Less Recoil: Glock 34 or S&W 686 ???

[huntndog]

Newbie here. I want to get into IDPA shooting, and I'm really hoping to get my wife into it as well. Right now, she's afraid of guns.
I'm hoping to purchase one handgun for both IDPA and HD. Recoil will be an issue for her.

I'm down to these two... unless you have a better suggestion. Which do you think would be better for her? She's strong, but feminine.
Both fit her hand fine. Commercial ammo only.

1) 9mm Glock 34. Thought about a ported barrel, but can't use it for IDPA SSP Class. I'd get an Advantage Arms .22lr conversion kit and start her off slowly.

2) S&W 686 4" 6-shot revolver. She could shoot .38spl in SSR Class. I have a S&W 617 4" .22LR that would be a good match for practice.

I could go either way, so this is all about her. I need to make it as much fun as possible for her!

TIA!

 

[PO2Hammer]

I think the auto is the more practical choice and the easiest to shoot for a couple of newbies.

It's lighter, faster and easier to load under stress.

The Glock will also be more fun and is more likely to keep you shooting/practicing. You can shoot quite respectably in IDPA/IPSC with a G-34 with less practice than a revolver, which says a lot about which is the better personal defense weapon.

 

[huntndog]

I like that logic.... Thanks!

 

[D-Man]

I think that due to the low bore-axis on the G34, that it would be the easier gun to shoot at speed when compared against the 686. Not to mention the higher capacity is a major plus of the Glock.

 

[punkndisorderly]

I own a G34 and love it. I shoot it better than any other pistol I own for some reason. Most people that have shot it really liked it as well. I had one jam caused by an incomplete ejection in the first 100 rounds and it's been flawless for the next few thousand.

As far as recoil, some people think it actually has more felt recoil than the 17's for some reason. My friend, who is a certifiable Glock nut shot mine recently and found it was actually less comfortable than his G21. He said the trigger guard was banging the middle finger of his shooting hand and felt as if it was torquing to the side in his hand. He shot two full magazines and couldn't put his finger on why. He never had that happen with any other Glock, including the several that he owns. I never noticed it.

Instead of going for a 34, you might consider going for a 17 and spending the money on a set of better sights, like the Tritium Fiber Optics. The stock sights are about the only thing I would change on my Glocks.

The recoil doesn't feel less (or more) than with the other glock 9mm's to me, just different. The best I can pin it down, with the 34 I feel most of the recoil as the slide coming back, with my 26 I feel the recoil from the force of the fired bullet. Hard to explain.

One thing that bothered me at first, but I grew used to it before I ended up doing anything about it, is the sharp-edged extended magazine release. The sharp corners were poking my off hand during firing. I don't notice it now.

 

[jad0110]

Recoil is a highly subject thing for many people. I find the 686 shooting 38 Special has less felt recoil than a the Springer XD9 I used to own, as well a G17 I shot once. Of course, load it with 357 and things change.

The Glock will also be more fun and is more likely to keep you shooting/practicing. You can shoot quite respectably in IDPA/IPSC with a G-34 with less practice than a revolver, which says a lot about which is the better personal defense weapon.

I've never participated in IDPA, so I can't really comment on that. But I would say this is a very general, sweeping statement that though may be true for some people, may not hold true for others. To say nothing of the effectiveness of either platform in personal defense for everybody (you still have to hit what you are aiming at). If I had a choice between the two, I'd take the 686 as I can shoot it far better than polymer autos. I actually shoot Glocks very poorly, as the design just doesn't feel at all right in my hands. They feel downright awkward to me. That isn't bashing Glocks, they are fine pistols, they just don't fit me. The last time I shot a Glock it was a G23, and I managed a freakin' 14" group at 7 yards . Give me a nice 686 and I'll manage a golf ball to apple sized group at the same distance if I do my part. Not great, but not bad either, for me anyway.

So it would be very beneficial if you can try them out before you buy them. I really can't say which would be better for you. Sorry, that may not be the answer you were looking for, but it is the truth. Good luck!