Low recoil 45 caliber recomendation

SK1911 · December 8, 2015, 01:53 PM

Have a couple 1911’s and an XDS, 45 caliber. Can anyone recommended (actually fired) a commercial self-defense load in 185 grain that doesn’t kick like hell in a Springfield 3.5 XDS. In the 5”1911’s the commercial 185 + p JHP are very manageable, but the short barrel XDS is hard to put back on sight when using them. Being a carry pistol, kind of defeats the purpose of a self-defense firearm if I can’t reacquire a sight picture quickly. I know HP’s need velocity to expand properly, but velocity equals more recoil. Any suggestions? The reason I put post here is I (may be wrong) would think if anyone would know more about loads, velocity, ballistics and flavors of ammo, it would be the re-loaders.

T. O'Heir · December 8, 2015, 03:26 PM

Any factory jacketed bullet load is going to be, um, stout, out of a 3.5" barrel. Not enough weight to help tame the recoil.
+P's are about pressure. They'll be hot too.
Personally, I'd just use a cast 230. Any cast bullet will expand upon impact with hard things.

849ACSO · December 8, 2015, 11:13 PM

Maybe some of the lightweight, super speedy ammo. I think it's marketed as DRT ammo. All copper short slug with "petals" that break off and act as small meat grinders.

Another detective in a neighboring community worked a murder in which the victim was shot with one round of this stuff. He went to the autopsy, and the ME doing the exam couldn't believe the damage came from a single pistol shot. Said it was devastating. One of the "petals" got into an artery in the chest and were pumped with the blood through the artery. They were found in a blood vessel in the leg and completely destroyed the artery as it traveled down with the flow of blood..........

It's like $2 a round though. I shot a few rounds just to tinker and the light for caliber round is easy recoiling, and I have heard reliable proof it works..............

jag2 · December 9, 2015, 12:32 AM

Felt recoil is directly related to the weight of the gun. Okay, that's a generalization, not from a physics book but is pretty accurate. I've got a S&W model 39 with a four inch barrel and a 952 with a six inch barrel (quite heavy) and the difference in recoil is considerable.

Kosh75287 · December 9, 2015, 12:41 AM

If it'll make the slide function, you might try finding a box of the 185gr FMJWC match ammo to run through it. The stuff isn't cheap, but at 765 f/s, it should be mild enough that you can "get your feet under you" with the pistol before returning to the more powerful defense ammo.

If you are a reloader, 4.0/Bullseye/200gr. LSWC is a decent approximation.

chris in va · December 9, 2015, 01:18 AM

There's this stuff.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/659...free-box-of-20

The ballistics test look very interesting.

Ronic · December 9, 2015, 11:08 AM

I run the Liberty Civil Defense in my S&W 9c and my buddy has it in his .45 XD. they both are very light recoil rounds. I would say almost 1/2 of other target loads, yes target not defense rounds. They don't have the penetration of other rounds but that is why I use them. I live in a ranch house where my bedroom and my kids bedrooms are down a long hallway with no exit. The hallway makes a shooting lane that puts my friends house directly in the background of a stray bullet. These style of bullets will not go through my wall, the garage wall, and into my friends house. If you need penetration then these are not for you. They are a very unique and light shooting round.

g.willikers · December 9, 2015, 11:46 AM

Maybe a change in technique would improve things.
It's not always how much recoil and muzzle rise there is, but how quickly the gun and sights can return to the target.
It's more about keeping the gun tracking straight up and back down than how high it goes during recoil.
If that makes sense.
Just a thought.

849ACSO · December 9, 2015, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Felt recoil is directly related to the weight of the gun

Incomplete. The weight of the gun combined with the weight of the bullet and the speed at which it is launched from the tube. Lighter bullet = less felt recoil in the same gun.

Dufus · December 9, 2015, 02:36 PM

Quote:

kind of defeats the purpose of a self-defense firearm if I can’t reacquire a sight picture quickly

Most self defense shooting that I know of has no time for a "sight picture".

It is point and shoot and mostly at <15 yds.

