Recoil difference between Shield 40 & 9.

mcbizkit02 · #1 02-06-2013, 04:36 PM

For those that have shot both, is there any noticeable difference in recoil between the two?

shoots · #2 02-06-2013, 04:49 PM

Yes, 9mm shield is enjoyable to shoot. .40 shield is a handfull, but acceptable. It depends on the ammo, but you need to practice with your carry ammo. Also poa and poi is different for both 9mm and.40. I carry the .40 and practice with both, more practice with 9. It is cheaper and more available than the .40.

robkarrob · #3 02-06-2013, 07:41 PM

If you are trying to decide which to buy, get the 40. For around $80 you can buy a 9mm barrel. Remove the 40 barrel and drop in the 9mm. It works perfectly and many have done the swap, including myself. The 9mm has a a little less recoil and snap, than the 40. It only stands to reason as the 40 is a more powerful cartridge. I think you will find most say there is not much difference, and since I can barrel swap, I can give a good opinion. The 40 produces slightly more recoil and flip, but it is not even close to being unmanageable. I practice a lot of one handed shooting, and I have no problem controling the gun. I carry my Shield as a 40, as I want the more powerful cartridge, should I need to use it.

Bob

USAF385 · #4 02-06-2013, 08:13 PM

If you're familiar and comfortable with the .40, it feels exactly as you would expect. It's not unmanageable at all.

For me it was a no brainer since I'm more of a .40 guy than a 9mm guy.

SavageSmoker · #5 02-06-2013, 09:10 PM

I have a .40cal and my wife has the 9mm. I have shot both a lot. The Shield is a small gun...but recoil is very manageable in both calibers. Keep in mind that "recoil" is subjective. While I notice very little difference between the two, my wife swears the 9mm is far more manageable for her. I suggest choosing a caliber that fits into your overall gun inventory plan. If you have, or plan to purchase, guns of a certain caliber then be consistent with your choice of the Shield. Better yet, try to shoot both prior to purchase so you can notice the difference yourself.

M&P45 · #6 02-06-2013, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shoots

, more practice with 9. It is cheaper and more available than the .40.

Where do you live?!? Haha

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

2tango2 · #7 02-06-2013, 11:56 PM

I have a Shield 40 and also a 9mm barrel. Like Rob said it is a seamless change and the gun shoots flawlessly with the 9 barrel

I find that there is quite a bit of difference between the 2. As others said it is not unmanageable but I prefer to shoot the 9. I think there is more flip and snap in the Shield 40 than in my XD-S .45

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

Chuck Jones · #8 02-07-2013, 12:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2tango2

I think there is more flip and snap in the Shield 40 than in my XD-S .45

The pressure curve on the .40 S&W is much different than the .45 ACP.

.45 always felt like more of a shove to me. While the .40 as you say is sharper more of a slap.

/c

mbrittb00 · #9 02-07-2013, 12:20 AM

I have shot both, but unfortunately they were 5 days apart, so it's hard to make an accurate comparison. However, the recoil of both was very manageable. I have actually been trying to decide for myself which one to get, and have bounced back and forth more times than I care to count. Right now I am in the .40 crowd.

Something else to think about recoil. Recoil is the reaction of the slide to the force of the bullet being forced out of the barrel. That force is a combination of the propellant from the cartridge and mass of the bullet, with some of that force being absorbed by the recoil spring. Thus the recoil "felt" is highly dependent on the the specifics of the round you are firing.

Consider the following three Speer Gold Dot GDHP rounds

Code:

Cartridge    Weight       MV (fps)   ME (ft-lbs)
9mm  +p        124 gr.       1220      410
.40            180 gr.       1025      420
.40            155 gr.       1200      496

Energy is the measure of a force over a distance, so you can see that the Muzzle Energy from the first two and thus the force are about the same. I would expect the recoil from these two rounds being fired out of the same frame to be very similar.

The 3rd line shows a slightly lighter .40 that has a similar muzzle velocity to the 9mm round. You can see that the Muzzle Energy is about 20% greater, and I would expect the recoil to be proportionally larger as well.

soada101 · #10 02-07-2013, 03:44 AM

link to barrels for around 80???

Eyelawdoc · #11 02-07-2013, 04:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soada101

link to barrels for around 80???

See this thread:

M&P9 Shield Barrel

Dean1818 · #12 02-07-2013, 09:06 AM

The 40 shield is one of the lightest recoiling 40s that I have ever shot

I think its a great pistol

Dikinalaska · #13 02-07-2013, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M&P45

Where do you live?!? Haha

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I'm with M&P45, where do you find more 9 than .40 ammo? Around my town cases of .40 are still available while it's hard to even find a box of 9.

jajo · #14 02-07-2013, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dikinalaska

I'm with M&P45, where do you find more 9 than .40 ammo? Around my town cases of .40 are still available while it's hard to even find a box of 9.

The LGS I buy from has 9mm, .22LR and .223/5.56 in stock. The 9mm is priced the same as the 40. But, I'm not complaining.