Lightest recoiling 9mm?

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defjon

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After having avascular necrosis in my right wrist and subsequent surgery, I am looking for a range/home defense pistol that is VERY light on the recoil. Probably light weight would be better too, so I don't get as fatigued.

The problem is its a progressive disease so it starts in the other wrist and hip and such, so I can't simply switch hands and keep on rockin'.

What in your experience has been the lightest recoiling 9mm? Just asking for advice so I know some pistols to start checking out.
 
Generally to reduce recoil, it would have to be heavier than a polymer gun and have a low bore axis. I recommend a CZ-75b
 
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The Beretta PX4 storm uses a rotating barrel system that is supposed to spread the recoil. The recoil is really tame in the PX4 compared to some other pistols.
 
The Ruger P95 has a nice heavy slide and a linkless cam that is supposed to make the recoil more of a push than a snap. It's still fairly light in weight overall as well.
 
My SIG P226 in 9mm has very light recoil relative to the Glock 19's and 17's I've shot. You can still get the older style all stainless models too (topgunsupply usually has them, for one), which should be even less since it will be quite a bit heavier then the standard alloy frame P226.

Mass absorbs the recoil energy better then any spring system or shock buffer setup I've ever shot. So I'd go with the others and say look for a nice all steel or steel slide/alloy frame gun (CZ 75b in stainless will also be a nice soft shooting 9mm). You'll have to accept a heavier pistol, but it will shoot softer because of that.
 
I hate to be the guy who answers your question in a way other than what you wanted... but there are a lot of very heavy-for-caliber revolvers that do a great job of reducing recoil. I know you said you don't want a heavy gun, but as other posters have mentioned, weight really is the best way to reduce recoil.

Also, with your physical condition, I would be concerned that your ablity to retain a firm grip could affect the reliability of a semi-auto handgun. Even a Glock can be limp-wristed. If the gun is to be an HD gun, that's the last thing you want.

Of the 9mm guns suggested so far, I'll second the CZ 75B. If that is too heavy for you, check out the CZ P-07 Duty as well. I've never shot a polymer 9mm that recoiled less, including Glocks. The design really fits medium-sized hands well, and it weighs only 1.7 lbs. The Ruger P-series 9mm's are also good choices for your purposes. I've shot several, and they don't jump much at all for me.

Let us know what you end up with!
 
Get yourself a P-38 P-1....Grip angle-weight will like your damaged hand.
Recoil seems to be light compared to some other 9mm., with a sweet trigger and good sights...Good luck...
 
Maybe look at a .380 instead?

they are small, light, and in some instances can hold in the neighborhood of 12 rounds

The Bersa Thunder .380 Plus holds 15 rounds, and its not gonna break the bank either
 
Though I haven't had the pleasure personally, I would presume the steel frame Kahr T9 would have a pleasant recoil.
Another option would be a ported muzzle from some aftermarket barrel or from a firearm designed and manufactured as ported (such as a G17c).

Photo from this GlockTalk thread
2095014010100259265S600x600Q85.jpg
 
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A ported Glock 17 is a great idea.

I have both a Glock 17 and a CZ 75B. The Glock has quite a bit less muzzle flip. I attribute this to the lower bore axis.

You might look at a 2011 style 1911 in 9mm. That or a Browning Hi-Power. Both would be very light recoiling, accurate, and fun to shoot. The Hi-Power would be the more reliable of the two with 9mm cartridges.
 
Full-size all-steel guns are gonna have the lowest felt recoil.

Of all the 9mm's I have owned and currently own, at 40 ounces and with excellent ergonomics, my full size Baby Eagle is by far the softest shooting. It is essentially a CZ-75, but a little heavier built and with a full length dust cover and a slide mounted safety/decocker instead of frame mounted safety. Next is the S&W 5906, then the CZ-75.

I polished the frame on mine, shown with it's namesake big brother in this photo:

Eagles.jpg

The current incarnation of the Baby Eagle is back to the Jericho name, though I'm not sure they have an importer at this interim time (Charles Daley had picked them up after Magnum Research, then went out of business).

Also, if you don't mind lower capacity and single action, 9mm 1911's are very sweet shooters. Not always easy to find, though.
 
Personally I would get an auto loading shotgun, with lightloads they have very little recoil. My Sig P226 has less felt recoil than my Glock G34 but just barely. If you have hand/wrist problems then a revolver my be the ticket as "limp wristing" a pistol usually leads to jams like failure to eject / stovepipes. Of all my 9mm pistols the lowest recoil is my STI Trojan, the 1911 platform in 9mm is probably the best with double stack frames capacity could be as high as 20-22 rounds, but I reccomend a single stack 1911 with 10 round Wilson Combat mags.
 
I would go with a Glock 19 or 17. I am a rather small shooter at only 5'5 125lbs. For even less recoil I would go with a compensated or "C" model 17 or 19, as others have suggested. Also, if this helps I have about 1200 rounds through my Glock 19. I would trust my life to it!

Take care, best wishes
Evan :)
 
i think you're barking up the wrong tree. get a big heavy ass .357 and fire .38spl out of it. .38spl out of my gp100 feels like a mouse fart. barely any recoil. far far less recoil than my sig 226 in 9mm.

you will not find any 9mm that recoils as lightly as .38spl out of a large framed .357.
 
This is the softest shooting 9mm I have ever shot - but then again, it's WAY expensive :neener:

Operator-red1.gif


So realistically, I'd recommend a Beretta 92FS. Besides that 9mm 1911 I have, the Beretta is one of the softest shooting standard production 9mms I have ever shot.

The baby eagle mentioned above is even heavier - so that's worth looking at as well.
 
Like someone said that a revolver is good. Maybe a Ruger GP100.

In 9mm, maybe a uzi pistol would do well at 60 ounces.

I put a tactical light on my Beretta 92 to add weight.
 
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