It is very difficult for me to tell if there is a difference. I think the Sellier & Bellot ammo may produce slightly more recoil and be a little "hotter" load, but I have shot both Winchester white box and Sellier & Bellot back to back during the same shooting session and I noticed very little, if any, difference in the way they feel. I can often tell if there is a difference by where the brass accumulates on the range. For example, when you had some boxes of weak Winchester rounds, your brass was accumulating only a few feet behind you. Normally, they end up about 10 to 15 feet behind you. With that said, I found the brass in the same area for both brands. However, I have had a lot of inconsistencies with the Winchester white box ammo. Crimped cases and weak rounds have been common. I even had one in which the bullet was loaded backwards. I haven't had those inconsistencies with the Sellier & Bellot.
I had an issue in which my right wrist was sore and hurting a few months back. That is when I added the Talon Grips. They did seem to add a bit of cushion and create a better experience at the range, but I think the wrist issue was actually caused by typing on the computer too much. I added a wrist pad at work and the pain went away in a couple of days and has not returned. As far as any other discomforts from shooting the .45, I haven't had any. I think that you get used to what you use. I can understand that there are situation where this would not apply, but as for my situation, I am used to shooting the .45 PX4 Storm SD and it doesn't bother my hands, fingers, wrists, or elbows.
My round count for my PX4 Storm SD reached 23,043 on Saturday (5/12/2018). When I took the slide off, I noticed something different. I have a crack in the polymer on the frame. I mentioned it to PX4 Storm Tracker and he sent a picture of his full size PX4 Storm .45 with a crack in the polymer at the same spot. His also shows a wear mark (top arrow in the picture) from the trigger.
Polymer crack in the SD
Bottom arrow shows the polymer crack in the full size PX4 Storm .45 in the same spot as is on the SD.
I'd like to know if anyone else has had this issue.
Going out sight seeing?
There is a difference that I have observed in tracking the front sight on a PX4 .45 compared to a PX4 in .40 or 9mm, a Compact or SubCompact. The difference is not just the “amount” of recoil, but the nature of it.
A description of the difference in feel IMO is a 9mm will pop up very slightly and settle back in place quickly. The .40 pops up farther and is snappier, then settles down again. The .45 will pop up a little farther yet and more solidly, while pushing everything back as well.
A noticeable difference (if not compensated for) would be that a 9 or .40 will pop up and come back down to the same spot, if your grip is consistent. A .45 will come down again, but elsewhere if your grip is not adapted to this type of recoil.
I have adapted my grip and arm positions to .45 so as to not prejudice trigger pull pressure or direction because of a different recoil. I am able to rapid fire with good accuracy and speed. I have to use a different firing technique for 9 or .40. My point being that adaptation can be trained in, but it might be discouraging to a new person used to a 9 and finding the same shooting technique does not get as good of a result.
Just sharing information, not a recommendation either way. This is not about how to grip a pistol. There are many professional instructors available to teach that. I’m just pointing out that there is a difference that requires a different approach to recoil management.
Pistol round count 38,000
Updates: Small part breakage & maintenance update
When I got home from the range today I took my slide off to do a field cleaning. As I wiped the rear left rail area of the frame I heard a small metal something hit the floor. I figured, that can’t be good. The head of the lever pin broke off.
I always keep spare parts and had 2 new ones and 2 spare o-rings. I was planning to disassemble the entire pistol @40,000 rounds, but @38,900 it was close enough. With the head of the pin missing there would be nothing to solidly keep the pin from drifting. This could cause the firing pin block plunger lever to misalign or come off. Or worse- loss of levers and slide binding. Not smart to risk. So, I disassembled the frame a little early and did the full detail cleaning and replaced the lever pin, o-ring and hammer pin.
Since the action is so well worn and polished to itself, now that it is clean and relubed inside, I have a 6 lb DA trigger pull and a 3 lb 10 oz SA.
Pistol round count 38,900
Last edited by PX4 Storm Tracker; 05-26-2018 at 08:58 PM.