Posted: 2/11/2009 10:24:40 PM EDT
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After doing research on glocks I found out that Glocks have a different recoil report than other guns do in similar calibers. Reasons I found out for this included:
1.) Low bore axis (I found to be the biggest advantage/difference Glock has over the competition's design) 2.) Polymer Frame 3.) Steepness of the grip angle required (its steeper so people seem to feel the recoil pushes the gun back more instead up flipping it up) My question: How would you rank the recoil reports on the compact sized glocks for different calibers ie .45acp (230gr), .357sig( 125gr), 9mm (147gr+p), .40s&w (180gr), .45gap (230gr), and 10mm (200gr) amoungst each other and then when compared to other guns? What i have found is that the recoil reports on the G21 (.45acp) put it much less than the felt recoil on a 1911. So what im trying to get from my question is whether this property would translate over to other guns ie due to the physical and functional attributes of the Glock (listed above) is the recoil always going to be less when using the same load in another similar compact pistol (Sig p228/229, Colt Commanders/Defenders, compact H&Ks etc.)? What ive managed to gather tells me that yes indeed glocks do have less felt recoil, but id like input from people here responding directly to the question. Thanks, any input would be great! |
| 9mm Gocks recoil more than a 9mm 1911 or a BHP. The Glock 21 has less felt recoil than a 1911 in .45 caliber but I can't actually shoot the Glock any faster, and I shoot the 1911 a lot better. In short, the recoil difference has no practical effect. The Glock 22 recoils FAR more than an STI edge in .40, firing the same ammunition. The Edge is like shooting a .22, the Glock has significant recoil and muzzle flip. The width of the Glock 21 frame is a factor. |
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9mm Gocks recoil more than a 9mm 1911 or a BHP. The Glock 21 has less felt recoil than a 1911 in .45 caliber but I can't actually shoot the Glock any faster, and I shoot the 1911 a lot better. In short, the recoil difference has no practical effect. The Glock 22 recoils FAR more than an STI edge in .40, firing the same ammunition. The Edge is like shooting a .22, the Glock has significant recoil and muzzle flip. The width of the Glock 21 frame is a factor. the STI Edge is close to 4x the price of the glock and not a compact from the pictures i pulled up, so i wouldnt call it a fair comparision. how about a G23 vs say a p228 or xdm40? |
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Glocks (and other plastic frame pistols) recoil more than an equivalent steel framed gun because Glocks are primarily designed to be carry guns, not shooter guns. The frame is too light and the slide too heavy... its all about weight distribution. This is why I carry a Glock and shoot (seriously) an STI. If one is choosing a gun for shooting only (not carry) then something other than a Glock/M&P/plastic-gun-de-jour is the smarter choice. If you want a shooter Glock that recoils less for a given cartridge, build the gun on a CCF RaceFrame.
I have no agenda - I own several plastic frame guns, including 2 Glocks - the above is just the way it is. |
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After doing research on glocks I found out that Glocks have a different recoil report than other guns do in similar calibers. Reasons I found out for this included: 1.) Low bore axis (I found to be the biggest advantage/difference Glock has over the competition's design) People mention that often, but frankly I think few people actually understand it. Low bore axis is only PART of what makes up the recoil impulse you get when you bust the primer. 2.) Polymer Frame The most significant thing there is weight. A steel or aluminum framed gun often feels less "snappy" because of the extra weight. How would you rank the recoil reports on the compact sized glocks for different calibers ie .45acp (230gr), .357sig( 125gr), 9mm (147gr+p), .40s&w (180gr), .45gap (230gr), and 10mm (200gr) amoungst each other and then when compared to other guns? Comparing Glocks to Glocks, the G17 has the easiest recoil to control out of all of them. The .40 caliber Glocks probably have the worst. Comparing Glocks to other pistols, I find that the M&P handles a lot better than Glocks, especially in non 9mm calibers. .40 caliber M&P's seem to have considerably less muzzle flip and their front sight tends to settle back on target much more quickly in my experience. Ditto the .45 pistols. In 9mm the difference isn't that noticeable with most ammo...but with hot +P defensive ammo you can see a distinct difference in how the full sized M&P handles compared to the G17. I had a noob shooter (had never fired a centerfire auto pistol before that day) on the range last weekend and he even noticed how much nicer the M&P 9mm was with +P defensive ammo. What i have found is that the recoil reports on the G21 (.45acp) put it much less than the felt recoil on a 1911. Uhh....who told you that? I have yet to meet the G21 (even one with a grip job from Robar) that is as controllable as my 1911. The same goes for M&P .45s, although the M&P's are an improvement on the Glock .45s. So what im trying to get from my question is whether this property would translate over to other guns ie due to the physical and functional attributes of the Glock (listed above) is the recoil always going to be less when using the same load in another similar compact pistol (Sig p228/229, Colt Commanders/Defenders, compact H&Ks etc.)? Absolutely not. Try firing a Sig P229 (their "compact") in .357 sig and then try firing the Glock 32. You'll notice a BIG difference, and not in the Glock's favor. What ive managed to gather tells me that yes indeed glocks do have less felt recoil, but id like input from people here responding directly to the question. Thanks, any input would be great! What you need is some trigger time on Glocks and other handguns one right after another to really compare them. A lot of the people (certainly not all) who parrot the "less felt recoil! Less muzzle flip! Low bore axis!" lines don't have any significant experience with either their Glocks or with other weapons to allow them to make informed comparative statements. |
