MurrayNevada
Member
I am getting some conflicting answers when searching this question. Does heavier bullet weight have more or less recoil? Take .45acp for example; does a 230gr bullet have more or less recoil than a 200gr bullet?
Thanks
Thanks
Does heavier bullet weight have more or less recoil?
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biblefreak
Member
It depends..
somebody I am sure will give a scientific\mathematical\physics equation as to where the trade off is, but it depends on how much powder is being used. A 230gr bullet traveling at 850 fps should have more recoil than a 200gr bullet at 850fps. A 230gr bullet traveling at 700fps will have less recoil than a 200gr bullet moving at 900 fps.
somebody I am sure will give a scientific\mathematical\physics equation as to where the trade off is, but it depends on how much powder is being used. A 230gr bullet traveling at 850 fps should have more recoil than a 200gr bullet at 850fps. A 230gr bullet traveling at 700fps will have less recoil than a 200gr bullet moving at 900 fps.
John Forsyth
Member
Good question, hard to answer as there are so many variables. That's one reason why the competitve shooting sports came up with power facter, which is just a momemtum equation, mass (the bullet) times velocity. If you also assume you are talking about one gun only, not different brands, i.e., Glock vs 1911, would a heavier bullet going slower than a lighter bullet with the same power factor, have a lower recoil?
Got me, I just like light and fast.
Got me, I just like light and fast.
MoNsTeR
Member
At the same velocity, a heavier bullet will produce more recoil.
At different velocities, well, then it depends
At different velocities, well, then it depends
P95Carry
Moderator Emeritus
Always strikes me that if the acceleration provides the same muzzle energy then things should feel the same.
On balance ... the heavy bullet loads appear to give a (perceived) recoil that is more ''solid'' ... the lighter bullets, even at high velocities giving a less pronounced ''whack'' ... see ..... very scientific terms here!!
If I compare a Hornady 240 grain .454 Casull load with the 300 grainer ..... then the latter seems a tad more ''punishing''!
There ... subjective all the way.!
On balance ... the heavy bullet loads appear to give a (perceived) recoil that is more ''solid'' ... the lighter bullets, even at high velocities giving a less pronounced ''whack'' ... see ..... very scientific terms here!!
If I compare a Hornady 240 grain .454 Casull load with the 300 grainer ..... then the latter seems a tad more ''punishing''!
There ... subjective all the way.!
MrAcheson
Member
Energy has nothing to do with it. This is a momentum problem. As others have said, multiplythe bullet weight by the velocity. The round with the bigger number has a bigger recoil impulse and so it recoils "more." If you are looking at two rounds out of the same gun, this should be a rigorous enough analysis to give you a good number.
If we are comparing apples to oranges though you need to look at some other things. For instance if you are comparing two rounds out of two guns with different handgun weights then things are going to change. Likewise if you are comparing a light&fast round to a big&slow round. Once you start comparing more dissimilar cases, the variables start adding up fast.
patentnonsense
Member
Assuming no muzzle brake,
The energy of recoil is proportional to:
muzzle energy times
the ratio between the weight of the bullet and the weight of the gun.
Thus for a given power level, the heavier bullet will kick more.
The energy of recoil is proportional to:
muzzle energy times
the ratio between the weight of the bullet and the weight of the gun.
Thus for a given power level, the heavier bullet will kick more.
P95Carry
Moderator Emeritus
Mr A ... yeah - I did not give enough thought to momentum ... you are right.
Maybe a better way to look at it is the ''resistance to acceleration'' ..... in other words .. the overcoming of inertia .... the precursive stage to momentum build-up.
Thus, regardless --- the heavier bullet will better resist initial acceleration (within the pressure limitations of a cal in a particular gun)..... and so that will impart a greater perceived recoil. Action/reaction .... etc
(I am trying to avoid wading in to the math! )
Maybe a better way to look at it is the ''resistance to acceleration'' ..... in other words .. the overcoming of inertia .... the precursive stage to momentum build-up.
