.380 can have more felt recoil than 9mm depending on the firearm. For instance .380 out of a PPK vs. 9mm out of a 1911 or Ruger P95.
I started with a flintlock used by Uncle David at the Alamo.
All kidding aside, I believe in starting non shooters with a .22. I too have seen recoil scare people away from guns.
If a long time hunter or military vet wanted to learn pistol shooting, I would start them off with a Glock 17 or 19 depending on their hand size.
This gun almost scared me off after 20 years of shooting!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfonwb-ZlIo
An fellow club member bought one and then let everyone at the range that day shoot it if they wanted to. The smart ones said no, and I never claimed to be smart so I shot 2 rounds out of it. That was it for me.
.380 usually has more recoil because the guns are straight blow back with very few exceptions. Blow back guns with barrels longer than 2" are often brutal.
I started with a flintlock used by Uncle David at the Alamo.
All kidding aside, I believe in starting non shooters with a .22. I too have seen recoil scare people away from guns.
If a long time hunter or military vet wanted to learn pistol shooting, I would start them off with a Glock 17 or 19 depending on their hand size.
Agreed(big surprise eh?).I thought you started out with a slingshot? Just after you discovered fire and the wheel?
The problem is, the .22 has no recoil, and then they still need to tackle recoil.
Get them over the recoil right from the very beginning. A .22 is not going to do that.
What's intimidating is everyone trying to tell them a ZILLION things to do all the while worrying about the recoil.
Shooting, learning about recoil, without worrying about aiming is the key.