Muzzle Flip vs Bullet Weight

[garyb]

[QUOTE=dkmatthews;257911] I avoid any bullets weighing less than 180 grains, even in commercial ammo, because the loads generally create a very fast round and a very fast slide cycle.

QUOTE]

I agree and this is the reason I am going toward the 180gr for IDPA. I have learned that this bullet provides an optimal slide action and low recoil.

[garyb]

Bongo Boy once explained the issue to me. To produce the same power factor, a lighter bullet must be pushed faster and with a higher muzzle energy. Muzzle energy contributes to recoil. The objective is to reduce recoil / muzzle flip so that you can stay on target for the next shot in competition. If going for a lower recoil for competition, push a heavier bullet as slow as possible....but only as slow as it can cycle and still hit the target fast enough to be able to push to the next target. In other words, if the slow bullet does not have the energy to cycle....no good. If the slow bullet is too slow for a highly competitive shooter who shoots very fast....no good. It becomes a balance. The powder puff charge must cycle and the bullet must hit fast enough to allow the shooter to be fast enough to move on to the next target. Obviously there are technical details involved to prove this point, but this is the basic concept. dkmatthews, you are right on target too. When you start to get into this for competition, it is very interesting stuff. Some guys reduce their recoil spring so they can shoot even puffier loads. I am not interested in heading in that direction, but I understand what they are doing and why.