.40 s&w recoil
- Thread starter Levergun_lover94
- Start date
As I get older, I find I enjoy recoil a lot less than I used to. I don't enjoy shooting .357mag as much, and it used to be my favorite caliber. Shooting 9mm in a smaller gun is no fun anymore. Heck, even .45ACP in a lightweight gun (alloy Commander sized 1911 or a polymer pistol) gets old after 100-150 rounds in a range session. That said, .40S&W in a Glock 27/S&W M&P40c sized gun and up is no problem whatsoever. It is starting to become one of my favorite calibers and I need to pick up some more guns in that caliber soon (maybe a .40 Springfield EMP).
I like .40's and Glocks, and daily carry a Gen4 27. The G22 is a very good shooter and recoil isn't bad at all. Back when I had both a Gen4 19 and a Gen4 23 (same size gun, one 9mm, one .40) I shot them side by side and the recoil of the .40 was a little more, but honestly barely worth noting. The 357 Mag can recoil decently, but it's not bad either, although a warm 357 Mag from a security six will kick more than a .40 from a G22, but both feel nice and powerful.
I have a:
96 Beretta
92 Beretta
S&W 66 2.5"
S&W 686 2.5"
I would say that with full power 357 magnum ammunition that the recoil is much greater than the autos.
With these short barrels blast is pretty rough also.
One 40S&W load that is getting closer to the 357's that I have fired is the 155 Silvertip. This round gives over 1200 fps out of a 5
" barrel.
Still, nowhere close to a good old full power 357 125gr hp.
96 Beretta
92 Beretta
S&W 66 2.5"
S&W 686 2.5"
I would say that with full power 357 magnum ammunition that the recoil is much greater than the autos.
With these short barrels blast is pretty rough also.
One 40S&W load that is getting closer to the 357's that I have fired is the 155 Silvertip. This round gives over 1200 fps out of a 5
" barrel.
Still, nowhere close to a good old full power 357 125gr hp.
how you load the 40 determines how it recoils
mouse fart recoil;
Federal Hi-Shok= 40 SW HS JHP 165gr 352ft-lbs 980fps
Hello, I'm a gun recoil;
Underwood ammo= 40 SW XTP HP 155gr 582ft-lbs 1300fps
that federal load is like shooting run of the mill 9mm but the Underwood will have an awesome .357 like muzzle blast and will definitely induce a little muzzle rise
mouse fart recoil;
Federal Hi-Shok= 40 SW HS JHP 165gr 352ft-lbs 980fps
Hello, I'm a gun recoil;
Underwood ammo= 40 SW XTP HP 155gr 582ft-lbs 1300fps
that federal load is like shooting run of the mill 9mm but the Underwood will have an awesome .357 like muzzle blast and will definitely induce a little muzzle rise
Stats Shooter
New member
I have several .40's and just entered the world of the 10mm. I also have .357's and 44 mags. The wife shoots 9's.
Perceived recoil is about the gun (size, weight, barrel length,) and the cartridge.
I DO NOT shoot weak loads. My practice load is my own 180 gr FMJ load at 1050fps out of all my .40's. (1050 fps out of a full sized m&p and about 965 out of my shield 40).
With a 22lb recoil spring my full sized 40 with SD loads and my simulated SD loads is about the same as a 9mm. In the shield it is a lot more snappy. Not uncomfortable, just slower to followup and get back on target.
Does the 40 have less recoil than a .357? It depends. A full sized 357 in a 6" colt python has less recoil than my 40 shield with full power 40 loads. But, my dad's snubnose 357 has a lot more recoil than any 40 I have shot.
My wife can easily handle my full sized 40's but the shield is a bit snappy for her liking. If she was carrying a 40 for some reason, I would go with heavy slow bullets to minimize recoil and maintain penetration.
Perceived recoil is about the gun (size, weight, barrel length,) and the cartridge.
I DO NOT shoot weak loads. My practice load is my own 180 gr FMJ load at 1050fps out of all my .40's. (1050 fps out of a full sized m&p and about 965 out of my shield 40).
