why is there so much more recoil in revolvers then pistols?

The cool part is, once you find a handgun/caliber combination you like, then it is like a woman that you grow to love and you don't notice the recoil at all anymore. Maybe once a month, when you're younger. But I swear to you, if you get married to a gun after firing it for a long time, you won't notice the recoil. It's magical. I went to the range with my son-in-law and the flip from a rented LCR was annoying to me, while the "rise" from my 70-series Commander was as sweet as polishing my shoes.
 
Bob Wright said:
Dragline45 said:
You can feel all that in a fraction of a second?
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Well, as a matter of fact, yes. It is especially noticeable when the last round is fired.
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I'm with you, Bob.

When I run mild and moderate loads through the semi-autos in my family, I can feel distinct "phases" of recoil as the action cycles. Glocks, Hi-Powers, CZ 85s, my P95, 1911s, Taurus PTs ... pretty much anything besides straight blow-back designs.

With hot loads, it isn't always as obvious, but some platforms (such as the P95) still let me feel those distinct "phases".


As for the difference in perceived recoil... I think it's been pretty well covered. ;)
 
For an apples-to-apples comparison, I once owned an S&W 325 (.45 acp, 2" barrel, unobtanium frame). It weighed almost exactly the same (23 oz) as my Kimber Ultra Carry II 3" 1911. Both had original wooden grips.

Using some full power 230 grain ammo, and shooting them back to back, the S&W was distinctly more "barky", to the point of being borderline unpleasant.

I had purchased the S&W as a carry candidate (well, the price was right, too :)).

But objectively, the Kimber was smaller and held an extra two rounds. The fact that I shot the 1911 better was just icing on the cake.

So the S&W went away. I still have the Kimber.

I am a big fan of revolvers, but these days I only own revolvers in chamberings that are (largely) unavailable in auto pistols...specifically, .357 Mag, .41 Mag, .45LC.
 
Can you guys feel when that 1911 locks back on the last shot? I'm getting pretty good at it.
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Not only that but in my Ruger 22/45 also, and in just about every other pistol I've fired. Most disconcerting of all is the Luger!

Bob Wright
 
It's the lack of a recoil spring.

If you had a 9mm revolver and a 9mm semi-auto, the auto wouldn't recoil as much because there is a spring to absorb some of the shock.
 
This may have something to do with it.

IMG_1528.jpg
 
Can you guys feel when that 1911 locks back on the last shot? I'm getting pretty good at it.
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When I run mild and moderate loads through the semi-autos in my family, I can feel distinct "phases" of recoil as the action cycles. Glocks, Hi-Powers, CZ 85s, my P95, 1911s, Taurus PTs ... pretty much anything besides straight blow-back designs.
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Honestly I've never really looked out for it. I'm usually so focused on the target that recoil or as FrankenMauser called it "phases of recoil" are in the back of my mind. Next time I go to the range I am going to try out some hot and moderate loads and see if I can feel the action as it cycles. As far as feeling when the slide locks back to know when your empty I count my rounds as I shoot so I know when to expect it.
 
A few thoughts:
* Perceived recoil in a revolver can feel sharper than an auto because in an autoloader some of the recoil energy is used to unlock and then cycle the action, extending the duration of the recoil impulse.
* Revolvers frames are solid and do not move in line with the bore axis, autoloaders are made up of pieces that slide and move in line with the bore axis.
* Revolvers typically have the bore centerline farther above the grip, making them feel like they climb more or have more muzzle flip.
* Autoloaders often have heavier parts farther out on the front of the firearm. making it feel like it recoils straight back instead of flipping.
 
I can definitely feel the difference when my S&W model 41 locks its slide back on the last shot.
The model 41, compared to my revolver that's chambered for the same cartridge, .22LR, actually seems to kick more. I think it's mostly the slamming of the slide that's not there in the revolver.
With centerfire calibers, the situation may be different. I do know that autoloading shotguns are popular among a lot of skeet and trap shooters because of their recoil taming properties.
 
