What Has More Recoil - .40 or .45?

[Bourne]

I'm wondering about Glock specifically...I've owned a few .40 cals before and know they're a pretty hot load compared to the slow, fat .45. Which has more felt recoil in a light gun?

 

[bigdaddyeo]

.40 for sure... such a snappy cartridge. So snappy that I'll never shoot a .40 again... .45 all the way from now on.

 

[just having some fun]

I have always used power factor to caculate recoil (probably not correct way)
as it does not take into effect muzzle blast(pressure of gas as it leaves muzzle)
also weight of gun affects things
weight of bullet X Velocity/1000 and just compare numbers

300 win mag and a 6lb gun x 20 rounds and you are going home black& blue
223 and 6lb gun x 20 rounds and you are going home to come back the next day with more ammo

 

[Silverback]

.40 for sure... such a snappy cartridge. So snappy that I'll never shoot a .40 again... .45 all the way from now on.

I wouldn't say it is that bad but the 40 S&W is "snappy", if you think that the 40 S&W is too snappy don't ever try a 500 S&W.

 

[sgt.rock]

I wouldn't say it is that bad but the 40 S&W is "snappy", if you think that the 40 S&W is too snappy don't ever try a 500 S&W.

Truer words never spoken

 

[misanthropist]

I shoot a lot of .40...but I shoot the .40fm, not the .40S&W.

Anyway the .40 S&W is a little snappy...not like "tons of kick", more like "kind of a slap".

The .40 for men is way thuddier...more recoil but not the sharp crack of the .40 short and weak.

 

[Doc M]

I find I notice a big difference between 165gn and 180gn .40 S&W loads, but because of the big meathooks I have for hands I don't find either particularly uncontrollable.

Between .45 ACP and .40 S&W, I don't really notice that much of a difference either. I suppose if I had to pick a 'snappier' cartridge it's the .45 in my HK USP compact over the .40 in a Beretta 96D, but I can see how in a polymer-frame pistol the .40 might be a bit 'snappier' than the .45.

YMMV, I suppose.

-M

 

[brotherjack]

Meh - neither one generates enough recoil to care about, IMHO. The only handguns I've ever shot that made enough recoil to make me shut up and take notice were things like 50AE, 454Cassul, etc. 45ACP, 40S&W (or even if you step up to 10mm) -- you probably don't wanna get limp-wristed with any of them, but none of them should bother ya too much if you just get a good grip on the gun before you squeeze the trigger (a good practice, no matter the caliber, IMHO).

 

[IM_Lugger]

google recoil calculator if you want to know for sure you'd need to now the weight of the gun and amount of powder used. there are other factors to felt recoil tho -like how comfortable the grip is.

 

[JohnC]

fro the same weight gun I'd say the .40S&W seems tio have more perceived recoil. but a lot depends on gun design. I
The nastiest oine I have is a .32ACP Davis derringer. That little pr**k bites the web of your hand and snaps your wrist back quite nicely.

 

[00Buck]

.40 recoils more. Shoot them both back to back and you'll see.

 

[NAA]

.40 recoils more. Shoot them both back to back and you'll see.

+1

I find the .40 cal snappy. The .45ACP is just a big push.

Like 'em both, though.

NAA.

 

[rhs]

They are a different recoil impulse. The .40 is sharper, but I find the sights come back straighter. The .45 is more of a push, but it tends to twist the gun sideways a bit.

 

[bluesclues]

I personally find that the .40 has a little more snap to it and the .45 has more of a push to it. That being said, I enjoy shooting .40 more and (for me) find that I have quicker (and more accurate) follow up shots with it.