While recoil is generally going to be more jarring when firing a handgun than from most shoulder-mounted platforms, there are things you can do about it.
Chiefly, establishing a proper grip and assuming a good stance can go a long way towards taking the kick out of a handgun.
Here are the high-level pointers.
The Grip
Grip is arguably the most important aspect or recoil reduction, and there most certainly are good (and bad) grips.
To get a good grip on your handgun (assuming you are shooting a slide action handgun like a 1911 or a Glock) you want your shooting hand as high and tight on the frame as possible.
Bring your hand all the way up to the base of the slide, as close as you can get without getting pinched when the action cycles.
Wrap the fingers of your shooting hand fully around the grip. Lay your index finger along the base of the slide until ready to shoot to practice good trigger discipline.
As for your shooting thumb, lay that along the base of the slide on the other side of the frame, as high and far forward as you can extend it.
You want to maximize the contact surface area between your hand and the gun, in order to distribute the force of recoil.
As for your support hand, the same general rules apply here. Wrap the fingers of your support hand fully around the grip of the handgun, with your support thumb alongside your shooting thumb.
Again, maximize surface area contact between your grip and the gun. Then pronate your grip slightly (push the muzzle slightly down) and lock your wrists and elbows.
You’ll want a strong, sure grip on the handgun so that it cycles fully when you pull the trigger (you don’t want to limp wrist it).
The Stance
The other component of mitigating recoil comes from your stance. What you don’t want is to be standing up straight and tall so that you’re off balance when the trigger breaks.
Instead, bend your need slightly, assume an athletic stance square with the target, and lean forward ever so slightly.
This will position your center of mass just a little in front of you, so that the force of recoil is striving against a center that is very slightly off balance. It will help you better control the recoil of the shot.
In addition, you might also want to:
- Install a heavier guide rod, which will increase the mass of the gun.
- Install a compensator, a muzzle device that will actively counter the force of recoil.
- And shoot ammo that produces less muzzle energy, which is a direct determinant of recoil.
Where to Get 9mm Bulk Ammo Online
Now that you’re armed with these suggestions on how to better control your handgun, you’ll need a lot of ammo and get to practicing. Refill your range cans with some 9mm bulk ammo from Bucking Horse Outpost and carve out some range time. You’re going to need it.
