Recoil...like or dislike?

[Ichiro]

To me, it depends on the gun almost completely. While I do enjoy feeling like I'm firing something powerful, I don't like struggling to maintain control.

* Shooting 125-grain .357s in my GP-100 and SP-101 was fun, but not so much fun that I ever reloaded for the caliber. I reloaded thousands of .38s.
* Shooting just about anything in my J-frames was not fun, standard .38s included. +P was just about out of the question.

When I want recoil, and at times I do, I'll shoot slugs out of my 20" Remington 870. That's fun.

 

[jersey_emt]

Can anyone explain to me why I read so many posts where the little .380s "kick" too much? A mini 9mm?? I just don't get that one.

The greatest advantage of those little .380 ACP pistols -- their tiny size and extremely low weight -- is also their greatest disadvantage.

The amount of recoil generated from the same cartridge is a constant. You have the same amount of powder burning, pushing the same projectile, so the amount of recoil force generated is also the same, regardless of weapon.

However, felt recoil can vary greatly between guns. Shorter barrels and lower weight generally equate to more felt recoil. The extra mass of a larger gun absorbs more of the total recoil generated by the cartridge. A smaller grip also adds to the problem because you are not using your whole hand to grasp the pistol like you do with larger guns.

This all comes together and makes the felt recoil of these tiny guns actually higher than some larger guns in larger calibers, despite the relatively low amount of recoil forces generated by the small .380 ACP round.

Simply put, a tiny gun weighing less than 10 ounces will have a sharp kick even if it is "only" a .380 ACP.

 

[Stevie-Ray]

Don't much care for recoil. 10mm is about it for me, though I also own a Redhawk in .44 mag. My Contender with it's tapered .45-70 barrel is simply hellfire unleashed and absolutely no fun at all. It's OK with 405 gr loads, but who the hell shoots those, besides those with antiques? I need to put a 5 pound scope on it and retry. When it comes to rifles, the .30 calibers are good enough, I'll never use anything bigger, though I have fired a .375 H&H mag, which was completely unpleasant to say the least. I'd love to see and hold an old 4-bore, but I know I'd never fire it even if offered. My 3" 1911 in .45 ACP is my EDC, and it's recoil is fine for me and pretty much unnoticed. My HKUSPC firing the same load has a more unpleasant recoil, even though it's heavier.

 

[riggins_83]

I like recoil to a point.

I don't really enjoy shooting my Ruger 44 magnums.. at least for more than one cylinder. I love the recoil of a lightweight 45ACP, my Savage 30-06 and 308 rifles too. Anything more than a 30-06 I generally don't enjoy.

 

[GunsAreGood]

I love recoil. I would shoot 500 rounds of .357 or .44 mag over a .22 all day. It makes you feel what you are doing. It makes things fun. I am not bashing .22's though I do love to shoot the .22 but it is a different kind of fun.

 

[stevelyn]

I don't care for punishing recoil. In handguns the .454 Casull is about the limits of what I can handle.

Rifles it depends. I don't mind a .375 H&H, but detest a .338 Win Mag.

Recoil is subjective at best and everyone's limits are different.

 

[P97]

All high powered guns have recoil, but it is a lot more manageable in some than others. I can shoot a gun that manages recoil a lot better than one that doesn't. I shy away from guns with a lot of felt recoil, and get those that has less felt recoil. You find a big felt recoil difference, in different guns of the same caliber, and load. Try a light single shot 12Ga, then a heavy Double-barrel, with the same loads.

 

[greyson97]

i dont mind recoil. i have shot some big revolvers that was just unpleasant, but like others posted above, sometimes the same cartridge has a different feel depending on the gun that shot it.

however, i do not like rifle recoil at all. i think .223 is all i care to stand. maybe a bar. def not mosin or 7mm mag

 

[raimius]

It depends...

Sometimes, it is fun to shoot guns with heavy recoil.
Most of the time, I would prefer less recoil. I like to shoot quickly, at multiple targets. So, more recoil slows me down. Also, when I get the chance to shoot a lot of rounds, heavy recoil can get tiresome.

 

[Elvishead]

A lot of the guys at the range line up to shoot my buddies S&W 460 2.5" snub, the others just like to watch the 5-6 feet flame come out.

 

[BigJimP]

Excessive recoil / doesn't make a gun fun to shoot in my opinion... like an airweight revolver and full power .357 mag loads ...is just not fun to shoot. And they usually have a trigger that's like trying to crack a walnut in 2 fingers - you're shaking so bad, when it does finally go off .... you can't hit a bull in the butt at 21 feet ....

But in general, I like and shoot a lot of handgun calibers (from 9mm - to .44 mag ) ...but I primarily shoot steel guns / that have a little weight to them.

Same thing on shotguns / I like shooting a 12ga ...but I'm just as happy shooting a 20ga, 28ga or even a .410 ...but even in a 28ga I don't like a really light gun that is going to smack me ... ( 7 1/2 lbs - 8 1/2 lbs is about right on a good O/U whether its a 12ga - or a .410 )....

 

[DMK]

If they could make a reliable gun that shot 357mag or 10mm, the weight of my S&W 642 and had some gizmo that gave it the recoil of 22LR, I'd probably buy it regardless of cost.

 

[lee n. field]

Wheels got to turning, haven't seen a poll like this in a while.

Who here actually likes recoil in a firearm?

I find .44 Magnum unpleasant. Ditto .357 through my snub. Up to that, I don't mind at all. People whine about .40 S&W -- I have no problem at all. I can shoot it all afternoon.

 

[Elvishead]

It's funny that I don't realy notice much difference between 9mm, 40 S&W, or 45acp! But .357 or bigger makes an impression!

 

[woad_yurt]

I guess I like some recoil. I much prefer .22 revolvers to semi-autos. A .22 semi feels as if it's spitting rather than shooting. I like the extra "thump" of a .22 revolver.

With all else, however, I'd prefer less, rather than more, felt recoil.

 

[Puntmefar]

The recoil dont bother me either way its part of the shot is how i look at it.
as long as i can manage it i dont care either way. However no recoil would make teaching a new shooter easier lol.

 

[kmkinaz]

Lasers info

Just to throw some light on the subject, I think that since lasers can be set to focus at a certain point in space, such as the demonstration of popping a balloon inside another balloon. It wouldn't be stretching the imagination that with the use of computers and sensors lasers could defeat mirrors ect and focus on the target...

 

[ProjectCamaro]

I like the recoil, if not I'd have all .22's execpt for my home defense gun but I don't because that's part of the shooting experience.
I enjoy the recoil of 9mm-45acp's the most but when I bought my revolver I went with a 44 magnum because I wanted the nice big kick. If it wasn't for the recoil I would have gotten a 38 special because the firearm isn't used for anything other than shooting at the range.

 

[KyJim]

So, all you guys (and gals) who don't like recoil mostly shoot .22s right?

I don't like to be punished when I shoot but I do like a little kick. A nice .38 special or a .45 acp suits me very well. I have .22s and I like them, but let's face it. I mostly shoot them because of ammo costs.

 

[greyson97]

i dont shoot .22lr cause of the recoil. In fact, i hated shooting .22lr cause it felt like an over glorified air-pistol/airsoft gun

i finally gave in though.

the reason why i shoot .22lr is cause i can get a box of 550 rounds for $16