Muzzle energy

[WV_Hillbilly]

Sorry, it took so long to get back, I was (still am also) recovering from a mild concussion. It's very hard to compse a lMath problems are NOT something that makes a head feel better after a hard knock... in fact, it produces a very bad headache (& very quickly!).

I use the following formula to give me a comparitive value system to assign for evaluating roundball performance. It doesn't take every possible factor into consideration--such as expansion ratios--as it's UNKNOWN whether the ball will impact bone, muscle, cartilage, or combinations of these.

Actual Ball Diameter (inches) SQUARED
Ball Weight (grains) MULTIPLIED by Velocity (fps)

Now MULTIPLY the above ANSWERS.

DIVIDE this answer by 7000 (to value to a more reasonable number for comparison purposes).

I also round the final answer off to a single decimal place to make numbers easier to use.

Here are some EXAMPLES of commonly used calibers:

.36 caliber rifle using a .350 inch diameter round ball, weighing 65gr, at muzzle velocity of 2300--produces a value of 2.8

.40 caliber rifle using a .390 inch diameter round ball, weighing 92gr, at muzzle velocity of 2050fps--produces a value of 4.3

.45 caliber rifle using a .440 inch diameter round ball, weighing 128gr, at muzzle velocity of 1900fps--produces a value of 7.0

.50 caliber rifle using a .490 inch diameter round ball weighing 175gr, at muzzle velocity of 1750fps--produces a value of 10.9

.54 caliber rifle using a .530 inch diameter round ball, weighing 224gr, at muzzle velocity of 1600fps--produces a value of 14.9

.58 caliber rifle using a .570 inch diameter round ball, weighing 278gr, at muzzle velocity of 1350 fps--produces a value of 18

.62 caliber rifle using a .610 inch diameter round ball, weighing 341gr, at muzzle velocity of 1200fps--produces a value of 19.8

All values used were close approximations from actual data to keep velocity measurements roughly commensurate with caliber.

As far as determining the suitability of a particular caliber for a particular use--it is generally best to leave that to actual field results.

FWIW, here is the value for a .30-30 Winchester caliber, .308 inch diameter bullet, weighing 170gr, going 2150fps...

The value is only 5.0!

That only makes it a little more powerful than a .40 caliber muzzleloading rifle with round ball... you decide?

Regards, and remember to shoot safely!
WV_Hillbilly

 

[roundball]

I think the time has come to define velocity in a far more useful unit of measurement - furlongs per fortnight. Mart

...and energy is simple...it's just "Whompability"

::

 

[Bountyhunter]

It is all relative isnt it. This sort of reminds me of the farmer that was in town to buy his wife a new parlor stove. The preppy salesman asked him how many BTU's he wanted. The farmer not being schooled on what BTU's were, pondered a minute then said he wanted a stove with enough BTU's to heat a BUT the size of a TUB..... ff: