Recoil of 9mm vs 380
- Thread starter gunny2
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Most 9mm's shoot from a locked breach. Most 380's are blow back. So there isn't as much difference as you might expect. The recoil of blowback vs locked breach is quite different. A pistol that fits your hand well will usually be more controllable than one that doesn't fit your hand well in a smaller cartridge.
The particular model of 9mm and model of 380 will make more of a difference as far as "perceived" recoil goes than the round itself. In comparable pistols the 380 will be considerably softer recoil. My Browning 1911-380 uses the same toggle link action as a full size 1911 and hence is a very soft shooter despite its very light weight . My heavier blowback Bersa 380 has much more annoying recoil than my full size 9mm's. My small locked breach DB9 in 9mm has considerably more recoil than my 45 acp's due to its very light weight and is considerably less fun to shoot than my DE in .50ae. My 1911-380 is the only center fired pistol that I own which my petite18yo daughter will shoot.
Are you recoil shy? Or do you have a condition that makes harder recoiling pistols difficult to acustomize yourself to?
The particular model of 9mm and model of 380 will make more of a difference as far as "perceived" recoil goes than the round itself. In comparable pistols the 380 will be considerably softer recoil. My Browning 1911-380 uses the same toggle link action as a full size 1911 and hence is a very soft shooter despite its very light weight . My heavier blowback Bersa 380 has much more annoying recoil than my full size 9mm's. My small locked breach DB9 in 9mm has considerably more recoil than my 45 acp's due to its very light weight and is considerably less fun to shoot than my DE in .50ae. My 1911-380 is the only center fired pistol that I own which my petite18yo daughter will shoot.
Are you recoil shy? Or do you have a condition that makes harder recoiling pistols difficult to acustomize yourself to?
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When it comes to 380 pistols, it will depend on the weight and whether the pistol is blow back or locked breach. Some small and light 380 blow back pistols can have pretty snappy recoil. The Kel-Tec P3AT and Ruger LCP are prime examples.
I have two 380 pistols and both are blow back. The Kel-Tec P3AT definitely has more felt recoil than my Llama IIIA that is slightly larger and heavier. A locked breach 380 will have less felt recoil.
9mm pistols use a locked breach so size, weight and how it fits in the shooter's hands will effect the amount of felt recoil.
I have two 380 pistols and both are blow back. The Kel-Tec P3AT definitely has more felt recoil than my Llama IIIA that is slightly larger and heavier. A locked breach 380 will have less felt recoil.
9mm pistols use a locked breach so size, weight and how it fits in the shooter's hands will effect the amount of felt recoil.
Tinman357
Member
Both the LCP and the KelTec are locked breech. They smack the hand pretty good because they are so thin across the grip and very lightweight.
A locked breech will recoil less than an unlocked blowback.
A locked breech will recoil less than an unlocked blowback.
After a considerable amount of practice I am comfortable with my DB9, but nobody else I know likes shooting it. I can't really say that I enjoy shooting my DB9. It is the largest pistol that I can pocket carry so it was worth it to me to become proficient with it. I carry my DB9 quite often.
As stated, depends on the handgun. These micro pocket guns are going to have a more perceived snappy recoil regardless of the caliber whether it is a 9mm or .380 and weight will tame recoil more than a teeny tiny lightweight gun. In a .380 I have fired the micro Kimber, the Sig and the Bersa thunder and felt that the recoil was pretty significant and recoil for such a small caliber. I then fired the Springfield 911 in .380 and the recoil was not snappy at all as the others I had fired even though it was lighter in weight so I bought the 911. I would also consider the Browning black label a .380 1911 which is 85% the size of a full size 45 acp 911 it is a really nice and smooth shooting pistol.
WheelGunMan
Member
A Ruger LC380 is a soft shooting pistol. I have a LCP which is snappy but manageable. I also own a Bersa FireStorm that is a blowback and snappy. The LC380 could be shot all day comfortably.. can't say that for the other two.
Styx
Member
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Depends on the engineering of the particular gun, the size and weight, and the specific make/model of ammo you use. All 380 ammo and 9mm ammo isn't the same. Someone giving you their anecdotal opinion with regards the the brand, model, and bullet grains of ammo they used out of their handgun isn't going to be much of a help or answer your question unless you plan on using that same setup.
What Styx said and it will also depend on your hand strength and grip. Hand strength being key. With the popularity of pocket carry, opinions will be all over the place. My wife has one of those Micro 9s she carrys on occasion and will run 200 rds through it in a range session and never a complain...
JTQ
Member
This sounds like you may be looking for a home defense gun rather than a concealed carry gun. In which case, there is really no advantage to a little gun, and a full size duty gun is more advantageous for this application. There really aren't many full size guns in .380, so if you were looking for better handling and recoil reduction, as an example comparing like-family members, I'd probably choose a Beretta 92 in 9mm ( https://www.beretta.com/en-us/beretta-92x-full-size/ ) over a Beretta 84 in .380 ( https://www.beretta.com/en-us/80x-cheetah/ ) .
