In the table below rifle weight is given in pounds, free recoil energy is given in foot pounds, and free recoil velocity is given in feet-per-second. All recoil values have been rounded off to one decimal place.

In the table below rifle weight is given in pounds, free recoil energy is given in foot pounds, and free recoil velocity is given in feet-per-second. All recoil values have been rounded off to one decimal place.

I estimate that fifteen foot pounds of free recoil energy and 10 fps of recoil velocity represent the approximate upper limit of the comfort level. Above that recoil becomes increasingly intrusive and performance degrading. Also, the effects of recoil are cumulative.

In order to give a realistic idea of how much various shotgun and rifle loads are liable to kick the shooter, the recoil figures below are for hunting guns of typical weight for their caliber or gauge.

Never-the-less, the table below should give a reasonably accurate comparison of the recoil of most popular handgun cartridges and loads when fired in pistols of typical weight. The following recoil figures are taken from various sources including online recoil calculators, the Remington Shoot! program or calculated from the formula given in the ...

The following examples of recoil energy and velocity are all measured in 8 pound rifles. (Caliber [bullet weight, muzzle velocity] = free recoil energy & free recoil velocity.) 6mm Rem. (100 grain, MV 3100 fps) = 10.0 ft. lbs. & 9.0 fps

To give you some rough idea of 100 yard energy, a 200 grain .40 / 50 Dead Center sabot at a muzzle velocity (MV) of 1800 fps gives you over 1100 foot pounds of energy into your deer. This is far more than the universally recommended minimum of 800 ft. lbs. for a humane kill.

Recoil in foot-pounds and recoil velocities have long been established; there isn t really much to talk about unless a new branch of physics is discovered. Chuck Hawks has put together a shotgun recoil table, which you will find on the Tables, Charts and Lists Page.

Note: In the table below Bullet Weight is given in grains, Velocity (V) is given in feet per second (fps) and Energy (E) is given in foot pounds (ft. lb.).

Chuck Hawks shares important information about handgun stopping power in this handy condensed version of his popular chart.