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Muzzle energy

Muzzle energy is the kinetic energy of a bullet as it is expelled from the muzzle of a firearm. Without consideration of factors such as aerodynamics and gravity for the sake of comparison, muzzle energy is used as a rough indication of the destructive potential of a given firearm or cartridge. The heavier the bullet and especially the faster it moves, the higher its muzzle energy and the more damage it will do.

Kinetic energy[edit]

The general formula for the kinetic energy is where v is the velocity of the bullet and m is the mass of the bullet.


Although both mass and velocity contribute to the muzzle energy, the muzzle energy is proportional to the mass while proportional to the square of the velocity. The velocity of the bullet is a more important determinant of muzzle energy. For a constant velocity, if the mass is doubled, the energy is doubled; however, for a constant mass, if the velocity is doubled, the muzzle energy increases four times. In the SI system the above Ek will be in unit joules if the mass, m, is in kilograms, and the speed, v, is in metres per second.[1]

Free recoil

Muzzle velocity

Power factor (shooting sports)

Edward F. Obert, Thermodynamics, McGraw-Hill Book Co., 1948.

Mc Graw-Hill encyclopedia of Science and Technology, volume ebe-eye and ice-lev, 9th Edition, Mc Graw-Hill, 2002.