I recently suffered a wrist injury on my shooting hand that is taking months to heal. It has made me recoil sensitive. Would like recommendations from those of you with much more pistol experience. In particular, I am interested in .45 and 9mm. Are you aware of pistols that I should avoid in terms of recoil? I'm leaning toward Kimber, their new "Carry" series. Know anything about them? Other suggestions?
Recoil sensitive
- Thread starter Sniper66
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aka108
Member
Think I would just put the 9 and 45 up for awhile until the wrist heals itself. Just limit handgun to 22rf or just have a good time with rifles only.
Download 9MM with a fast powder and 124 or 147 Gr bullets and shoot them out of a steel handgun. pretty light.
Kimbers are nice. Love my CDP II .45. I have not looked at the carry series, but I would expect they are aluminum framed. Makes a difference in recoil.
A .32 Long or .32 Mag revolver loaded light with wadcutters will keep you shooting meanwhile.
Kimbers are nice. Love my CDP II .45. I have not looked at the carry series, but I would expect they are aluminum framed. Makes a difference in recoil.
A .32 Long or .32 Mag revolver loaded light with wadcutters will keep you shooting meanwhile.
bannockburn
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I think I would limit myself to shooting .22's in a semi-auto or a revolver. I think the most I would try to do would be .38 Special wadcutters in a full size revolver.
Furncliff
Member
Check this out....http://www.chuckhawks.com/handgun_recoil_table.htm
BCRider
Member
We simply cannot answer this for you. Only YOU know what will make your hand hurt.
It's pretty basic actually. If shooting the guns you have now makes the injured area painful or feel stressed then you should not be shooting such guns.
What handguns do you have now? And do they make your injured area feel stressed or painful? Basically if you do anything to make your injured area painful or feel overly stressed then you are slowing down the healing. If even a single shot feels painful then you should not be shooting that caliber. If a magazine's worth of rounds leaves the area feeling achy or stressed then you should not be shooting that caliber.
Of all the handguns I have the least recoil is from my 40oz 9mm CZ Shadow when shooting 147gn ammo. But even that recoils quite smartly if there is an injury involved.
As far as compact guns go they are ALL going to recoil a lot more than the full size styles. There's no magic about it. Compact and light is going to kick like blazes compared to any full size gun. If you have a full size 1911 and find that it hurts then simply put the compact carry model will rip your injured area to shreds. There's no magic to this. If your present guns hurt then you need to work with lesser calibers or heavier guns or download your ammo to something soft enough and tune your guns to work with that. But for defense use that's not the answer you want to hear.
I suspect you already know the answer to these things but just don't want to admit to it. Just keep in mind that the more often you hit the area with recoil blows the more likely you are extending the healing time. So all in all I tend to agree with the others that suggest it's time to get friendly with a .22 or two and develop some patience until your injury is properly healed.
The other option would be to get good at shooting with your other hand with your injured hand as the support hand. That way the main recoil energy is directed back mostly into the new "strong hand". And just think how handy it will be later on to be fully ambidextrous!!
It's pretty basic actually. If shooting the guns you have now makes the injured area painful or feel stressed then you should not be shooting such guns.
What handguns do you have now? And do they make your injured area feel stressed or painful? Basically if you do anything to make your injured area painful or feel overly stressed then you are slowing down the healing. If even a single shot feels painful then you should not be shooting that caliber. If a magazine's worth of rounds leaves the area feeling achy or stressed then you should not be shooting that caliber.
Of all the handguns I have the least recoil is from my 40oz 9mm CZ Shadow when shooting 147gn ammo. But even that recoils quite smartly if there is an injury involved.
As far as compact guns go they are ALL going to recoil a lot more than the full size styles. There's no magic about it. Compact and light is going to kick like blazes compared to any full size gun. If you have a full size 1911 and find that it hurts then simply put the compact carry model will rip your injured area to shreds. There's no magic to this. If your present guns hurt then you need to work with lesser calibers or heavier guns or download your ammo to something soft enough and tune your guns to work with that. But for defense use that's not the answer you want to hear.
I suspect you already know the answer to these things but just don't want to admit to it. Just keep in mind that the more often you hit the area with recoil blows the more likely you are extending the healing time. So all in all I tend to agree with the others that suggest it's time to get friendly with a .22 or two and develop some patience until your injury is properly healed.
The other option would be to get good at shooting with your other hand with your injured hand as the support hand. That way the main recoil energy is directed back mostly into the new "strong hand". And just think how handy it will be later on to be fully ambidextrous!!
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I'd take this opportunity to get some serious practice with your regular gun with your other hand. It is an often neglected skill, which has the added benefit of reintroducing you to the fundamental skills of handgun shooting
ratt_finkel
Member
I'm with these guys. Ultimately, you will find you can shoot just as well with your non-dominant hand.
Potatohead
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Thats a good idea 9mmepiph has there. Geez Ive never even tried to shoot offhand, that's how neglected my left hand is.
History.Doc
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I can tell you that the Ruger LC 380 is one of the lightest recoiling centerfire pistols I've ever shot. It isn't that much fun to shoot though (relatively speaking) because of its long double action trigger pull. In 9mm parabellum the full size service pistols are all pretty nice-- the Browning Hi Power, CZ 75B, and the Beretta 92FS. But if I were you I'd just pick up a Mark III or Mark II Target and shoot some 22lr for a while.
ArchAngelCD
Member.
Those were my exact thoughts when I read the OP. Since it was already said so well I'll just quote it... Turn this into an opportunity, not a problem.
