.40 S&W recoil.

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

Glock 23 is thee most uncomfortable pistol I have ever shot, second is the Springfield Armory XD. Although the SIG Sauer P229 in .40 S&W is a joy to shoot and I shoot it very well.

Its not the cartridge but the gun itself.

 

[CDR_Glock]

Was shooting my Grandpa's Beretta 96 today, maybe it was just bad technique, but I find that .40 recoil is really uncomfortable. Seems way too snappy. I'd much rather shoot my Makarov.


That leads to my next question, how does the recoil of a Beretta in .40 S&W compare to a full size 1911 in .45? To a 92FS?


I've always wanted both of those, but if the recoil is worse.......

The recoil is equal to a 1911. More than a 92 FS.

Why are so many people intimidated by 40 SW recoil? Recoil is relative. It, IMO, dictates what happens with follow up shots.

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

Not intimidated but just annoyed with polyguns.

 

[Deanimator]

Why are so many people intimidated by 40 SW recoil?

Not "intimidated" at all. It's just more difficult to control than I like.

The same grip that affords me excellent control of an M1911 with ball or 200gr. JHPs won't allow me to keep the gun in both hands. I don't need a death grip on either my M1911 or my Browning Hi Power.

 

[varoadking]

I know I'm splitting hairs, but it's alloy. It's no where near as light as aluminum...

To spilt that hair even further, it's an "aluminum alloy"...so it actually is as light as aluminum...

 

[GLOOB]

I read that FEG has used 99% aluminum and 1% titanium in some of their alloy gun frames, just for reference.

I think some people get the idea that a .40 SW cartridge is smaller than .45, so it should recoil less. Well, a 10mm cartridge is smaller than .45 ACP. As is a luger cartridge, compared to .38 special.

 

[Onward Allusion]

To spilt that hair even further, it's an "aluminum alloy"...so it actually is as light as aluminum...

I was hoping that you would have gone away after I had a chance to look it up but I guess if you've been around since 2003, you're not going anywhere.

I'll still say that the recoil from a 96 is not bad but I've only shot one a few times.

 

[gga357]

I haved moved from the Glock 23 & 22 to the S&W M&P compact and full size because the are much more comfortable.

 

[Airburst]

Onward Allusion
IMO, the MAK is a lot more snappy than the 96.

I concur. I had a PA63 and that thing hurt.

 

[Spec ops Grunt]

The pa63 weighs 595 grams.


http://world.guns.ru/handguns/hg/hu/feg-ap-63-pa-1963-e.html
Mine is the original Makarov, PM Makarov, East German manufacture.

It weighs 730grams.

http://world.guns.ru/handguns/hg/rus/makarov-pm-pmm-e.html

 

[AKElroy]

the 96 is about as beefy a platform as can be had to launch a .40. I think that Mak has you spoiled. That said, I have a renewed interest in 9's. Cheaper practice, and not a knats kiesters difference in actual SD value between it and the .40.

For that reason, I have 3 9s & only 1 .40.

 

[sxcamaro05]

Eh or you could be very poor with recoil do to your mindset. My buddy Dave will only shoot 9mm loads because "40 hurts his hands" and the recoil is "too strong". Gentlemen (and Ladies) this guy is 6'3'' and 230 lbs so I think it is a matter of mindset as I'm substantially smaller and can fire .40 just fine.

 

[easyg]

Glock 23 is thee most uncomfortable pistol I have ever shot,

Because of the recoil???


No way!

The Glock 23 is one of the mildest of .40 pistols out there.

Heck, I've yet to meet any female who couldn't shoot the Glock 23 just fine....even with one hand!

 

[ColdDeadHand]

I can only speak for my experience with the M&P full-size vs. the compact, both in .40 S&W.

I started on the compact and I must say it took several trips to the range to get used to it. I would go and shoot maybe a box of 50 at the very most and then switch to something else. After some period of break-in time (for me, not the pistol), it became a pleasure to shoot.

I got to shoot my buddy's full-size well after I learned on the compact and I can say it is a much gentler gun. It still commands attention, but it's nothing like the recoil from the compact.

Long story short: My recommendation is not to run head-long into shooting a pistol that's not comfortable for you. Take your time with it. Like anything else there is a learning curve.

Just because you don't like it today, doesn't mean you'll never enjoy that pistol.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

Seems way too snappy.

You aren't the first to make this observation. I find it tolerable in a full size gun (rental Springfield XD), but is a handful in a small gun (personally - and briefly - owned Glock 27). I actually like the "push" of the .45 Auto better.

 

[Marshall]

I'm rather mystified by some of the comments.

My Springfield XD-40 service models is one of the guns I shoot best, and it's in 40 S&W. I don't find the recoil harsh at all, rather mild actually. Maybe it's all my revolver shooting in magnum calibers, I dunno? Snappy? Maybe a little. I have a Browning BDA in .380 ACP that I would consider to be more "snappy" feeling and that's probably because of the blowback action. But I sure wouldn't classify either as uncomfortable, by any means. Heck, they're not rimfires, you have to expect some umph out these things.

 

[onthecount]

I love my beretta 90-two...in 40 s&w...I dont find the recoil all that bad and I'm probably the smallest person on here 6' and only 130 pounds on a good day. Snappy is my Walther PPK/S .380...but thats so much fun to shoot I dont even care.

 

[Lobo_79]

In my (albeit limited) experience of learning and teaching other people shoot, I see .40 S&W as kind of an acquired taste...

An acquired taste indeed. I normally shoot a 92G Vertec but recently I picked up a CZ75B in .40 S&W. I like the CZ and its recoil-absorbing steel frame, but after the holidays I think I'll convert it to a 9mm.

 

[Surefire]

I think it is just a matter of personal preferences.

To me the .40 S&W recoil is snappy in comparison to some other cartridges, but still that is not an issue for me. I am very comfortable shooting the compact Sig P239 in .40 all day.

Having said that, I do prefer the .45 ACP recoil type more. To me, the .45 ACP recoil has the perfect balance between total recoil and type of recoil of the semi-auto chamberings.