low recoil .45

[tackleberry45]

Phantom 45 posted below on a .45. I would like to take it one step further. Is there a .45 that naturally has low recoil out of the box? I have heard HK. It would help me as I have nerve damage in my shooting hand. I shoot 9mm exclusively now. I have nothing against 9mm, just exploring alternatives.

 

[Koblenz]

I think the standard full-size, all steel 1911 has low recoil. I remember the first time I fired one. I was in college, and got to try out some guns owned by classmates. The first I fired was the 1911, and could not understand why some people claimed it had a lot of recoil. Recoil and muzzle flip were minimal with the standard GI hardball. Next I fired a Walther P38, a 9mm pistol. It seemed to have much more muzzle flip than the 1911. I think this was due to the lighter weight of the P-38, and the fact that the P38 does not have a full length slide.

I have also fired a Colt Commander, which has an aluminum frame and weighs twelve ounces less than the full size Government Model. That gun had significant muzzle flip.

I haven't fired any of the newer .45s with polymer frames. I would expect them to have more muzzle flip than an all steel Gov't Model, simply because of their lighter weight.

 

[daysleeprx]

Yeah, 1911s have been the softest shooting .45s for me as well.

 

[legion3]

Beretta Cougar - no longer made but the rotating barrel took alot of the snap away,

The PX4 Storm is to come out in the 45 ACP , polymer with the rotating barrel

http://lundestudio.com/2007SHOTShow/

 

[GotGlock]

My p220 carry is a pussycat, from what i heard on sigforum it has less perceived recoil then a standard p220 because of the shorter slide= less momentum. I shot a glock 21 before, it was a soft shooting 45.

 

[10-Ring]

In my book, the HK USP 45 is very easy to handle well...they took full advantage of the technology w/ that dual spring recoil system.

 

[michiganfan]

Springfield XD is pretty soft.

 

[Dave Markowitz]

My Ruger P-90 is much softer shooting than my Springfield M1911A1, shooting the same ammo.

 

[rantingredneck]

Ruger P90 is indeed a pussycat to shoot. Of course it is a tank. If you wan't something a bit more concealable but still soft recoiling try the P345. Polymer, thin, light and easy to conceal but absolutely a dream to shoot. I borrowed one at the range a few months ago and haven't been the same since. Really Really want one now.

Compared side by side with my P90 I'd say it probably recoils a bit lighter even.

 

[MrBorland]

If you reload and aren't requiring it to be a semi-auto, how 'bout a S&W 625 .45 revolver? At 43oz, it's plenty hefty, and a 5" full underlug barrel ought to help muzzle flip. Plus, since it's a revolver, if you reload you can 1) load some lighter loads than you'd normally have to use in a semi-auto and 2) use auto rim brass so you wouldn't have to use moon clips if you didn't want to. A 5" 625 shooting light loads ought to be a very mild. You could also use hotter loads for SD.

http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/...selected=tech&isFirearm=Y&parent_category_rn=

 

[GTSteve03]

I found the Glock 21 to be a breeze to shoot. You would think being light weight would make it kick more but the polymer seems to absorb the shock really well, it recoils less to me than 9mm out of an all-steel CZ.

 

[Youngster]

For me it's a 1911 with a small radius firing pin stop, it seems to saw off both muzzle flip and torque at the knees.

 

[Princi]

If you can get one, the Sig Sauer P220 Sport is the lowest recoil shooting .45 ACP that I've ever shot.

My dealer took his wife shooting and let her shoot his Kimber 1911. She hated it. I let her shoot the 220 Sport, and she shot it better than either of my 9mm 1911's.

Another one, which is one I bought this year, is the USP Expert in 45ACP. I'll tell you - not much recoil, and even though it is a DA/SA trigger, it shoots as well as most of my 1911's.

I bought my Wilson Combat CQB at CheaperthanDirt a couple of years ago for $2000, and it is a very good 1911. You can spend more, but...