Honestly I've never really looked out for it. I'm usually so focused on the target that recoil or as FrankenMauser called it "phases of recoil" are in the back of my mind. Next time I go to the range I am going to try out some hot and moderate loads and see if I can feel the action as it cycles. As far as feeling when the slide locks back to know when your empty I count my rounds as I shoot so I know when to expect it.
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If you have a nice, slicked-up pistol, it may not be as obvious. Most of what I shoot, is bone-stock. Very few have even had any work done to improve the triggers.

One of the exceptions to my previous list, is an early stainless Kimber 1911 (some kind of special model - it's Crankylove's). That thing is so smooth and silky... I don't feel any of the 'phases' of recoil.
 
no offense but, stock grips cant be a useful thing on revolvers. not when you co go buy a pair of recoil tamer grips from hogue and turn it into a fun gun.

b
 
You can feel all that in a fraction of a second?
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I know I can. Part of it may be from shooting revolvers for so long before ever owning a auto-loader. When I first started to shoot 1911s, there always seemed to be something "wrong". Took me a while to realize it was the feeling of the action working. I too can tell when the slides lock back on my pistols. For those that started on pistols, odds are the feeling would be the norm and thus not as noticeable.The feel of the action working after the shot is one reason I've only owned one auto-loading shotgun and sold it. After years of shooting SxSs, the feel and sound coming from the action working in front of my face after the shot drove me nuts, and was a distraction if and when I needed a quick follow up shot. Again, I'm bettin' if I had learned on auto-loader shotguns, I wouldn't even notice.
 
The feel of the action working after the shot is one reason I've only owned one auto-loading shotgun and sold it. After years of shooting SxSs, the feel and sound coming from the action working in front of my face after the shot drove me nuts, and was a distraction if and when I needed a quick follow up shot. Again, I'm bettin' if I had learned on auto-loader shotguns, I wouldn't even notice.
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Heh. I'm the same way with Ruger 10/22s and Marlin Model 60s.
The "pinging" and ringing in the action, after the bolt chambers the next round, is distracting and annoying.
I spent a very long time shooting nothing but pump actions and lever actions, for .22 rifles; and now shoot several bolt action .22s. The pumps and levers just have a bit of a 'click'-'thud' to them; and the bolt actions, a 'snap'. But those semi-autos come with a click-snap-twang-ping-tink-bwonggggg. ;)
 
If two guns weigh the same, for example a 1911 and a certain revolver in 45acp, and shoot bullets of the same weight and velocity loaded with the same powder and charge, well mechanically the recoil impulse will be mechanically identical.

However because of the reciprocating action of the slide, which absorbs some of the recoil force, felt recoil will be different. The revolver will kick more in the hand than the auto if both are the same weight and shooting the same ammo.

This can be altered some, because it's felt recoil by changing the style of grips, type gun, etc.

tipoc
 
Revolvers recoil more but even so, if you think about it the energy that is eaten up cycling the auto pistol, it has to go somewhere so it would be divided between recoil energy entering your hand and the energy pushing the bullet out of the barrel. Equal and opposite reaction. So theoretically you'd get something like .0000000255 higher velocity from the revolver assuming everything else equal.

I think.

Dare I say that revolvers are more accurate than autos? Nah that's kinda OT, I wont.
 
Which revolver

It depends on which revolver you're talking about.

2 examples: a big solid steel S&W 27-2 that makes 38 special loads feel like squibs. (exaggeration) with it's ~44 ounces of weight

An aluminum S&W 642 that will make you feel like you caught a tennis ball during a game, since it weighs ~13 ounces. Okay, it's not that bad either but you get the point.

Which revolver did you shoot to give you this impression? Typically smaller revolvers are less expensive and are very popular for concealed carry so there's a good chance you may be talking about snub noses.
 
I shoot a 625 revolver and a 1911 pistol. there is more felt recoil with the revolver. I don't notice it til I switch guns, big difference.
 
Shooting the same 45 ACP ammo out of a S&W 1917 and a steel framed Colt Government model 1911, the revolver seems to recoil noticeably less that the pistol.
 
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