How far does a bullet go?

[etrain16]

...if I'm floating in space (you know, as one normally does), will the primer ignite the powder in the cartridge?

In space, no one can hear you scream

 

[Certaindeaf]

Old tyme cowboys (as depicted in documentaries called "movies") knew the old trick of "throwing" your gun to time with the shot going off... especially while riding horseback forward real fast. Probably added a little something something..

 

[Certaindeaf]

I've got a little project going on on the side.. it involves vacuum bags and guns (shhh).. Imna be rich!

 

[edslhead]

How do I determine the approximate distance my .45 ACP round will travel if fired horizontally at sea level?

If there's ten ft swells, not very far

 

[Nick Burkhardt]

 

[etrain16]

Now, if the barrel is moving, the calculation gets a bit more complex

 

[Stomper]

In space, no one can hear you scream

He who farts in the space station chapel.... sits in his own pew.

 

[edslhead]

How high would I have to be for one to reach DC?

 

[Kruel J]

Like I said. Gravity is gravity.

 

[Member 5605]

Using my common backwoods math...

Drop from 5' high should take roughly 3 seconds...

950ft/s forward travel time gives me 285' forward travel...

 

[Vendor Hidden]

Using my common backwoods math...

Drop from 5' high should take roughly 3 seconds...

950ft/s forward travel time gives me 285' forward travel...

I hope you meant .3 seconds, otherwise you need heavier ammo.

 

[Member 5605]

I hope you meant .3 seconds, otherwise you need heavier ammo.

I use ghost ammo in ghost guns, 30 caliber magazine clips.

 

[Vorpalis]

If you want to figure this out with more accuracy, or for other bullets or cartridges, JBM has a couple of online ballistics calculators here:

JBM - Calculations

If you want a primer on the nitty-gritty behind external ballistics (which is the field of study that covers your question):

External ballistics - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Libertas7]

And here I thought bullets keep on going until it hits something. Silly me.

 

[CHLChris]

If a cartridge is truly sealed, and was sealed in an air environment, then a primer will ignite the powder, even in a vacuum. However, if the cartridge is not sealed enough to keep the air (actually, the oxygen in the air) in, there will be ZERO ignition.

 

[440volt]

sigmadog, are you expecting to have trouble with pirates? ARRRRRRRR!!

 

[Jim Horn]

Center fire (and rimfire) rounds would work perfectly well in a vacuum, sealed or not. The primer and propellant contain their own oxidizers. And that's not surprising - the amount of oxygen in any shell casing is way too little to oxidize the amount of propellant there.

By the way, since chamber pressures are routinely 30000PSI (handguns) on up, the presence of 15psi air or lack thereof is pretty insignificant.

 

[Jeannie]

Here's a pretty simple explanation of how the math works, good stuff

Calculate the Range of a Projectile Fired at an Angle - dummies

 

[Sgt Nambu]

I've floated in space many times!

However, it's against my personal code of honor to handle firearms in such circumstances!

 

[Vendor Hidden]

sigmadog, are you expecting to have trouble with pirates? ARRRRRRRR!!

You prep for your scenario. I'll prep for mine.