If you're firing the exact same make of pistol, but in different calibers, how much of a difference in recoil is there between a 45 ACP and say a 9 mm? I've shot a 380 ACP & 9 mm, but not a 40 or 45. Trying to "brace" myself for when/if I do.

just shoot as if youre holding your 9mm. no probs.

^ Notorious troll.

I have a Ruger ACP .45 P90 and a P95 9mm P95. Honestly, its not a lot to me. I went to the range on Sunday to teach my wife how to use a pistol and she was shooting the .45 by days end having a ton of fun. We went through about 500 rounds between the two guns and she never complained about recoil being too much. Just my .02.

More, but not THAT much more. The first handguns I ever fired were a Colt 1911 and a Smith & Wesson .44 mag. It's been downhill from there.

I'm not a troll. I'm a polling Aggie. Bad bull man.

I think he meant the post after you.

It depends on a couple of factors. If you are shooting a 1911 all steel government size .45 versus a compact 9mm Glock, then the felt recoil may not be a lot different due to the extra weight on the .45 and the additional barrel length. I also bought some reloaded target ammo for my .45 that has a lighter powder load and is quite easy to handle. Stay away from anything that says +P for target practice.

I shot two pistols together at the range over Christmas, my full-size Kimber 1911 .45 and my Kahr PM9 9mm pistol that is small enough to put in a front pocket. The .45 was easier to shoot.

One thing that helps, bring your non-shooting hand around and get your index finger on the front of the trigger guard. Use it to control muzzle flip and recoil.

i shot a 44 mag friday... that mess isnt even fun

I was talking about ryn.

Thanks for the comments!

I'm clearly not an expert on handguns. I'm doing as much research as possible because I am interested in (1) for home protection and (2) for concealed carry (at times). I've narrowed down the concealed carry to the Ruger LCP. But, I want something different to shoot as well, for a different result (for home defense, for example). But, I don't want a handgun that's going to more than a casual shooter, like me, can handle. I will not be putting 1000s of rounds through these guns. I will work them enough to be comfortable and capable, but not where I can be Wyatt Earp (or Doc Holiday). The 380 ACP and 9 MM felt very similar (even through the 9 MM was a slightly bigger gun). I just don't want to fight a bigger caliber gun. I don't want to fall victim to "bigger is better". I want "the right size". So, before I spend time borrowing, renting, etc. a 45 caliber, I want to know some thoughts from those that have shot one.

Thanks Anchor. I thought I was appearing to troll. I'm just asking thoughts about guns (or my gun show thread from earlier today).

Why Mike, whatever do you mean?

.45 ACP doesn't hurt your hand. It is more of a push than a sharp snap. It is also one of the most effective rounds against humans ever developed.

and for hogs trapped in a hog trap.

There's a table here:

http://www.chuckhawks.com/handgun_recoil_table.htm

Anything with energy over 6 ft-lbs would be considered stout recoil. Anything below that would be appropriate for a limp-wristed sissy.

I need to start charging for Google searches.

I have found that it has more to do with the model of gun than the caliber. I know you asked for a side by side comparison but if the gun doesn't fit your hand then it won't feel right. I would much rather fire 500 rounds in my Kimber Pro Carry than my Glock 23 any day.

yea, my 4" 9mm feels like a cap gun after shooting my Ultra Carry. an inch can make a big difference...so to speak.

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this I disagree with. I would much rather shoot my Colt 45 all day with its single stack mag than shoot my FIL's Beretta 9mm with its double stack mag. I dont like the width of the Beretta's grip, it feels to big for a comfortable grip to me.

*edit, I disagree with the part about the smaller frame/harder grip comment

[This message has been edited by the enigma (edited 1/5/2009 10:16p).]

quote:

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^ Notorious troll.

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do you disagree with what I said?

if you are used to shooting 9mm, 45acp is not very different. if he thinks the gun is gonna jump out of his hands, he is gonna anticipate the recoil and pull/push shots.

which is why i said just shoot it like the 9mm he is used to. its really not a big deal.

btw, you just got trolled by a non-troll post. GG!!

I used to like smaller handgrips, but after shooting doublestak 9mm's for a while, I've gotten used to them.

i dont notice much difference between my XD in .45 and my brother's XD in 9mm. Both are 4" barrels.

Chililights...that's the exact handgun I'm eyeing...the 45 Springfield XD (bi-tone) Tactical. Thoughts on how happy you are with your XD?

Not to sound like Roy D. Mercer, but "how big a boy are you?" Specifically your hands.

I've always thought that was a huge factor in what gun felt comfortable to me.

For example I don't have any problem palming a basketball or handling a double stack pistol.

When I was looking for a pistol I rented a .45 and a 9mm M&P, didn't think the kick was much different, and wen't with the .45

Was very happy with it, and then I lost it while kayaking recently.

Recently purchased S&W M&P 45 ACP and have been extremely happy with it.

I also took my wife out this past weekend (she had never shot any gun before) and after working up from 308 and 9mm she could handle the recoil from the 45 just fine.

She enjoyed shooting it more than the keltec.

.45 acp is a *****cat... I don't know why people are "afraid" of it.

As mentioned, it is more of a push than a sharp recoil, even in my little POS taurus. It's a large bullet moving at a moderate velocity. .40 S&W seems to recoil much worse to me, so if you're recoil sensitive I wouldn't suggest a .40 or 10mm.

very happy with it.

in fact, i am thinking of picking up a 9mm tactical length.



i bought my .45 new in 2006 and payed 525 at a local dealer.
my brother got his 9mm this last summer for 390 after shipping and $10 FFL transfer of a fella on gunbroker.

just to give you an idea on prices.

Gunbroker has several "new in box" 5" XD 45's for around $480 or so. The bi-tone is slightly higher, so I may be at $500 or so. I went to Carter's Country here in Houston yesterday and they had a used 9mm for $440 (sure, that's retail, so trade-in was probably $350ish I guess). Seems like a solid gun that holds its value fairly well.

I just got a Taurus PT-145 (.45) and it is alot more comfortable to shoot than my Springfield 1911. I love both of them though.

10mm is not as bad as people think either. +P .45 is about the same as a 10mm, and the recoil on the 10mm is sharper, so follow shots can be put down quicker.

my wife just qualified for her CHL with my Sig 220st in .45acp.....and she has grown up hunting with shotguns but hasn't done much pistol shooting...and she passed with flying colors

the only .45 rounds i have ever fired that had noticably stout recoil were +p rounds....the .45 is a low-pressure round that just gives you a good push as to a really hard snap

my wife has fired my 6.5" ruger redhawk in .44mag, but she wasn't too fond of it....but the recoil was only part of the problem....that gun is magnaported and it just rattles your teeth a bit when it is fired

some folks are really recoil sensitive and some aren't....the .45 just isn't a hard-recoiling round....stop being a puss

I shot 2 different 45's today for the first time.
I was a little nervous because i thought the 40 i have shot had quite a bit more recoil than the 9's, but i didn't mind it all.

Conclusion: My first hangun purchase will most likely be a 45... just still have to decide between a glock 30 and an XD

I never thought shooting a 1911 .45 was unpleasant -- at least, in terms of recoil. I had a .38 titanium that WAS unpleasant to shoot after, say, 10 or 15 rounds. So it typically isn't the round, but the gun and weight is a much bigger factor for handguns than it is for rifles -- at least in my experience. I think the only .40 I fired was a Sig 226. Probably less felt recoil than my H&k USP9c.