Softest shooting 45 alive?

I put this question in the same category of " How many angels can dance on the head of a pin ". No reasonable answer./

On a 1911 you can tune the recoil some by changing the firing pin stop plate. There's a radius on the bottom edge that pushes the hammer over and cocks it when the slide cycles back.

A larger, smoother radius means more recoil, but easier to operate the slide. A smaller, sharper radius tames the recoil, but makes racking the slide tougher.

I'm going to say the H&K USP45. The buffer system seems to reduce recoil of 230 grain carry loads to feel like 185 grain target ammo.

Another vote for Hk usp/c,hk45/c, sig p220 carry. I've shot them all a fair amount and own the USP 45c. The USP almost feels like a hot 9mm

460Shooter: said:

My HK45 is pretty soft shooting.

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So is mine. And my Gen4 Glock 21 isn't bad either, with the large beavertail backstrap installed. "IMHO" this setup really works to tame the recoil

rondog said:

On a 1911 you can tune the recoil some by changing the firing pin stop plate. There's a radius on the bottom edge that pushes the hammer over and cocks it when the slide cycles back.

A larger, smoother radius means more recoil, but easier to operate the slide. A smaller, sharper radius tames the recoil, but makes racking the slide tougher.

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One of many helpful things I learned from 1911Tuner. Excellent tip.

My FNX-45 is a joy to shoot. Lots of steel in that slide. Soaks it up well. Second is my Ruger P97. Thats a shooter

Softest shooting 45 that I've ever had is my SAR K2 45, with my sadly gone now S&W 4506 being the next one. I like heavy guns and both of those qualify.

Gen 4 Glock 21 is my softest shooting .45 ACP. Softer than any of my 1911's and the Sig P220 I used to own.

weblance said:

My FNX-45 is a joy to shoot. Lots of steel in that slide. Soaks it up well. Second is my Ruger P97. Thats a shooter

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My FNP45 was a ton of fun to shoot also. Unfortunately it never fed properly. But if the FNX took care of those issues, I'd love to have one again

For the most modest recoil, this combination can't be beat:





Bob Wright


I beg y'all's pardon! I got het up in reading this discussion and forgot that I had wandered into the wrong territory!

I have a Dan Wesson Guardian in a 4.25 commander size that is as smooth as butter. I could shoot 230gr all day long if I had enough ammo

Nice carry gun too!

rondog said:

On a 1911 you can tune the recoil some by changing the firing pin stop plate. There's a radius on the bottom edge that pushes the hammer over and cocks it when the slide cycles back.

A larger, smoother radius means more recoil, but easier to operate the slide. A smaller, sharper radius tames the recoil, but makes racking the slide tougher.

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The squared FPS has been another project to apply to the 1911. The flat wound spring also smoothed out the feel to my perceptions.

I beg y'all's pardon! I got het up in reading this discussion and forgot that I had wandered into the wrong territory!

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I understand, the softest shooting .45acp I have is easily my S&W 25-2.
All my others are to close to bother comparing,it just becomes splitting hairs really.

I have shot 32's with more recoil.

I put this question in the same category of " How many angels can dance on the head of a pin ". No reasonable answer./

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I agree, it was a goofy enough thread to start without adding "I will like to confine the answers to 4.25 barrel"

PPQ45 is pretty soft.


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Back in the Pre-JHP era, most of the major ammo manufacturers
offered 230 gr. FMJ @ 830 fps and a target load
185 gr. SWC/FMC @ 775 FPS.

My full size S&W 1911 shoots softest compared to my Commander
or RO Compact. But my softest shooting .45 is my S&W 625 5"
barrel with full underlug, coming in at 45 oz empty is it.

Softest shooting SD/HD load is
oddly +P 185 gr. Barnes TAC-XP @ 1,000 fps 5" Bbl.
also has minimal muzzle flash
I usually carry 230 gr. Fed HST or Hornady XTP/Speer Gold Dots
non-+P @ 900 FPS

then there's the Marlin 1894 .45 Colt 20" Bbl.
Barnes Vortec 200 gr. Solid Copper HP, @ 1,000 5" Bbl.
it's non-+P - I have fired a Buff. Bore Bear load 325 gr.
@ 1325 FPS and ouch,

R-

The lightest recoiling 45 that I have shot is also the cheapest 45 that I have ever shot. It was a Hi Point. That big heavy slide absorbs recoil very well.

If you must go with the short 4.25" barrel, my vote would be for a Baer 1911 Commanche with the full length dust cover. All steel frame with the extra weight of the full length dust cover to tame the recoil. A 5" Government size Baer, also with the full length dust cover, would be even softer and more luxurious to shoot.

Not being demeaning of the original subject question, but I've never thought thus considered the 45ACP to be a difficult problem in regards to felt recoil. That said a reduced 200Gr-SWC paper punching target load in a S&W 4506 is soft shooting.

Acera said:

A new firing pin stop helped tame my Kimber ProCarry down more than I expected.

Getting it back to what JMB had in mind, before others changed it for everyone else, helps.



.

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Bingo. A flat-bottom or small radius firing pin stop will do wonders for the perceived recoil of a 1911. As far as softest shooting .45, I am hard pressed to decide which is softer shooting between my Colt Rail Gun (full size, steel frame 1911) and my Glock 21. Both are cream puffs to shoot.

Well... since we seem to have evolved into discussions of soft-shooting full-size .45s, I find the Springfield GI Hi-Cap 1911, which is all-steel, to be very soft-shooting, especially with all upgraded components and customized by John Harrison. And I do carry this on occasion. Black Ion-Bond DLC finish.

It, too, has a flat-bottom firing pin stop - something that John has done on every custom 1911 he's made for me.

IMTHDUKE said:

In your experience what is the softest shooting 45 alive. I will like to confine the answers to 4.25 barrel or commander size since I am in that market right now.

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In my limited experience, the softest shortie is Kahr P45 with new springs (a folk remedy is to use a Wolff spring for K40, because Kahr factory springs are not very good). Out of full-sizers, probably 1911A1, strangely enough for its age. But really there's not much difference between it and full-size XD(m) or Glock 21. Beretta Px4 is quite nice too.

I've got an M&P in .45. I think I paid $425 for it brand new last year. Great gun. Very easy shooting.