Softest shooting semi-auto in a Significant Caliber?

[Cards81fan]

OK, I'll admit it. I don't like shooting guns that kick. I have a XD in .40 and - while I can shoot it with fair amounts of accuracy - it is not something I consider comfortable. I am young, male, and perfectly healthy (rather than an old fart, a woman, or a cripple to be blunt ), so I know it is unlike my demographic to not want the largest hand cannon out there. However I want to be confident in my handling and shot placement, and I am not sure that is something I could grow to be with my current pistol.

This is not necessairly the XD, as Glock and S&W polymer .40s I have shot have the same perceived recoil. I have shot .45s and have similar opinion, albeit I am in the camp that they have more "push" but less "snap" that the .40.

So I ask, what would be an easy-to-shoot pistol, reasonably easy to carry concealed, in a significant caliber? For the purpose of this post, consider .380 and larger significant enough for my purposes.

It doesn't have to be as easy to shoot as a Ruger Mk III or a Walther P22, as those obviously are .22s. But something controlable and easy to shoot, as I shoot as much for pleasure as I do for purpose.

I have some odd curiousity towards the Browning BDA. Funny thing is, I can find no dimensions listed for one, and the Browning website makes no mention of the fact that new ones are rolling in right now; gun store near me had a tag for one on the shelf, but no gun (it has sold) so I could not fondle one.

I would also consider anything in 9mm that would be more inviting? I'll admit I am still fairly new to shooting and do not have much experience with 9mm. Is an XD-9 subcompact or Glock 26 noticeably easier to shoot than their .40 counterparts?

I understand the principle that I need to decide what is best for myself, and I plan to shoot as many different guns as I can before making my decision. However this forum is a good place to get ideas and feedback on what may work best, so I invite you all to share with me

 

[spyderdude]

I am a big fan of the 9mm and have shot several 9mm pistols that are fun to shoot and won't tire me out, just to name a few,

Beretta 92FS
Glock 17
Glock 19
XD9 Service

I really enjoy shooting the Glock 17 and Beretta 92FS. If you plan to use it as a carry gun, the Glock 19 would be the choice. It holds 15+1 rounds which is the same as most 9mm service pistols but comes in a compact, easy to conceal package. The G19 IMO is still comfortable to shoot at the range and I can carry mine all day and not feel weighed down.

If this is going to be a range and/or home defense gun then my personal choice would be the Glock 17 or Beretta 92FS.

 

[m2steven]

I was going to say Taurus 92AFS but the mention of the Beretta will suffice.
My CZ75P is very nice shooting as well.

 

[jhco]

USP .40
beretta 92 9mm

 

[Racinbob]

I'm hurt!! As an 'old fart' I still like shooting some hand stingers. OK, I still like my .38 spl. and 9mm. Darn little LCP bits after a while.

 

[PT1911]

i am impressed with my steyr M9-A1.... remarkably less recoil than any other configuration of 9mm I have had experience with.

 

[MS .45]

My Beretta PX4 .40 is very soft shooting as far as I am concerned. I would imagine that the 9mm model would be a delight to shot. The Beretta 92 is also very pleasant.

 

[Southern Rebel]

You can call me an old fart only if I can call you a young sissy!

Seriously, the 9mm caliber would be a good choice. I have shot several different manufacturer's and they all seemed to be very reasonable on the recoil. (I still enjoy my old 5906.)

 

[KegCommando]

My Beretta PX4 .40 is very soft shooting as far as I am concerned. I would imagine that the 9mm model would be a delight to shot. The Beretta 92 is also very pleasant.

Yes the PX4 9 is soft, but the rotating barrel doesn't soften it as significantly as it does for the .40.

The PX4 9 feels about as soft as its 92 sibling, which I think does say something since the 92 is a couple of inches longer and alloy framed.

