Blowback vs. recoil operatd .380's

[Mk42gunner]

Just wondering what your thoughts are on this subject.

A bit of background, I shot a Walther PPKs fairly extensively back in the early nineties and wasn't very favorably impressed. It shot okay, but seemed heavier than needed, plus I got slide tracks on the web of my hand. I pretty much ignored the .380 for a few decades.

Fast forward to a few years ago when we got constitutional carry here in MO. I tried a J Frame, also a bit heavy, couldn't find an affordable airweight, so I went looking for a .380. Tried a Remington Model 51, it pointed obnoxiously high in my hands and I didn't want to spend the going rate for a Colt Pocket Hammerless.

I ended up with a Sig P290RS with nitesites in .380. Should have got it in 9mm since it is so big, very similar to carrying a J Frame.

A year or so ago I found a Ruger LCPII, very comfortable to carry and to shoot. I would like nitesite, but it works.

Last month I found one of the aforementioned Colt's in .380, no finish and in pretty rough shape, but it does work acceptably.

I was surprised and how much more felt recoil the blowback Colt has over either of the recoil operated pistols.

Reading Outpost75's pocket pistol posts have gotten me curious.

Thanks

Robert

[35remington]

Excepting guns with noticeable differences in weight, a locked breech design spreads the recoil over a longer time period as opposed to a blowback gun.

I never found an old school Colt to kick that much. My locked breech LCPs are much snappier, but then they weigh less than half as much.

[gnostic]

I'm a fan of the PPK, It has a great trigger in both single and double action. I'm always surprised at how well I shoot this pistol. Also, it shoots where I'm looking and for me that's a huge plus....

[Outpost75]

On reactive steel targets the Remington .308" diameter, 93-grain .30 Luger FMJ bullet with 3 grains of AutoComp in the .32 ACP Beretta 81 gives 950 fps and whacks the plates down like a .380 ACP, but has 12+1 capacity. The 90-grain Hornady XTP. .309" diameter expands to .50 cal. in water jugs, blows the first jug apart, splits the second gallon, perforates the third and dents the 4th.

[LUBEDUDE]

Not only do I find that blowbacks recoil more, they are louder as well.