I am looking to buy a new semi-automatic pistol, caliber suggestions?

.357 would be dab-smack in between a.40 & .45 as far as "kick" goes. It all depends on what is good for you.

I personally carry a M&P40... and sometimes my 9mm P89.

So again, depends on your "flavor"

Noise wise... well obviously the higher the charge the louder it will be. You should check out a 9mm and see if you like it. It truly is the all purpose round.

- Good Luck!

You are a novice so maybe noone has told you this yet but...

You can shoot 38 specials through your 357 magnum revolver. This will save you cash and will give you MUCH less recoil. A 38 will recoil less than a 9mm

Beyond that the 9mm parabellum will recoil significantly less, 40 SW will recoil a little less, 45acp will recoil about the same but it feels different. Also, remember that there are two factors that effect recoil, power of cartridge and weight of gun. A lightweight 45 will kick more than a stout steel specimin. In the same token, a 6" barrel with a full underlug 357 revolver has less kick than a 4"er

So, agian, I stress the 38 special used in your 357 magnum. Get some regular target loads and give it a try. The great part is a 357 can be like a pussycat, tamer than even a 9mm if using 38 specials, then you can step it up a little with 38 special +P, all the while recoiling lightly. When you have mastered that, you can select "medium velocity" or "low recoil" rounds specially designed to be light kickers for 357 magnum. Remington used to list a 'medium velocity' 125 grain load, but I don't see it now. Remington Gold Saber is fairly mild, as is remington and winchester's 110 grain loads. And then finally you can step up to full power 357 magnums

I find that the full-size 1911 .45 ACP as manageable as 4" GP 100 in .357. And my sub-compact Glock 27 (.40 SW) is easier to shoot than both 357 and 45. The .357 seem to bark louder with a snap, the .45ACP more of a push. My all time favorite is full-size 1911 in .38 Super. It's like a pistol .357 mag that is easier to shoot accurately and faster to reload. The downside is that ammo is not as easily available as the others.

Looks like the guys below have it pretty well nailed...

45. ACP (Colt Mark IV - 7 rounds or Glock w/13 rounds)

As for 9mm i'm not sure you can beat a SigSauer P226 out of the box. Shoots like a laser w/ almost no kick back.. very accurate gun.

Both these guns will have less kick and report than a .357, the .45 more so.

Try renting a few guns at the local range and putting a couple rounds through them. I wish they had that option 20 years ago, it can realy save you from getting a gun you'll end up not liking.

Good Luck -

P.S. don't drink & shoot, unless you're Dick Cheney.

The 45 kicks less than the .40 by far.The 357 kicks like a mule.So if you like the performance of the 357 but you want an auto round then go with the 357 sig.Both the 357 and 357 sig are very loud rounds and they have huge muzzle flash.The .40 and 45 have less muzzle flash and make alot less noise.I hope i was helpfull.

I had a revolver chambered for .357 Magnum. I traded it in for something else that was more pleasant to shoot. (The .357 won't be any good in an emergency if a person has already broken their wrist while practicing with it.)

Semi-automatic pistols help dampen perceived recoil, so the shooter can select effective cartridges without punishing their body.

The 9x19mm Parabellum is a good cartridge. Low cost, pleasant recoil, reasonable effectiveness and widespread availability make it attractive. Pistols chambering it often can hold 10 or more cartridges in their magazines.

I like my H&K USP chambered for .45 ACP.

I reccomend a person consider H&K USP or USP compact pistols chambered in their choice of 9mm, .40S&W or .45ACP.

I also encourage people to consider Sprinfield Armory's XD pistols chambered for 9mm, .40S&W or .45ACP.

Other pistol manufacturers worth mentioning are...

Sig,

Kahr Arms,

Kimber,

Ruger,

Colt,

CZ,

Rent or borrow a couple of guns in .40 and .45 so you can get a feel for them. Try before you buy! Also, keep in mind that you can shoot .38 Special ammo in your .357. Also, the .38 ammo costs about 1/2 as much as .40 or .45 ammo.

Felt recoil is subjective - what I think kicks hard may not bother you. Actual recoil is determined by a number of things, including cartridge size (powder capacity), weight of the firearm, and design of the firearm. You really ought to fire a few different types of handguns in different calibers to get a feel for the way they recoil. A well-designed .45 is very managable (I shoot a Kimber). I have owned revolvers by Taurus, Smith and Wesson, Ruger, and Colt, and semi-autos by Kimber and Browning. Even in the same caliber I experienced different recoil, depending on the design of the grip. A good set of Pachmayer grips can do a lot to dampen a knucklebuster.

In spite of the fact that they keep trying to reinvent the wheel there is one that fits the bill and will be a keeper; a 45 auto. Quite a few clones on the market but a colt will last forever; no kick, sweet to shoot, and historically proven to get the job done.

Try a Glock Model 30, .45. It's concealable and because of the polymer frame there is less felt recoil. Glocks are quality weapons and usually less expensive than others. My 13 yr old daughter can shoot it well!