high/low bore axis

[Mr_Monkeywrench]

What exactly is it and how does it affect the gun/shooter?

[wade93274]

It's the distance between the barrel and your hand. The higher the barrel is above your hand, the more leverage it can exert during recoil. To try out the theory, shoot your gun with your hand as high up on the grip as possible, without the slide contacting the web of your hand. Then grip the gun as low down on the grip as possible while still controlling the gun. If you grip too low, and don't hold on, it'll hit you in the head and you'll make YouTube.

[BamBam-31]

It's a measure of how high the barrel sits in relation to your hand. Glocks, for example, are famous for having a low bore axis, while an XD has a relatively high bore axis. Generally speaking, a lower bore axis leads to less muzzle flip (which helps when shooting at speed). If you're just plinking slow fire at the range, it won't really matter.

[Suvorov]

It all goes back to your Engineering Science 200 level Statics Class

The higher the axis of the bore is above where you grip the gun, the more rotational force is created when the gun is fired resulting in more "muzzle flip."

Think of it as a wrench with a "cheater" bar attached. The longer the wrench, the more rotational force (torque) you are able to apply.

So, all things being equal (which they never are), the pistol with the lower bore axis will have less muzzle flip.

[wade93274]

A lower bore-axis results in less muzzle flip, but it transmits more of the recoil to your joints. The energy resulting in the muzzle flip is energy not directed into your body, or at least not to your joints. If you get "Tennis-elbow" you can have the same result from shooting too much. Some people can tolerate rotational forces better than compression forces. You may never know this till you take a class and shoot 600-800 rounds over a couple of days.

[MA2]

Great question!...so, if I may add, what guns are considered high bore?

I am holding a XD45 and G30 (dual wielding), and it only looks (eyeballing) 2-3mm higher judging by the top slide. That's really considered high?
Can't see or tell much difference between a 1911 either.

I would guess revolvers would be considered high, because of the way it is gripped (I do not own a revolver).

[Shoobee]

It all goes back to your Engineering Science 200 level Statics Class

The higher the axis of the bore is above where you grip the gun, the more rotational force is created when the gun is fired resulting in more "muzzle flip."

Think of it as a wrench with a "cheater" bar attached. The longer the wrench, the more rotational force (torque) you are able to apply.

So, all things being equal (which they never are), the pistol with the lower bore axis will have less muzzle flip.

Great explanation Suvorov thanks.

Most people also don't realize that they are going to need some kind of cheater bar to get the lugs off their wheels if they get a flat tire. But that's a different topic. Loved your application of the torque principle to this though.

[Mr_Monkeywrench]

Thanks for the info fellas. So in a pistol with lower bore access will be more "snappy" while a higher will be more smooth (recoil wise)? But the flip will be less with a lower bore? My next question is does a shooters grip need to be adjusted upon this factor?

[RollingCode3]

Glock= low
XD= high

[Turo]

Great question!...so, if I may add, what guns are considered high bore?

I am holding a XD45 and G30 (dual wielding), and it only looks (eyeballing) 2-3mm higher judging by the top slide. That's really considered high?
Can't see or tell much difference between a 1911 either.

I would guess revolvers would be considered high, because of the way it is gripped (I do not own a revolver).

That's because bore axis isn't the same as the top of the slide. The bore axis is the imaginary line that is in the center of the barrel and travels down its length. You can't see it when you're holding the gun properly without breaking lots of safety rules.

[starsnuffer]

Go shoot a P7 and shoot any other 9mm and you'll understand.

-W

[Sam]

Thanks for the info fellas. So in a pistol with lower bore access will be more "snappy" while a higher will be more smooth (recoil wise)? But the flip will be less with a lower bore? My next question is does a shooters grip need to be adjusted upon this factor?

I don't think pistols with lower bores are snappier necessarily. The amount of forced pushed into your hand should be the same between guns of the same caliber but the lower bored one will manage that force better.

[tbc]

Thanks for the info fellas. So in a pistol with lower bore access will be more "snappy" while a higher will be more smooth (recoil wise)? But the flip will be less with a lower bore? My next question is does a shooters grip need to be adjusted upon this factor?

Speaking of "snappy", I don't think there is a noticeable difference between a high bore axis pistol and a low bore axis pistol. Therefore, I would not be concerned about it.

Now, comparing a 9mm and 40SW is what I would be concerned.

[MikeDre]

Lower bored guns should be less "snappy" and more of a solid push back because of where the force from the bullet accelerating (and in turn impulse) gets applied in relation to your hand. The higher bore axis creates a greater angular momentum and lower linear momentum than the lower bore axis which creates less angular momentum and more linear momentum due to the impulse acting closer to the hand. (This is assuming that the guns both have the same mass moment of inertia which is a function of the design of the gun)

Think about someone punching a board pinned at the center so it can't spin nor move backwards. The person who punches at the top of the board will cause the board to want to rotate more than the person who punches where the pin is at the center which will cause the bard to want to move backwards.

[hybridatsun350]