Perceived recoil of polymer vs. steel pistols

[Zaydok Allen]

People's perception is very hard to quantify.

I feel polymer guns recoil more than heavier all metal guns.

Technique and design play into it heavily though also.

Sometimes taking the plunge is the only way to know if a gun works for you.

 

[FROGO207]

Like 460 shooter I perceive that a polymer firearm does feel like it recoils more to me. Most importantly that translates into slower target acquisition after the shot. Yes fit and shape of the grip/frame also play a part in my perception as well.

 

[Walt Sherrill]

At the end of the day it is as I said earlier largely between the ears. At least up to a point. Obviously a 44 mag recoils more than a 38. But when comparing more similar guns the actual difference is so close that it can be hard to tell the difference. And most people are going to perceive it the same way they expected it to be.

That comment and the rest of reply #24 is very well stated. I agree.

It's a rare person who doesn't make at least some unconscious judgments in both the simplest or most important of things. And it's a simple psychological truth that If you're expecting something to be good, it'll be better than it would have been if you went into it without expectations. And vice versa.

 

[peacebutready]

@JEB: Thanks for the chart.

 

[Casefull]

I shoot heavy 10 mm hand loads out of my Kimber 1911 and Glock 20. The glock is definitely easier on the hand. I am sure wide grip helps. Maybe frame flex helps also. BTW I love 1911's.

 

[Pat Riot]

Cartridge spec, energy numbers, weights, barrel lengths, etc are all good numbers to take into account when buying a gun but I have found recoil to be subjective depending on the person, the way they hold the gun, size of grip, shape of grip, bore axis, etc.

This became obvious to me when I bought my Gen 3 Glock 19. I called it my “Jones Gun”. As in “keeping up with the Joneses”. I bought it because everyone else I knew had one and I “needed” one too. I hated that gun from the first moment I pulled the trigger. The recoil surprised me. I didn’t like the way it felt. My aim was off by 15 degrees too high (did some experiments to figure this out).
Anyway, I held onto the gun and shot it very little. Then one day I was at a range and it saw a guy shooting a G19 and he was raving about it. Long story short he had sent his gun away and had the finger grooves removed and he had some stippling done. He let me shoot it. What a difference in felt recoil. It was much better. My “point” aim was still off, due to the hump, but the recoil “felt” better just by the removal of the finger grooves.

Rather than modify the gun I sold it. It didn’t really fit me, the rear hump threw off my aim. I now have a 19X and I love it. My next Glock will be a Gen 5 G34.

 

[pblanc]

How well the grip fits and fills my hand makes an enormous difference to me when it comes to recoil control. If the grip distributes the recoil to a greater surface on your palm, the perceived recoil will definitely be less. And I also have difficulty with Glocks. Yes, the finger grooves on my G 19 Gen 4 definitely had to go, and I did some stippling. But I still have difficulty getting a firm, circumferential grip on that 2x4 like frame and I have trouble getting my support hand firmly applied to the side of that boxy grip.

 

[gotboostvr]

I have what I think would be a decent comparison.

An all steel fullsize CZ 75B, and a compact alloy framed P01.

I can get my whole hand on the P01, so I'd call the ergonomics a wash.

Same action for both pistols.

I can tell the all steel 75 has less recoil, but it's very close.

Same phenomenon with my 4" LW Colt commander and any of my 5" guns. I ran it head-to-head a few times with an all steel Springer Loaded Champion. The LW had more recoil, but not significantly so. The lighter weight was more than worth the slight increase in recoil.

 

[peacebutready]

Thanks for the replies, all.

 

[wally]

Two competing factors between poly and metal frames. The metal frames tend to be heavier and thus reduce "free recoil energy". The ploy frames tend to flex a bit absorbing some of that recoil energy.

Overall, IMHO how the gun fits or not to your hand and grip is a larger factor. As said above, only way to know for sure is to shoot!

 

[Spats McGee]

Cartridges like the 9mm, .40S&W, and .45 ACP are available in both steel and polymer pistols, of course. What is the perceived recoil difference between a polymer pistol weighing about 26 or 27 ounces vs. an all steel pistol like the CZ 75 or full size 1911? . . . .

Perceived recoil is going to be very hard to quantify, but I tend to agree with wally.

Two competing factors between poly and metal frames. The metal frames tend to be heavier and thus reduce "free recoil energy". The ploy frames tend to flex a bit absorbing some of that recoil energy.

Overall, IMHO how the gun fits or not to your hand and grip is a larger factor. As said above, only way to know for sure is to shoot!

My problem is that I don't have a good way to compare recoil. All of my 9mms are in polymer, and my .45 is steel. Clearly, I need more pistols. For the sake of science, of course . . .

 

[ATLDave]

If you try a wide-backstrapped heavy gun with a relatively low bore axis (such as a CZ or Tanfoglio) and compare it to the same caliber in a Glock, you can come closest to an apples to apples comparison.

 

[Zendude]

Vibration can affect felt recoil, although recoil and vibration are different forces. Metal transfers vibration more so than polymers, which tend to attenuate vibration. Also, the recoil mechanism differences among guns will affect how much vibration is transferred to the hand.

 

[Walkalong]

How well the grip fits and fills my hand makes an enormous difference to me when it comes to recoil control. If the grip distributes the recoil to a greater surface on your palm, the perceived recoil will definitely be less.

Yep, my P-365 seems softer than my Shield despite the Shield being an ounce heavier. The grip is significantly wider at the rear. The added weight of three more rounds may help as well.

 

[cfullgraf]

Between 9x19 and 40 S&W guns, I feel size of the gun has a greater affect on perceived recoil than the material it is made from. Obviously, weight has a factor as well, but generally, that tracks with the size of the gun as well. My micro 9x19 guns have a snappy recoil than ful sized 9x19 guns. My long departed Springfield P9C sub compact in 40 S&W had a snappier recoil than my Beretta M96

I've never fired a polymer frame 45 ACP so I cannot comment on that and my 40 S&W M1911 is a pussy cat to shoot probably due to the weight of the M1911.

But, I do not see much difference in perceived recoil between my full sized 40 S&W M&P or my Beretta M96.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Yep, my P-365 seems softer than my Shield despite the Shield being an ounce heavier. The grip is significantly wider at the rear. The added weight of three more rounds may help as well.

I think that's a pretty good example of the importance of a wide backstrap that fills the web of your hand. I find the XDs far more comfortable to grip and shoot than the original shield. I think the grips are fairly close in width but the rounded nature of the shield grip allows the gun to rock around in my hand more unless I have a death grip.

Perceived recoil is increased, for me at least. The P365 is more comfortable to me as well.

 

[ATLDave]

Just a note: an aluminum alloy frame and a steel frame are not the same thing.

 

[Styx]

I have both polymer and steel pistols and revolvers. Unless you're comparing the exact same gun with the exact same internals, dimension, etc, I'm not sure that anyone can really make a valid comparison. Even then, with one pistol design, you might notice a difference, but with another, the recoil might be negligible.

 

[Spats McGee]

Unless you're comparing the exact same gun with the exact same internals, dimension, etc, I'm not sure that anyone can really make a valid comparison.

This is why I need a Rock River Poly1911 . . . for science's sake, of course.

 

[JONWILL]

My wife finds that the Purple frame on an EAA witness kicks less than the black framed gun