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Glocks (and other plastic frame pistols) recoil more than an equivalent steel framed gun because Glocks are primarily designed to be carry guns, not shooter guns. The frame is too light and the slide too heavy... its all about weight distribution. This is why I carry a Glock and shoot (seriously) an STI. If one is choosing a gun for shooting only (not carry) then something other than a Glock/M&P/plastic-gun-de-jour is the smarter choice. If you want a shooter Glock that recoils less for a given cartridge, build the gun on a CCF RaceFrame. I have no agenda - I own several plastic frame guns, including 2 Glocks - the above is just the way it is. That doesn't explain why Glocks have the ability to shoot extradinarily high numbers of rounds before breaking down. |
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What you need is some trigger time on Glocks and other handguns one right after another to really compare them. A lot of the people (certainly not all) who parrot the "less felt recoil! Less muzzle flip! Low bore axis!" lines don't have any significant experience with either their Glocks or with other weapons to allow them to make informed comparative statements. i think your dead right there, its just i dont have that many guns to go shoot side by side, and my range charge $10 a rental, which can get expensive. |
| Normally ranges will offer a deal where for a fixed amount you can shoot any gun from the case. I forgot to mention, BTW, that I find 10mm Glocks to be very controllable, certainly no wore than a .40 caliber Glock and perhaps slightly more controllable. Normally I think 40 recoils a lot for a service caliber, but when shooting a 180 at 1300 the recoil of the 10mm seems worth it. My experience differs from John Waynes in that I find the G21 to recoil less than the 1911, but recoil can be very subjective, and in truth I've not fired a Glock 21 in several years––I simply remember my impression at the time, when I had both side by side. I still have that Glock, in a drawer somewhere. |
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i think your dead right there, its just i dont have that many guns to go shoot side by side, and my range charge $10 a rental, which can get expensive. Then simplify it: Firstly, if you're considering a Glock, they are best in 9mm. Rent a Glock 17 and an M&P 9mm (if available) and contrast and compare the two. If you have some shooting buddies locally, bribe them with food to get them to bring their pistols too so you can compare and contrast those. If you know some sick bastard who has 20 handguns (like me) then do whatever you have to do to get range time with the toys you are interested in. |
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i think your dead right there, its just i dont have that many guns to go shoot side by side, and my range charge $10 a rental, which can get expensive. Then simplify it: Firstly, if you're considering a Glock, they are best in 9mm. Rent a Glock 17 and an M&P 9mm (if available) and contrast and compare the two. If you have some shooting buddies locally, bribe them with food to get them to bring their pistols too so you can compare and contrast those. If you know some sick bastard who has 20 handguns (like me) then do whatever you have to do to get range time with the toys you are interested in. Yep, pizza and  go along way. Bring various ammo to the range and ask strangers to shoot their pistols . I've had people next to me want to shoot mine, no problem.
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"Felt recoil" is completely different from person to person. Given the question at hand though I would have to say that in my experience Glocks do not have less felt recoil than other pistols. I would say the only handgun I've personally shot and felt had worse recoil, in a corresponding caliber, was the XD9. Oddly enough, I do think the XD9 feels much better in my hand than a G17 though because it doesn't have that big hump on the backstrap. For some reason the, I guess we'll call it a beaver tail, on the XD beats the snot out of the joint at the base of my thumb. |
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Glocks (and other plastic frame pistols) recoil more than an equivalent steel framed gun because Glocks are primarily designed to be carry guns, not shooter guns. The frame is too light and the slide too heavy... its all about weight distribution. This is why I carry a Glock and shoot (seriously) an STI. If one is choosing a gun for shooting only (not carry) then something other than a Glock/M&P/plastic-gun-de-jour is the smarter choice. If you want a shooter Glock that recoils less for a given cartridge, build the gun on a CCF RaceFrame. I have no agenda - I own several plastic frame guns, including 2 Glocks - the above is just the way it is. That doesn't explain why Glocks have the ability to shoot extradinarily high numbers of rounds before breaking down. The two are completely unrelated. I've owned numerous Glocks, including one of the very first Glock 21s every made. The polymer frame certainly can take a battering, and won't crack like a steel or aluminum frame. However, that was not the question - the OP asked about felt recoil, which has nothing whatsoever with gun longevity. |