Which has more felt recoil .45 or .40 S&W?

[Airburst]

That is a very subjective question to ask, but I do agree with the descriptions of both calibers' recoil on your hand. I would most definitely say the .40 snaps back in my hand while the 45 seems to be a slower feeling. Again, it's all subjective.

 

[uvausmc]

Between my SA TRP 1911 .45, Para lightweight LTC 1911 .45, and my XDm .40, i would definitely say the .40 is harder to control. However i shoot my XD .40 in USPSA production class and enjoy it. If you are looking at getting a 1911 style platform for limited/10 there is probably a lot less difference since they will have more weight forward. i feel like the added weight and 1911 grip size/angle plays a major role in controllability.

 

[cerberus65]

I personally prefer the feel of the .45 despite trying hard to convince myself I didn't need one. I have also shot .40 and .45 side by side before (and both in plastic guns). After that I finally broke down and got a .45 (actually several). I've yet to get a .40.

Another thing to think about is that a lot of serious competition guys reload. I don't know if the particular competition you're considering is that way or not but if so it's something to consider. Everything I've read suggests that you have to be more careful with .40 since it's higher pressure. Not that we wouldn't be very, very careful reloading anyway...

 

[raskolnikov_22]

Not enough difference between 9mm, .40, and .45 to matter IMO. Choose what you want, practice, and get used to it.

Better yet, practice with a .357 or .44 Magnum. Then any auto will feel like a BB gun.

 

[1911Tuner]

recoil is just momentum,

Well...That's not entirely accurate.

Momentum is a function of mass X velocity. The recoil impulse...what we feel...is acceleration.

Force forward equals force backward. As force goes up, so does the rate of acceleration of both bullet and gun. The recoil impulse is what we feel. In a pistol cartridge, about 90% of the bullet's acceleration occurs within the first half-inch of bullet movement. With some cartridges using a quick powder like Bullseye and a heavy bullet...the bulk of acceleration can occur before the bullet ever clears the case. Whatever added acceleration that occurs after the initial impulse is scarcely detectable.

Once the bullet is gone, there is no more acceleration of bullet OR gun. Any additional movement of the gun after bullet exit is due to momentum, or the conservation thereof. There is some additional "push" after bullet exit due to the exiting powder gasses and particulate...but that is miniscule in a pistol caliber compared to what comes from the main event.

Of course, this applies only to fixed breech arms...such as a revolver...because the impuls is transferred directly and immediately to the gun. Not so in an auto. What you feel as recoil in an autopistol is a function of the slide's compression of the spring, and the slide striking the impact abutment in the frame...which causes the greatest majority of muzzle flip.

The recoil system is a closed system, and once set into motion...creates a separate action/reaction event apart from the one that comes from the firing of the cartridge...or the main event...which is between bullet and breechblock.

The faster the slide accelerates rearward, the faster it compresses the spring...and the sharper the felt recoil. The harder it strikes the impact abutment...momentum plays a role here...the more the muzzle will flip.

Force forward equals force backward. As the spring compresses, it exerts more force in both directions. The stronger the spring...the more force it exerts...and the more push you feel on the frame from the spring.

Because the slide has moved a very short distance at bullet exit...about a tenth inch in short recoil systems...the spring adds little to the force forward/backward equation...and by the time it compresses enough for the shooter to feel much of its influence...the bullet is long gone, and the recoil generated by the main event is over.

So, we feel very little "kick' from firing the round in an autoloader. We can detect virtually none. There simply isn't time. What we feel is mainly slide to frame impact.
We can up the spring's tension to reduce the impact momentum...but we pay the price in sharper recoil before impact. This is the reason that small caliber blowback pistols have such sharp recoil for the power of the round. They use spring tension and/or slide mass to delay the breech opening...so the springs are necessarily stout for the size of the gun and the cartridge.

Incidentally...straight blowback pistols are also recoil operated. Both types function as a result of...force forward and force backward.

Cheers!

 

[GojuBrian]

Well, this whole thing has proven pretty subjective to the individual,lol.

I can't tell much of a difference on the same platform myself.

My wallet would rather me shoot a $600 -700 .40 auto than a $1000 1911 .45 all day long.

 

[V45C]

having put maybe 10,000+ 40sw thru several sigs and cz's , and maybe 230-240,000 45 acp downrange i find no real difference in either calibers recoil.
detonics/sig 239
colt lwc/sig 226
colt gvt/cz 75b etc.
but then i'm not bothered by recoil that much.

 

[1911 guy]

Neither is overly powerful, recoil-wise. The .45ACP kinda pushes into your hand on recoil, the .40 snaps back into the hand with a bit more speed. Of course it's like comparing the Ford doing 65 MPH to the Chevy doing 68 MPH. Yeah, one is going faster (bullet velocity is very different, I'm talking recoil here) but the difference is pretty negligible.

 

[Bass Killer]

Its all about the gun. I have a .45 that has less recoil than one of my 9mm's.

 

[H2O MAN]

1911 guy The .45ACP kinda pushes into your hand on recoil, the .40 snaps back into the hand with a bit more speed.

This has been my experience.
The snapping .40 and it's resulting muzzle flip annoyed me so I sold my .40 hand guns and now shoot .45ACP exclusively.