The truth about Recoil

[sub40man]

The guys in the niners club often state that the G26 has very little recoil and the G27 has much harsher recoil. Others have said that there is little noticable difference. Some have said that the recoil on the G27 is very mild and that their wives and teenage daughters shoot .40. What is your experience? Is the harsh recoil statement just wah-wa-wah-wa-wah or is the .40 really more challenging to manage?

[KRS62]

My girlfriend can shoot my G23, but doesn't care for it too much. She likes 9mm's better.

KRS

[Duke of Lawnchair]

The only truth to "recoil" is that it's "perceived" and "relative" from one individual to another.

[deputydawg558]

My wife shoots my 17, 22 and 27. She prefers the 27 out off all 3. Me I just like to shoot anything;N and the more "kick" the more I LIKE!!

[garys_2k]

I'm one of those with a teenage daughter that shoots a 27. No problem, but it was more sensitive to limp wristing for her with a 20# slide spring. No problem with the stock spring, but her experience did show that the 20# spring could make it less reliable when not held as tightly.

Bottom line, though, she manages a stock 27 just fine.

[akapennypincher]

Recoil is felt differently, and is tolerated differently to different personal tolerances.

In the old days when I was a Kid before the Wheel Was Invented Almost,;N;N;N Recoil was referred to by most of us as ”GUN KICK” when speaking of what we now call RECOIL.

Personally today I feel recoil in relation to how my Arthritis & Bursitis is feeling on any given day, and some days my 9mm Glock is like no “KICK” at all, and other days it is like being kicked by a Jackass each time I fire the 9mm.

Guess you could classify recoil like a PAIN TOLERANCE. and everyone has a different pain, or recoil tolerance. Or the more you shoot the more you get use to something we now a days call recoil!!;P ;P ;P ;P

Also Recoil varies from caliber to caliber, gun to gun, stock design to stork design, grip design to grip design, and too many other factor to list.;k;k

[TheActor]

Those guys are pansies. My sis who is barely 5ft and hardly 100lbs loves to shoot my .40. Never seen more girly men in my life crying about recoil.;g

My wife who is barely 5ft and hardly 100lbs likes the Deagle .44

[walzy]

In my hands my g23 has less recoil than a g17 or g19. i dont know why this is but the gun is stock. It has a agrip now and a extended slide lock but thats it.

[HerrGlock]

My 9 year old and my 13 year old shoot one of my Glock23s for GSSF. They don't particularly like the 27s but they're decent with them.

One lady friend who is about 135 soaking wet has a 23 now and is looking for a 27 after shooting mine.

I have trouble telling the difference between 9mm and .40 from recoil alone, but I have noticed that the 27 takes a shade longer getting back onto target than a 19.

DanH

[howardw]

To say that recoil is "perceived" or "relative" to the shooter is true in the same sense as saying temperatures are "perceived" or "relative" to a person. The fact is that a 27 is generally in all cases going to have a more forceful recoil than a 26. There is no arguing this, it is simple physics.

Personally, I don't have a beef with the .40 in general, except that it costs more to shoot. But, what you have to look at is the handgun/caliber combination. In the mini-Glock sub-compact size, I think the 9mm makes the most sense for controllability reasons. But, in a full size Glock the caliber difference is not important.

I'm not saying that girls (or whatever) can't handle a .40, I'm saying that in shooting that requires fast follow up shots, in a sub-compact framed Glock, the 9mm is the way to go.

[alien-Glocker]

I really do not notice that much difference between my G23 and G19. To me they are about the same.

IMHO if a person has good technique-- grip, stance......then recoil should be controllable and manageable.

One of my first instructors was an x-FBI Agent—female--and not a big gal. She could shoot the u-know whats of a fly at 25 meters with her 1911. Again IMHO size/weight has little to do with shooting either.

[cconatvz]

If the Glock 26 is the way to go because of recoil of sub-compacts, what about the G-30 .45 ACP???. Well, it has a wider frame, I’ll give you that. It spits a heavier bullet but at a slower speed (physics wise).

About recoil being “perceived” / ”relative” I’m sure it’s a subjective thing. During the old days when I only have my pretty Beretta Cougar 8000F 9mmP, I shot with a guy at the range who has a Glock-19. He let me shot his Glock and I let him shot my Beretta.

He said: “It does not recoil that much, it must be the rotary barrel”.

I said: ”It does not recoil that much for a “plastic” pistol, I can’t say the difference between it and my Beretta”.

I got the Glock-23 soon after that.

Due to reliability issues, two years ago I stopped carrying my Beretta. During a course at the range, my Beretta started jamming as soon as I reloaded it while prone in the sand. The sand in the magazines dropped during tac reloads soon started producing position three malfunctions, wild ones. It has never happen with my Glock since I started carrying it, even during the same courses of fire and A LOT OF SAND. I can’t jam this thing.