Hey Guys...Thanks for the thoughtful responses. Here's a bit more info. I have three .22 pistols and practice with them regularly. I have been shopping for a 9mm or 45 for a time and leaning toward the Kimber Carry series because I just got my CC license. Then this damn wrist injury came along and screwed up my plans. I shot a friend's .45 this weekend and my wrist hurt for hours after, which to a smart man would be adequate warning. But, these other factors have pushed me to get my first .45 or 9mm. But, like with hunting, sometimes being patient and waiting until conditions are better is the best option. Thanks again.
ArchAngelCD
Member.
I'm a little curious, why are you considering a 45 ACP or 9mm and skipping right over the 40 S&W? Many believe it's the perfect compromise between the .45 Auto and 9mm. I'm not saying you're wrong, I'm just curious...
BCRider
Member
Given his wrist injury and the fact that the .40 kicks more harshly compared to either round I would suggest that this is not his best option.
I'd call that an adequate warning as well. Heal first, THEN buy something new and shiney....
ArchAngelCD
Member.
I wasn't suggesting he shoot a 40 S&W handgun, I was just curious like I said in my post. I thought I made that perfectly clear.
KansasSasquatch
Member
I'd either go with using the time to get some weakhand practice, or find a nice heavy .357 and shoot some light .38spl loads in it. A 4" stainless Ruger GP100 chambered in .357 and using light .38 loads feels about like shooting a .22lr revolver.
BCRider
Member
Sorry ArchAngel. You posted right after his post about his hand hurting from shooting the .45. So I sort of tied them together instead of taking your post as a more general sort of question about his choice of caliber. My bad.
ArchAngelCD
Member.
No big deal my friend, I just didn't want the OP to think I was telling him to buy a .40 right now. Like you said, the snap is harsh! (but so are some heavy 9mm loads)
hardluk1
member
sniper66 One of the softest shooting pistols I have got a chance to try is a kahr all SS pistols, the T-9 and K-9 . It has a some what wider grip area and enough weight to calmed recoil and kahrs are not known for heavy recoil even in the lighter poly models.
The T series is a taller than the kimber carry but with a 4" barrel or the smaller K-series with a full grip made of soft rubber from Hogue and 3 1/2" barrel is very soft and controllable to shoot and only a bit smaller than the kimber carry series.
Kahrs do fit in many 1911 holsters too. I do shoot both 1911's and kahrs, carry a cm9 0r cw9 or tp40 and load for all..
The T series is a taller than the kimber carry but with a 4" barrel or the smaller K-series with a full grip made of soft rubber from Hogue and 3 1/2" barrel is very soft and controllable to shoot and only a bit smaller than the kimber carry series.
Kahrs do fit in many 1911 holsters too. I do shoot both 1911's and kahrs, carry a cm9 0r cw9 or tp40 and load for all..
Warners
Member
greyling22
Member
I myself am recoil shy just because I am. After trying on a whole lot of handguns here are my conclusions, many of them "duh" statements:
*22's are the most pleasant to shoot.
*more powerful calibers kick more than less powerful ones.
*lighter weight guns will recoil more than heavy ones.
*longer barrels tend to have less muzzle jump.
*revolvers recoil is more predictable and easier for me to handle. They just go up, whereas auto's tend to snap back and then forward with the slide.
*I shoot better with single action triggers.
*some guns feel better in the hand, sitting lower and more comfortably, which helps me manage the recoil. This varies person to person and within the gun. For instance, I have had a 1911's cut me when fired because of all the sharp checkering (particularly on the bottom of the mainspring housing. stupid springfield). It's like holding a cactus. But not all 1911's are that way. Different grips and dehorn it a little and it's a much better gun. Another personal example, I hate sigs. They sit up so high above the hand that it magnifies the recoil to me. But a lot of folks love sig and swear by them. It's a matter of preference, and it's hard for the internet to tell you what you will like.
So, I sold all the 45's and 40's, and 44's, sold the 1911's and glocks, tried and passed on the sigs, beretta's and most plastic guns, sold and passed on the short barreled stuff and settled on a cz75 pattern gun and a full sized 357 revolver. Big, heavy, long barrels shooting downloaded 9's and 357's. Probably the least pleasant guns to shoot were the tiny 9mm plastic pistols by ruger and keltec, and glock. Double action revolvers have a more recoil absorbing grip than single action revolvers, and the bisley grip is better than the regular single action army grip, though it looks funny.
*22's are the most pleasant to shoot.
*more powerful calibers kick more than less powerful ones.
*lighter weight guns will recoil more than heavy ones.
*longer barrels tend to have less muzzle jump.
*revolvers recoil is more predictable and easier for me to handle. They just go up, whereas auto's tend to snap back and then forward with the slide.
*I shoot better with single action triggers.
*some guns feel better in the hand, sitting lower and more comfortably, which helps me manage the recoil. This varies person to person and within the gun. For instance, I have had a 1911's cut me when fired because of all the sharp checkering (particularly on the bottom of the mainspring housing. stupid springfield). It's like holding a cactus. But not all 1911's are that way. Different grips and dehorn it a little and it's a much better gun. Another personal example, I hate sigs. They sit up so high above the hand that it magnifies the recoil to me. But a lot of folks love sig and swear by them. It's a matter of preference, and it's hard for the internet to tell you what you will like.
So, I sold all the 45's and 40's, and 44's, sold the 1911's and glocks, tried and passed on the sigs, beretta's and most plastic guns, sold and passed on the short barreled stuff and settled on a cz75 pattern gun and a full sized 357 revolver. Big, heavy, long barrels shooting downloaded 9's and 357's. Probably the least pleasant guns to shoot were the tiny 9mm plastic pistols by ruger and keltec, and glock. Double action revolvers have a more recoil absorbing grip than single action revolvers, and the bisley grip is better than the regular single action army grip, though it looks funny.
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