Handgun recoil and felt recoil

[timmy]

A considerable amount of discussion has taken place on IFG over time regarding the recoil of various revolvers and pistols. There are many aspects to recoil, which can be calculated from physics formulas, and differs from felt recoil, which includes the weight of the revolver or pistol, along with its weight distribution.

A couple of worksheets have addressed both of these issues, recoil and felt recoil, which do go beyond the normal physics calculation exercise. These two factors don't digitize all of the subject, as the shape of grips and the size of hands and shooters also plays a part, as well as each individual's tolerance forrecoil. These last variables may be impossible to calculate, but at least these tables give an individual a comparison of the shooting experience one can expect when trying out different guns. They rank guns with data, in other words, and not individual shooters.

Both lists factor in the weight of the bullet shot and the velocity at which it travels, and also the weight of the gun that is being fired. The data derived shows the force of recoil and the recoil velocity, of which the latter gives some indication of felt recoil. Using these data sheets to illustrate just how felt recoil differs from recoil force, note from the data that the same 357 Magnum load differs when fired from different guns. The velocity is less when fired from a short barreled gun (like a snub nose) than from a long barreled gun and the force is, therefore, a little less, but the recoil velocity, the speed at which the gun jumps in the hand of the shooter is greater.

This data squares with the experience of those who have shot guns and are able to make such a comparison: the lightweight snub nose "jumps" in the hand much more than the heavier gun, and although the heavier gun has somewhat more recoil force, the snub nose feels as if it has more recoil. It may be felt to be more difficult to control in the hand, and this is often sensed by those with small hands than those with larger hands. Properly fitted grips may go some way in helping with control for all of us, but the size of the gun can be the final limiting factor.

Years ago, I had a litte 25 Auto pistol. Of course that pipsqueek round doesn't have a lot of power (although I'm not volunteering to be shot by one!) but because of the small gun, I could only effectively hold it between my thumb and my middle finger alone. I found it interesting that the data presented in these two studies reflects this.

Finally, about the sources: I confess that I consider the Chuck Hawks website to be a refuge of gas bags, including Chuck himself. This is chiefly because of his naval views, which shows me that he will write authoritative articles about which he's uninformed. Also, some of the other authors on the site are gas bags too, expecially in the realm of black powder topics. But the data that is presented in the linked list does make logical sense.

The second list comes from Sportsmans Warehouse, where I do shop. This list and Chuck Hawks present data that agrees with each other.

It can be a bit difficult to take in all of the data, so one must study it with a little more attention than answering a true/false question, and then apply it to one's self. But for those who wish to apply valid information to their personal knowledge base, I believe these two lists are profitable to ponder.

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

https://www.sportsmans.com/handgun-recoil-chart