Recoil in Pistols

O.K., I'm a sixgunner, not really a pistol shooter. I'm not sensitive to recoil, I shoot heavy .45 Colt and .44 Magnum loads regularly. Having said that, here are my observations when shooting auto pistols:

Shooting the Browning-type short recoil pistols, I feel three recoil impulses: First the firing of the cartridge. Second, while the pistol is arcing up in recoil, I feel the slide hit the stop, which adds a little impetus to upward travel. Then I fell the slide stop as its forward motion is arrested.

With the toggle-link design of the Luger, I don't feel the last impulse, termination of forward movement.

With rotary bolt pistols, I feel only the recoil of the cartridge, but am aware of mechanical "goings on" as the pistol cycles.

Straight blow-back pistols don't usually give me any recoil impression except for the firing of the cartridge.

Do I feel these because I'm used to the one impulse of the revolver? Or do ya'll feel these miniature "jolts" too? Or is it just a part of shooting the pistol you've become accustomed to, and no longer notice?

Bob Wright

With large-frame guns like the 1911 or Berretta 92 I can feel the mechanical functioning of the gun if I pay attention. I don't really notice anything with sub-9mm calibers.

Before getting jumped for my ignorance, I know the Luger is a short recoil design, too. I used the term "toggle link" to differentiate from the short recoil slide action pistols.

Bob Wright

Bob Wright,

When I started shooting 1911s in 45acp the violent slide action threw me for a loop. Now I have shoot the 1911s so much I no longer notice the slide movement.

I do fine with S/A revolvers as long as they do no wear rubber grips, if they do wear rubber grips 44 mags pound the hell out of me. Why? S/As are meant to roll in your hand and this doesn't happen with rubber grips.

When shooting heavy recoiling D/A revolvers I want Herrett Jordan Troopers on them. If I fire a N-Frame with checkered target grips my hands take a beating.

Regards,

Richard :D

I not only notice it, I depend on it to help me time my shots in speed shooting. I also use it to detect malfunctions or an empty pistol, since the recoil impulse is different when the slide does not go into battery.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Richard

Bob Wright,

When I started shooting 1911s in 45acp the violent slide action threw me for a loop. Now I have shoot the 1911s so much I no longer notice the slide movement.

I do fine with S/A revolvers as long as they do no wear rubber grips, if they do wear rubber grips 44 mags pound the hell out of me. Why? S/As are meant to roll in your hand and this doesn't happen with rubber grips.

When shooting heavy recoiling D/A revolvers I want Herrett Jordan Troopers on them. If I fire a N-Frame with checkered target grips my hands take a beating.

Regards,

Richard :D

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+1 what Richard said. I had to change out the rubber grips on my S&W 629 because after several rds. with some full house .44 mags. the rubber grips start really working on my palms, etc. I replaced them with Ahrends smooth with finger grips and they are terrific.

http://img320.imageshack.us/img320/4...th44mag9gc.jpg

I've been shooting so long all I feel is "BANG".
It doesn't matter if it's a 1911 or a Ruger Blackhawk.

AFS

I hear the "bang" and feel the "push" (more push, very little "kicking up" with that Power Port S & W).

AirForceShooter:

I don't think how long you shoot has anything to do with it. I've been a handgunner over fifty years, and I still feel the difference.

Bob Wright

Charlie, that is one fine looking S&W revolver. Regards, Richard :D

Its not a hand gun, but I remember firing the m16/ar15 and noticing the same thing. I could feel the slide moving backwards, I could detect when it started back forward and I could feel it when it slammed into battery.
Kinda like: Clank, Clank, Ka chunk!