9mm vs 45acp here we go
- Thread starter rsmitty
- Start date
Marine Cpl
.577 Tyrannosaur.
What type of gun did you have trouble with?
Shoot someone's 1911 and decide for yourself. If you want to do a range day let me know and I will bring my 1911. As far as my opinion I think the two recoils are different and depends on the shooter on what is more comfortable to them. 9mm has more of a slap and recoil impulse and a 45 in a 1911 has more of a muzzle flip and a slight push. Shooting I feel like I like the 45 better but I shoot the 9 better.
While I don't like generalities, and while the 1911 design does an amain job of moderating th recoil of the .45 I would stay awayfrom a .45 1911 if 9mm is troublesome. Is it a physical issue with 9mm recoil? Experience level with handguns in general?
Actually live in Vernon at the moment I hope to be back to Madison county soon. I'm a member at Greenway Verona mills if you want to shoot let me know. Or if you have a range I could possibly go your way.
Marine Cpl
.577 Tyrannosaur.
Recoil in my experience has depended on the actual gun itself. A Ruger LCP in .380 to me has the same felt recoil as a .40 S&W unlike a Glock 42 in .380 which felt like almost nothing.
In 9mm, my Glock 26 has way less recoil than my 9mm XDS I used to have.
You might be better served with a full sized 9mm like a Glock 19 or 17.
Smaller guns are more snappy than their full sized counterparts.
In 9mm, my Glock 26 has way less recoil than my 9mm XDS I used to have.
You might be better served with a full sized 9mm like a Glock 19 or 17.
Smaller guns are more snappy than their full sized counterparts.
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Greywolf224
6.5 Creedmoor
Exactly as s @Willjr75 stated, and to add the smaller the gun (less mass) the more recoil is felt since there is no mass to absorb the recoil. Your extended arm becomes the mass that absorbs the recoil.
That is the reason I only own all steel guns. Steel provides more mass than non steel and why I like short barreled automatics like my Kahr K40 which absorbs a lot of the recoil and is my CCW. I also switch it out from time to time with my Ruger SP101 2.5" .357 which is much more snappier than the .40 but than I am shooting a higher velocity bullet.
My full framed 9mm. Taurus pT92 is a breeze to shoot all day with not much recoil felt but I am not a 9mm guy nor like CCW'ing a full frame automatics.
Than I have the Ruger LCP that I bought on a whim as a joke which wants to jump out of my hand when I shoot so it sits there. Cant stand that gun. My other handguns are Stainless Steel revolvers all having decent mass which gives me the feel I a m looking for.
What works for me may not work for you. Try the gun if you can before buying. Each has their own personality.
That is the reason I only own all steel guns. Steel provides more mass than non steel and why I like short barreled automatics like my Kahr K40 which absorbs a lot of the recoil and is my CCW. I also switch it out from time to time with my Ruger SP101 2.5" .357 which is much more snappier than the .40 but than I am shooting a higher velocity bullet.
My full framed 9mm. Taurus pT92 is a breeze to shoot all day with not much recoil felt but I am not a 9mm guy nor like CCW'ing a full frame automatics.
Than I have the Ruger LCP that I bought on a whim as a joke which wants to jump out of my hand when I shoot so it sits there. Cant stand that gun. My other handguns are Stainless Steel revolvers all having decent mass which gives me the feel I a m looking for.
What works for me may not work for you. Try the gun if you can before buying. Each has their own personality.
Ergonomics plays a big role as well, a lighter gun that fits the hand really well can seem to have less recoil than a larger heavier gun. The CZ 75 series is renowned for this, but as a metal framed double stack will have a bigger grip than say a Glock 17 does. It will be interesting to shoot my new PPQ and Shield back to back. I have never owned a gun as small as the Shield but it does feel very nice in the hand even with a two finger grip. I once shot a tiny little Seecamp in .380 and that thing made my fingers bleed in one mag the way it jumped around! I've also fired one of those little airweight J frame revolver in .38 special and found it rather unpleasant with the stouter loads but I find the 686 very pleasant to shoot even with full house .357 mag loads.
