Recoil characteristics: Glock 21 vs 1911-A1

[Admiral Thrawn]

I'm interested in hearing people's thoughts about how they feel these two 0.45ACP semi-autos recoil, and how it affects their follow-up, etc.

Of course the Glock 21 is a polymer-framed double stack compared with the single-stack classic metal construction of the 1911-A1, so that makes things even more interesting.

Thanks.

 

[cratz2]

I've been shooting 1911s for a long time now and that is my point of reference of comparison of recoil from handguns... I don't think it's excessive or brutal by any stretch of the imagination.

Having said that, I think the Glock 21 has a bit less felt recoil, to my hand anyway. The Glock has a very low bore axis meaning the point of pivot is lower so there seems to be less flip, not that there seems to be much 'flip' to the 1911. Some will say that the polymer frame flexes slightly and reduces the recoil in that manner. Of course, the Glock weighs less than the 1911 also... It's pretty complicated. I think they're about the same, but the Glock 21 seems slightly more comfortable to me.

 

[Edward429451]

I own both a G21 and a 5" GVMT MDL and my perceptions and experiance mirrors what cratz2 said. The Glock seems to recoil more straight back with less flip but the GVMT is in no way uncontrollable. I've got more range time with the Colt so do about the same with either.

The Colt seems slightly more comfortable to me overall, but that's speaking of flatness/carryability more than anything else. But if I knew trouble was coming there'd be no question about which I'd grab first, the 870 of course!

 

[JimC]

I too have been shooting 1911 type pistols for a good many years. Love them all, well nearly all.
I don't find the recoil of even the heaviest loaded rounds to be an issue for me.
I do own a G21 and have found that the felt recoil of the polymer frame makes it seem like a much "softer" recoiling pistol. My G21 is a pleasure to fire and one of my favorites.
The HK FS USP is another "soft" recoiling polymer framed pistol.

 

[Sean Smith]

The Glock's recoil feels sharper, in a sort of spongy way, compared to the 1911. If that makes any sense.

Seriously, I think the difference is mainly subjective.

 

[Correia]

Hard to say for sure. I think the main difference is that the Glock has a wider grip and it feels more evenly distributed. I can't really say that the 1911 has much muzzle flip at all when shot with good technique.

However I have a poly doublestack 1911, and it has the softest recoil of them all.