If your gun relies on igniting gunpowder or some other propellant to launch bullets, you will experience recoil. Recoil is your gun jerking backward when you fire a round. The force with which propellant gases blast from the muzzle determines recoil intensity. If recoil is too intense, it can make shooting unpleasant or even painful. Excessive recoil can also negatively impact your shooting accuracy.
Fortunately, several low-recoil firearms are available for shooters who can’t tolerate high recoil. What gun has the least recoil? We’ve compiled a list of some of the best low-recoil pistols, rifles, and shotguns. Keep reading to find a low-recoil version of your favorite firearm type.
Low Recoil Pistols
Pistols are an ideal self-defense weapon that you can carry around concealed. You can also use a pistol for home defense.
Compared to other handguns, such as revolvers, semiautomatic pistols typically have less recoil because they have a slide. The slide uses recoil energy to move back to eject spent casings and forward to chamber a fresh round. The action disperses some of the recoil energy, lessening your felt recoil.
However, felt recoil varies between various pistols. For instance, pistols that shoot high caliber rounds, such as the Desert Eagle for .50 AE, .44 Magnum, and .357 Magnum rounds, have ridiculously high recoil.
What pistol has the least recoil? Below are three pistols with some of the lightest recoil.
Beretta 92FS
The Beretta 92FS is a semiautomatic pistol with an open slide and short recoil. The handgun is a favorite among armed forces members and gun enthusiasts for its accuracy, durability, and dependability. It’s also user-friendly and delivers impressive firepower.
The pistol shoots 9mm rounds, which deliver impressive bullet velocity with relatively low recoil. The handgun also has a nice heft that absorbs some recoil to reduce kickback when you fire. Since this firearm is widely available, you won’t have trouble picking one up at most gun stores.
Smith & Wesson M&P 380 Shield EZ
The Smith & Wesson M&P 380 Shield EZ is a dependable handgun for self and home defense. It’s user-friendly and has relatively low recoil, making it suitable for first-timers or shooters who prefer minimal recoil. Also, while the M&P 380 Shield EZ weighs less than the Beretta 92FS at 18.5 ounces, it can still soak up a fair amount of recoil.
You can get variants of this Smith & Wesson that shoot 9mm or 380 ACP rounds. Since 380 ACP is a lighter ammo with less recoil, we recommend this variant if you want the least recoil.
Ruger 57
We saved the best for last. You cannot go wrong with the Ruger 57 if you want to shoot straight and stop assailants in their tracks with minimal recoil. The pistol’s light recoil comes from its 5.7x28mm ammo. The 5.7x28mm is a high-velocity, small-caliber round with recoil lighter than 9mm and 380 ACP ammo. In fact, tests show that 5.7x28mm generates 30% less recoil than 9mm rounds.
Low Recoil Rifles
Rifles are highly versatile firearms that come in various shapes and sizes. Semiautomatic rifles are intimidating and effective for home and self-defense. On the other hand, bolt-action and lever-action rifles offer impressive range, accuracy, and power for long-range shooting.
A rifle’s caliber typically determines its recoil, and you can find rifles with less recoil than some handguns. For example, .223 Remington rifles have one of the lightest recoil yet enough stopping power to take down medium-sized game.
What rifle has the least recoil? Below are three rifles with some of the lightest recoil.
Henry AR-7
.22 cartridges are small, low-energy rounds suitable for plinking, target shooting, and small game hunting. The ammo also has one of the lightest recoils. Rifles like the Henry AR-7 make .22 rounds fly with enough power to take down medium-sized prey like pigs.
The weight of the semiautomatic rifle further minimizes kickback by absorbing and reducing recoil generated by .22 rounds. The Henry AR-7’s semiautomatic mechanism also reduces kickback by spreading recoil among its moving components.
