Been puzzling over this for a while. For me, short barreled magnum level handguns seem to recoil less than their longer barreled counter parts. Specifically, S&W M69 (5 shot L Frame) 2.75” .44 mag and a 2 ½” Ruger Alaskan in .480. Also noticed it, but to a lesser extent with a Freedom Arms M97 3 ½” .45 Colt shooting 300+ gr bullets and H110.

My theory is lower velocity and less gun momentum (longer barrel, heavier gun generates more momentum). Don’t really have a clue, just thinking? out loud.

Was reminded of this when I got a new S&W M69 2.75” .44 mag a couple of days ago. I have been amazed and pleasantly surprised at how easy shooting (from a recoil perspective) this little revolver is with Magnum level ammo. I’ve since shot a 133 rnds thru the gun over the last three days (Mostly magnum level ammo).

Some excerpts from my original posts on other sites regarding the new 2.75” M69:

Fit and function looked fine.

Cylinder throats approx .4295. Measured with pin/plug gauges (minus verity) -- .429 go, .430 no go in all five throats. Couldn’t find my feeler gages, so didn’t’ measure bbl/cyl gap. Weighs 35 oz unloaded and 39.6 oz loaded w/260gr WFNGCs – both with Hogue 500 X Frame grisp.

Took it to the range for limited workout (time constrained).

Ended up putting the X Frame 500 Hogues on the gun. After that all was good. Holsters for my 396 fit the M69 2.75" perfectly.

All groups shot at 25 yds rested. The lead loads were just some ammo I had around for testing other guns -- I'm sure that a load could be (will be) developed for this particular gun.

The .44 special equivalent loads were easy shooting. The .44 mag equivalent (H110) loads were not at all unpleasant (in fact quite comfortable) with the Hogue 500s.

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Misc lead loads:
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Mag loads w/H110 - I'm very happy with the two groups with H110 considering old eyes, iron sights and short sight radius.

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Here are some chronograph results:

Chronoed these from the 2.75” M69. Three rounds at 5 Long paces from muzzle and 68 deg F. Larger sample could change the results a bit. Largest ES was 42 fps.

260 WFNGC w/23.0gr H110 avg 1,125 fps
240 Zero JSP with 23.5gr H110 avg 1,126 fps
240gr Fed Factory avg 1,125 fps
265gr CSWCGC (Lyman Thompson) with 17.5gr A2400 (Deep Seat) 1,119 fps avg
325gr WLNGC (BTB) with 22.0gr H110 avg 1,104 fps

For comparison purposes these were shot a while back from a 4 ¼” M69: Same temp, distance from the muzzle.

260 WFNGC w/23.0gr H110 avg 1,224 fps
240 Zero JSP with 23.5gr H110 avg 1,230 fps
240gr Fed Factory avg 1,220 fps
265gr CSWCGC (Lyman Thompson) with 17.5gr A2400 (deep seat) 1,140 fps avg
325gr WLNGC (BTB) with 22.0gr H110 avg 1,182

The more I shoot this little gun, the more I like it.

Paul