How-to: Reduce felt recoil in a 1911

[PegLeg45]

You might try a Harrt's Recoil reducer. You can use them with the factory spring and no alterations are needed. They take the place of the guide rod.

http://www.gun-tests.com/performance/jun96recoil.html

http://www.gun-tests.com/pdfs/1-1-JuneData.pdf


This is not a Harrt's, but works similar to it....

http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=16716/Product/1911_AUTO_RECOIL_MASTER

[TAB]

I broke my camera just before bike week. 

don't feel bad, a 3 years ago I droped my camera in the lake after a weekend of boat camping with 4 coeds and 3 empty bottles of gray goose...   

I had lots of pics and videos...   

[tombogan03884]

 The Harrt's Product sounds like just the ticket.

don't feel bad, a 3 years ago I droped my camera in the lake after a weekend of boat camping with 4 coeds and 3 empty bottles of gray goose...   

I had lots of pics and videos...   

Darn TAB, I honestly feel sorry for you. 

[PegLeg45]

Don't know if Harrt's is still in business, but may be able to find one used.
Brownells has some that work the same. Mercury filled hollow tube with ball bearings inside to dampen recoil and add weight.

[Swamp Yankee]

One of the least expensive and most effective ways is to replace the firing pin stop with one that has a more square profile on the bottom edge. Compared to the standard one. 1911 Tuner has a good instructional for this on the M1911.org web sight.

Mike Mc

[Sponsor]

[m25operator]

Changing the recoil spring has 1 effect, it changes the slide speed, lighter spring faster, more slide impact, heavier spring slower, lighter impact. A 9mm 1911 is already at some disadvantage, as the cartridge works in a small window, power wise.
In a game gun, sure, lighten the spring, lighten the ammo, lighten the slide, but not for a defense gun.

Now the heavier guide rods, or just adding a guide rod, plays to reciprocating mass. The mass that does not move, the frame and a guide rod if you have one, counter acts the mass that moves, the slide, the barrel moves down not backward so does not have much influence. The mercury guide rods counter act the mass, as the the slide moves rearward, the mercury and balls move forward. I have a Harts in my glock 21, you can feel a difference, slight but noticeable, and a .45 does not have much recoil anyway.

Things that do work, relieving the frame at the rear of the trigger guard and a high beaver tail grip, lowers the bore line for improved recoil absorbtion. A firm 2 handed grip and good shock absorbing stance. Some shock absorbing material in the grip, limited on the Para, but lots available for single stacks. Lighter standard loaded bullets, not Corbon level stuff. Lots of practice and you will never think of recoil again.

Now of course there are exceptions that have more to do with shooter, none of the above is going to help someone with a disability or injury.  Even old age and weakness. I have known 100lb soaking wet girls, that shoot box stock 1911's in .45 and can't get enough, it just means that much to them to shoot them well.

[fullautovalmet76]

Changing the recoil spring has 1 effect, it changes the slide speed, lighter spring faster, more slide impact, heavier spring slower, lighter impact. A 9mm 1911 is already at some disadvantage, as the cartridge works in a small window, power wise.
In a game gun, sure, lighten the spring, lighten the ammo, lighten the slide, but not for a defense gun.

Now the heavier guide rods, or just adding a guide rod, plays to reciprocating mass. The mass that does not move, the frame and a guide rod if you have one, counter acts the mass that moves, the slide, the barrel moves down not backward so does not have much influence. The mercury guide rods counter act the mass, as the the slide moves rearward, the mercury and balls move forward. I have a Harts in my glock 21, you can feel a difference, slight but noticeable, and a .45 does not have much recoil anyway.

Things that do work, relieving the frame at the rear of the trigger guard and a high beaver tail grip, lowers the bore line for improved recoil absorbtion. A firm 2 handed grip and good shock absorbing stance. Some shock absorbing material in the grip, limited on the Para, but lots available for single stacks. Lighter standard loaded bullets, not Corbon level stuff. Lots of practice and you will never think of recoil again.

Now of course there are exceptions that have more to do with shooter, none of the above is going to help someone with a disability or injury.  Even old age and weakness. I have known 100lb soaking wet girls, that shoot box stock 1911's in .45 and can't get enough, it just means that much to them to shoot them well.

Thanks to M25, Peg, and other for the information. Essentially, I will change the springs around till I get the balance I want with the loads I'm shooting in IDPA.

Do any who own Para double-stacks have any recommendations for good grips? I want to get rid of the plastic ones and find something like what Pachmayr makes.

-FA

[tombogan03884]

 My1911 is not a Para so hole location might not work out for you, but I REALLY like the rubber Hogue grips I picked up. Double stack won't matter as they simply replace the standard grips, they are not wrap around.

[1911 Junkie]

The grip panels on a wide bodied Para are much thinner than a single stack. Hole location should be the same but I wouldn't put on grips that were designed for single stack guns. It would make the grip huge. I have seen people using wrap around grips with finger grooves on the Para but I like my standard grips with grip tape on the front. 

[warhawke]

Recoil? In a 9mm? WTF? Over.