Browning BLR Lever Action Rifles
The Browning BLR Lever Action Rifle is a quick-handling, easy-to-carry rifle available in various styles and sizes. Depending on your preference or needs, you can get the rifle in calibers like .22-250 Rem, .222 Rem, .223 Rem, .243 Winchester, .308 Winchester, and .358 Winchester. These are all high-velocity, flat-shooting cartridges suitable for long-range shooting.
However, if you want the lowest recoil, your best choice is the 22-250 caliber Browning BLR Lever Action Rifle. You will also benefit from the rifle’s recoil pad, which minimizes the kickback felt during shooting.
Tikka T3x Lite
The Tikka T3x Lite is a lightweight, bolt-action rifle. Like the other high-performance rifles that made our list, this rifle is low recoil. You can also load it with low recoil ammo, such as .204 Ruger, .223 Remington, .243 Winchester, and .308 Winchester. However, you will get the lightest recoil with .204 Ruger ammo. You also get a recoil pad that reduces the recoil impact on shooters.
Low Recoil Shotguns
When most people think of shotguns, they automatically anticipate a recoil hard enough to blow out your shoulder. Videos of shotguns flying out of the hands of shooters and smacking them in the face haven’t helped either. Fortunately, various shotgun types are available, and not all have painful recoil.
What shotgun has the least recoil? Below are our favorite low-recoil shotguns.
Remington Versa Max
The Remington Versa Max shotgun looks and feels tactical. The modern shotgun has a unique gas system that improves reliability and minimizes recoil. Instead of all the gases released from ignited propellant blasting out of the muzzle, some gas diverts into gas ports in the barrel. The gases then go into the gas system to drive the piston. The piston moves the action.
Diverting some propellant gases into the gas system minimizes how much propellant gas blasts out of the muzzle, leading to a lighter recoil. The Versa Max shotgun also has a cushiony recoil pad that softens the impact of felt recoil in your shoulder.
You can get a 12 gauge, 20 gauge, 28 gauge, or .410 bore version of the shotgun. However, if you want the lowest recoil, choose the 28 gauge or .410 bore Remington Versa Max shotgun.
The Browning Gold 10
Browning made the Gold 10 for hunters. The shotgun features a camo design that helps hunters blend into the terrain and weighs nine ounces for easy carrying. Like the Versa Max, the Browning Gold 10 has an effective gas-operated system that helps minimize felt recoil.
The weight of the firearm and the recoil pad on the butt also absorb a significant amount of recoil to protect shooters. On the downside, you can only get the Browning Gold 10 in 10 gauge, meaning you can’t choose lighter recoil ammo like 28 gauge.
Fabarm XLR5
The Fabarm XLR5 is a handsome shotgun with a classic wood stock and forestock. Aesthetics aren’t the only thing to love about this shotgun. Its TriBore barrel profile helps increase bullet velocity, providing more stopping power for taking down assailants and large prey. Even though the shotgun boosts bullet velocity, its recoil is still softer than many other shotguns.
The XLR5’s soft recoil is partially thanks to its effective gas system. You can also get the 12-gauge shotgun with a recoil reducer/balancer that further reduces recoil. Lastly, the XLR5’s barrel comes threaded for attaching a suppressor to help lower recoil even more.
Managing Recoil with a Suppressor
Regardless of the answer you get to what gun has the least recoil, you can drop that gun’s recoil even lower by screwing on a suppressor. A suppressor or silencer is an attachment that goes on the muzzle of a firearm to slow the explosive release of propellant gases that cause recoil. Besides reducing recoil, a suppressor can muffle gunfire noise to protect your ears.
Don't Give In to Kick Back... Start Shooting Suppressed Today!
Now that you’ve seen the answer to what gun has the least recoil, which gun will you buy? Regardless of which gun you choose, lower its recoil some more by attaching a suppressor. At Silencer Central, we offer suppressors for pistols, rifles, and shotguns of various calibers. The variety we offer simplifies finding the perfect suppressor for lowering your specific firearm’s recoil.
Browse our available suppressors or contact us today to speak with an expert who will guide you toward your perfect suppressor.