Thus, regardless --- the heavier bullet will better resist initial acceleration (within the pressure limitations of a cal in a particular gun)..... and so that will impart a greater perceived recoil. Action/reaction .... etc
(I am trying to avoid wading in to the math!
)
Zak Smith
Member
Both "Free Recoil Energy" and basic Momentum scale as "M*V" (mass time velocity of bullet). F.R.E. does it by (M*V)^2.
1911Tuner
Moderator Emeritus
Recoil
Another factor to consider is that ...assuming that both rounds are loaded to their full potential, is that the lighter, faster bullet will give the recoil
impulse a different "feel" than a heavier, slower one. The speedster
generates a quick, sharp impulse, as compared to the slowpoke making
the recoil feel more like a push. Sometimes this gives the impression that the round with the light, fast bullet "kicks" harder...but in reality, the actual recoil energy between the two is very close. It's just spread out over a
different time curve.
Interesting stuff, physics...
Cheers all!
Tuner
Another factor to consider is that ...assuming that both rounds are loaded to their full potential, is that the lighter, faster bullet will give the recoil
impulse a different "feel" than a heavier, slower one. The speedster
generates a quick, sharp impulse, as compared to the slowpoke making
the recoil feel more like a push. Sometimes this gives the impression that the round with the light, fast bullet "kicks" harder...but in reality, the actual recoil energy between the two is very close. It's just spread out over a
different time curve.
Interesting stuff, physics...
Cheers all!
Tuner
git_r_dun0405
member
While firing my Taurus M44 44mag. I found that the Winchester Silver Tips 210gr Recoiled less than the PMC 240gr /w Gas Check. Man what a Boomer the PMC are.
grendelbane
Member
Just to complicate the picture, keep in mind that the gasses from the burning powder also have their effect on recoil. Heavier bullets from the same cartridge usually have less powder, and lighter bullets more. However, the velocity of the gasses at the muzzle, (difficult for mere mortals to measure), can vary.
Add a ported compensator, or ported barrel, and the picture changes once again. A cartridge with a heavy load of powder might actually make the ports more effective at reducing muzzle jump, which also influences our perception of recoil. A conventional barrel might have us feeling that this load recoils more.
I would add more, but I have confused myself enough already.
Add a ported compensator, or ported barrel, and the picture changes once again. A cartridge with a heavy load of powder might actually make the ports more effective at reducing muzzle jump, which also influences our perception of recoil. A conventional barrel might have us feeling that this load recoils more.
I would add more, but I have confused myself enough already.
1911Tuner pretty much nailed it. At the same power factor the light bullet feels snappy and the heavy bullet is more of a push. Thus, the Limited Division IPSC gamer will probably shoot a 180 or 200 out of thier .40 loaded long with a fast burning powder for that "soft" feel.
MrAcheson
Member
Then Free Recoil "Energy" isn't an Energy since the units are wrong. You have one too many masses in there. Kinetic Energy is 0.5*M*V^2. Momentum is M*V. KE is actually the integral of Momentum. This is literally a textbook case of an "explosion" which is solved using conservation of momentum principles. Any kind of energy analysis will misestimate the contribution of velocity on felt recoil.
Avery Goodschott
Member
All I know is simple...
I bought a SW 629 and the crew all agreed that lighter 180 gr would kick less and I should start there.
Four rounds was all I could handle. Hurt my hand all the way up to the elbow. Traded it the next day.
Two weeks later a buddy talked me into shooting his 629 with 240 gr ... night and day difference.
I bought another .44 Magnum....but it's a Marlin
I bought a SW 629 and the crew all agreed that lighter 180 gr would kick less and I should start there.
Four rounds was all I could handle. Hurt my hand all the way up to the elbow. Traded it the next day.
Two weeks later a buddy talked me into shooting his 629 with 240 gr ... night and day difference.
I bought another .44 Magnum....but it's a Marlin
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