How to Reduce Recoil on a Handgun – Easy Method Explained in 2023

For every shooter especially for the beginner, it is a challenge to manage the recoil on a handgun. The shooter faces a lot of challenges to control it and this puts a huge impact on the performance. As a good shooter, targeting accurately is not the only thing that needs to be learned. You have to know all the basic steps and techniques to have a better performance. And reducing recoil is one of the most important processes among them.

We will get to how to rescue recoil on a handgun but before that let’s get some knowledge on what exactly the recoil is and the importance of it.

What is Recoil?

Recoil, also known as a kickback, is the backward movement felt by a shooter after the bullet is discharged. When a gun exerts a force on a bullet as it propels it ahead, the bullet will exert an equivalent force in the opposite direction of the gun, according to physics.

Many individuals believe that one of the most terrifying components of shooting a gun for the first time is recoil. It’s a sensation you can’t completely prepare for, and there’s a widespread fear that it may lead the bullet to miss the target or cause the shooter to drop the pistol.

While these worries are normal for a first-time shooter, it is simple to overcome them and gain confidence in handling a pistol with basic gun safety. You may also like some of the Gun Belt for CCW from our list, so take a moment to check them out.

Importance of Having Recoil to Improve the Skill

When you pull the trigger on the gun, the bullet goes where you pointed it. The recoil is something that you feel after the bullet has been fired. The jump that you experience from the recoil has no effect on where the bullet lands. True precision always before the shot.

However, if you want to increase your comfort with recoil, have a true-to-life shooting experience. For more amazing products like this, check out our guide to the Concealed Carry Holster for Glock 26.

Why Recoil is a Problem

When a pistol’s trigger is pulled, the weapon enters and exits its recoil cycle. If a shooter does not know how to, or is not accustomed to, reacting effectively to the consistently disruptive force of recoil and the required redirection of that recoil, his aim will be thrown off, and fast accurate follow-up shots will be much more difficult to achieve.

Dry Fire

To improve your marksmanship, you don’t have to fire your rifle. Dry-fire refers to “shooting” without the use of live ammunition. Check the instructions to see if an empty chamber is sufficient or if a fake round is required. Shooters may flinch as they anticipate recoil.

Dry-fire can help you expect trigger-pull rather than recoil and eliminate or prevent developing a flinch.

Reset Sight

When firing swiftly, don’t pull the trigger too quickly solely for the sake of pulling the trigger too quickly. Incorrect shots are a waste of time. In many cases, you are held responsible for every round fired, including missed shots. When shooting quickly, maintain a regular rhythm in terms of how quickly you can see your sights again. Wait for the sights to reset, then re-acquire your sights before pulling the trigger. Proper recoil control necessitates shooting at the appropriate cadence for the target’s distance and size.

​​Pressure on the Thumb

A right-handed shooter’s left thumb should be in touch with the frame of the handgun and actually apply slight inward pressure to resist the natural propensity (for a righty) to push the gun left when shooting rounds in quick succession, according to Proctor.

In addition, rather than just resting the dominant-hand thumb on the other thumb, it exerts downward pressure to minimize muzzle flip during recoil.

Consistency with the Natural Goal

Establishing practice by having a steady sight reset all the way through recoil. The greatest technique to establish a good natural point of aim is by live fire; nevertheless, dry shooting can help strengthen a consistent natural point of aim.

Aim at the center of a target with a holstered handgun, then draw from the holster. Repeat this process until you can close your eyes and draw from the holster, and when you open your eyes, your sights will be lined up on target due to muscle memory.

A solid, constant natural point of aim will aid in building a quick and natural sight reset, which will aid in fast follow-up shots. With enough practice, instincts will help you control the handgun recoil and time shots. You may also be interested in some of the Rifle Sling for Backpack Hunting from our list.

Recoil Management

The first step is to improve the grip. This can be difficult for semi-autos. Grip panels on the sides of some semi-automatics. Though some pistols can have a fuller wrap with new grip panels that incorporate the backstrap, you can switch both sides for improved grips. Other pistols, such as 1911 platform pistols, are unable to achieve this due to grip safety.

Other semi-automatics can have a grip sleeve that slips over the grip. These accessories, like those made by Hogue, are especially popular with subcompact striker guns, which are known for being difficult to obtain a solid grip on.

Correct Gun Grip

The first step in reducing handgun recoil is to maintain a firm grip and keep the muzzle down. Place your palm as high up as possible on the handgun and grasp it firmly, but not so tightly that the sights begin to tremble. The grip is crucial for recoil control. The shooters performance has improved, and in addition to minimizing recoil with a strong, solid grip they can quickly transition between targets.

Final Words

Having the right shot and the expected result is very critical. No device can make a shot perfect but there are a few techniques that will definitely make the performance better and help to improve. Managing the recoil is one of them. Having an adequate amount of recoil and managing it properly can change the performance drastically.