Say you have a 9mm Glock, like a G19 or a G17. Since these are among the most popular handguns in the country, the assumption wouldn’t be too unreasonable.
Now let’s say you are among those that are recoil shy. Granted, most people consider the 9mm to be a light-shooting cartridge, but for smaller-framed (and new) shooters, it can still be intimidating.
With that said, what can you do to cut back on recoil?
Here are the top 5 things you can do - so stock up on some 9mm full metal jacket ammo and get ready to hit the range.
Adopt a Proper Grip and Stance
More important than anything else, making sure you are following consistent shooting form, and have a good grip on the gun, are paramount to recoil control. Even more important, these skills are transferable to shooting other firearms.
The general maxim with handgun shooting is “high and tight.” You want your shooting hand to be as high on the frame of the Glock as is possible, without it getting in the way of (or getting clipped by) the slide, which can cause jams.
Lay the thumb of your shooting hand along the frame at the base of the slide, then wrap your support hand fully around your shooting hand, with your support thumb lying along your shooting thumb at the base of the slide.
This grip will put your hands as close underneath the barrel as possible so you can also “get behind” it, but not quite. The higher your grip, the better you’ll be able to control recoil.
When shooting, extend your elbows and lock your wrists, make sure you have a firm grip on the gun, bend your knees slightly, and lean forward just a bit. This will better position you to be able to absorb recoil.
Shoot Lighter, 9mm Full Metal Jacket Ammo
The next time you’re at a gun shop, take a closer look at that box of ammo you want to buy. Some of the lightest-kicking 9mm full metal jacket rounds are 115-grain rounds intended for range training.
There are two things you want to be on the lookout for: bullet weight and muzzle velocity. All else being equal, the lighter the bullet, and the slower it’s traveling, the less recoil it’ll produce.
You can also cut corners and just look at muzzle energy, which is measured in joules (J) or foot-pounds (ft-lbs). The lower this metric is (again, all else being equal) the lower the force of felt recoil will be.
So buy accordingly. The lighter the muzzle energy of your 9mm full metal jacket ammo, the better.
Replace the Guide Rod
The thing about Glock handguns is, notwithstanding their enduring popularity, lots of parts of a Glock are made with polymer.
This includes, famously, the frame - but it also includes other parts like the sights and guide rod, a hidden component inside the gun that guides the recoil spring.
The problem with a polymer guide rod is just that - it’s made of polymer, which is very low density. This lightens the overall weight of the gun, which makes it less tiring to carry, but it also adversely affects stability.
Specifically, the heavier a guide rod is, the more it weighs down and stabilizes the muzzle. Consequently, the polymer guide rod of Glock handguns results in a flippant, “jumpy” (for lack of a better term) muzzle.
This is not a benefit to you. Replace the guide rod with a heavier stainless steel or tungsten version and you will see - it will help keep muzzle jump under control.
Install a Compensator
This is probably the second most important consideration we have here with respect to recoil reduction, after coaching yourself on improving your grip and stance.
A compensator is a muzzle device that changes the method and manner of gas dispersion at the muzzle, effectively redirecting the forces of felt recoil.
A good compensator (and there are many produced for Glock handguns) can reduce felt recoil by as much as 50% without adversely affecting shot power or accuracy.
On top of this, a compensator can help push the muzzle down, directly counteracting muzzle flip so you can make faster, more accurate follow up shots.
All in all, installing a compensator is one of the most impactful upgrades you can make to your Glock from a standpoint of recoil reduction.
Spend More Time Shooting
Lastly, and quite importantly, it’s critical that you practice at the range to ensure you’re instilling good habits (like practicing a good grip and form) while shooting.
While gear (like a compensator or light 9mm full metal jacket rounds) can make a difference, the main factor here will be your effort and skill.
In short, if you want to overcome recoil-shyness, you have to spend time shooting - so get to the range and put in your time.