Recoil wise, I thought the G-23 was recoiling TOO MUCH till I shot my Beretta again this same afternoon. Soon I started thinking: well, that .40S&W does not recoil that much anyways.

Wife wise? She hates my G-23 and my Beretta. Likes my .22lr a lot.

[PlasticGuy]

Try it and see. I would personally rank the 9mm and the .45 very close to each other in terms of recoil. I would rank the .40 in about the same league as a 4" .357 revolver, and would put a 6" .44 magnum not too far past that. But that's me. You may (and probably will) find that your recoil tolerance is different than mine. Again, try it and see.

[TheSniper]

.454 has recoil,anything less aint s**t.;f ;c

[Quail Fat]

Originally posted by TheActor
Those guys are pansies. My sis who is barely 5ft and hardly 100lbs loves to shoot my .40. Never seen more girly men in my life crying about recoil.;g

true

[Rich22]

I shot a G27 for the first time yesterday and really it is not that much more recoil then my G19. I would say perhaps 15% more. Certainly with practice i have no doubt it is quite easy.

Rich

[Blue Duck]

Assuming other things are basically equal WEIGHT is the single biggest factor.

Handed my gal my G-22 and she said "Oh I like this". Fired one shot and handed it back to me with a simple "no". Tried the same thing last week with my 2 1/2 pound 4006. On first holding it she said "It's kind of heavy.." Exact same load, she fired a whole magazine staying pretty well on target "I like this one it hardly kicks at all!".

She still honestly thinks I'm trying to trick her when I explain that both guns are in the same caliber.

[Kolchak]

I think you are right on, Blue Duck. I find that weight
makes a tremendous difference. I don't find much difference
between a G17 and a G22, as far as recoil. My buddies Sig in
9mm has a pretty good bite to it, too. My old full size Beretta
92 is heavy as heck, and really smooth to shoot. I put a Seattle
Slug in my G22 and found a significant difference in the felt
recoil. Weight seems to be key.

[mw4728]

I too don't see much of a difference other than size between the 17 and the 27, and my S&W 5906...all 3 I can dump a full mag at full speed in the black at 7 yards with no problem...is the 9 a tighter group? Yes, but if I get 11 rounds of .40, and 11 rounds of 9 in your torso in a couple of seconds does it really matter?

[PlasticGuy]

Originally posted by mw4728
I too don't see much of a difference other than size between the 17 and the 27, and my S&W 5906...all 3 I can dump a full mag at full speed in the black at 7 yards with no problem...is the 9 a tighter group? Yes, but if I get 11 rounds of .40, and 11 rounds of 9 in your torso in a couple of seconds does it really matter?

Does it matter? Maybe. Especially if the target is farther away than 7 yards, and especially if the target is smaller than a human torso.

[mw4728]

If I am gonna plink targets then I'll go with a race gun...if I'm looking to defend myself I'll go with sub compact 40 or 45...if I'm 25 yards away from a threat, the last thing I'm gonna do is stand there and take aim...most shooting happen within 10 feet, and I'll take my G27 over my 17 any day in that range.

[Blue Duck]

To me too heavy a recoil is not a matter of a few shots in a self defense situation. I've fired my S/W 640 with wood boot grips with full power 125 grain and 158 grain .357 loads no problem, yet I traded my G-23 away partially because I considered it's recoil to be uncomfortable.

I know that doesn't seem to make much since till you consider I like to shoot my Glocks a lot!:) When I take a gun out shooting I don't want to fire 10-50 shots. I'm more interested in firing 150-250 rounds for an enjoyable afternoon. So for that the G-23's recoil was too much for me personally. I'd lose accuracy and feel tired after 75-100 rounds. If I was just going to practice to proficiency then quit, it would have been the perfect size-weight/power ratio gun for me.

With the G-17 or 4006 however I can shoot till I run out of ammo without feeling beat up or watching my groups go from good to lousy. Putting so many rounds through my 17 has also made me confident in it to the point It's my "bump in the night" gun even though more powerfull pistols are available. Just comes down to what you like to do and how you like to do it.

But gotta admit you guys who can't tell the difference between an average 40 S/W and 9mm load have me a bit perplexed.

[djcerna]

I enjoy the recoil. It's a challenge taming the beast (G23). In reality it is not that bad. I enjoy the feel of the .40 cal.

[HydraShok]

I have a 340sc 12 oz .357 magnum. I have fired the glock 33 and there was no comparison, the jfame has much more recoil. The first time I took it out I thought recoil was excessive, but it is growing on me and becoming less of an issue. I wonder how the recoil compares with the larger bores. I am told a .50 DE kicks less (less snappy) but can't speak from experience.

