I didn't read all of every post, but a lower power load with a heavy bullet may have the same energy or momentum (they're different measurements, and just because two loads may have the same energy does not mean they will have the same momentum) as the lighter bullet, but since the velocity is slower it will be transferred to your hand slower also. This is what people are talking about when they say the high velocity light bullets have more "snap" than slower heavier bullets. Now obviously an extremely hot loaded heavy bullet may still have more felt recoil than a light target loaded light bullet, but that's different.
But, if you're looking for the lightest recoil possible for a semi auto pistol, say a 45, then using the 230grn bullet at the minimum (safe) power to still cycle the gun would theoretically have less felt recoil than the minimum (safe) power required for the 155grn or 185grn bullets.
I say safe, because some powders are prone to detonating (blowing up) when extremely small loads are used compared to the case capacity.
If you are talking about a revolver or other manually operated action (bolt, pump, etc), then you are limited only by the bullet design, and safe powder capacity. The round does not have to cycle the action. Many bullets won't stabilize if velocity gets too low, so using a light practice round no longer makes sense past that point. However, you can now use a light bullet with similar velocity as a heavier bullet which will give significantly lower energy/momentum than the heavier bullet: less recoil.
In the end, like so many other gun questions, it depends what you want. Do you want lower felt recoil for self defense/ hunting, or just a pleasant plinking round?
But, if you're looking for the lightest recoil possible for a semi auto pistol, say a 45, then using the 230grn bullet at the minimum (safe) power to still cycle the gun would theoretically have less felt recoil than the minimum (safe) power required for the 155grn or 185grn bullets.
I say safe, because some powders are prone to detonating (blowing up) when extremely small loads are used compared to the case capacity.
If you are talking about a revolver or other manually operated action (bolt, pump, etc), then you are limited only by the bullet design, and safe powder capacity. The round does not have to cycle the action. Many bullets won't stabilize if velocity gets too low, so using a light practice round no longer makes sense past that point. However, you can now use a light bullet with similar velocity as a heavier bullet which will give significantly lower energy/momentum than the heavier bullet: less recoil.
In the end, like so many other gun questions, it depends what you want. Do you want lower felt recoil for self defense/ hunting, or just a pleasant plinking round?