This year I bought the H&K Expert from www.sportingarms.com for $1075. With inflation taken into consideration, I'd say that the H&K is half the price as the CQB. Great gun for the money i.e. good value, and not as much felt recoil.

 

[marksman13]

My wife shoots my SA-XD with no problems. It's a bit front heavy with the 5 inch barrel, but I think the weight up front reduces felt recoil and muzzle flip. YMMV

 

[45auto]

The easiest way is to download the 45 ammo if you reload, particulary if you have a damaged hand IMO.
If you don't reload, "match/bullseye" type ammo will be softer recoiling...not the hardball match ammo.

Otherwise, it's my "impression" that doublestack guns might have less "felt recoil" since more of your hand is feeling the recoil.

Softer, rubber grips help and more "weight" works also.

 

[HorseSoldier]

Of the .45 cal pistols I've owned along the way, I'd rate them, softest to hardest/snappiest in terms of recoil as:

1/Best: CZ-97B
2: Kimber 1911 (steel frame)
3: Sig P220
4: HK USP45C
5: Glock 21
6/Worst: Taurus 24/7 .45

 

[JDGray]

Shooting my P345 and a Kimber pro, side by side with the same ammo, my Ruger was notabily softer shooting. Both of us totally agreeg on that!

 

[BigMak]

Gotta agree about the Rugers. My P97 is very soft shooting.

But MrBorland hit it on the head. My S&W 625 is the softest
shooting .45 I have. A *****cat compared to my 1911's or my
Ruger.

 

[DogBonz]

+1 For The USP45

Or should I say +2 (I have two of them). Very soft shooting for a poylmer framed 45. Follow up shots come fast and easy.

A full size all steel 1911 is even softer, and faster, but they do weigh a bit more.

 

[bannockburn]

I would have to say the Sig 220. I had a Browning BDA in .45 and it was by far the softest shooting .45 I had ever had, including an H&K P9S. I remember letting my 18 year old sister shoot it at her first range visit and she put them all in the black at 30 feet, no problem. Actually, I think the biggest problem I might have had was getting the gun back from her after that.

 

[Outlaws]

Phantom 45 posted below on a .45. I would like to take it one step further. Is there a .45 that naturally has low recoil out of the box? I have heard HK. It would help me as I have nerve damage in my shooting hand. I shoot 9mm exclusively now. I have nothing against 9mm, just exploring alternatives.

Ruger P90 with Hogue grips. Less recoil than a 9mm Glock 19. The recoil it does have is very smooth. Thats the best way I can describe it.

 

[Surefire]

To me, almost all .45s are naturally low-recoiling. Unless its a poorly ergonomic mouse gun like an AMT backup, in which case recoil can be a bit stiff. But in compacts and full sized .45s, I've never found recoil to be an issue at all--in fact I prefer the way the typical .45 recoils over the way a typical 9mm recoils.

With this said, I find that the Glock 21 tends to have a little less subjective felt recoil than competing .45s. My favorite .45--the Sig P220--in my opinion has slightly more recoil than an average .45 (there is one exception to this opinion, and that is the heavier 220ST model). It is the alloy framed P220 that IMO has slightly more subjective recoil than an average .45--but it is still an easy shooting pistol--especially when shot side by side with a typical .40.

If one is looking for slightly reduced subjective recoil (assuming these guns fit your hand correctly), I'd say give these .45s a try

G21
XD45
Ruger P90
Sig P220ST (the stainless frame's weight absorbs some recoil).

 

[fattsgalore]

I shot a Ruger P345(45acp) that had less recoil them my Glock23(40s&w).

 

[gc70]

Reloading is really the way to go for a .45 with low recoil. .45 ACP can be loaded to less recoil energy and recoil velocity than standard 9mm when both are fired from typical full-size pistols.

 

[Whirlwind06]

Hi-point .45 That huge slide absorbs a lot of recoil.