As to the OP and the Browning BDA; one of my all-time favorite pistols, and I am delighted if the rumors are true they are bringing it back. The majority of people here will dismiss it saying it is too large for its caliber, but oddly will not dismiss other pistols that are virtually identical in dimensions. It is by far, a much more comfortable .380 to shoot, if not *THE* most. I can, and have, in a single session, shot several hundred rounds through a BDA without feeling the worse for wear.

 

[Lou22]

Many large heavy autoloaders in 9mm or 45 auto are typically soft shooters. I owned Ruger P89 9mm and P90 45 autos - both were very easy shooting. Most of your smaller caliber handguns (380, .32, etc.) use a blowback design that allows more apparent recoil, while the larger calibers are locked-breech, which soaks up some of the recoil. I've heard than another autoloader design, the rotating barrel, might even have less recoil, like the Beretta Cougar (I believe).

Lou

 

[Clarence]

I don't necessarily consider the 9mm a significant caliber, but the Browning Hi-Power is very comfortable to shoot.

 

[RobMoore]

For soft shooting, I'd go with something that had some weight to it, like a CZ-75 SP01 in 9mm.

 

[pogo2]

More weight, smaller caliber

In general, the felt recoil with a particular type of ammunition goes down as the weight of the gun goes up. The other big factor in recoil is the ammunition load itself - ammunition with greater momentum (bullet mass times muzzle velocity) will recoil more in a given gun.

For the three major semiauto calibers - 9mm, .40 S&W and .45 ACP, the momentum generally increases as you go from 9mm to .45 ACP So combining these factors, I would recommend a larger 9mm gun in all steel (or at least all metal) to minimize felt recoil. There are many to choose from, such as Beretta 92, Sig P226, CZ 75, a 1911 in 9mm, etc.

 

[DougDubya]

Smith and Wesson's 5906, the Beretta 92FS and a P226ST.

Oh, and the CZ SP01 I shot last year - zero recoil for such a relatively light pistol. The steel CZ's must be just as sweet.

 

[BCRider]

There was a big discussion a while back about the 9mm and .40 vs the .45. The debate in this case being the smack vs push issue. A lot of folks said that the .45 has a softer kick while the others said no it doesn't and hauled out the muzzle energy figures to support their claim while the pro softer .45 crowd had nothing to hold up other than their opinions.

Still, although no one has done the time vs recoil force graphs to show the real story a lot of us, including myself, say that the .45 smacks the hand less than a 9mm or .40 S&W. The strong PUSH is there of course but not the open palm to the face like smack of the other two.

But other than this one controversial topic there's really not much to say. If you want less recoil you mostly need a less powerful gun or a heavier gun shooting the same power. There's .22LR of course. But if you're after the softest kicking center fire hand gun round that would have to be the .38 Spl shot from one of the longer barrelled K, L or N frame revolvers.

 

[m2steven]

My Kahr E9 is a soft shooter. I hear a few of the other Kahr 9's are nice shooters as well. I'm not sure it's as nice as the 92 or the CZ, but it's very nice. What it may take in the way of recoil, it gives back in accuracy and trigger pull - and size.

 

[m2steven]

BCrider. The only comparison I can do with 40 and 45 is between my Glock 22c and my S&W 1911. The 22c has a sharp, fast knock. The 1911 has a nice knock, but it's as if it's being shot with semi-thick winter gloves between the hand and gun. And it makes sense that it feels more like a push because the whole process is happening a bit more slowly with the 45. If there were enough powder in a 45 and it were formulated to burn as fast as that in the standard 40 cal loads - it would hit very hard. It would remind you of the 44 mag rather than the 40 cal. The 44 mag is both a sharp knock and a ferocious push.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

Step down in cartridge

I've never owned or shot anything in 9mm that had excessive recoil, although the little Kahr PM9 does have some bite to it.

 

[Cards81fan]

Yes the PX4 9 is soft, but the rotating barrel doesn't soften it as significantly as it does for the .40.

The PX4 9 feels about as soft as its 92 sibling, which I think does say something since the 92 is a couple of inches longer and alloy framed.

