[metrotps]

I have a PPK, Modell 4, CZ50, Colt M1903, Dryse M1907, and a Destructor/Ruby all in .32 ACP. I also have a .380 German PP, IA stainless PPK, and a Ruger LCP. I shoot them all on a regular basis and honestly don't really notice much difference between all of of them. I have small hands if that makes a difference.

 

[metrotps]

Moon you bring up an interesting observation. Blowback pistols seem to have a greater felt recoil than locked breech pistols of similar weight. Same as some feel more recoil in pump shotguns than autoloading ones. IME

 

[metrotps]

"I'm not enough of a physicist to try to figure it out in detail"
Moon you are not alone in your quoted statement. I do know that a major factor, besides the ones mentioned by Milspec and MGMike, is the time factor.
An autoloading shotgun or other locked breech weapon takes longer to recoil through the cycle of the bolt or slide/barrel moving rearwards. It's only miliseconds but it makes a difference in felt recoil. IIRC a 12 ga. 9 pellet 00 buck load has 33 lb-ft of free recoil. The same in both autoloaders or pumps. But most shooters feel less recoil in the autoloader. Same principal for a 95 grain bullet in a .380 whether a blowback or a locked breech pistol. A long time ago I saw an article on the physics of recoil. May have been in the American Rifleman.

 

[metrotps]

"If you do not notice the difference, there is something wrong with your sensitivity receptors (if there is such a thing)."

Most likely mine were damaged in the 1960's and 1970's...

Seriously I have shot so many heavy recoiling guns that I just don't react to recoil much anymore I guess. I used to shoot as many as 100,000 rounds per year. From 17 Remington to 50 BMG in a single shot rifle and throw in 410's, 12ga in all lengths/loads, and hundreds of 10ga loads in 3-1/2 2.25oz goose loads in my Ithaca Mag 10.

 

[metrotps]

Yes...muzzle-blast has a way of altering ones opinion on felt recoil. Take my wife...please.... When I brought her into shooting, we started off with the 22 shorts in the itty-bitty J-Frame revolver and worked our way up. I had a hard time getting her past the 22LR, until I put some hearing protection on her. Once I reduced her "heard noise"...skipping on up thru the 32 and then the 38-special was not that big of a deal.

First should we call you the Henny Youngman of Waltherforums?

+1 MGMike
"I have also found that I (and I suspect many others) are far more sensitive to muzzle blast than to the actual momentum of recoil. When the blast is nasty enough to be unpleasant, it's hard to distinguish the two.
M"

Seriously have any of you fired a Hakim? Now there is the king of muzzle blast in battle rifles IMHO. When I fired mine at a range it didn't take long to clear the stations on either side of me or I would be asked to move to a more clear spot on the line.
Stock drop and barrel position have alot to do with felt recoil too. I had 3 M1 Garands and then tried a Luxembourg FN49 in 30/06. I now have it along with an Egyptian one in 8x57 and a Venezuelan in 7x57 that has the original muzzle brake. Not much recoil as the brake is very effective and loud. The FN49 has the barrel below the gas cylinder for more of a straight push into the shoulder.

 

[metrotps]

metrotps, I can assure you that I've been called a lot worse names than Ole Henny. Some of the folks on here likely don't even know who Henny Youngman was.....but we do. Far as I know....he never did give his wife away.

From Wikipedia "in reality the two were very close, with Sadie often accompanying her husband on his tours. Youngman remained married for over sixty years until his wife's death in 1987, after a prolonged illness."
We all should be so lucky to have such a great wife...