Quote Originally Posted by JTP$ View Post
40 is a snappy round by nature, the recoil actually surprised me the first time i shot my bros FN 40 because it seemed more energetic than my glock 30 in .45 ACP.

what brand of 10mm were you running? the reason i ask is because some 10mm ammo is actually not loaded very hot. when i picked up my glock 20 i told my FFL dealer i wanted some hot 10mm ammo and he sold me a few boxes of PMC, recoil felt weak. but other types of ammo have alot more power behind them.



the AR15 is one of, if not the very best rifle ever made. the more i shoot mine the more i love that platform of rifle.

put an ACOG TA31 on it and you have literal perfection
One thing you have to take in to account is the weight of the pistol with a loaded magazine in it. 40S&W projectiles usually are between 135-185 grains, whereas a 45 ACP projectile can weigh from 185 grains to 250 grains. Then you have to factor in the weight of the casing and although neglegible, the weight of the powder and primer. That added weight the 45 has can have some effect on perceived recoil as it has more mass at rest.

Then you have to factor in the mass of the projectile + velocity. And for a 45 acp 240gr projectile going at 850fps (which is above average for 45) can give you 385 foot pounds of force. A 40 S&W round weight 150 grains going at 1200fps has 480 foot pounds of force

So going by that, 9mm is lighter weight and has projectiles traveling with on average more energy footpounds of force, so it makes sense that it's going to have more perceived recoil given similar barrel length and unloaded pistol weights.

On a little tangent, I got this cheap hipoint in 40 S&W. That pistol weighs so much you can barely feel any recoil at all with it (like you almost feel like the first one you shoot was a squib).

But yeah, if you want "hot" factory made rounds, get a chronograph and experiment. My experiences have been that the guys at the store don't know what they're talking about a great deal of the time and they rely solely on the velocities published by the manufacturer. And those manufacturers are trying to sell you ammo so they're never comparing apples to apples.

Often times, you'll find that your standard cheap ammos out-perform the more expensive "performance" rounds in velocity and foot pounds of force. Not to mention, that hotter rounds do not necessarily correlate to better accuracy.

And as far as AR rifles go. I like them a lot. But I also know that local laws from one jurisdiction to another can vary greatly and you might not be able to obtain one legally. A Mini 14 chambered in 5.56 might be a good alternative in those situations. Plus if you had to use lethal force on somebody, the negative stigma of an AR can definitely influence a jury and a DA. It might be the difference between being charged and convicted of a crime or you walking free.