Muzzle Velocity and Recoil

[DonD]

The question that's been burning in my head:

1. Take two outwardly identical guns, say two S&W M15-4s both with 4" barrels.
2. Use the same load in each one.
3. Chronograph the loads, and discover one gun shoots 50fps faster on avg.

Does the faster gun have more recoil? Why or why not?

Anyone know?

The gun with the higher velocity will always recoil more, simple physics. Individual guns can and do show velocity differences, nothing new, no different than cars. Some accelerate slower and some faster than average. Don

 

[DonD]

You can keep the math, my shoulder and my wrists will attest that slower, heavier projectiles have more felt recoil than lighter, zippier ones. Example: my .45-70 vs. my .308. ME is similar, gun weight is similar, no one in their right mind will say that the recoil is similar. Felt recoil on the .45-70 is much greater. You could do 12g slug vs. .308 as well, ME is similar there as well.

So, again, in my experience heavier bullets, even when moving slower, kick harder. Turn the velocity up and naturally they kick even harder.

Completely agree with you. A high velocity centerfire varmint gun like a .22-250 may have energy levels like a .30-30 but the 30-30 will kick harder. Don