As to the OP and the Browning BDA; one of my all-time favorite pistols, and I am delighted if the rumors are true they are bringing it back. The majority of people here will dismiss it saying it is too large for its caliber, but oddly will not dismiss other pistols that are virtually identical in dimensions. It is by far, a much more comfortable .380 to shoot, if not *THE* most. I can, and have, in a single session, shot several hundred rounds through a BDA without feeling the worse for wear.

While finding a BDA to rent at a range would be impossible, the range near me has an 85FS and an 85FS as rental guns at the range. Would they be similar enough to the BDA to approximate shooting one?

 

[Cards81fan]

You can call me an old fart only if I can call you a young sissy!

Seriously, the 9mm caliber would be a good choice. I have shot several different manufacturer's and they all seemed to be very reasonable on the recoil. (I still enjoy my old 5906.)

Deal! For you going forward, old fart it is...

 

[qwestr1]

OK, everyone here has brought out the usual suspects, mostly 9mm's in common use like the Glocks or the Berettas (92 and PX4), and the Sigs, CZ's, etc.
How about trying something truly different?
I have an all steel framed 9mmP rotary locked breech pistol that is truly a joy to shoot: The MAB PA-15, made in France. I've let friends shoot it and they are all astounded by the light recoil. I've heard a rumor that Jim Serpico of the NYPD carried one because he could get 15 rounds (vs. 13 in a Hi-Power) per mag in a gun before the "Wonder-Nines" came out. Important when you have NO back-up!
In general, I do find that the 9mmP pistols are quite enjoyable to shoot. I own a bunch of them, as well as some .45's, and find that the 9mmP has a far lighter recoil.
As for the .40, it does the job too, but the recoil is higher, follow-up shots are slower, the ammo is more expensive, and the capacity is lower. For the same approximate value in stopping power, I carry a 9mmP.

If you're planning on carrying the pistol in question, I wouldn't recommend the MAB PA-15. Frankly, it's a brick, hard to find mags, and sharp-cornered all over. For the range, it's a scream!
Or you could get a Llama Omni in 9mmP. Also a heavy steel frame, it's not like your ordinary Llama. Try it before you deride my choice. I've out-shot guys with Colt Gold Cups with mine!

 

[sidheshooter]

I'd second the idea of an all-steel 9mm with a service length barrel; examples as above: 92FS, CZ-75b, Hi Power, G17. With a standard pressure load like Federal 9bp (or 9cbp or whatever it is now), they're really no harder on the hands than my little pt-22 taurus 22lr (and way easier to hit with, packing way more punch obviously).

I'm slowly headed back that way myself; I've ditched the j-frame .357s, cut back on the K-frame .357s with wood concealment grips, and narrowed down to just an alloy commander with standard pressure 230 for the upper limit of a "day" at the range with anything even close to a manly sidearm; all as my hands get more beat up and RSI'd over the years.

Plus, 9's are relatively cheap to shoot.

Criminy, based on the threads here of late, if you don't have a small .380 and a CZ 9mm of one action or another, ya may as well be wearing a dress, for all the repsect you'll get...

 

[jmr40]

I've found the big Glocks to be good at slowing recoil down. I have both the G20 in 10mm and the G21 in 45 ACP. The 45cal Glock has significantly less recoil than my 1911's with the same ammo. Even using the hottest Doubletap 10mm ammo is not bad at all in the G20. The grip angle, low bore and wide backstrap combine to help.

 

[wrench]

I'll agree with all of the above posters who recommended full size 9mm pistols. Beretta, Glock, Browning hipower, XD, S&W.
Now the other thing I think, is that the one of these with the least recoil, will be the one that fits your hands the best...
Good luck

 

[JDGray]

The Ruger P345 is the softest shooting 45, I've ever shot. It handles like a CZ75 9mm My Wife and at the time 8yr old Son, enjoyed shooting my P345 over my CZ75.
Must shoot to appreciate