Phazer
.450/400 Nitro Ex
Compact concealable 9mm pistols feel very, very, different from full size 1911 45ACP pistols.
When I'm at the range, I always offer new shooters a chance to try my Sig Tacops 1911 45ACP pistol. If they haven't tried a full-size pistol, and have only experienced compact 380 or 9mm pistols, they are usually pleasantly surprised. Sure, the 1911 is heavy. But, it's got a comfortable grip width for shooters with smaller hands. Sure, it's a bit loud. But, with a 5" barrel, it makes almost everyone more accurate. It's amazing to see someone spraying the target with 9mm rounds at 7 yards pick up the 1911 and quickly put half a magazine all inside the 8-ring.
I must say, of the pistols I've tried, the tiny Ruger LCP 380 had the most recoil and muzzle flip. I hated that pistol. Conversely, I enjoy shooting 380s through my Glock 42 and Sig P238. So, pistol design (material, grip size, grip angle, etc) really makes a difference.
I, too, got to try my Taurus PT92 last weekend. Talk about minimal recoil. That full frame 9mm feels great. Now I just need to dress up the stainless steel model with some wood grips.
Bottom line: Keep trying all pistols that you have the opportunity to shoot.
When I'm at the range, I always offer new shooters a chance to try my Sig Tacops 1911 45ACP pistol. If they haven't tried a full-size pistol, and have only experienced compact 380 or 9mm pistols, they are usually pleasantly surprised. Sure, the 1911 is heavy. But, it's got a comfortable grip width for shooters with smaller hands. Sure, it's a bit loud. But, with a 5" barrel, it makes almost everyone more accurate. It's amazing to see someone spraying the target with 9mm rounds at 7 yards pick up the 1911 and quickly put half a magazine all inside the 8-ring.
I must say, of the pistols I've tried, the tiny Ruger LCP 380 had the most recoil and muzzle flip. I hated that pistol. Conversely, I enjoy shooting 380s through my Glock 42 and Sig P238. So, pistol design (material, grip size, grip angle, etc) really makes a difference.
I, too, got to try my Taurus PT92 last weekend. Talk about minimal recoil. That full frame 9mm feels great. Now I just need to dress up the stainless steel model with some wood grips.
Bottom line: Keep trying all pistols that you have the opportunity to shoot.
gun_slinger_boy
.338 Win Mag
Get a 1911 because 45acp is better. Mods please close thread.
Colt Single Action Army> Colt 1911.
.45 ACP is a short and weak .45 Colt
Hur, hur!
Greywolf224
6.5 Creedmoor
Really!
Marine Cpl
.577 Tyrannosaur.
Correct. A .45 will steal your soul. Except if you are behind a frying pan.
Greywolf224
6.5 Creedmoor
Snappo
6.5 Creedmoor
The 1911 design comes in many calibers, even as small as .380. So lets talk about the design John Browning came up with. IMHO it is very easy to maintain, easy to access parts, and therefore easy to upgrade. The weight of the weapon lowers recoil (the lighter the weap0n, the more backward movement - physics 101). Most manufacturers using the 1911 design (the patent has long since expired) have gone with a single-stack approach to cartridge containment, so there are less rounds than a double-stack (typical).
Recoil is a component of a very simple theory: Every action contains and equal and opposite reaction. Newton's third law (from junior high school) holds true everywhere on this planet and in this universe (except perhaps during the supergravity of a black hole when Newtonian physics breaks down). Recoil / blowback will always be exactly equal to the forward momentum of the projectile and exhaust gases. That having been said, exhaust gasses can be redirected to lower blowback (called recoil eliminators).