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Tallball
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Normal 380 ammo is less powerful than normal 9mm ammo.
Light handguns recoil more than heavy handguns.
Blowback handguns recoil more than locked breech handguns.
A handgun that fits your hand well has less perceived recoil than one that fits your hand poorly.
Shooting a small light handgun that fits your hand poorly in either caliber is going to sting.
Shooting a heavier handgun in either caliber that fits your hand properly is probably NBD.
Light handguns recoil more than heavy handguns.
Blowback handguns recoil more than locked breech handguns.
A handgun that fits your hand well has less perceived recoil than one that fits your hand poorly.
Shooting a small light handgun that fits your hand poorly in either caliber is going to sting.
Shooting a heavier handgun in either caliber that fits your hand properly is probably NBD.
jar
Contributing Member
But there are others such as myself who would choose a Beretta Cheetah in 7.65/32acp over either the 380 version or a 92.
I find the former simply far easier to shoot accurately, quickly and repeatedly than the two 9mm offerings. These days I find I carry either one of my 45acps or one of my newer 380 polymer pistols and the 9mm parabellums sit at home in the safe.
I find it odd that the Springfield 911 had less felt recoil to you compared to the Kimber Micro 380 and Sig P238 since all three are basically the same pistol with only minor differences. All are copies of the older Colt which in turn is a copy of the original Star Model D
And the Sig P938 (9mm) is also in this group of clones of the Star Model D. 9mm ammo is cheaper, better performing, and more available than .380acp.
I know and really enjoy my Sig P938.
Jim Watson
Member
I have a Kel Tec .32 which is OK, but I think the Keltec and similar Ruger .380 are nasty little kickers, even though locked breech, they are just so light and narrow.
So I bypassed them and went to subcompact 9mms. I think the Glock 43 is more manageable than those .380s but a GSSF Pocket match is about all I care to shoot at one time; 15 to 25 shot stages.
I also have a CZ83, a good size blowback .380. It has a sharp recoil, I had rather shoot a locked breech 9mm of the same weight.
So I bypassed them and went to subcompact 9mms. I think the Glock 43 is more manageable than those .380s but a GSSF Pocket match is about all I care to shoot at one time; 15 to 25 shot stages.
I also have a CZ83, a good size blowback .380. It has a sharp recoil, I had rather shoot a locked breech 9mm of the same weight.
Recoil is subjective and there's a lot of variables.
My 2 cents the question really only makes sense in the smallest of micro 9 class sized gun. Smaller and 380 is your only option and larger makes the 9mm a no brainer IMHO.
In a 18-20 oz unless you're very recoil sensitive my recommendation would be to get a 9mm and shoot standard pressure 115gr 9mm. My 93 yo father has Hornady 115 critical defense in his LC9 not the best performance 9mm but still better than any 380 and easy shooting.
My 2 cents the question really only makes sense in the smallest of micro 9 class sized gun. Smaller and 380 is your only option and larger makes the 9mm a no brainer IMHO.
In a 18-20 oz unless you're very recoil sensitive my recommendation would be to get a 9mm and shoot standard pressure 115gr 9mm. My 93 yo father has Hornady 115 critical defense in his LC9 not the best performance 9mm but still better than any 380 and easy shooting.
shoobe01
Member
In fact that subjectivity has a name "perceived recoil" and again lots of .380s and .32s are perceived as much much worse to shoot than 9 mm because the straight blowback puts fire and sparks and noise straight up at the gun, not just out the muzzle.
A favorite for these comparisons was the Star S series (D is similar, we just didn't have one). Swinging link (or later: closed campath) delayed blowback like any mid or largebore, just tiny. So very light, smallish grip: Felt very comfortable when firing, happy new shooters. Same exact cartridge in some steel straight blowback (CZ70, PP...) is perceived to be much much more violent.
A favorite for these comparisons was the Star S series (D is similar, we just didn't have one). Swinging link (or later: closed campath) delayed blowback like any mid or largebore, just tiny. So very light, smallish grip: Felt very comfortable when firing, happy new shooters. Same exact cartridge in some steel straight blowback (CZ70, PP...) is perceived to be much much more violent.
It just felt smoother no difference than me shooting my 1911 that I carried for years. It could be the springs in the recoil system used by Springfield. It is not snappy at all. On another note the magazines on the Springfield 911 are interchangeable with the micro Kimber and the Sig and are priced 50% lower than the Kimber and Sig.
Armybrat
Member
Bersa Thunder .380
Ruger Security .380
Or if you can find one, Colt Government .380 (although pricey)
Ruger Security .380
Or if you can find one, Colt Government .380 (although pricey)
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north east redneck
Contributing Member
Only 380 I've shot was a S&W shield ez. The recoil was much less a shield 9.
Everyone perceives recoil differently.
Everyone perceives recoil differently.
