Worst Recoiling Handgun You Own

gman51 · Oct 22, 2019

When I first got a Ruger SP101 327 magnum I couldn't find any 327 mag ammo, only .32 special. I thought what a mild mannered gun when shooting the 32 spl. Then when I got some 327 magnum ammo.I shot it three times before my fingers had enough punishment and I put the gun back in the box. I wasted no time ordering the Hogue Tammers. The Hogue Tammers made a huge difference in felt recoil. My Ruger LCR shooting 357 magnum isn't near as bad felt recoil as that SP101 was with stock plastic grips.
I sold the gun after only having it about 3 months.
My Bull Dog 44 spl is a joy to shoot compared to that SP101 327 magnum. If I have my trigger finger not sitting on right spot on the BD trigger it can bite my finger a bit. Otherwise I can shoot 100 rounds with no discomfort.
I don't find joy shooting any gun with killer recoil. You macho men can have them.

Gene L · Oct 22, 2019

rosewood said:
That is perceived recoil. The .223 contender doesn't kick much at all. However, it is loud and has a significant muzzle blast that makes some shooters think it kicks bad. I changed powders and starting loading a faster burning powder, H322, and it cut down the blast and gained a little bit of velocity. Made a big difference. It is probably the most pleasant shooting of my contender barrels.

Rosewood

I had a Contender with some barrels, one of which was .223. IIRC, it was ported. Me and a friend went to the range to shoot it. My friend parked his truck about 15 feet behind the firing line. When I shot the .223, the blast set off his car alarm.

Execpro · Oct 22, 2019

Bond Arms 45acp Roughneck derringer With the small factory grips, 4 rounds was the max. The trigger guard beat the -ell out of the middle finger, but I have very large hands.
Put on oversized wood grips and 10 rounds of 230gr Speer Gold Dot is about all I can handle. It doesn't
Hurt the finger anymore and is quite manageable.
I won't have to Concern myself with a reload! When they say this is a backup last ditch effort they aren't kidding!
This gun IS a back up to my 6 shot j frame size 38 special revolver with Speer Gold Dot 135gr +p ammo.
Picture is with extended grips on left and factory rubber grips on right with Target at 5 yards.

Be SAFE and shoot often!

scoobysnacker · Oct 22, 2019

Lots of big bore revolvers and Thompson Contenders listed... I've shot a few with a lot of kick. Likewise my Shockwave with 3 inch slugs.

For me, these aren't the "worst".
I've got a FEG PA 63 in 9 makarov. Not the smallest gun, not the largest round. And it really feels good to just hold and point. But something about the grip angle, the lightweight frame, and the blowback... just ouch. Sends the recoil impulse directly into where your thumb meets your wrist. I mean, it doesn't even try to flip the muzzle, it unloads all that jolt directly into the joint. It feels like you're holding a rigid, solid pipe, and banging it as hard as you can into an anvil.

I think the issue is the design. In looking at it, the frame beavertail terminates directly into that joint, and prevents the muzzle flip by using your thumb to absorb the recoil. .

mbliss57 · Oct 22, 2019

BOTH...My SW 500 6.5" and the SW 340 SC Airlite 357 magnum.
I think the J frame has more wrist twisting, finger breaking torque and the 500 has more backward and upward torguq. At least that is how I perceive (feel) it. I had the airlite for about 1 range session and sold it. The 500 I can tolerate. I am looking at the Ruger Alaskan 454 Casul Backpacker 2.5" that I can buy LNIB for $700 OTD. I am plannng to buy it and I know it will give the SW 500 a run for it's money. The price is to good to pass on. Range report will be forth comming.

eveled · Oct 22, 2019

340 pd. Is the worst recoil.

Distant second is a contender with 30/30 barrel.

Klagz13 · Oct 22, 2019

My EAA Witness with .357 hollow points is no joke, but nothing like other poster's stuff

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6string · Oct 22, 2019

Krogen said:
T/C Contender with a 14" .357 Herrett barrel. It's only a .38 you might say! But.... There's something about the high velocity, heavy slugs and the Contender geometry that hurts. My arm stings from palm to elbow. It's no fun whatsoever!

