Rating recoil subjectively 9MM, .40, .45

[Clark]

About half the momentum of the bullet and gas goes into the velocity of the slide relative to the frame.
The other half goes into accelerating the hand and forearm.

The energy associated with the slide to frame velocity is absorbed in the recoil spring, friction, and ejection.

The energy of any remaining slide to frame velocity is what I call "slide slam".

Recoil pain has a threshold of pressure on the skin. The energy transfer during the time the slide is moving back is low enough, that the force is low enough, that over the palm area of transfer, there is no pain.

But the slide slam energy [relative to the time to the store energy in the recoil spring] is very fast. This fast energy transfer, like a hammer, gets a high force peak, that makes pain.

I was shooting 460 Rowland level handloads in a 20 ounce 45acp with stock springs in May of 2000, and a few shots gave me a flinch. I would punch my shoulder forward when I pulled the trigger. Even when I was shooting a 22 pistol, I was still flinching.

I built a 42 pound triple recoil spring assembly with a Wolfe gunsmith spring pak, and although there was still some slide slam, there was a lot less, and the flinch went away.

One or two shots would hurt for 3 or 4 hours. If anyone does not believe me, meet me, and I will let you shoot it. I don't think you will pull the trigger a second time.

 

[Ala Tom]

CDW4ME, thanks for the formula. That is a crude relation to the momentum. That is not bad for an approximation. In a revolver, where nothing in the gun takes energy out of the response, that would probably be adequate. But in a pistol I doubt if it is very reliable. This is why we get such a range of "felt Recoil" in pistol shooting. Having fired both large caliber revolvers and pistols I can attest to this (though the experience is not recent).

 

[Hanshi]

In the Gov. Model format: 9mm/.38sup.......5

.40...........no experience

.45...........7

 

[Nushif]

I think pop snap and push describes it best.

In terms of numbers they're all somewhere around a five. To me the quality of the recoil is what makes it more or less pleasant.

The 9mm pops up the barrel nicely and crisply.
The .45 pushes the barrel up kinda lazy-like.
The .40 to me kinda feels obnoxious. It combines a sharp slap and a push. IT shoves back and at the same time pops up the barrel less than smoothly.

Or compare it to this:
The 9mm is a nice and crisp standard salute. Fast down, fast up, looks good.
The .45 is a honor Battery salute, Slow on the up, slow on the down and a bit modified.
The .40 is a sloppy and fast salute.

Ya dig?

 

[Ala Tom]

I just used that Genitron site to compare two guns I used to shoot with one I intend to get soon for recoil and for defense effect. Here are the results:

Ruger Blackhawk 357 Mag SA rev, Recoil 4.9/14, Defense 8/14

Colt SAA .45 Colt rev, Recoil 5.5/14, Defense 9/14

S&W M&P 40, Recoil 4.2/14, Defense 13/14.

It shows the jolt you feel has little relation to the effectiveness as a defensive weapon. When I bought the Colt, 46 years ago, I shot it several times with the original checkered rubber grips. Then I bought some nice pretty pearl grips for it and could barely hold onto the gun after each shot with factory ammo.

 

[9mmforMe]

9mm-3
.45-4
40-5
.38spl-2
.22-<1
.357-6

 

[Brian10]

I own guns in the 3 calibers described, and I don't experience the .45 push like many describe here. They all recoil in the same way to me, with the 9mm least, then 40, and then clearly the 45. With a similar size/weight gun, I can't possibly see the 40 recoiling more than the 45. That's just physics.

My 1911 Commander is much snappier then my M&P40. The M&P has a low bore axis, so that could be why I don't experience the snap like others are describing. In numbers, it would be something like:

9mm: 5.5
40: 6.0
45: 7.0

 

[LouisianaMan]

Beretta M9/M92: 4

Glock 22 or 23 in .40: 7-8

1911A1 in .45: 7