First lets define recoil, because I think most people confuse recoil with muzzle flip or slide action. As its been defined to me, recoil is the initial shock your hand feels the moment the round ignites. Similar to striking a concrete pole with an aluminum bat. You know how that hurts like hell???

Took my new USP45t to the range and fired close to 100rds. The remainder of that 100rds was through my 1911 for comparison because I've never fired a plastic 45. I've heard the usp is great for 45 because its a large gun, and plastic, so it can absorb all that recoil. That's not at all what I experienced. A few rounds in, every round afterwards was sharp and stung a bit. Not like I had to wring my hands out, but it was very noticeable. The 1911 otoh just rolled and virtually no recoil, as usual.

The usp was fired suppressed and unsuppressed. Ammo was 230gn.

I know weight has a lot to do with it, and proper grip. The 1911 is 41ozs, the usp45 is 31ozs. I'm considering trading the usp for a p220 scorpionTB at the lgs, but I noticed the p220 and the usp45 are the same weight. The usp is big for my hands, I only noticed that while firing. At home you can fool yourself into thinking a grip is OK till you shoot it. I know for a fact the p220 sits well in my hand while firing.

So the question is: because the p220 fits my hand well both at home and during live fire, even though they weight the same, will the p220 feel better shooting (recoil wise) than the usp45? I use to own a p220 so I don't have one to compare at the range, but I never remembered it feeling like this usp shot after shot.


ETA: I landed every round out of the usp into the x ring of a silhouette at 8yds. It is an accurate gun.

Why are you still shooting .45 ACP?

1. He's a man.
2. He's not a .40 fag.
3. It wins world wars.

 He's got truth, justice, and the American way on his side?

Its great to suppress. I can buy ammo over the counter, dont have to roll my own or search for special weight ammo like with 9mm.

ETA: and what everyone else above said

 That works too.

I have shot dozens of .45s. P220s, 1911s, FNs, HKs, XDs and Glocks.

I have never noticed and difference in recoil between any of them.

Cause 'Merica!!

I have four 1911's in .45acp.

If you are having difficulty with recoil in a .45 ACP  in a full sized handgun, you need to look at your shooting style.  At least you are not having problems with grouping.

I think you're just not used to the grip of the USP.

Maybe it's the grip design of the USP?  Dat teutonic tupperware, yo.  

FNX-45 Tactical weighs in around 33oz unloaded and I don't feel it is harsher compared to a 1911 at 39oz.  If anything, the FNX is softer shooting.

That, or it's too big for you.

A poorly fitting gun can feel like hell.

I find my FN FNX 45T to be even softer than 1911s. I'm sure different polymers from different manufacturers do behave differently. But the FNX feels like a lot of what's going on is absorbed in the frame, and that's not a bad thing, you can feel what's going on. It is a little strange though.

The only USP I have ever shot was in .40 and I didn't like it.

I had an XD-45 and found the recoil much sharper than a full size 1911, more than I expected.

Nostalgia?

I still shoot mine because I have not sold it yet.  I want a 10mm to replace it with.