December 8, 2015, 01:53 PM	#1
SK1911 Member Join Date: May 9, 2015 Location: Chicago Posts: 17	Low recoil 45 caliber recomendation Have a couple 1911’s and an XDS, 45 caliber. Can anyone recommended (actually fired) a commercial self-defense load in 185 grain that doesn’t kick like hell in a Springfield 3.5 XDS. In the 5”1911’s the commercial 185 + p JHP are very manageable, but the short barrel XDS is hard to put back on sight when using them. Being a carry pistol, kind of defeats the purpose of a self-defense firearm if I can’t reacquire a sight picture quickly. I know HP’s need velocity to expand properly, but velocity equals more recoil. Any suggestions? The reason I put post here is I (may be wrong) would think if anyone would know more about loads, velocity, ballistics and flavors of ammo, it would be the re-loaders.

December 8, 2015, 03:26 PM	#2
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	Any factory jacketed bullet load is going to be, um, stout, out of a 3.5" barrel. Not enough weight to help tame the recoil. +P's are about pressure. They'll be hot too. Personally, I'd just use a cast 230. Any cast bullet will expand upon impact with hard things. __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

December 8, 2015, 11:13 PM	#3
849ACSO Senior Member Join Date: September 21, 2014 Location: Somewhere in the middle Posts: 629	Maybe some of the lightweight, super speedy ammo. I think it's marketed as DRT ammo. All copper short slug with "petals" that break off and act as small meat grinders. Another detective in a neighboring community worked a murder in which the victim was shot with one round of this stuff. He went to the autopsy, and the ME doing the exam couldn't believe the damage came from a single pistol shot. Said it was devastating. One of the "petals" got into an artery in the chest and were pumped with the blood through the artery. They were found in a blood vessel in the leg and completely destroyed the artery as it traveled down with the flow of blood.......... It's like $2 a round though. I shot a few rounds just to tinker and the light for caliber round is easy recoiling, and I have heard reliable proof it works.............. __________________ "The day you stop learning SHOULD directly coincide with the day you stop breathing." Last edited by 849ACSO; December 8, 2015 at 11:20 PM.

December 9, 2015, 12:41 AM	#5
Kosh75287 Senior Member Join Date: October 15, 2007 Posts: 820	If it'll make the slide function, you might try finding a box of the 185gr FMJWC match ammo to run through it. The stuff isn't cheap, but at 765 f/s, it should be mild enough that you can "get your feet under you" with the pistol before returning to the more powerful defense ammo. If you are a reloader, 4.0/Bullseye/200gr. LSWC is a decent approximation. __________________ GOD BLESS JEFF COOPER, whose instructions, consultations, and publications have probably saved more lives than can ever be reliably calculated. DVC, sir. انجلو. المسلحة. جاهزة. Carpe SCOTCH!

December 9, 2015, 11:46 AM	#8
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	Maybe a change in technique would improve things. It's not always how much recoil and muzzle rise there is, but how quickly the gun and sights can return to the target. It's more about keeping the gun tracking straight up and back down than how high it goes during recoil. If that makes sense. Just a thought. __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”

December 9, 2015, 12:32 AM	#4
jag2 Senior Member Join Date: June 30, 2009 Location: dallas Posts: 773	Felt recoil is directly related to the weight of the gun. Okay, that's a generalization, not from a physics book but is pretty accurate. I've got a S&W model 39 with a four inch barrel and a 952 with a six inch barrel (quite heavy) and the difference in recoil is considerable.

December 9, 2015, 01:18 AM	#6
chris in va Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 2004 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 13,806	There's this stuff. http://www.midwayusa.com/product/659...free-box-of-20 The ballistics test look very interesting.

December 9, 2015, 11:08 AM	#7
Ronic Junior Member Join Date: November 28, 2013 Posts: 12	I run the Liberty Civil Defense in my S&W 9c and my buddy has it in his .45 XD. they both are very light recoil rounds. I would say almost 1/2 of other target loads, yes target not defense rounds. They don't have the penetration of other rounds but that is why I use them. I live in a ranch house where my bedroom and my kids bedrooms are down a long hallway with no exit. The hallway makes a shooting lane that puts my friends house directly in the background of a stray bullet. These style of bullets will not go through my wall, the garage wall, and into my friends house. If you need penetration then these are not for you. They are a very unique and light shooting round.