Bullet Weight vs. Recoil/Muzzle Rise

[Rob10ring]

Recently, in my Glock 22 (40 S&W) I tried 165gr. Winchester instead of my usual 180gr. to see if recoil seemed any different. I couldn't tell the difference and maybe I should have put alternating rounds in the magazine. Is there a specific rule about how the weight effects recoil or muzzle rise? Does a faster, lighter bullet "kick" more than the heavier, slower one?

[tombogan03884]

That's only a 15 grain difference in weight, in a pistol at least any gain may be balanced  by the higher speed.

[Rob10ring]

That's only a 15 grain difference in weight, in a pistol at least any gain may be balanced  by the higher speed.

Does it make a difference which one I buy then?

[tombogan03884]

I'd say your groups would answer that better than I could. But don't take my advice, I'm just guessing. Wait till some one like MB or M25operator weighs in. They'll probably know more.

[m25operator]

All things being equal, a lighter bullet will have less recoil in a given cartridge, 15 grns in hot cartridge like the .40, it will not be real apparent, the .40 S&W, has a decided snap to it, what I call recoil impulse, it is sharp and sudden. As to which you should buy or shoot, which one shoots the best?, and is it a quality, dependable load, like say from Hornaday ( tap ), Federal ( hydro shock ), Speer ( Gold dot ), Corbon ( using the barnes bullet ) etc.. The .40 is odd, in that some of the lighter bullets are pushed real hard, and the recoil is surprising, like the CorBon 135grn  Nosler Hollow point. It is a very sharp recoil, not like a .44mag, but it will get your attention. I think it is slide velocity that brings this feeling.

[Sponsor]

[Big Frank]

If two loads are equal in energy, the high velocity lightweight bullets will have less recoil than slow heavy bullets. In a .45, if you compare 165 grain with 230 grain loads you would feel the difference. In a .357 comparing 110 to 158 or 180 grain bullets you would be able to tell the difference too. But with 165 vs 180 grain bullets the difference is probably to small to pecieve.

[MikeBjerum]

I don't understand all the physics and will leave it up to the really smart guys to answer that, but I do know that it is more than just one factor that makes a difference. 

My open gun (.45 acp) will almost run on factory 230 grain loads.  I can load a little hot with 230 gr., hotter with 185 gr., hotter with 155 gr., and sometimes I get a different feel and sometimes I don't.  What I have found is that it is not only bullet weight, but also rate of powder burn.  I am loading really hot (just over 190 power factor) and getting less felt recoil than a load at 170 power factor.  Light bullets and fast burning powder run good and feel good ... in one gun.  It is different in my 1911, and another for my revolver.

Sorry, but I  can't give you a simple answer.

[Rob10ring]

All good advice. It seems that I'm mostly comparing apples to apples, with such a small difference. I have noticed that the 135 gr. Corbon does have quite a snap, and that's what is in my model 23.

[USSA-1]

While the different combinations will cause your firearm to handle differently, I think you should focus more on downrange performance.  Different bullet weights travelling at different speeds are going to deliver different downrange performance.  Do some research regarding the performance of the different bullet weights and select the weight based on the performance you desire.

It's been my experience that the heavier bullets recoil less.  Lighter bullets require more powder to generate higher velocities.  More powder equals more recoil.  Whether it's only perceived recoil, I'm not sure, but I do know that an overwhelming amount of competition shooters use heavier bullets as recoil seems to be lighter (everything else being equal.)

USSA-1

[2HOW]

I shoot .45+p and .40  the heaver pistol has less recoil   Its what you are comfortable with. The snappy polymer pistols put people off the tried and tru defensive rounds, which is a shame,. the 147 9mm and the 180 .40 are the best of the best.  I dont like the frangibles or the lite fast rounds.  just my .02