[Rich22]

HydraShok

I shot a few rounds from the .44 mag DE and it kicks like a mule on speed. I don't think i even want to try the .50AE ok well maybe try it lol.

Rich

[Mike_Teague]

The first handgun I ever fired, when I was about 19 or 20, was a 50AE desert eagle.. Some guy brought a bunch of pistols to our informal shooting range up in the mountains and let me and a friend shoot em.

I fired 2 rds thru it, and all I remember is the mofo is HEAVY and the recoil is not snappy, but the pistol tends to want to fly upwards. Haven't shot one since...

The sharpest recoil I've experienced is a s&w 629 (?) 44mag... Enough to tear up skin! ouch!

[P-990]

The truth about recoil is that nobody wants to deal with it when shooting at speed. My girlfriend has tried both my P-990 and my G-17. To me the 17 has less percieved recoil (not by much mind you, like the difference between restraunt french-fries: BK and McD, can tell a dif but they all the same really). Naturally Nicky finds the 990 more manageable to shoot! I don't have a forty, and probably never will. But I have shot .44's and .45's muy mucho and I think that it takes a revolver and a BIG F'ing cartridge to produce handgun recoil that I PERSONALLY can't handle. Others don't think the same. Part of the equation seems to be a person's ability to physically hold the pistol in firing position. YMMV.;g

[wrenrj1]

I agree with Blue Duck. If recoil is going to cause you to shoot less for what ever reason, then it's probably not a good choice. All of those individuals out there who choose to accept the recoil as a challenge, more power to ya, I hope you succeed. I have a glock 27 which I make myself shoot 50 rounds every time I go to the range just to keep proficient, but I shoot my 19 200-250 rounds because it's comfortable. I haven't shot a 22-23 and would like to, just to compare.

PS I love my Beretta M9, which I characterize as the Cadilac of recoil...Let the tomatos be thrown...

Wren

[sub40man]

Just got back from the range. My first time ever shooting. The G27 was a load of FUN. It was a little frisky but very controllable. No problem outshooting my friend who was an experienced shooter. No sore wrist or any thing at all that was bothersome. Just fun! We did not have a 9mm to compare it to, but I did shoot a SS .380 Walther and couldn't really notice any recoil diference. The Glock was just a little smoother on the trigger. I also shoot a full size .40 sig that was very sweet and accurate as well. Maybe I didn't perceive any recoil problems because I am a new shooter. Anyway, it was great to shoot my new G27. No real difference between shooting with mag extenders or not. Shoot about 200 rounds, no fgeed problems. Can't wait to go back!

[garys_2k]

A couple of weeks ago I put 460 rounds thru my 27 in a couple of hours - had a BLAST! No sore wrist or any other problems, at all.

My friend has a S&W 66 .357 magnum that (with mag ammo) will tear up your hand after about 10 rounds. For him 50 rounds is a LONG range session.

I love my 27!

[Tazz10m]

People, not to "spam" this thread or anything, but i got to tell you, get "Agrip" on those little beasties and your recoil issues will disappear. Sure, the gun will still kick, but it will not change position in your hand at all and it will come right back down where it started. It's like shooting a water hose... if you know where the first shot went, you know where the rest of them are going to go. Agrip will enable you to shoot the smaller guns with higher caliber hotter loads with much greater speed and control. You'll be able to do things like "point" shoot a G27 with hot loads and no finger extention from the hip with one hand at a life size target and "walk" your shots right into the head of the target and empty it there about as fast as you can pull the trigger from about 10 or so feet away. Your concerns about "controlling" the gun will go away and you will be able to concentrate on shooting weak hand, hitting multiple targets, moving targets, and targets on the run... even multiple moving targets on the run. Your "study" will graduate from "group size" to "tactics". Your confidence in your ability to "do what you need to do" with that gun will go WAY up so that if or when the time ever comes to actually use that gun, you are much more likely to be able to hit with it under "combat pressure".

[garys_2k]

I'll second that about the AGrip. I'm not quite as sure, though, that it can let you point shoot head shots, but I do love it and I'm sure it helps me shoot better.

[russelldehart]

Several years ago ('94 or '95 as I recall) I got to compare the 17 and the 23 at the range and noticed the 23 had more kick and muzzle flip, but not enough to turn me off to the gun. I attributed part of the difference to the shorter barrel.

As for the people who can't tell the difference between the .40 and the 9mm, I can almost understand. The two handguns I currently own are a Sigarms Mauser M2 .40S&W and a Glock 19. The Mauser is a chunk of lead compared to the Glock and has a rotating barrel. Both of these factors reduce the recoil to a point where I can't tell the 40 has more kick unless I shoot them side-by-side. But when comparing the 23 to the 19 I would think that the difference would be more apparent.