I fired a glock 9mm and it had a pretty good kickback. does the kickback on the 9mm bullet vary from gun to gun.. or as a general rule - 9mm has a kickback. I am asking because I am looking to get a gun and It will take some time for me to get used to the kickback that I experienced with this glock. Does the 38 have less or more.. how does the 32 compare.. thanks for the help..
Kickback
- Thread starter Karlheinz
- Start date
"Kickback" is generally referred to as "recoil", terminology wise. Just an FYI. 
How a gun is designed and made, and what its made of, can often make it feel like it is a "softer" or "harsher" shooter. Your perception of things can also play a role here, and two people can have totally opposite thoughts on the same gun.
.38's are a very good example of this, especially when you compare the larger, all steel guns, to the lightweight, alloy framed smaller or shorter barreled guns. You'd think you were shooting two different calibers if you didnt know better.
Once you learn to ignore the recoil impulse, and concentrate on the sights, and especially the front sight as you squeeze the trigger and the shot "breaks", things will start to improve. Recoil, for the most part, is really more mental than anything else.
How a gun is designed and made, and what its made of, can often make it feel like it is a "softer" or "harsher" shooter. Your perception of things can also play a role here, and two people can have totally opposite thoughts on the same gun.
.38's are a very good example of this, especially when you compare the larger, all steel guns, to the lightweight, alloy framed smaller or shorter barreled guns. You'd think you were shooting two different calibers if you didnt know better.
Once you learn to ignore the recoil impulse, and concentrate on the sights, and especially the front sight as you squeeze the trigger and the shot "breaks", things will start to improve. Recoil, for the most part, is really more mental than anything else.
oneounceload
Moderator
Recoil is a factor of gun weight, velocity of the payload and the mass of the ejecta (powder and bullet). I have a few Glocks, and I find the heavy slide of the gun helps with recoil. Typically, very light guns firing powerful cartridges will generate significant recoil. However, gun FIT is something that will reduce the "perceived" or "felt" recoil. You might try holding the gun somewhat differently to see if the recoil feels lessened and what it does for your accuracy.
CarbineCaleb
New member
Regarding recoil, .32 is less than .38 which is less than 9mm.
As others have said, all other things being equal, a heavier gun with a longer barrel will be softer shooting.
9mm only come in a pretty narrow power range, because they need enough energy to cycle the slide of the semiauto.
But revolvers don't rely on cartridge power for operation, so the load can be made quite weak without affecting operation. Mild .38s are real easy to shoot in a steel revolver.
As others have said, all other things being equal, a heavier gun with a longer barrel will be softer shooting.
9mm only come in a pretty narrow power range, because they need enough energy to cycle the slide of the semiauto.
But revolvers don't rely on cartridge power for operation, so the load can be made quite weak without affecting operation. Mild .38s are real easy to shoot in a steel revolver.
Hi. Felt recoil is subjective. However, the weight of the handgun, its grip material, its fit to your hand and the ammo has a lot to do with it. Glocks are light weight pistols. Not bad, just lighter than a steel framed pistol like a Browning Highpower.
.38's are normally revolvers. Although high priced .38 semi-auto target pistol exists. In any case, comparing a Glock to a revolver is an apples and oranges thing. A revolver has to fit your hand too though.
I have short, but wide hands. For me, S&W revolvers are just a wee bit too big. A Ruger GP100 fits perfectly. Ruger 9mm pistols, on the other hand, are also too big. While a 1911 .45 ACP and a Browning High Power(BHP) fit just fine. Both fit most people. And the felt recoil of a .45 ACP isn't bad. Even with hot ammo. I like my .45 better than my milsurp BHP.
Fit to your hand means you can easily reach the trigger with no strain in your hand.
"...looking to get a gun..." Go to your local gun shop and try a bunch of handguns on for size.
Join a shooting club too. Opens a lot of doors and most shooters will bend over backwards to help you, including letting you try their firearms.
.38's are normally revolvers. Although high priced .38 semi-auto target pistol exists. In any case, comparing a Glock to a revolver is an apples and oranges thing. A revolver has to fit your hand too though.
