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RECOIL!!!!!

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cslinger

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Dec 24, 2002
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I feel the need to post this just to get it into the search engine for new shooters.

I have NEVER shot a handgun that recoiled so much that it flew out of my hands. This includes revolvers chambered in stupid calibers like .45/70 rifle rounds.

The thing about recoil is, that is is more flash, bang and surprise coupled with the physical forces that seems to scare most shooters.

So to all new shooters. Hold on to your new gun TIGHTLY but understand that it is not going to throw you backwards into a wall. The blast, the noise and the percussion will very likey exacebate the physical recoil mentally but there are very few firearm that will get away from you.

Start out with a light caliber and work your way up but don't be afraid to try larger caliber or smaller guns. They are not likely to fly out of your hands unless you are not holding them properly or are not mentally prepared to shoot. In either case you will likely realize this long before you get into guns that REALLY recoil.

Just my two cents.
 
Right you are.

Speaking of recoil, a good friend of mine is awaiting the S&W .460 purchased from CDNN (for only $860 I might add). Though the X-frame is a massive beast of a revolver, I hope it doesn't dampen recoil too much as I'd like to see just how much this puppy bucks and barks.

Wooo hoooo :D Obnoxious recoil can be fun in the proper context.
 
For those who like a little kick to their handguns, to quote the German Web site: "Hier kommt der absolute Megahammer"! :D

A revolver in .600 Nitro Express... :evil:


zeliska_1.jpg
 
TrapperReady said:
It's amazing how doubled-up hearing protection can cut down on perceived recoil.
Click to expand...

Very true. Double up on hearing protection. You cant get back lost hearing.

Most of the firearms have controllable recoil. I'd say recoil starts to get significant with .44 magnum and higher.

I shot a .500 S&W Magnum not too long ago, doubled up on hearing, and that thing... while it didn't fly out of my hand I had to take a step back so I wouldn't fall on my butt.

Hold tight, be comfortable and just remember recoil cant hurt you. Its all psychological.
 
It IS fun to shoot hard kicking guns.....to a point. But, they CAN hurt you even if they don't get loose and smack you in the head.

I damaged my right wrist with a bunch of heavy .44 Mags out of a 3in. 629. Hurt for a couple of months and I vowed to not do that again.

And, I've got a Ruger #1 in .375 H&H that is a brutal thing with max handloaded ammo. No recoil pad on the fairly light rifle means about 6 or 7 shots is all I want from it. I like to have it around for the 'macho' guys who say "recoil doesn't bother me"!

I hand them the rifle and ten rounds with a smile. No one has wanted to shoot more than a couple yet. And, the 375 isn't really THAT bad of a kicker in comparison to what is available. But, in the #1, it is enough for me.
 
I've fired a rented .500 S&W, while it does kick like a mule, it wasn't anything that isn't unmanageable. The porting helps alot. More like a solid "push" rather than an upsnap like my .454Casull. A friend of mine recently picked up a .460 S&W, I can't wait to try that puppy out.

Jubei

ps. We found that shooting a .454 at one end of the range, and a .500 at the other, will not only stop all other firing on the range, but it will effectively dust the rafters of the range as well.:D
 
The .500 S&W IS a beast. I fired one at John Ross's CCW class and honestly I'd never shoot one again. Sure, I "handled" it just fine. I wore double ear protection. But that gun is an unruly beast! His BAR was a joy to shoot.

BTW, John CARRIES the 500 S&W in a crotch holster!! Funniest thing you ever saw - or didn't see as the case may be. He asked the class how many guns we thought he was carrying. I saw the imprint in his pants of a pocket holster where he carried a featherweight S&W. No one guessed the .500 S&W.
 
Methinks a key part of recoil is giving one's body time to learn what NOT to do. Putting that stock on the wrong part of the shoulder can indeed be very painful (my first few rounds of 12ga slugs ever dang near brought me to tears with pain; lesson is don't let stock touch collarbone), and newbies have little idea where to put it. Given time & training, one learns to reflexively put that stock on a thick layer of muscle instead of bone (now I can shoot 12ga slugs all day and hardly feel anything).

It's kinda like the observation that when learning to snowboard, one does a faceplant only twice - the body quickly learns that whatever caused that pain should be avoided.

Recoil can indeed be painful for beginners. Recoil doesn't bug longterm shooters because our bodies & subconcious no longer let us do whatever little things cause pain in recoil.
 
BTW, John CARRIES the 500 S&W in a crotch holster!! Funniest thing you ever saw - or didn't see as the case may be. He asked the class how many guns we thought he was carrying. I saw the imprint in his pants of a pocket holster where he carried a featherweight S&W. No one guessed the .500 S&W.
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Wonder what his response is to "is that a gun in your pocket or are you just happy to see me" comments? :neener:
 
Preacherman said:
For those who like a little kick to their handguns, to quote the German Web site: "Hier kommt der absolute Megahammer"! :D

A revolver in .600 Nitro Express... :evil:


zeliska_1.jpg
Click to expand...

I thought handguns were not allowed (legally) to exceed .50" in diameter? Or is that just in the US?
 
Reminds me of that video of some Russian(?) scientist like dude in a glass room shooting some tough looking shotgun.
The recoil threw him back, and the gun broke the glass/door so badly he couldn't get it open.
(Or maybe he just couldn't get it open because he was hurt and on the floor still)
 
CSlinger:

You are right about recoil and how it is perceived but with that being said some guns are more comfortable to shoot that others.
 
I was told that when I shot the .44 my hands were going to shatter and my earlobes would incinerate. I thought the recoil was equivalent to a short barreled 1911. The 4 inch barreled .44 was very pleasant to shoot. I didn't like the checkered pachmayrs though, I would have preferred Hogues.
 
First handgun I ever shot.

Was a .45acp. I was 9 or 10, Dad and Grandpa gave me a few minutes of instruction before handing me the pistol. As you can see, the experience traumatized me for life, to the point I now feel the need to own several 1911's and shoot regularly. Oh, the trauma! :D
 
My main problem is that at the ripe age of 37 I have arthritis in my hands. Heavy recoil is no fun for me. I'm just not that interested in hurting afterwards.

Why yes, I am a wuss, why do you ask? :neener:
 
A revolver in .600 Nitro Express...
Click to expand...

Great Caesar's ghost!

And check out that price, almost $17,000 US Dollars!

And think of all the .600 Nitro Express you could buy for that amount!
It'd be at least 20!
 
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