The more mass you have, the less movement you have. If you shoot a bullet directly opposite horizontally to the center of the earth (shooting into the sky) you are exerting energy that pushes the earth in the opposite direction. But earth has so much mass that you had almost zero effect on the orbit of the planet. Same with a pistol. The more it weighs, the less felt recoil you will have. OTOH, the more it weighs the more forearm strength you need to aim and hold that aimpoint. So it becomes a point of diminishing returns. Gun weighs a ton and has no felt recoil, but you need to be Arnold to lift the friggin thing.
pontiacmrc1
.44 mag
Ive never shot a .45acp. I have shot a S&W 39-2 9mm, and also a Colt 1911 .38 Super. I really didn't have much range time at all with either of them because I only shot them a few times with my dad....
If I ever get a chance to shoot handgun again I'll letcha know!
If I ever get a chance to shoot handgun again I'll letcha know!
That's not suprising, but I do hope I find my Shield as fun to shoot as everyone else seems too. I'm expecting it to be snappier than the PPQ though.
Shadow2
6.5 Creedmoor
There was a great article about this and I can't seem to find the link again. They measured the recoil. It was an article in regards to recoil and meeting power factor in competition, recoil / impulse depended on the bullet, ammo, size of gun, a 9mm can have more recoil / muzzle flip vs a full size 1911 in 45 acp. I primarily shoot for the sport so opt for full frame metal guns to mitigate recoil.
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meketrefe
.450/400 Nitro Ex
The perceived recoil will change with the pistol and even a simple new spring and buffer.
The configuration and weight distribution has also a lot to do with that.
Heavier hot loads are going to be a lot more snappy than lighter loads.
So take all things into consideration. 9mm, 40cal, 357sig, 45 ... it doesn't matter.
Try other loads, other pistols, other setups.
The shield seems to be well balanced for a small frame and also the swelled grip
fills the palm very well for large hands like mine, something that contributes to the confort.
The configuration and weight distribution has also a lot to do with that.
Heavier hot loads are going to be a lot more snappy than lighter loads.
So take all things into consideration. 9mm, 40cal, 357sig, 45 ... it doesn't matter.
Try other loads, other pistols, other setups.
The shield seems to be well balanced for a small frame and also the swelled grip
fills the palm very well for large hands like mine, something that contributes to the confort.
Phazer
.450/400 Nitro Ex
I don't find my Glock 36 (compact 45ACP) much fun to shoot.
gun_slinger_boy
.338 Win Mag
Glocks in general aren't much fun to shoot. They are extremely reliable but there's really nothing special about the plastic brick. No character, unlike a nice 1911 or revolver.
meketrefe
.450/400 Nitro Ex
Fun is relative right? But yes they are tools and they just work, every single time.
Phazer
.450/400 Nitro Ex
I'm going to have to disagree with you. Sure, I really like my full-sized 1911 in 45ACP and my compact 1911 in 9mm (both heavy chunks of metal). But, I find the Glock 42 (I know...380ACP), 43, and 19 to be fun to shoot. I'm just not crazy about my Glock 36. I think that a 45ACP pistol needs to be a bit heavier.
On the other hand, I've got a Para P10-45. It is a compact double-stack 1911-style 45ACP pistol. It is not fun to shoot without the pinky rest magazine extension. Nevertheless, 10+1 rounds of 45ACP in a compact (not "thin") form factor is nice to have as a close-range SD pistol at home.
wizrd
6.5 Creedmoor
I've shot compact .380's that are more uncomfortable to shoot than my 10mm Dan Wesson Razorback - size. weight. ergonomics all figure in.... I also think my Glock 36 is more fun than a bushelful of Beagle puppys.
Snappo
6.5 Creedmoor
About 30 years ago I had a Walther PPKS someone sold me for $100. When I shot it, my wrist started feeling wet. I looked and the slide going back put a huge cut in that bump you have on your wrist. Like a paper cut - never felt it. Blood everywhere. Sold the gun and never shot it again. Those small 380's are really not designed for any size hand - more for small hands. No clue how James Bond shot one.
Phazer
.450/400 Nitro Ex
If you want to try a pocket pistol in 380 that works well and is fun to shoot, try either the Glock 42 or a Sig P238. If you like a 1911-style pistol, the P238 will be right in your wheelhouse.