I bought a Shield 45 a few days ago, just "dropped in" to the LGS to look around. (DO NOT DO THIS)
Having bought a Performance center 9 recently, I gave my "old" Shield 9 to one of my sons, so there is a space available inn the safe....
At $415 otd and with the $75 rebate how could I refuse.
I shot the 45 with regular target ammo (230gr?) 50 rounds, right out of the box, and not having the 9 with me I was thinking that the 45 did not have appreciably more recoil.....aside from that I seemed to have more accuracy....than even the Performance 9 with the better trigger and sights??
I find that there is a bit more recoil from 45 but is more of a push with that big and heavy bullet between my 9MM and 45 pistols and nothing objectionable especially with a good grip.
I found the 45 (G21) recoil to be softer and easier to control than the 9 (G19). I regularly alternate between two magazines of each when at the range, then reload, so the comparison is frequent and back-to-back. As described above, it feels like more like a slower push than a quick snap and at least for me is easier to get back on target. Could be down to size, though, in my case, since the 21 is appreciably bigger than the 19. Enjoy!
Those little polymer pistols seem to absorb a surprising amount of recoil.
Like everybody is saying, the .45 ACP just gives a quick pop and then stops.
Back when I was into hot loads, I had a 9mm blue dot load that sounded like a rifle report and then gave good long push. I was very relieved when my first .45 did not have similar behavior.
:rofl: I walked out of my local Big 5 with a Savage Axis in .223 by doing this. Then, a week later I announced confidently that I couldn't but the CZ 527 that I was looking at, because I had just bought another long gun. Once I was apprised of the rules, I walked out with my first gun chambered in 7.62X39.
I've never gotten to do a comparison of the 9 vs 45 in subcompacts. I would naturally think that the 45 would have more recoil. It's hard to compare my 26 to my M&P 45 C. I shoot them both equally well but can do quicker follow ups with the 26 in spite of the 45 being bigger and heavier.
I liked the way my Shield 45 shot better than my Shield 9. It's why I kept the 45 and sold the 9. I shot my 45s yesterday - SR1911, Sig P220, G21, Shield 45 - and didn't feel any recoil issues even when shooting one handed and/or with weak hand.
My view is that recoil is more about the engineering than the caliber. I have a Ruger 9mm that kicks really hard but a Bersa UC 45 that doesn't seem to kick at all. Overall, I think these sub-compacts are hard to control as there is not much to absorb the energy being expended.
Recoil is all relative. Tolerance by each shooter also varies.
The only semiautos I have shot are the 22 LR, 380 ACP, 9 mm (various grains and +P), 40 S&W, 357 Magnum (Coonan), and a 44 Mag (Desert Eagle).
Obviously size and weight of a gun are a big factor, apart from grain size and load.
Shape of the grips suits some people over others, also.
To me, the 45 is a little more than a 9 mm. The 40 is snappy and more of a flip, but not unpleasant. The 357 and 44 Magnum given the large frames I have shot are very pleasant.
Comparatively speaking I have revolvers where the recoil isn't bad, but more of a punch, until we get to the 500 S&W with a 500 grain bullet.
But... of all the guns I thought were unpleasant was an LCP 380 since the thin grips dig into my hands. So I found that to my hands, the least desirable to shoot. Go figure.
Ive never had/seen a .45 that recoils less than a 9mm with "standard(non subsonic OR P+++++ types) rounds" The .45 ACP has always had more recoil..thats pretty much normal.
Now that said I find the .45ACP a more easily to control rolling type recoil than say a .40S&W that is a snappy recoil...but more than a 9mm..I love both the .45ACP and 9mm I am not a fan of .40S&W recoil though takes me longer to get back on target and my groupings are not as good in fast fire.
.45ACP and 9MM are totally manageable though
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