Does the Weight of Your Pistol Affect Recoil and Handling?

[Talyn]

A heavy handgun typically features a large frame and often includes specialized sights, larger magazines, and larger-caliber rounds. These pistols usually weigh anywhere between 3 and 5 pounds unloaded and are often constructed with heavier materials such as all-metal frames to increase their weight.

As for lightweight pistols, these firearms typically weigh anywhere between ten and twenty ounces when empty. To reduce their weight, lighter handguns are commonly made with polymer or aluminum frames and feature a smaller, less bulky design.

Shooting 101: Does the Weight of Your Pistol Affect Recoil and Handling?

When choosing a handgun, there are many factors like brand, type, and size to consider. But one often overlooked aspect

athlonoutdoors.com

 

[Musashi]

For shootability weight is certainly a factor as is caliber and even bore axis. Purpose is a consideration as is fit. How many women with small hands and diminutive size have been sold the wrong gun? I know several who cannot comfortably pull the slide back on their semi auto. As far as weight, I shoot my Sig X5 Legion better than my Echelon. My friend bought a Hellcat and wished he would have purchased the Hellcat Pro after shooting mine. Concealability involves compromises. That PDP is a sweet gun BTW.

 

[Shibadog]

Well, yeah it affects handling and recoil. You doubt it, shoot a 629 with heavy loads then the same loads from a 329.

 

[Talyn]

Caliber matters also...

 

[Musashi]

Ouch

 

[mreed911]

Yes. Adding a Cheely steel grip to my Staccato P made it a 52 ounce gun with much more weight in the back. The recoil impulse is completely different now both in terms of strength and direction.

Great for competition, but I'd never do this for carry. Example: My Prodigies (used before I got my Staccato) both have aftermarket aluminum grips (Warwick Tactical), primarily for the "grippiness" but also for the weight/balance difference - it adds a few ounces (esp. with a steel MSH). My Prodigy 3.5" does not - it's OEM - because for carry weight that's my preference.

 

[Mr.W.]

Yes, of course it does.

 

[bc22wm]

At the risk of having my he-man macho pistolaro card revoked, OF CORUSE they do. Thats why shooting and hitting with these ultra-light micro 9mms are a pain in the tail or aluminum/scandium 38+P/357 snub nose.

 

[Sld1959]

Of course not, what a silly notion. Hmmm wonder if the make a NAA mini in 12 guage...