With a 22lb recoil spring my full sized 40 with SD loads and my simulated SD loads is about the same as a 9mm. In the shield it is a lot more snappy. Not uncomfortable, just slower to followup and get back on target.
Does the 40 have less recoil than a .357? It depends. A full sized 357 in a 6" colt python has less recoil than my 40 shield with full power 40 loads. But, my dad's snubnose 357 has a lot more recoil than any 40 I have shot.
My wife can easily handle my full sized 40's but the shield is a bit snappy for her liking. If she was carrying a 40 for some reason, I would go with heavy slow bullets to minimize recoil and maintain penetration.
My wife, weighing 140 lbs., and not a regular shooter, handles the recoil from her Glock 23 just fine...shoots as well with it as her former Glock 19 in 9mm.
Too, with a .40 you have the option of using 155 or 165 JHP's...our local LEO's are using 165's here in my part of KY, significantly reducing 'felt' recoil. Too, it's useful to remember that any .40 caliber JHP round at ~1000 fps is a hellofa defensive tool. You don' t need barn burners to be well armed.
High Valley makes a good point about the effect of an auto's slide mitigating 'felt' recoil vs. the grip on a revolver. Over 50 years ago, when I first started shooting the venerable 1911, I thought the gun was coming apart in my hand, having been a revolver shooter up to that point. It is different to be sure!!
HTH's Rod
Far less in my opinion. My wife and I both shoot a 3" M-60 S&W .357, but rarely, in her case, with full house 125 gr JHP's. It's not fun, in her words. Recoil wise, my handloads at 1000 fps in the Smith feel comparable to the .40 with 180 gr FMJ's.
Too, with a .40 you have the option of using 155 or 165 JHP's...our local LEO's are using 165's here in my part of KY, significantly reducing 'felt' recoil. Too, it's useful to remember that any .40 caliber JHP round at ~1000 fps is a hellofa defensive tool. You don' t need barn burners to be well armed.
High Valley makes a good point about the effect of an auto's slide mitigating 'felt' recoil vs. the grip on a revolver. Over 50 years ago, when I first started shooting the venerable 1911, I thought the gun was coming apart in my hand, having been a revolver shooter up to that point. It is different to be sure!!
HTH's Rod
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To heck with recoil. If you can buy a Gen 3 Glock 22 for $200, you'd better grab it while you can.
Use the $150 - $200 savings to buy a Lone Wolf or Storm Lake 9mm conversion barrel. Then you've got both a .40 and a 9 in one gun and you can shoot whichever caliber you like.
I've got a Glock 27 and bought a Lone Wolf 9mm conversion barrel. Shooting both calibers back-to-back from the same gun with just a barrel swap, I can say that the .40 recoil is a bit more than the 9mm, but not significantly so. And, I suspect that the difference would be even less in a full size pistol like the Glock 22.
Use the $150 - $200 savings to buy a Lone Wolf or Storm Lake 9mm conversion barrel. Then you've got both a .40 and a 9 in one gun and you can shoot whichever caliber you like.
I've got a Glock 27 and bought a Lone Wolf 9mm conversion barrel. Shooting both calibers back-to-back from the same gun with just a barrel swap, I can say that the .40 recoil is a bit more than the 9mm, but not significantly so. And, I suspect that the difference would be even less in a full size pistol like the Glock 22.
johnwilliamson062
Moderator
For $200 buy it and find out. If you don't like it you should be able to trade for something tamer with no problem.
This is excellent advice...it's what we've done with my wife's G23, and BTW, that Lone Wolf bbl. is every bit as accurate as the Glock bbl. in .40 S&W. Out to 10+ yards, impact points require no adjustment for windage nor elevation. It offers reduced practice ammunition costs whether you're buying your ammo from Walmart or reloading as we do...a true win/win situation.
And by happy coincidence, the 9mm magazines you'll need for the 9mm bbl. will also feed .40 S&W's...
Rod