Recoil mitigation

[Quincy12]

Long ago I had a Glock 19 in 9mm. I went to the range and rented an H&K USP, also in 9mm and shot them side by side. I was amazed at what the H&K recoil springs did for felt recoil. First question, do they use this system in all their pistols, or just the USP and the MK23?

Second, I currently have a Sig SP2020 in 9mm and I would like to reduce it's felt recoil. I am aware of both the Sprinco and the DPM systems. Are these similar to what H&K does? If you've had experience with any of these, systems or H&K, what has your experience been? Thanks in advance for our thoughts.

Q

 

[JTQ]

I'm sure the recoil spring assembly has an impact, but the USP also has a slide designed for .40 S&W, and if you were comparing a full size USP with a G19, it is also much like comparing the recoil impulse of a G17 to a G19.

 

[mcb]

Weight of the handgun will, in most cases, have more to do with perceived recoil than the recoil springs.

I did try one of the Springco recoil mitigation systems in my XD-40 Tactical when I was using it a lot in USPSA matches. It work fine and certainly took a little snap out of the recoil but I found that it changed the dynamics of the recoil so much with slide returned to battery so much faster that all my double taps on targets in USPSA matches were going Alpha-groin-Delta instead of double-Alpha and the splits were slower too. I went back to a standard guide rod and the lighter recoil spring and my double taps were faster and both where I wanted them in the Alpha. The slight reduction in perceived recoil did not out weight the changes to the dynamics of the way the gun recovered from recoil in my hands. That is not to say it might work better for you since each shooter is unique in the way they handle and perceive recoil. I didn't like it.

 

[JDR]

IMHO, the proprietary recoil buffer system that HK employs helps to mitigate felt recoil. Another issue that people not familiar with HK pistols may not realize is that the modular grip setup on models such as the P30 and P2000 really seems to help manage recoil. I own both guns, and with my big hands the largest backstraps on both guns seem to make a difference in the recoil, the difference in the P2000 is really noticeable.

 

[Quincy12]

Thank you for the feedback everyone. I had forgotten that the DUO was designed around the .40, that certainly could be part of it. Weight making that much difference, I may have to look at the new Walther Q4 Steel. Any other thoughts are welcome.

Q

 

[Obturation]

Recoil is all perception , 9mm handguns in general have very low recoil, especially in full sized guns. I'm not saying "toughen up" , I'm saying that maybe if you shoot some more powerful guns you can gain appreciation for the shooting characteristics of the handgun you've got. Just an opinion .

 

[Quincy12]

Recoil for me is no problem, I shot full house .357's in a Dan Wesson with either 4" or 6" barrel. More to get my wife comfortable with shooting it. Started her off with a .22lr in a Browning Mark II. No issues with that, but moving up to the 9mm, even with standard 115 grain target loads, she gets nervous and has a bit of a flinch. If I can make it easier for her to get comfortable with it, I will.

 

[George P]

Weight of the handgun will, in most cases, have more to do with perceived recoil than the recoil springs.

Weight of the gun deals with ACTUAL recoil; the size and shape of the grip have to deal with felt (aka perceived) recoil.

 

[Howland937]

If I can make it easier for her to get comfortable with it, I will.

Any possibility of letting her find something she can handle more comfortably?
Like GeorgeP said, grip size/ shape affects felt recoil and hand size/shape affects how the grip fits.
I've seen first hand a female who was very sensitive to recoil from a P89 Ruger 9mm but wasn't a bit fazed by a GP101 shooting .357 Mag.

 

[Quincy12]

Yeah, actually considering either a Kel-Yes PMR-30 or a S&W Shield EZ in .380. In the current environment, at least around here, hard to find anything in stock to look at it rent to try out. Hard to tell what might fit her better without handling it.

 

[Howland937]

I got lucky (or unlucky really). I fell in love with the Sig P238, especially with the +1 mag. It has a great feel for a itty bitty gun. However, mama loves it too and has staked claim to it. 9 times out of 10, the stuff we pick out for them ends up being wrong. Since I didn't pick it for her, of course she loves it.

 

[bdickens]

I've seen first hand a female who was very sensitive to recoil from a P89 Ruger 9mm but wasn't a bit fazed by a GP101 shooting .357 Mag.

That's weird. I barely notice the recoil from my P89 but with the arthritis in my wrists have been hesitant to try any .357 in my Taurus M66.

 

[Howland937]

That's weird. I barely notice the recoil from my P89 but with the arthritis in my wrists have been hesitant to try any .357 in my Taurus M66.

You're telling me! I'd have rather she enjoyed shooting the much cheaper (at the time) 9mm than the .357. People like what they like though...

 

[tomrkba]

Technique will solve the problem for all guns. Recoil gadgets are nice until they start reducing reliability. They may or may not do so in your gun.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtbs7wd5C-URhwiK2-y0Qn1ZED9qL9Ifj

 

[Rexster]

A grip long enough to reach all the way to the “heel bone” of my hand, and reasonably straight, rather than rounded, makes SO MUCH difference, for my arthritic right hand, thumb, and wrist. A Glock G19 is a torture device, whereas the longer-gripped G17 and G19x are my friends.

Yes, I did say that a G19 hurts. It is not all that noticeable while shooting, but then the swelling and discoloration start, soon. The pain persists for more than a week, after a mere 80 rounds fired right-handed. So, that is actual damage occurring.

Another factor is the height of the bore axis. A higher bore axis is actual mechanical leverage, working to increase muzzle flip. I got away from using a SIG P229 duty pistol, in October 2015, during my first scheduled qual after my chief had OK’ed 9mm as an alternative duty cartridge. I transitioned to the Glock G17, to get the lower bore axis and less-snappy cartridge, in one move. To be clear, I had liked .40 S&W for a number of years. .40 S&W did not bother me, until I was almost age 50, and I am not “blaming” .40 S&W for causing long-term injury. (I did, however, probably shoot far too much big-bore Magnum ammo, for my own good, in the Eighties.)

 

[JDGray]

I just picked up a tiny little Sig P365 SAS, and it is a joy to shoot. It has a ported barrel, really cuts down on muzzle flip, felt recoil. Not really going to help the OP, but it's all in the design.