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This is not another thread on which caliber is better, just an observation I had. I haven't had much experience with pistols, so when I bought my first one, a Glock 17, I didn't know what to expect other than my experience renting one and a 19 at a range. It was nice enough to buy when I saw a good deal for one, but it wasn't anything special. What caught me off guard is the difference I've noticed between it and other pistols I've shot since. The recoil was much sharper than my buddies 1911, which I expected to be worse than the Glock. It was not; I liked the recoil from the .45 much better. It was more... manageable, I guess I could say. Also, I was surprised at my accuracy with another friends .45 long colt revolver, which I also expected to be worse than the 17. So why does a bigger round seem to have less recoil? It just sounds counter-intuitive to me. It also led me to sell the glock, and look at either 1911's or a sig220. Anyone else notice these differences? I'm not saying 9mm is a difficult caliber to shoot, recoil is still manageable, but it was not as good as the .45. Whats the deal here?
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This may sound strange and unbelievable to you, but it is real and true.
- excerpt from Nigerian scam email -
It all has to do with the weight of the gun. A 1911 is heavy so it does a good job counteracting muzzle flip.
Try shooting a G21 after shooting the G17 and you'll notice an increase in recoil. -
This may sound strange and unbelievable to you, but it is real and true.
- excerpt from Nigerian scam emailComment
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The weight of the gun is a huge factor. You're talking about an all steel frame on a 1911 vs a plastic frame on a Glock. The more massive the gun (massive as in actual mass, not size) the more force it takes to move it. Basically, with the same round exiting the barrel, it will push the lighter gun back faster than the heavier one.
This is coupled with the fact that the two rounds have similar energy levels. The .45 throws a heavier bullet (180-230gr) at a slower velocity (800-1000 fps) while the 9mm throws a much lighter bullet (115-147gr) at a much faster velocity (1100-1400 fps.) The math shows that both rounds are capable of putting similar amounts of energy into the bullet (350-500 ft-lbs.) That's why the recoil can seem worse in a lighter gun shooting a smaller caliber (Glock) than a heavier gun shooting a bigger caliber (1911.)"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time, with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is its natural manure."
-Thomas JeffersonComment
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In addition to the weight as mentioned, the length and width of the barrel, length, type and number of springs, type of material of the frame (steel, alloy, or plastic) all play a factor in terms of recoilComment
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I'll add to those very good points - bore axis and noise of the discharge. A higher bore axis will lead to more muzzle flip and since recoil is a subjective thing the noise of the gun firing will also add to the perceived recoil.
As was stated in the first Batman movie: "It's complicated."Send Lawyers, Guns and Money - On second thought, hold the Lawyers.Comment
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It's you in this case, if you knew how to manage the 17 properly than you wouldn't feel that way. The glock cycles faster and recovers on target faster than the .45's you mentioned, you probably like the slower cycling guns right now as you're not trying to shoot very fast.My opinions are my own and do not represent the position of other companies I may be involved with.Comment
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I find Glocks in 9mm have less recoil than my full sized 1911. I also feel Glocks in .45 have more than a 1911. The glock in 9mm is a little snappier than a 1911 though. Maybe that's
what you are feeling?Comment
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also, along with what has been said about weight, grip angle plays a large role in "felt" recoil. if you notice on revolvers the bore/barrel is way above your hand. when the shot brakes, it causes your hand to "role" up. very smooth.
the desert eagle is the only pistol i know of that is semi auto with large caliber that shoots the power directly back. why is it manageable? going back to weight. desert eagle is a friggin huge hunk of metal
you take a glock and light j-fram style gun. same weight same caliber. the revolver "should" feel easyer to shoot only because it directs the recoil different.Comment
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One more thing:
What kind of ammo are you using? Is it +P load, heavy load, or light target load? This plays a role too!
Certain brands of ammos are "hotter" than other brands, e.g. PMC...Comment
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Here's some quotes from a firearm instructor who shoots ~75-100,000 rounds a year that has tested a 9mm HK P30 to almost 100,000 rounds and is testing a .45 HK45 to 50,000+ currently:
"fired 984 rounds through the gun in one practice session… without needing to see a chiropractor afterwards! There’s no question the .45 takes more effort to shoot, though, and I don’t see any 2,000-round marathon practice sessions with the HK45 like I did with the M&P9 and P30."
Week 16:
Well, the 20,000 round point is nothing but a memory.
Yes, it took a little longer than previous tests (12 weeks for the P30 and just 10 for the M&P). But the plan was always to go a little slower with the .45, simply for the sake of my wrists and elbows. Still, in 42 range sessions so far, more than 10% of them have involved shooting 1,000+ rounds. The one-day record so far was 1,302… that’s over sixty pounds of .45 ammo!My opinions are my own and do not represent the position of other companies I may be involved with.Comment
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yea... just buy a HK45 or P30... that'll solve your problems
hehe
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