[StevenDavid]

Have been experiencing problems with arthritis over the past several years leading to an increase in perceived recoil.

Is there any bullet/powder combination that shots with less recoil? This would be used for plinking through a 3.5 inch barrel. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

[armoredman]

First, a steel frame compact, as opposed to alloy, will held dampen recoil, but you didn't state what firearm you are using.
Look up your favorite powder/bullet combo on the factory website, and use thier starting load, for beginners.
Also, a PAST shooting glove, or wrist brace might also be a good idea.

[The Bushmaster]

About the only suggestion I would have is to go to a longer barrel. This would reduce felt recoil to some degree. 9mm's just plain kick. I have a 3.3" 9mmX19. Other then that. .22...My wife suffers from rhumitoid arthritus. She still attempts to shoot her .38 Special with reduced loads, but much prefers my .22 Colt Woodsman...

[SniperStraz]

get a longer barrel, but the truth is that if you want a lesser amount of recoil you need to move down a caliber or two. my .02

[JDGray]

I load 115gr fmj, over 3.6gr Clays, gives me 1050fps. I down load for my 9yr old son, and he can tell the differance if I slip some factory power loads in on him:D This load cycles my CZ with my son shooting, but wont cycle a Glock 17 reliably, with a small amount of limp wristing thrown in.

[cherryriver]

My solution is the Berry's plated 147gr RNTMJ in front of about four grains of WSF or Unique. If I get it dialed in to make about 930fps, these make a very pleasant load that kicks much less than Winchester White Box, and are also much less blasty as a result of being subsonic.
The USPSA boys are tending strongly towards heavier bullets with faster powder to make a softer-kicking load while maintaining function. So far, I'm finding this to be the case.
These are pretty decently reliable in my wife's Glock 17, a gun widely held to be needing hotter ammunition to attain its full measure of function.
But in my beater PT92 and Colt Commander, they are close to 100%.
I put fifty of these with 4.0 of WSF through a steel Commander yesterday and they were just plain fun to shoot. In fact, there was a young wife at the range for the first time next to me, struggling with her husband's .45 Glock. After only a couple of my lowball 9s, she was in the black on the paper and having a much better time.
Good luck with your situation.
Bill