What's the lowest-recoil 9mm pistol?

[coltnj]

Considering "equal and opposite reactions" and "conservation of momentum" concepts... here a science book (though not necessarily a practical) answer to the question "which has least recoil."

If one defines recoil as the amount of energy or momentum imparted to your hand by the gun, then for a given 9mm round, shortest-barreled 9mm pistols (< 3") should technically "recoil" least. Less barrel length = less distance the bullet is pushed = less energy (Force x Distance) imparted to the bullet. The longer barrels should generate more bullet energy and hence more recoil energy.

The equal and opposite reaction of the bullet's motion is imparted to the gun.
The mass of a heavier gun slows the guns rearward motion.
The slower motion backward subsequently generates a lower force to the hands over a longer time. Springs can also reduce and spread the reaction force over time.

Practically, heavier guns with long barrels are perceived to have "softer" recoil,
Short-barreled guns both lighter weight and incorporate stiffer recoil springs.
This means the short-barreled guns move back faster and impart higher force,
which are perceived as harsher.

So the recoil from a longer/heavier gun is perceived to be a lower "kick" when your hand has actually absorbed both more energy and momentum.

FWIW.

 

[Moose458]

Have to place my vote on the Browning Hi-Power.

 

[LaDave]

Browning hi- power . IMHO the Cadillac of all 9mms

 

[OldCavSoldier]

For me it's a tie: Browning Hi-Power and an S&W M&P9 Full Size....both very easy on the recoil and, if you are not a small guy, relatively easy to concealed carry.

 

[Hondo 60]

What's the lowest-recoil 9mm pistol?

Sorry, it doesn't quite work that way.

Usually a heavier gun will have less felt-recoil. USUALLY!
But you can put the same ammo in two guns & it'll feel different.
Even when both guns are the same make & model.

To reduce the recoil in any gun, try reloading your own ammo.
By using different powders, primers & bullets you can tame the recoil & tailor the ammo to your gun.

 

[bannockburn]

Lowest felt recoil gun in a 9mm. that I have used would have to be the MAB PA-15. The unique design featured a barrel lug which rotated the barrel by means of a track inside the slide when the gun was fired. This made it possible for the gun to use a wide range of ammuntion (light target loads to very hot loads), without affecting its performance or reliabilty. Add to this an all steel gun that weighed over 39 oz. empty, and you had one very soft shooting 9mm. In todays shooting world, the Beretta PX-4 uses a similar rotating barrel locking system.

Other end of the spectrum: the worst felt recoil in a 9mm. would have to be the straight blowback Astra Model 600!

 

[Orion8472]

Wouldn't the polymer guns that sit lowest in the hand have less felt recoil? A lot of the heavier metal guns have their bore axis higher than some of the polymer options, so wouldn't it balance it out, or even produce less? For example, Glock, Ruger SR9, Springfield Armory XDM9?

 

[allaroundhunter]

Wouldn't the polymer guns that sit lowest in the hand have less felt recoil?

I feel less recoil when shooting a Sig P226 (Standard, SCT, and X-Five) than my Glock 19....it is not just bore axis that matters. Weight is a significant factor.

 

[coolluke01]

A lower bore axis will deliver more of the recoil into the hand, but it will have less muzzle flip. It all depends on which you would like to eliminate.
I feel muzzle flip makes a gun hard to shoot. I would rather take the force straight back into the hand than have to bring the gun down to reacquire the sights when shooting fast.

 

[Orion8472]

That's kind of how I am seeing this issue. To me, I would rather have less muzzle flip, even if that means more push into my hand. Muzzle flip is uncomfortable to me.

Currently, my "heavy and metal" 9mm is a CZ SP-01.

 

[MoreIsLess]

IMHO, the lowest recoiling would be the Walther PPQ, at leat for a polymer gun.

 

[otasan56]

Browning hi- power . IMHO the Cadillac of all 9mms

I think that you are right here. The BHP is an all-steel gun. It has a lot of weight, and therefore, less recoil. Does Springfield Armory offer an all-steel M1911A1 in 9mm? That would have some heft also.

 

[soapboxpreacher]

Baby desert eagle II all metal the 9915R it is a heavy gun with a 4.52" barrel and it is also extremely accurate. It is the most accurate 9mm I have shot so far follow ups just make the hole of your first shot a little bigger!

 

[soapboxpreacher]

Polymer would have to go to the gen4 glock or hk p30

 

[Fotno]

Percieved recoil is very subjective. As a general rule heavier guns recoil less however with semi autos slide velocity and mass can have quite an effect as can bore axis. the higher the barrel is in relation to your hand/arm the more you'll percieve muzzle flip.
Try a few guns in the 25-32oz range i find this a happy range for CCW on the belt.

+ 1

Heavier is generally better, but for me the grip geometry and bore axis have as much or more impact than the weight of the overall firearm. The better the grip fits my hand and the lower the bore axis, the less recoil I perceive.

 

[jrw69]

S&W 5904 and Taurus PT-92

 

[fpgt72]

My wife has a hard time with recoil...to the point her hand will bruse, then start to bleed even in shooting her 380.

She shot the 92fs a few weekends ago for the first extended time...before it has just been a shot or two...this time she shot up about 50 or so rounds....no problems.

I think it is just the bulk of the gun, the fat grip that makes it friendly for her.

I have gone shooting with a few people in my time, but never seen the webbing of someones hand and palm by your thumb start to bleed...and no she was not getting bitten...it was just the force of the recoil...no way could she get that part of her hand anywere near anything that moved.

 

[Serenity]

I think you are onto something with the fat grip. I shoot a Sig P226 and my other gun is a S&W stainless K frame, so the Sig seems just the right size to me. At the class I took on Sunday, several people mentioned that it just looked big resting on the bench. When I looked at some of their guns in comparison, I guess with the double stack it does have a thick grip and that saves my hand by distributing the force. I have long fingers so have no trouble reaching the trigger.

 

[Seven High]

Does recoil bother you? If so, a shooting glove should minimize the effects of recoil on your hand til you get more used to it.

 

[mizer67]

I would have to vote for the M&P 9mm (Pro or FS) in polymer, or the CZ SP01 Shadow in steel.

147 gr rounds and those two shoot very light.

 

[FMF Doc]

From personal expericance it any of the full size/duty size/combat size/ whatever you want to call it size pistols in 9mm have very light recoil. The Beretta 92 series, the Sig P226 and the Glock 34 are a toss-up for "softest" shooting, though I think the edge goes to the Glock 34. I have heard good things about the steel framed CZs, but don't have enough expience with them to add them to the list.

 

[sgtstryker]

Not having fired alot of different model 9's, the one I feel had the least recoil is the 92 Beretta. I had a 92S and the F model, both shot well and didn't beat you up. But, they are a large pistol, but will ride in a belt holster.

 

[Rubikees]

When we were first looking at firearms, the wife and I went to a range and rented just about every 9mm they had. She felt the M&P9 was the softest in recoil. That was before Glock and Springfield updated there firearm line. Recently I bought a Glock 17 and she said that the Glock 17 was down with the M&P9 in recoil.

 

[jman74]

My vote has to go the Hi Power. The size, weight, and design make it a pleasure to shoot. The P89 and Star B (even though it's smaller and lighter than the other two) aren't far behind. I have all three and recoil muzzle flip is pretty low on all three.

 

[bogeypro]

My sr9c is pretty tame, but my hi power s the easiest pistol to shoot.