Muzzle Energy Calculator
Calculate bullet kinetic energy and momentum. Features presets for common calibers and supports grains/fps and grams/mps conversions.
About
Muzzle energy measures the destructive potential of a projectile at the moment it leaves the barrel. Hunters rely on this data to ensure the projectile delivers sufficient force for an ethical kill. Competition shooters use it to determine if their ammunition meets the power factor requirements for specific divisions. The kinetic energy is derived strictly from mass and velocity. Doubling the mass doubles the energy but doubling the velocity quadruples it. This relationship explains why lightweight high-speed rounds can be as destructive as heavy slow ones.
Formulas
Energy is calculated using standard physics mechanics, adjusted for ballistic units.
Where mass (m) is in grains or kilograms and velocity (v) is in feet per second or meters per second.
Reference Data
| Caliber | Mass (gr) | Velocity (fps) | Energy (ft⋅lbs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| .22 LR | 40 | 1200 | 128 |
| 9mm Luger | 115 | 1150 | 338 |
| .45 ACP | 230 | 850 | 369 |
| .357 Mag | 158 | 1450 | 737 |
| 5.56 NATO | 62 | 3000 | 1239 |
| .308 Win | 168 | 2650 | 2619 |
| .30-06 Spr | 180 | 2700 | 2913 |
| .338 Lapua | 250 | 2900 | 4667 |
| .50 BMG | 750 | 2800 | 13052 |