Yes, such a formula could be made...but it would be complicated.

It would need to account for the amount of powder in the cartridge, the weight of the bullet, the length of the barrel, the weight of the gun, and the geometry of the gun.

The geometry of the firearm would be the hardest part to account for. Felt recoil involves not only the backward push of the burning propellant, it also involves the upward flip of the gun. The gun's center of gravity, it's moment of inertia, and height of the barrel above the center of gravity, and where your hand makes contact with the firearm would need to be known.

Since everyone's hands are a little different, the formula would not be one size fits all.

I've never seen an attempt at such a formula.

 

You ca Google it, but why? The recoil impulse itself is not very relevant, but FELT recoil is.
1. You may want to know how the particular handgun stacks up to its rivals.
2. The weight of the gun, the shape of the backstrap and of the grip, the weight of the shooter and the precise way he is holding it make a difference.

 

You can calculate the recoil energy using the same equation used for long guns.

Er = KEb + KEp / Wg,
KEb = Kinetic Energy of bullet = Bullet wt x Muzzel Vel2 / 7000 g/Lb / 64.4
KEp = Kinetic Energy of powder = Power weight x Gas Exit Velocity2 / 7000 / 64.4

Bullet and powder weights are measured in grains
Wg = Weight of gun (Lbm).
The gas exit velocity for centerfire rifle cartridges was measured using high speed cameras, and is typically around 4000 f/s.
Since handguns operate at much lower pressures, I expect the gas exit velocity of handguns to be much lower.

 

You need to start with my S& W 329PD and shoot some Buffalo Bore 255 grain hard cast rounds. After you remove your elbow from your back pocket, you will know why I rate recoil in curse words and not numbers.

 

That’s a sweet looking revolver.

I’ve never experienced one of the light weight short barrel 357’s but I bought a NAA pocket 380 once. I had to get rid of it because I couldn’t take the recoil. After a half box of ammo your trigger finger would be bruised from hitting the trigger guard so many times.

Prior to that experience I thought all guns were fun to shoot.
now I try to shoot the weapon before I decide to buy.
But sometimes it can be hard sometimes to do that.

 

Sloth,
That is a 44 Mag. Much more fun recoil

 

Harrington 10 gauge flare over the years I have often wondered what it would be like to shoot an actual shotgun round through it. But since I am still here and have my hand it has just been a passing thought.

The recoil would be impressive I bet.

 

predicting 'perceived' recoil might make for an interesting applied mathematics and applied physics problem but I question how successful such an effort would be

 

It would be nice if it was this easy.

Area of grip + force of cartridge combustion + barrel length + weight of firearm = precived recoil measurement

 

shoot a box or two of .454 casull and you will not be bothered by recoil from any other gun or smaller caliber