I have short, but wide hands. For me, S&W revolvers are just a wee bit too big. A Ruger GP100 fits perfectly. Ruger 9mm pistols, on the other hand, are also too big. While a 1911 .45 ACP and a Browning High Power(BHP) fit just fine. Both fit most people. And the felt recoil of a .45 ACP isn't bad. Even with hot ammo. I like my .45 better than my milsurp BHP.
Fit to your hand means you can easily reach the trigger with no strain in your hand.
"...looking to get a gun..." Go to your local gun shop and try a bunch of handguns on for size.
Join a shooting club too. Opens a lot of doors and most shooters will bend over backwards to help you, including letting you try their firearms.
chris in va
New member
You'll find that a small frame 38 Special revolver will kick a lot harder than that Glock 9mm you tried. My friend can't stand my old J-frame but likes my CZ 75 a lot better. Gun weight has a LOT to do with felt recoil.
I also load my 9mm with a mild charge weight so muzzle flip is hardly worth mentioning. Yet another advantage to reloading.
I also load my 9mm with a mild charge weight so muzzle flip is hardly worth mentioning. Yet another advantage to reloading.
TylerD45ACP
New member
Karl get yourself a Browing Hi-Power for you first 9mm because you seem new to the sport (no offense). The 9mm is a good starter round and the Browning Hi-Power is the best 9mm I have ever shot. With crimson trace laser grips it is scary how fast you can follow up. Just a suggestion for a pistol, don't know your preferences though. The most important thing is what feels right to you, the firearm should feel like part of your hand. Good luck and Im glad your joining a club and starting to shoot. You won't regret it, any other questions I'm always interested so just ask away.
Newton's Third Law of Physics
equal and opposite.
All guns having the same amount of muzzle energy will have the same amout of recoil energy. No getting around basic physics.
However, what you feel (felt recoil, your "kickback"
) differs from gun to gun, because of different weights (of the gun), and the size and shape of the grip, in relation to your hand.
The energy is still all there, but the way you feel it makes a gun seem to have soft, or harsh recoil. Heavier guns feel like they kick less, because some of the energy is used to get the larger mass moving, and it moves at a lower velocity. Inertia and momentum.
Shoot a pocket size 9mm like the Kahr and a full size 9mm like a Beretta M9, and even though you take the ammo from the same box, they will feel completely different in your hand.
equal and opposite.
All guns having the same amount of muzzle energy will have the same amout of recoil energy. No getting around basic physics.
However, what you feel (felt recoil, your "kickback"
) differs from gun to gun, because of different weights (of the gun), and the size and shape of the grip, in relation to your hand.The energy is still all there, but the way you feel it makes a gun seem to have soft, or harsh recoil. Heavier guns feel like they kick less, because some of the energy is used to get the larger mass moving, and it moves at a lower velocity. Inertia and momentum.
Shoot a pocket size 9mm like the Kahr and a full size 9mm like a Beretta M9, and even though you take the ammo from the same box, they will feel completely different in your hand.
Blue Grass
New member
The way the grip and grip angle fit your hand has a lot to do with recoil. The 147 JHP Win in my CZ-75BD feels very tame. The same round in a Glock 17 is uncomfortable to me. My knuckle on my middle finger hits the bottom of the trigger guard and makes the recoil feel much worse. If possible, find a range that rents different 9mm and try several models. Not all guns work for all people. If they did, we'd only have 1 model to choose from.
I wouldn't be recommending a Browning H-Power even though they are an excellent pistol, they have become collectors items.The Beretta 92 or even the Taurus would be a better choice.Both are heavy enough to tame recoil on a 9mm. I have a P-11 Kel-tec and the trigger leaves much to be desired.The 8.5 lb trigger really does feel like 12, it was the first of the mouse guns, easily concealable, but not a pistol you can fire one handed accurately.Find a range that rents guns and try out as many as you can afford, one will call out to you,all pistols are compromises, weight, recoil and accuracy. find the one the fits your needs and buy it.