What is the speed of the bullet? The speed of the bullet

Bullets are different. Their type depends on the weapon for which they are made. There are shells for smooth-bore weapons, rifled, pneumatic. Accordingly, they look different. The size will be determined by the type and size of the weapon.

There are large live ammunition, large bullets or very small for pistols and revolvers.

However, the speed of the bullet will be determined not only by its size. It is influenced by many other factors.

Factors affecting the speed of the bullet

A number of reasons can slow down the initial speed of the projectile when a weapon is fired. Consider the main ones.

1. Ambient temperature. The lower the air temperature, the more energy is spent on heating up the powder and the projectile departure, that is, the initial departure speed is reduced.
2. Moisture of gunpowder. The more dry the gunpowder, the higher will be the value of the initial speed, as the pressure in the barrel of the weapon will increase.
3. The shape and size of gunpowder grains. The smaller the dispersed particles of the powder charge, the faster they will burn. Consequently, the initial shot speed of the bullet will increase.
4. Powder charge density. In order to maximize the correct and safe charging of the product, special precision engineering calculations are necessary. Without them, an overdose of gunpowder is possible, which will lead to an internal detonation of the weapon. Or, conversely, undercharging, which will lead to overheating of the gun barrel. It is forbidden to independently recharge the powder component in weapons!
5. Length of the barrel of the weapon. The shorter the barrel, the shorter the time the powder gases operate, which reduces the speed of the bullet.
6. Product weight. The easier the bullet in weight, the higher its initial speed.

Each of these factors may vary slightly depending on the type of weapon. However, on the whole, it is these conditions that affect the initial and overall velocity of the bullet during the shot.

What is a chronograph?

Chronograph - a special device that allows you to track some indicators of the internal and external device of the projectile and on the basis of the obtained data to conclude about its possible speed.

The device is designed in such a way that it can easily verify the declared technical characteristics of the weapon in the store. In addition, it determines the initial and overall speed of the bullet.

Using the chronograph, you can see and evaluate the following weapons:

• Cylindrical pressure (its level);
• Spring fatigue or core trimming;
• The device will show the mass of the cartridge;
• Will assess the quality;
• Will show the worn out cuff of the piston;
• Temperature.

The electronic device by calculation and generalization will give a real result for all indicators. However, it also has its drawbacks.

Disadvantages of the chronograph

The device has a certain weight and size, which makes it not always convenient to use under certain conditions (for example, field). Also to the lack of this device can be attributed measurement error (electronic). It does not happen too much, but it still has a place to be.

The counter of the device works and stops depending on the illumination of the terrain (room), because of which a certain error in the indications is also formed.

The exact real trajectory of the bullet movement will not be reliably shown by this device, for this, another method of measurement should be used.

Span of different distances

This is a more accurate and real way with which you can determine the speed of the bullet. This will require not only mindfulness, but also a computer with an installed ballistic calculator, which will give full information and the most accurate calculations.

The work proceeds according to the following scheme:

• Load the necessary data into the ballistic calculator, which we take from the weapon manufacturer and from our own received indicators (we shoot weapons at 100 m to zero);
• We enter the mass of the cartridge, the distance of the adjustment;
• We measure and load the height of the sight over the barrel of the weapon;
• From the manufacturer we take data on the vertical and horizontal click in the optics;
• We introduce the temperature and air pressure at the time of the study (the more accurate, the more real and qualitative the result will be);
• Altitude indicator;
• Bullet speed from the manufacturer.

In the calculator there will be graphs of distance shooting. There we specify 200, 300, 500 and 700 meters. Longer distances are not recommended immediately. In the columns where 1MEA is requested, we write the following values according to the order of distances: 5.8; 8.7; 14.5; 20.3 centimeters.

The rest of the work consists only in clicking the mouse on the calculator. Follow the navigator on the ballistic device and, as a result, get an accurate and real indication of what the bullet's speed is.

Some values of the speed of a cartridge of different calibers for an automaton

As mentioned above, it is difficult to give an accurate estimate of such an indicator as speed. In many respects it is determined by surrounding circumstances. However, approximate values for different caliber guns can be given.

Studies and calculations have shown that the value of the flight speed of a cartridge from an automaton will depend on its model and caliber, so variations in the data given are possible. But these errors are small, and anyone can correct them for his own weapon.

The automatic machine AK-74 of caliber 5.45Х39

If the shooting is done by a normal (regular) cartridge, then the average data on the speed of the bullet will show the result of about 870 m / s. If the distance is about 500 meters, the speed will drop to 428 m / s.

This type of weapon has an elongated barrel, and therefore the speed of the bullet is quite high.

AKS-74U caliber 5.45X39 and AK-101

If we talk about the speed of the bullet from the AKS-74U with a caliber of 5.45X39, it will be about 740 m / s. Less than the previous, because the trunk is shorter.

AK-101 caliber 5.56H45, on the contrary, will show a very good result in this indicator. Approximately 930 m / s, thanks to the long-barreled structure of the weapon. The American analogue of this weapon has an even longer barrel length, for both types of submachine guns the same cartridges with the same initial shot speed are suitable.

AK-47 automatic vehicle

Shells of this weapon have a greater mass than all the followers of the AK, so they have a powerful punching power. However, they are inferior in speed to their colleagues, because it is only 740 m / s. Nevertheless, this is quite enough for this machine to be considered a formidable and serious military weapon.

Muzzle energy bullets

In addition to speed, a very important characteristic is also the energy of the bullet. To calculate the muzzle energy it is worth remembering the usual school course of physics. The simplest formula will look like: (mass x speed) ^2/2 , (mass in kilograms, speed in meters per second).

Why is the importance of cartridge energy important? Because energy is the bullet's power, its main combat characteristic. The greater the mass and the higher the speed, the higher the energy, respectively. So, the weapon itself is more powerful and long-range.

In other words, this is the usual formula for calculating the kinetic energy of the body. The maximum muzzle energy is possessed by bullets of rifles. They balance the mass and initial velocity of the bullet in such a way that the work turns out to be powerful and effective.

For example, at a distance of about 100 meters, the depth of the rifle bullet penetration into sufficiently thick materials ranges from 0.6 to 350 cm. These are materials such as steel plate, wood, iron plate, soft clay layer, gravel or rubble, masonry, earth or Tamped snow. These data are presented on the basis of a study of the muzzle energy of the lungs by the mass of the bullets.

It is obvious that the value of speed and muzzle energy of any projectile is very large and determines the power and range of weapons.

Airguns

Not so long ago, a survey was conducted among the owners of pneumatics on the topic: "What is the speed of the bullet in your air gun?" Interestingly, the percentage spread in velocities is very variable.

So, for example, most of those who took part in the survey (20%) named the figure at 220-305 m / s. Since this, in principle, is a normal average for pneumatics, the figure does not cause mistrust.

However, almost 9% of respondents insist that their weapons have a bullet speed from 380 m / s and more. This figure makes us doubt our reliability. Some sort of too powerful weapons are obtained. This value of the bullet speed for pneumatics is rare, not every model can boast of such.

By 19% of participants admitted that their guns are beating at a bullet speed of 100-130 m / s and 130-180 m / s. At 11% this indicator tends to 350 m / s, which is quite serious. And, finally, 6% of the participants estimate the speed of the bullet in its pneumatics at 75-100 m / s.

Most often and easier to measure the rate of speed on pneumatic weapons using chronometers. Most of these devices are designed just for pneumatics. Although the error in the measurements will not go anywhere, but the result will still remain fairly reliable.

Whichever way you measure the speed of bullet out of your weapon, the error still will not go anywhere, because the external environment will always be different in its indicators.