.40 recoil snap - any truth?

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tackleberry45

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With the sheer popularity of the .40 round I cannot imagine that this is REALLY an issue. Would LEO not change if they could not get rapid, accurate, follow up shots? So is there really any hard core truth to "snappy" .40 recoil? I am feeling the waters here as there is a local with a really good deal on a G27.
 
9mm = pop
45 ACP = push
40 S&W = snap

This does not mean it is not controllable.
 
Nothing to it ... but my only glock was a 35.

Which I am an idiot for trading.

But I made good money on the trade.

But I cannot find another one for reasonable.
 
Yes, it is true. Its why I went away from .40. If you go in a gun store and look at used pistols you will find a lot more small .40s than anything else. I see used Kahr .40s all the time when browsing, I don't think I've ever seen a used Kahr 9. They seem like a good idea on paper but when shot a lot of people find follow up shots to be slower and even uncomfortable to shoot. This is not everyone, but its true for a lot of people. You may like a G27 but I'd shoot one first if you have never fired one.
 
9mm is fun to shoot, .45 recoils more but thats okay, a .40 in a poly gun is NOT for me.
 
I don't see any issue in it. M&P 40c is not hard to control for follow ups. I had a 105lbs girl who is not a shooter double tapping, and doing failure drills yesterday with it.

Does it snap more than say a full size M&P in 9mm? Yes...

On another note, I too have seen quite a few Kahr's on the used rack at the LGS. I'm under the impression it all boils down to the pistol, and the shooter's technique.
 
Yes, but...

I'd stop asking other people for opinions and rent some guns to figure it out for yourself.

To me, 40 s&w doesn't recoil too badly, but it does have more muzzle flip than 9mm or .45 acp in similiar guns. Is it tolerable? Yes. Do I shoot is as accurately or as quickly as 9mm or .45 acp? No. With practise, I'm sure that I'd get used to it.

Personally, I prefer 9mm and .45 acp.

40 s&w has a snappy, sudden muzzle flip.
 
I have an SA-XD full size 40 and the recoil is no big deal for me. Of course I've put close to 4000 rounds downrange, so I guess I'm used to it. Alot of it depends on the pistol, its weight, and its balance. My target loads with about 5.5 grains of Unique behind a 180 grain or 6 grains behind a 165 grain, are pleasant to shoot. Now I will say, the 165 grain Gold Dot's I bought for SD, have some serious pop to them, but its still controllable.
 
Yes.

I actually dislike it but enjoy the 10mm. My only rationale is the 10mm is equally snappy but also has a strong .45 push to it, so it kinda equals out.
 
Definitely true, at least with my Glock 22. I find it has a MUCH sharper upward whip of the muzzle than a friend's Springfield MicroCompact with .45 ball.

Ammunition does make a difference. I find that the muzzle whip is significantly worse with 180gr. bullets than with lighter ones.
 
On another note, I too have seen quite a few Kahr's on the used rack at the LGS. I'm under the impression it all boils down to the pistol, and the shooter's technique.
Click to expand...

I agree with this statement. Not all polymer pistols are created equal.

I shot a kahr cw45 that was not pleasant to shoot at all, and in the same day shot a G36 which is equal in size to the cw45 and it was not bad. I could shoot follow up shots with it pretty easily.

I am an owner of a G27 and I find it easy to shoot, easy to follow up with, and very accurate. I also own a G19, and find the recoil of the 27 not much more "snappy" than it. The G27 is my EDC gun.

Of course this is just my opinion, yours may be different, I hold a high and firm grip which may help control muzzle flip.

If you were going to try one out I would suggest the Glock, it seems to me that they absorb recoil well.
 
I was really nervous when I picked up my Glock 22 thinking it would be akin to shooting a hand-held howitzer. After the first mag, I realized the difference in perceived recoil between 9mm and 40S&W is darn near nil.

My S&W 4006 is so heavy, that recoil is a non-issue all together.
 
Sure is, but the Glock 27 in my opinion is their best gun. It's a frisky biscuit, and takes maybe 2-4 boxes to get used to, but once you're cool with it the 27 is an incredible shooter and carries like a champ.
 
The .40 in a full sized steel gun is a pussycat. It is a bit torquey/snappy in my XD SC. I prefer 180 Gr full load stuff vs 155 or 165 Gr full load stuff in it, as it feels less snappy.
 
I've never really met a handgun round I haven't liked so far. The .40 is no exception. However, I do agree that the .40 S&W is a bit snappy, especially with the higher velocity rounds of 155 and 165 grains. Not unpleasantly so, but still snappy. That's why I prefer an all-metal handgun in this caliber.
 
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Try shooting a Keltec P-40

A small, light platform that works in 9mm, is going to be an entirely different BEAST in .40,
But a Service, or full size gun, the difference is not as noticeable.
 
Glock 19 with 124 gr. +p.........Poppy
Glock 23 with 165 gr. .............Snappy
Glock 36 with 230 gr. .............Pushy

I like them all ! :)

Federal still makes the 135 gr. reduced recoil for the 40 S&W that tames it alot.
 

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A buddy's mediocre results with a .40 has muddied the waters for me, too. I fired his Glock and wasn't much dazzled with it, and then there was the prospect of more dies, brass and bullets to feed the thing. Too, some pistol caliber carbines that I like had useful 20 rd mags in 9mm, but only 11 in anything starting with a '.4'.
I understand the rationale of the .40 being to fit a .4" into a .3" frame, but every one I've fired personally had more rap and other issues I didn't care to deal with.
No .40 for me, but YMMV.
Moon
 
I've got one,I don't love it,Ruger P90sumthing.
Never noticed any recoil I don't like,but hammer bites me.
A friends .40 cal Witness is a dang fine weapon though,I can't miss with it,and recoil is low.
(May be snappy,but I never noticed,I'll pay more attention next time)
 
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