softest shooting .45 ACP?

My HK USP 45 full size is easily the softest shooting .45 I've experienced. Much gentler than my 1911. In fact, I carry +P ammo only in the HK because it's still so easy to shoot.
 
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I've only shot the XDm and it's pretty soft shooting.

The thing is, you said perceived recoil. That has a lot to do with grip fit, overall ergos, recoil springs, & trigger pull just to name a few. You can swap out pretty much anything but the frame these days; backstrap, trigger springs . . . etc. Those 3 guns are so similar, the best thing to do is to rent & shoot 'em if you can.

BTW, one of the reasons why so many say that a 1911 is soft shooting is because it's a single stack & single action with a short trigger pull and trigger reset.

If you really want the softest shooting 45 ACP out there, get a Hi Point 45. I kid you not. :)
 
I think the Glock is the softer shooter between the ones you listed. When I was looking for a full size 45 I started off with the Glock 21. A friend wanted it from me bad so I sold it to him and got a FN FNX-45 to replace it and havent looked back. I have been super happy with the FN with its 15+1 rounds on tap and I can carry it cocked and locked like my 1911's.
 
Recoil is simply mind over matter, I don't mind so it don't matter:)

The perceived recoil on any hand gun can be changed by many factors, grips can have a major effect. Recoil spring(s).

The softest shooting .45acp I own is a full size steel 1911 with a DragonFire two piece recoil guide and dual springs. It feels much like a full size 1911 in 9mm.
 
If you are concerned with recoil, maybe you should consider a 9MM, 380acp, 32acp, or 22.
In the 45acp pistols I now own, or have owned or fired, I couldn't tell you any difference in felt recoil. I nust don't notice, or care for that matter.
 
The softest shooting .45 I've ever had was my EAA Witness .45 fullsized. A close, very close second is my recent buy, a SAR K2 45. IMHO, the only difference between these guns is the grip material. The Witness had rubber grips and the SAR has hard plastic ones, soon to be replaced by wood ones. Both of these guns are heavy, solid steel.
 
I have 5 .45ACP semiautomatics and they are all a pleasure to shoot. Recoil depends on the ammo you are shooting but I think my Gen4 Glock 21 and my HK45 are the softest shooters.
 
There's a recent video on the web of folks shooting a .44 Magnum Desert Eagle.
It's on that new guntv.tv channel.
One fellow looked like he was shooting a 9mm.
Very little muzzle rise and recoil.
He knew how to shoot.
Once again, this quote comes to mind:
"The gun is the least of it."
It's sometimes hard to swallow that we might not be the best shootists.
But those who do have the best chance to eventually become one.
Blame the gun if you want, but that doesn't lead anywhere.
 
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I'm not terribly averse to recoil. From your list, I've only shot the G21 and the M&P 45 and they both shoot soft enough I can't tell much difference. I bought the M&P because it just feels more comfortable to me than the G21.
 
The Glock 21 and M&P 45 are softer IMO. I had an XD 45 way back when. It was alright, but the 21 and M&P are softer. The Glock has a snappier recoil than the M&P, the slide shuts a little quicker which is why. The M&P seems to glide it's slide closed. I know it sounds weird. But we put a lot of rounds downrange at my old job.
 
They all paste a punch and are delightful. My research with many reviews led me to the Desert Eagle 1911. My budget was not giving, but found this beauty and its accolades my choice. Anyone to whom I let try the slow squeeze trigger usually said "WOW". Right out of the box it was set to amaze...all for under $850. A female first time shooter hit bull's eye on the first shot at the range's 50'! As are the many 1911's on the market, this met all reviews with one stating it has a $1,000 trigger! Made in Israel, it shows impeccable workmanship with features the expensive names have as standards. Hold one and slowly pull the dry fire trigger. Not the most expensive, but surely in the class! Of course, I'm a 1911 fan.
 
Softest shooting .45 ACP?
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Hard to find a softer-shooting .45 than one of S&W's 3rd Gen 45XX-series pistols.

My model 4566 (with 4.25" barrel) has less felt-recoil than any 1911 I've ever shot.

 
Oh, if we're going to recommend anything that's not on the list... I say HK USP 45. My favorite .45 ACP handgun next to some 1911's. Wilson Combat, Springfield TRP, and Colt Gold Cup.
 
The OP didn't ask about this one but my XDs.45 is very comfortable to shoot and I actually enjoy shooting it. On my first range trip I shot 175 rounds and still had enough energy to shoot 50 more with my LCP. I highly recommend this gun for accuracy and dependability. It is also easy to conceal.

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Glock G21: no experience, but have shot the G20 [for frame size] and G30SF.

Glock G30SF was ok.

XD, no experience shooting, but didn't care for what felt like a high bore axis. Made me concerned about muzzle 'flip', due to height in hand. Probably unfounded, but it didn't 'float my boat'.

M&P .45: like it A LOT. It feels pretty soft in my hands.

As was previously stated, the Ruger P97 feels VERY soft, has a DA pull around 9lbs and a SA pull of around 3.5 lbs on my version, with factory hammer spring installed. It probably is the softest, even if the recoil impulse feels, well, odd, due to the recoil rod's design and how it reduces recoil.

1911s feel pretty soft also, as long as they are 5" full size, with full-strength recoil springs [nothing watered down].
 
I've been wanting to post this but refrained. Now I'm going to just say it and try to duck any rocks thrown my way. The softest shooting .45 acp I can recall shooting is rather amazingly my Ruger Blackhawk .45 Convertible. Just a gentle push and roll with enough rise to comfortably cock the hammer for the next shot. Heaven! ;)
 
As far as I can recall, I'd have to say the lightest recoil I can remember from an 45 ACP I have ever shot was from a CZ 97. Probably because it's a heavy gun, but is sure was nice to fire. And super accurate too.
 
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