Lowest recoil compact 9mm

[Lonestar]

So far I have to admit the Springfield XD subcompact 9mm has tame recoil for it size, however it is pushing the boundaries of COMPACT pocket pistols. I feel the Glock 26 comes in at a close 2nd. I fired a Kahr PM9 and a Kel-tec P11 and I feel the Kahr is somewhere in the middle and the P11 having the most Kick probably due to its size and low weight. I'm getting more interested in small 9mm for primary carry, but I like something that I can shoot at the range all day and not be sore. Anyone have an opinion of the other compact pistols out there.

 

[10-Ring]

Me, I like the G26, the HK p200sk and the Walther P99

 

[weregunner]

Since you are familiar with the PM9 Kahr, why not go with a MK9 instead? More weight, somewhat less kick.And it is slimmer than the double column magazine models of other makes. Hiding the MK9 would be easier as well as spare ammo. Less bulk. Smith and Wesson has the CS9. Would meet the set criterea. Have a Taurus PT111 Mil/pro that holds 12 in the magazine. It works for me. The trigger is light and recoil has never been a problem since standard 9mm. loads are what are shot the most often. Shooting a lot of +Ps would be hard on the wrists and arms as well as expensive. So try them all and keep us updated as to which you have it narrowed down to or have which one was the "chosen one". Good luck.

 

[Katana8869]

FWIW I think that my G26 has less felt recoil and muzzle flip than my G19. On top of that, my G26 has proven to be a touch more accurate.

 

[berettaman]

A Beretta Mini Cougar. Probably the softest recoiling semi auto across the caliber range.

 

[MCgunner]

Shoot all day? Well, I put 100 rounds through my P11 usually and it don't bother me at all with standard WWB. The +P stuff rocks you back a little more. Yeah, the KT is the lightest of 'em all, so stands to reason it has a little more recoil, but it's not as bad as +P .38s in my alloy .38. That thing kinda stings my hand after a couple of cylinder fulls. Of course, then, there's the .45 Colt with hot loads in my contender if I really wanna be masochistic. Haven't bought a .45-70 barrel, yet. The new PF9 is 2 ounces lighter than the P11, so it might be the new king of pocket recoil, .40s and J frame .357s excluded.

I would expect the Glock to be a little easier, heavier, larger gun. The little Kahr, well, I haven't fired it. It's very close to the KT in size I think. But, in NO WAY are ANY of these little guns at a level with a Airlite J Frame in .357 magnum! Even the KT is quite controllable in rapid fire and the flash bang is nowhere close to .357 levels out of a 2" gun, so I guess everything is relative. Neat thing is, the guns are smaller, light, pocket sized, and pack as much as 13 rounds of +P which out of these guns is pretty close to the hottest .357 loads out of a 2" gun. You just can't beat 'em for pocket carry firepower IMHO. And, my P11 is quite accurate, to boot and I'm sure the baby Glock is, too. To me, they're the perfect answer for serious all day CCW. IWB gets uncomfortable after a while, even with a light gun. I like to pocket carry unless I don't have a choice.

 

[strambo]

Kahr K9, can shoot it all day. Not a pocket gun but a great CCW for all other modes of carry.

 

[MachIVshooter]

Lowest recoil compact 9mm

Baby Eagle compact. They give up size, not weight.

 

[P99guy]

Sig P229 9mm

 

[JDGray]

P11 is hard to beat, light, reliable, cheap, dont have to worry about a $1000 compact getting scratched. Recoil wont matter in a situation when youll need it most. Try a CZ compact, I'm impressed with my fullsize.

 

[jdmb03]

My Browning BDM has very little recoil. It's considered a full size pistol but it conceals like a compact.

 

[jon_in_wv]

My Keltec P-11 is a pussycat compared to my snub nose. Even with its steel frame I never fire more than a dozen or so rounds before I put it away. My KT on the other hand has seen several extended shooting sessions. I handled a Kahr today and I think it definitely had an edge in the trigger pull, sights, and slimness of the gun. It recoil is a issue than get the steel frame Kahr. From what I hear it has a big advantage in terms of quality compared to the polymer framed Kahrs and recoil shoud be vastly imporved by the extra mass of the weapon.

 

[Dollar An Hour]

The Walther P99c, at under 19 ounces, is pretty snappy for a 9mm. A milder-shooting compact would be a metal-framed Baby Eagle Compact or CZ P-01.

Steyr S9-A1 should be pretty mellow too.

 

[Jkwas]

My wife ccw's the Taurus Mil-pro 111. It is a very soft shooter by virtue of it's compound recoil spring.

 

[armoredman]

CZ75 Compact, all steel, great pistol.

 

[albanian]

Well recoil is going to be a function of several factors. The size and weight are always to effect recoil but there are factors that help tame recoil even in smaller guns. The lower the bore axis, the less the gun is going to flip on you. The better the grip fits you (most important factor after size and weight) the easier it will be to handle during firing. Look for a grip that lets you really feel like you have a hold on it.

I like my K-9s because I feel that I can grip them well due to the smaller grip. I also like the very low bore axis. Glock have a low bore axis as well but they are MUCH larger than a K-9. I am not a fan of the plastic Karhs but others are. Kahr will fix any problem you have and they have great customer service.

A S&W 3913 is a good choice as well. It is larger but weighs the same.

 

[Pilot]

The CZ-75D is a lightweight version of the all steel CZ compacts. Either pistols handle recoil very well.

 

[Shear_stress]

Kahr K9, can shoot it all day. Not a pocket gun but a great CCW for all other modes of carry.

10-4. The low bore axis nibs muzzle flip in the bud. It's always strange to move from the Kahr to a larger, heavy pistol and experience more apparent recoil.

 

[TxPhantom]

MP 9mm compact when available...

I recently bought a S & W MP 40 caliber with the intentions of buying the 40 caliber MP compact when they come out. After firing about 500 to 600 rounds through the MP 40 I have changed my mind & will probably get the 9mm. The 40 has a snappy but manageable recoil and I really like it but it might not be too pleasant in a compact. S & W will probably come out with the 9mm 1st anyway.
My wife has a S & W 642 38+P revolver that is a wrist snapper and not a fun range gun but a excelent CCW. In a self defense situation I doubt you would notice or even remember recoil. Some have said they don't even rembember the recoil or the loud discharge in a stress situation.

 

[PX15]

Sig P239
Walther P5

Both offer, to me, less recoil than my P11.

But I love 'em all, and if I need to use one of them in defense of my life I won't be worrying about the difference in recoil..

JMOFO

J. Pomeroy

 

[david_the_greek]

I've shot hundreds of rounds through my cz PCR with no problem. recoild has never bothered me with it. I had stock piled 9mm that I shot through it foolishly without thinking about how these darn ammo prices would keep climbing!! The pcr has an alloy frame and recoil is no problem. if you got the regular 75compact I would imagine that recoil would be even less (since its all steel).

 

[KeysBear]

I agree that I can shoot my Kel-Tec P-11 100 rounds and not be tired but my .38 snubbie gets tiring as heck after 50 rounds of standard ammo.

Keys

 

[Ala Dan]

Compact 9m/m

Greeting's All-

My compact (and only 9m/m) is a 1990 model West German SIG-SAUER
P228. Not as small as some previously mentioned, but packs a lot more
firepower in its 13 round magazines. I guess the rule of thumb for these
"wonder nines" is still, "spray and pray"~?

 

[Hawk]

I'm curious where the LS9 might fit in the compact v. recoil universe.

Anybody here with some hands-on?