Muzzle Energy Calculator

Calculate Muzzle Energy (KE)



Formula

The formula to calculate the Muzzle Energy (KE) is:

\[ KE = \frac{1}{2} \times m \times v^2 \]

Where:

What is Bullet Energy?

Bullet energy, also known as muzzle energy, is a measure of the energy a bullet has as it leaves a gun. It’s one of many factors that affect both stopping power and recoil. Stopping power is the ability of a bullet to penetrate material or an object. Higher muzzle energy typically means a higher stopping power, but that’s not the only factor. The aerodynamics of the bullet itself also factor into that stopping power. The bullet energy also affects the recoil of a gun. In short, this is also governed by one of Newton’s laws of motion. That is that every motion has an equal and opposite motion. This means that the greater the muzzle energy, the greater the recoil. This is an important factor to keep in mind.

Example Calculation

Let's assume the following values:

Using the formula to calculate the Muzzle Energy (KE):

\[ KE = \frac{1}{2} \times \left( \frac{150}{437.5} \right) \times 2500^2 \approx 42857.14 \text{ ft-lbf} \]

The Muzzle Energy (KE) is approximately 42857.14 ft-lbf.