Recoil

[1911fan]

Worst hand gun recoil I have dealt with was an older AOW side by side that was called the "backup" or some such, Essentially a 8 inch 12 gauge SXS. the pistol grip was like the long tang round knob superposed style, except there was no butt stock. Even as a rough and tough 24 year old, that dang thing HURT> flexing the wrist several hours later was enough to cause tears.

A 5 shot .475 linebuagh blackhawk conversion might be the worst "conventional" handgun I have fired, It had the Bisley grip frame and that just does not fit me.

Worst recoiling gun I have fired was simply a matter of fit.
My brother works for a very affluent man who hunts world wide. He decided that for his 60th b-day he wanted to get a custom made 338 SXS double rifle from Merkel. He's a shorter barrel chested guy and he went to Germany twice to have the gun fitted. I have watched him with the gun and he has hit a bowling ball rolling across the grass field twice almost as fast as you can say it. I was offered the chance to shoot it and "hey, who turns down a chance to shoot a $70,000 gun?" Well, I shot one time at the gong, at the shot, my nose was swelling, my glasses were sitting on the over lever and my face felt like I had been punched. When you raised the gun it felt like a perfect .410, pointed where you looked, but it was made with about a 12 inch pull, a little more dropoff than I would have had, and with his "round" face, the top of the stock was much thinner than what I would have. It was like shooting a 5 pound .410 game gun only loaded with 1 7/8 ounce lube 2's. I only fired it once.

That said, I have fired a half a box of .460 wby with no discomfort when standing up, and maybe ten rounds of .416 rigby from the bench with a Westley Richards square bridge Mauser and been just fine. (the Westley Richards .425 is just the same, but it also brings back why the Great White Hunter used a gun bearer, its a beast, maybe 11 pounds empty with no sling.)

[cobb]

A 5 shot .475 linebuagh blackhawk conversion might be the worst "conventional" handgun I have fired,

[Seismic Sam]

Am I a range hero with it no, but what do you expect from a less than 2in. barrel, and cut out sites?

Is that WITH or WITHOUT the spandex tights, top, and giveaway (Oh my Gawd, Ethel, he's got a gun!!!) multipocket fishing vest??

Seriously, the 642 with +P 38 loads is a VERY good combination. WAAAYYY better than the same gun with DoubleTap .357 loads. This would be an ideal solution for a lot of people. The issue is that you have to see PAST the bling of high velocity and maximum power for the rating of that gun to get to the right solution.

To put it quite bluntly, you do not want to go OOOHHHHHHHH!!!!! What's the most powerful load that you can put through this gun, and/or what's the most powerful round in this caliber is chambered in?? You want something that's comfortable for YOU.

[goalie]

Am I a range hero with it no, but what do you expect from a less than 2in. barrel, and cut out sites?

Is that WITH or WITHOUT the spandex tights, top, and giveaway (Oh my Gawd, Ethel, he's got a gun!!!) multipocket fishing vest??

Seriously, the 642 with +P 38 loads is a VERY good combination. WAAAYYY better than the same gun with DoubleTap .357 loads. This would be an ideal solution for a lot of people. The issue is that you have to see PAST the bling of high velocity and maximum power for the rating of that gun to get to the right solution.

To put it quite bluntly, you do not want to go OOOHHHHHHHH!!!!! What's the most powerful load that you can put through this gun, and/or what's the most powerful round in this caliber is chambered in?? You want something that's comfortable for YOU.

To put it another way, when something happens, you are not going to rise to the occasion, you are going to default to your level of competent training. If you can't train with your carry load, expecting that you can just ignore recoil because of the adrenaline and somehow shoot well with a firearm that you cannot shoot well in a calm, relaxed environment is suicidal.