Low-Recoil Ruger Handguns

These Ruger Handguns Are Ideal For Recoil-Sensitive Shooters

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Handgun shooting can be recreational or it can be quite serious, depending on the situation. In either case, however, recoil is one of the main factors why some shooters never reach their accuracy potential. The jump of the gun in their hand, when it is fired, causes them to flinch, pulling shots off target. 

Fortunately for the recoil sensitive, many companies make models designed to have less recoil and muzzle flip, increasing both accuracy and the fun factor of shooting, along with the ease of use in self-defense situations. Sturm, Ruger and Co. is one such manufacturer that offers a number of top-quality, low-recoil self-defense handguns to its customers. Let’s take a look at a handful of the most popular. 

Ruger-5.7

The 5.7x28mm chambering is becoming increasingly popular, and the Ruger-5.7 gives shooters a gun that packs a punch with greatly reduced felt recoil compared to many self-defense handguns. That’s mostly thanks to the small projectiles (23 to 45 grains) used in the 5.7x28mm. The Ruger 5.7 is a full-size pistol with an amazing 20+1 ammunition capacity. It comes straight from the factory with fiber-optic sights, an integral accessory rail, and the slide is cut for a red-dot optic. And thanks to more ammo companies adding the 5.7×28 to their lineup, you can shoot it without breaking the bank. 

Ruger Security-380 

Small .380 ACP handguns are notoriously hard to shoot accurately because of the recoil in a lightweight gun. Ruger’s Security-380 is a compact handgun that is a bit beefier than many small pistols in that chambering, alleviating much of the snap and making for a more solid purchase on the textured grip. The gun has a bright fiber-optic sight system and weight-reduced slide outfitted with the Ruger Lite Rack system to make it very easy to manipulate for shooters with less hand strength. And no worries about capacity: The Security-380 will accept a 10-round mag or extended 15-rounder. 

Ruger LC380 

Another .380 ACP option is Ruger’s LC380. In designing this gun, Ruger basically took its popular LC9 pistol and chambered it in .380. By combining the heavier slide and larger grip of the LC9 pistol with the reduced cartridge pressures of .380 ACP ammunition, the result is a slightly larger .380 carry gun with a moderate level of recoil and an easy-to-rack slide. This is a hammer-fired gun with a polymer frame and double-action-only trigger. The pistol’s checkered grip frame provides a secure, comfortable grip, and it has a high-visibility three-dot sight system. Mag capacity is seven rounds. 

While rimfire calibers aren’t widely accepted as personal defense firearms, they are certainly better than having no firearm at all if the need arises. Rimfire handguns are known for their light recoil, and the Ruger Mark IV 22/45 is made to eliminate any recoil the .22 LR cartridge might produce. 

Ruger Lite Rack LCP II  

The Lite Rack LCP II is a low-recoil pistol with an easy-to-manipulate slide that shoots comfortably regardless of the shooter’s hand size or strength. Chambered in .22 LR, the gun’s patent-pending floor plate assembly maximizes capacity at 10+1 and extends the grip for improved control. The Lite Rack system includes refined slide serrations, pronounced cocking ears and a lighter recoil spring allowing for easy slide manipulation. The gun also has a manual thumb safety located on the left side of the frame at the rear. At only 5.2 inches in length and weighing only 11.2 ounces, this is a nice little rimfire. 

Ruger SR22 

An external hammer rimfire, the SR22 has a light double-action and crisp single-action trigger pull.  The dovetailed, high-visibility, three-dot sight system has a fixed front sight and a rear sight that is both windage- and elevation-adjustable. A polymer frame with two interchangeable rubberized grips with angled serrations allows shooters to select either a slim or wider palm swell option. The easy-to-use underside Picatinny rail features multiple cross slots for variable mounting of most popular accessories, and the SR22 comes with two 10-round magazines and two finger grip extension floorplates. 

Explore all of Ruger’s fine handguns and rifles at ruger.com.