Recoil Management

Should be “muzzle flip,” as that’s the ‘springboard’ for this feature: I received a screen capture depicting someone shooting a light, powerful revolver. The muzzle was directed skyward, presumably by the crushing power of the load in the lightweight gun. A grimace, closed eyes and the impression of a high-order detonation implied ‘punishment.’

Muzzle flip is a component of recoil expressed due to a loose grip and/or poor stance. Recoil is a function of projectile weight and mass, velocity and the weight of the launching device. It’s something you feel – for every action, there’s an equal and opposite reaction. It’s like politics.

Control of recoil is control of the ultimate force option: If you keep the gun in line – or nearly in line – with the point of ignition, you can reset the action and continue firing. It’s a rate of (accurate) fire thing.

You’ve seen videos of the inexperienced types shooting X-frame .500 Magnum revolvers. For one press of the trigger, it appears they’re getting the “hammer” – two shots. It has to do with the abrupt jarring impact, trigger finger relaxing due to impact and immediately retightening to keep the gun in hand. The second round is coming out nearly vertical, close to covering the shooter’s head.

That’s a problem. It’s potentially a self-resolving problem in a permanent sense.

Read the rest of Rich Grassi’s article: http://www.thetacticalwire.com/features/231649