Great point. I shot one of these a few years back and forgot about it. Almost no muzzle flip and great hand warmers in a bind. They're not exactly common (or affordable) any longer.
guns in different calibers that have low felt recoil/muzzle flip
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Great point. I shot one of these a few years back and forgot about it. Almost no muzzle flip and great hand warmers in a bind. They're not exactly common (or affordable) any longer.
Cosmodragoon
New member
The PX4 Storm immediately comes to mind. I recently got to spend an afternoon shooting one in the normally "snappy" .40 S&W. I was as surprised as I was pleased. Not just because it's a prettier gun than pictures do justice, but because it was such a soft shooter and had such a low learning curve.
I don't know that it's absorption so much as it is the direction of dissipation. While porting in other guns helps by applying a counter force downward at the muzzle, the rotating barrel of the PX4 bleeds off some of the recoil energy radially. It actually seemed to stabilize the recoil, making it less of a flip and more of a push. I can only imagine how gentle it would be in 9mm!
Of course, if I end up buying one then I will definitely be replacing those enormous safety levers with the low-profile decocker. Even if I liked having a manual safety on SA/DA guns, it just looks so much nicer.
I wanted a 380 pistol that my daughter could shoot easily. After researching I realized that a steel locked-breech design was what she needed. Finally a good deal on a Colt Government 380 presented itself. It is very soft-shooting, feels almost like a 32acp. We are very happy with it.
g.willikers
New member
darkgael asks
No need to cogitate over type of gun or load.
Those who can't handle recoil won't benefit as much from switching to other guns or calibers as they would from spending their resources learning to shoot better.
Recoil control is an acquired skill, like anything else.
An example.
New guy shows up at an action pistol match with their regular gear.
Sees what the high scorer is using and runs out before the next match to get the same thing.
Suffers disappointment with the results and runs out to buy something else.
Same thing - no improvement in spite of different gun, caliber, holster, 'etc.
Someone takes pity on them and shows them how to shoot better.
Little light goes on between their ears and they begin to zip up the score sheet.
I've lost count how many times I've seen that same scenario played and replayed.
Yup, here it comes again, one of my favorites:
"The gun is the least of it."
Ahh, I feel much better, now.
But don't mind me.
If ya' all want to talk "stuff" that's fun, too.
Those who have no trouble handling recoil can do so.
No need to cogitate over type of gun or load.
Those who can't handle recoil won't benefit as much from switching to other guns or calibers as they would from spending their resources learning to shoot better.
Recoil control is an acquired skill, like anything else.
An example.
New guy shows up at an action pistol match with their regular gear.
Sees what the high scorer is using and runs out before the next match to get the same thing.
Suffers disappointment with the results and runs out to buy something else.
Same thing - no improvement in spite of different gun, caliber, holster, 'etc.
Someone takes pity on them and shows them how to shoot better.
Little light goes on between their ears and they begin to zip up the score sheet.
I've lost count how many times I've seen that same scenario played and replayed.
Yup, here it comes again, one of my favorites:
"The gun is the least of it."
Ahh, I feel much better, now.
But don't mind me.
If ya' all want to talk "stuff" that's fun, too.
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Mike Irwin
Staff
"Great point. I shot one of these a few years back and forgot about it. Almost no muzzle flip and great hand warmers in a bind. They're not exactly common (or affordable) any longer."
I first shot a P7 sometime in the 1980s, and was blown away at how little recoil and muzzle flip there was, how well they fit my hands, and how well I shot them.
I made it my life's purpose to get one. Well, maybe not my life's purpose, but damn I wanted one!
I finally managed to snag a P7PSP, one of the retired German police guns, when a bunch of them came into the United States maybe 10 or so years ago.
Price, IIRC, was in the mid $700s, which was very good.
I've shot it a fair amount, and keep it loaded in my gun safe as my "last stand" gun if someone induces me to open the safe.
I first shot a P7 sometime in the 1980s, and was blown away at how little recoil and muzzle flip there was, how well they fit my hands, and how well I shot them.
I made it my life's purpose to get one. Well, maybe not my life's purpose, but damn I wanted one!
I finally managed to snag a P7PSP, one of the retired German police guns, when a bunch of them came into the United States maybe 10 or so years ago.
Price, IIRC, was in the mid $700s, which was very good.
I've shot it a fair amount, and keep it loaded in my gun safe as my "last stand" gun if someone induces me to open the safe.
g.willikers
New member
There might be the beginnings of a clue there.
g.willikers
New member
But it's so subjective, shooter to shooter.
A discussion of what gun and caliber is best for reducing recoil can be very confusing, leading to contradictory opinions.
The more skillful one is, the less important the gun becomes.
So, I will continue to nag on the importance of good training and practice.
Saves a lot of money, too, not swapping guns around all the time, like some folks do.
Money better spent on taking instruction and buying ammo.
Anyhow, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.
A discussion of what gun and caliber is best for reducing recoil can be very confusing, leading to contradictory opinions.
The more skillful one is, the less important the gun becomes.
So, I will continue to nag on the importance of good training and practice.
Saves a lot of money, too, not swapping guns around all the time, like some folks do.
Money better spent on taking instruction and buying ammo.
Anyhow, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.
Mike Irwin
Staff
Even people who hate the P7 (including a good friend of mine) have remarked on the lack of recoil and muzzle flip.
g.willikers
New member
And interesting story on the subject:
Years ago, when everyone was still young and vigorous, a small group of us often stayed late after our local USPSA and NRA Action Pistol matches to play.
During one of these times, we decided to swap guns around to test our skills.
There was about eight or so of us with the usual mix of shootin' irons and calibers.
Not surprising, the folks who scored the highest at the matches were the least bothered by using different guns.
But the rest of us didn't suffer too much from it either.
Now, granted the group was the more enthusiastic and active shooters in the club to want to stay and continue playing.
But maybe that's the actual point.
Years ago, when everyone was still young and vigorous, a small group of us often stayed late after our local USPSA and NRA Action Pistol matches to play.
During one of these times, we decided to swap guns around to test our skills.
There was about eight or so of us with the usual mix of shootin' irons and calibers.
Not surprising, the folks who scored the highest at the matches were the least bothered by using different guns.
But the rest of us didn't suffer too much from it either.
Now, granted the group was the more enthusiastic and active shooters in the club to want to stay and continue playing.
But maybe that's the actual point.
G.willikers I completely agree with you on this point. A committed shooter will tolerate and learn to deal with recoil unless physical condition will not allow it. For the rest, beginning with something that is more comfortable to shoot will improve their chances of acquiring the necessary skills to handle other guns. Discussion of commonly accepted "soft" shooting pistols gives us a chance to help new folks succeed. I also think too many try to achieve by buying stuff rather than paying their dues to learn stuff.
Cosmodragoon
New member
I too believe that you can train around recoil. However, you can also train around bad sights, a bad trigger, and more. The questions become (1) why would you want to, and (2) at your maximum level of training, could you do better, even if only slightly, with more accommodating hardware?
Sure, the answer to 1 in terms of recoil often involves a desire to increase the size, mass, or velocity of the projectile. I wouldn't fault that (at least within reason). However, should we fault people with that desire for wanting to do it on more accommodating hardware? I think trying to substitute technology for training is a separate problem. I think people of all skill levels could appreciate guns that shoot softer per caliber.