I've seen "reduced recoil" on some ammunition boxes. It seems that recoil is directly related to energy. When I see reduced recoil, I think reduced velocity. Is there any way to reduce recoil without reducing velocity, assuming bullet weight stays the same? The Lyman reloading manual has a formula for recoil energy that takes into account the weight of the powder charge. Does that mean that a faster burning powder like Bullseye or Clays will have less recoil than h-110? Just curious.

Recoil Calculator

Recoil energy is a result of several factors. Perceived recoil is more subjective, and is harder to pin down. A load that is uncomfortable to shoot for one person may seem fine to another in the same gun. Typically, "Reduced Recoil" loads use lighter for caliber bullets and lower velocities for that bullet. It's hard to cheat physics.

As to your powder question, yes it is a factor as you will see in the above calculator. Slower powders also produce more "blast" in certain cartridges, and possibly a louder report. This can be perceived by some people as "kick", when actually it's muzzle blast adding to the experience of firing the cartridge.

Added powder weight adds to the felt recoil, using the same bullet at the same velocity. If you can lower your powder charge by using a different burn rate powder, say 10 grs., and get the same velocity, it is like using a bullet weighing 10 grs. less, thus reducing the recoil.

Like said above, it's hard to cheat physics. If you drive the same bullet weight at the same velocity it will produce the same recoil no matter what powder you use. The type of recoil felt might change with different powders but Newton's third law still applies, for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.

__________________
Freedom is never free!!
SWCA #3437

I went to the range and fired seventy plus full load .357, including Federal Premium Personal Defense Reduced Recoil (130 Grain) through an N Frame PC 627.

I honestly cannot tell a recoil difference between the Blazer Brass JHP (I forget the grain), Fed Premium Hydra Shok "Low Recoil" (130 Grain), and the Federal Premium Vital Shok 180 Grain Swift A Frame. I did manage to move a little skin off my right lower thumb - shooting .38 felt like a .22 afterwards.

From what I've read over the years in a variety of sources, and regardless of the actual recipe of the cartridge, one of the PERCEPTIONS of change is 'how long the impulse' of the powder reaction lasts.

Slower burning powder pushing the same weight boolit the same FPS 'seem' to have a softer recoil as it is spread over a longer micro-second foot print. Those producing a sharper shorter blast cycle seem to be 'harder' as their impulse is spread over a shorter microsecond.

The ballistics tables I saw on this are lost to being able to link to them.

Personally I find those recipes that push typical 230-250g lead downrange at 850-1050fps to be very comfortable regardless of powder type or caliber or boolit design.

Yesterday I was shooting some 44 mag loads using H110 @ 1100 fps and Titegroup at 1000. I preferred the Titegroup for comfort.

I used some Trail Boss for 950fps and they seemed almost lethargic regarding perceived recoil.

__________________
Dum vivimus Vivamas

F=M*A

force equals mass times velocity. You change one it effects the other two.

Now, recoil IMPULSE is how that force pushes back. Because for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. However, the recoil pulse can be slowed down and lengthened, which will be perceived as a lower recoil, because the peak of the impulse will be lower, but prolonged. A car moving at 1 foot per hour will still crush you if you are against a brick wall, it just takes longer.

Part of the formula for recoil considers ejecta weight, not bullet weight. The ejecta would include carbon residue, unburned powder, and wads as well as the bullet weight.

__________________
NRA Benefactor

true, but lets face it. You have a chunk of lead and a bit of copper, and a pittance of plastic and maybe some carbon.

You toss an ounce of lead at the speed of sound, your shotgun is gonna push back.

If you drop the speed by 25% but increase the projectile's weight by 25%, it is a wash.