Mike M. lives in Geauga County, Ohio.
Around 6:30 one evening, Mike was shooting a 9mm pistol at a local shooting range.
Surveillance video showed that there weren’t any other shooters close by.
While he was shooting, the 9mm pistol recoiled back and a spent shell casing flew through the air and went down the back of Mike’s shirt.
Because of the recoil, and the burn and distraction from the hot shell casing, Mike flailed around.
Sadly, the firearm discharged as Mike muzzle-flashed his own face.
Video surveillance caught the entire incident, including when he accidentally shot himself in the face.
The bullet went through Mike’s cheek and out the other side.
According to the Geauga County Sheriff, “The man is very lucky he was not seriously injured and did not hurt anyone else.”
The shooting was ruled an accident and police said that Mike wouldn’t face any charges.
The truth is that recoil can be challenging for shooters regardless of their skill level.
Managing recoil requires some strength, so if you lack the right grip or muscle control it can make shooting, and every follow-up shot, difficult.
For some shooters, the shock of the gun recoil can be intimidating.
It can cause them to flinch or anticipate the recoil, which makes their accuracy worse.
Plus, shooting a gun with heavy recoil can be tiring.
So, if you struggle with managing recoil, it’s worth considering low-recoil ammunition.
What is low-recoil ammo?:
Low-recoil ammunition is specifically manufactured to create less recoil when fired.
It usually contains less gunpowder, which translates to less recoil.
Some brands of low recoil ammo are made with specialized powder that produces a controlled burn which limits the force of the expanding gases.
In addition, the low-recoil ammo uses lighter projectiles, which helps reduce weight and blunt recoil.
Benefits of low-recoil ammo:
One of the benefits of low-recoil ammo is better control of the firearm.
It can make it much simpler to stay on target for follow-up shots.
Plus, shooting the ammo will be less tiring over time.
So, if you plan to spend the day at the shooting range, low-recoil ammo could help to make it more enjoyable.
Low-recoil ammunition is ideal for target practice, especially for new shooters
Since new shooters can be sensitive to recoil, the ammo can help introduce the new shooter to the feel of the gun.
It will help them get accustomed to shooting and perfect their fundamentals without being overwhelmed by the force of the gun.
Drawback to low-recoil ammunition:
The major trade-off when using low-recoil ammo is that it means less energy and stopping power.
Lighter bullets don’t have the same velocity or ballistic effectiveness as standard ammo.
Because of this, low-recoil rounds won’t penetrate as deeply, nor will they have the same effective range.
Lastly, anytime you purchase specialized ammunition (such as low-recoil ammo) you will likely pay more, and they will be harder to find than standard ammo.
The truth is that low-recoil ammunition can be good for training or introducing new shooters to firearms.
But it wouldn’t be my first choice for self-defense situations.
If you want to try low-recoil ammo, consider Hornady Custom Lite ammunition, which has about 25% less recoil than similar rounds.
Another brand I suggest is Federal Fusion Lit, which can reduce recoil by up to 50%.
Whatever ammo you choose, it’s vital that you perfect your shooting fundamentals and practice them regularly to stay sharp.
