9mm recoil versus .38 spl. recoil out of a 2" snub...

[W Turner]

How do you guys think the recoil from these two rounds out of the same type revolvers (2" j-frame style) would compare?

I am assuming the loadings are similar i.e., 124 gr. +p for the 9mm and 125 gr. +p for the .38 spl.


Thanks,
Mino

BTW- I know the merits of these two have already been discussed in a previous thread, but recoil was never addressed AFAIK.

 

[KenF]

I shot my 9mm SP101 for the first time this weekend. The guy next to me had an SP101 in .357, and we struck up a conversation and compared notes.

The 9mm recoiled more that I expected; when I shot his SP101 with .38 special it seemed less recoil than the 9mm, by a factor of 20 to 30%, I'd guess.

I have an S&W 342PD (.38 special, AirLite Titanium), and so am not a stranger to snappy recoil in small revolvers. But since the SP101 is relatively heavy, I wasn't expecting it to recoil quite as much as it did.

His SP101 had Crimson Trace laser grips, which are larger than the stock once mine has. I want to get some larger ones, and have ordered a Hogue one from Midway. I'm sure that'll help with felt recoil.

 

[Jeff OTMG]

If you shoot the same weight bullets in the same weight guns the 9mm is going to kick more because it is shooting it at high velocity. I have a 940 and with 115 Corbon it kicked much more than my 640 and 649 with light bullets.

 

[Erich]

What they said.

My 940 alarms most novices who shoot it; no .38 J-frame has ever done so.

 

[tiberius]

In the same gun, recoil is proportional to momentum at the muzzle (m * v)

Therefore: .38 recoils less than 9mm which recoils less than .357 mag - assuming equal weight bullets. Heavier bullets generally cause higher recoil as well.

 

[Shane]

The main difference I notice is that the 9mm is more snappy (for example firing a now discontinued 9mm SP 101 side by side with a .357 magnum SP 101 that is loaded with .38's). Both cartridges are easy to control in an all steel snubby, but the .38 spl is a little more comfortable to shoot. I'm not one that likes the feel of snappy recoil--even if it is relatively mild recoil overall.

 

[C.R.Sam]

IF...
The bullet weight and velocity are the same.
And the guns are alike...
The recoil should be about the same.

Lot of .38Specials run equal wt bullet but lower velocity than 9X19.
Hence .38 recoil would be lower than 9X19.

However; I have lots of .38 Specials that crank faster than 9X19.
And they recoil right smartly.

Sam

 

[Erich]

I'd be surprised to hear you had a lot of .38 spls that ran faster than a similarly massive 9x19 out of a 2" bbl though.