I was gonna say "TC Contender with 10" barrel in 357 Herrett" as well. It gulps a lot of powder to get it's ballistics, which aren't all that impressive in this day and age. But, it's a knuckle-busting, wrist-wrenching ear blaster!
I got it for IHMSA silhouette. My brother and I shot in Standing Class. I saw that his S&W 25-5 with 255 gr SWCs over 8.5 grs of Unique (a nice mild Colt level load, by the way) put down the 200 Meter rams quite well. So, I figured "Why beat myself up with the Herrett or the 30-30 contender?". So, I got out my M29 loaded with 8.7 grs Unique under a Lyman 429421 (basically a stiff 44 Special load) and started having a lot more fun.
It took longer for the bullet to get there, but was very positive on the rams!

Jim

steelslaver · Oct 22, 2019

My TC in 357 Herret was brutal with original factory grips. My 325 snub with titanium cylinder was a super hand stinger with wood sticks. Both make my 500 feel pleasant. Rubber did a lot for my 325s and making some large. Palm fillers sure helped the TC

Tom K · Oct 23, 2019

I have a 4" Titanium Taurus Tracker in .41 Magnum. Even with the factory rubber grips on it, it is really unpleasant to shoot. And I own and shoot a 10" .454 Casull, 4" .500 S&W, and a 7.5" Ruger Bisley in .500 Linebaugh.

max503 · Oct 23, 2019

Another vote for the 44 magnum Contender. The back of the trigger guard hits my second finger and my right elbow gets pushed into and scraped on the bench.

fishcreekrim · Oct 23, 2019

Tenn2 said:
For me it is the Contender with 10" barrel and .223 round. My wife dubbed it the "handcannon". She shot it once and and said no thank you.
Russ

I have packed one of these for years, iron sights until my eyes told me I needed a Burris ffiii. I consider this combo the most reach out and touch something you can strap to your belt and go about your days normal activities. From time to time we have issues with coyotes while calving and a rifle is not always in reach.

I found the 10" 223 to be a fair bit less recoil than the 10" 44mag that I carried during deer and elk season. Unlike Rosewood I do not reload, so I buy Black Hills 52 gr hollow points by the case and use ear protection whenever the situation allows. I say "huh" a lot.

CH4 · Oct 23, 2019

Toss up between my 329PD and 4" 500 S&W.

kraynky · Oct 23, 2019

andy52 said:
This lone Eagle in .444 marlin is the worst I own or have ever owned.
The recoil is extreme.

i CAN ONLY IMAGINE! My 444 has a 24" barrel, and a lot more steel and wood, and it's a good shoulder thumper. What is the barrel length on the Lone Eagle? Whatever it is, it's not enough! You da man!

duane_wade · Oct 23, 2019

Took my new to me 360 Airweight out last night and shot some light .38 target loads and thought this isn't so bad then I shot 5 rounds of 125 gr .357 Gold Dot and my index finger told me "NO MORE OF THOSE!!". So.... most of my practice will be with light loads and carry with the Gold Dot.

I don't think the recoil itself was bad just the trigger guard banging the end of the finger. My EDC is a Dan Wesson 15-2 and I have a Dan Wesson .44 mag and the re oil on both of those are mild as to the 360 Airweight.

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Hunter Keith · Oct 23, 2019

TC in .35 Remington

Have not fired it in years...still remember the recoil, muzzle blast et. al. Age has cured me of the need for that rush!

PS That is a dummy round in the chamber.

LostintheOzone · Oct 23, 2019

Model 19 snubbie with 357 factory ammo.

A friend has a 44 mag. Colt Anaconda I think. Shot that 6 times. No bueno.

scoobysnacker · Oct 23, 2019

Here's a couple of pics to illustrate.

Remember, we're talking "worst" recoil, not biggest recoil.

See how that sits against the thumb joint? For me and my friends who have shot it, this is the most uncomfortable shooter we've tried, regardless of caliber.

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Spokes · Oct 23, 2019

.454 Casull in my Freedom Arms single action revolver..

scoobysnacker · Oct 23, 2019

Here's a shot of the grip

edit- to clarify.
This is about the little Feg, I posted above to show where it sits directly against your thumb. I have friends with other guns, including big bore revolvers, 1911's and the above-mentioned Contender.
They all agree, this is the most uncomfortable pistol they have ever shot.
It is ALMOST a Walther, but notice how wide the grip gets? That FORCES you into holding it, so that the beavertail rides directly into the webbing of your hand, and no matter how big or small your hand is, that tip sits directly against the base of your thumb. Any recoil at all is transferred to that joint. That's why there is no muzzle flip, it is braced against the bone.

The frame gets so wide I actually can't touch thumb to index, if I were to slide my grip down. It's practically a thumbhole. And unfortunately for the shooter, it is in the worst possible place, for the base of your thumb.

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Worst Recoiling Handgun You Own

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