce softer felt recoil.

Here's a slow motion video of Glock firing - notice the flexing of polymer frame absorbing the recoil impulse/shock

[YOUTUBE]7Fr5ccyriJI[/YOUTUBE]

Here's a slow motion video of Dan Wesson 1911 - notice the absence of flexing of frame

[YOUTUBE]F506XIMEz0M[/YOUTUBE]
 
I am not seeing any flex of the frame on the G19 only the polymer guide rod.


IMO, grip width and shape, pistol weight, and load selection have the most significant impact on felt recoil.
 
Chemist, watch the gap below the ejection port between the slide and frame as the Glock fires.
 
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