Calculating Barrel Pressure and Projectile Velocity in Gun Systems

© 1993 Developed by Sam Raheb of Close Focus Research (CFR)

The following information is provided by CFR for those who are interested in Calculating Barrel Pressure and Projectile Velocity in Gun Systems.
Enter your values in the red colored font cells. The units are automatically added. The blue colored fonts cells contain formulas, do not overwrite.
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Comments

Enter the projectile parameters D, L, and W

Calibers 9 mm .357 magnum .44 magnum .45 ACP .223 / 5.56 NATO .308 / 7.62 NATO .50 BMG
D = Bore Diameter 0.355 in. 0.353 in. 0.429 in. 0.451 in. 0.222 in. 0.305 in. 0.500 in.
L = Barrel Length 4.50 in. 6.00 in. 6.00 in. 5.00 in. 20.00 in. 22.00 in. 45.00 in.
W = Projectile Weight 124 grains 158 grains 240 grains 230 grains 55 grains 150 grains 700 grains
A = Bore Area 0.10 in² 0.10 in² 0.14 in² 0.16 in² 0.04 in² 0.07 in² 0.20 in²
m = Projectile Mass 0.00055 slug 0.00070 slug 0.00107 slug 0.00102 slug 0.00024 slug 0.00067 slug 0.00311 slug

Calculate Projectile Velocity by entering the Barrel Pressure P

Calculated Velocity 9 mm .357 magnum .44 magnum .45 ACP .223 / 5.56 NATO .308 / 7.62 NATO .50 BMG
P = Barrel Pressure 35,000 psi 35,000 psi 36,000 psi 21,000 psi 55,000 psi 60,000 psi 55,000 psi
Vp = Projectile Velocity 1,254 ft/sec 1,276 ft/sec 1,276 ft/sec 955 ft/sec 3,112 ft/sec 2,836 ft/sec 2,947 ft/sec
E = Projectile Energy 433 ft-lbs 571 ft-lbs 867 ft-lbs 466 ft-lbs 1,183 ft-lbs 2,679 ft-lbs 13,499 ft-lbs
M = Projectile Momentum 0.69 lb-sec 0.89 lb-sec 1.36 lb-sec 0.98 lb-sec 0.76 lb-sec 1.89 lb-sec 9.16 lb-sec

Calculate Barrel Pressure by entering the Projectile Velocity Vp

Calculated Pressure 9 mm .357 magnum .44 magnum .45 ACP .223 / 5.56 NATO .308 / 7.62 NATO .50 BMG
Vp = Projectile Velocity 1,100 ft/sec 1,250 ft/sec 1,250 ft/sec 850 ft/sec 3,000 ft/sec 2,700 ft/sec 2,850 ft/sec
P = Barrel Pressure 26,923 psi 33,601 psi 34,558 psi 16,627 psi 51,103 psi 54,372 psi 51,430 psi
E = Projectile Energy 333 ft-lbs 548 ft-lbs 833 ft-lbs 369 ft-lbs 1,099 ft-lbs 2,428 ft-lbs 12,623 ft-lbs
M = Projectile Momentum 0.61 lb-sec 0.88 lb-sec 1.33 lb-sec 0.87 lb-sec 0.73 lb-sec 1.80 lb-sec 8.86 lb-sec
SAAMI Maximum Cartridge Pressure Specifications
The following SAAMI Pressure data was acquired and compiled from various websites.

Rifle PSI Rifle PSI

.22 Long Rifle (rimfire) 24,000 7mm-08 Remington 61,000
.22 Short (rimfire) 21,000 7.62 x 39 mm (M43) 45,000
.22 WRF 19,000 7.62 x 51 mm NATO 60,000
.22 WRM 24,000 7-30 Waters 45,000
.222 Remington 50,000 8mm Mauser 35,000
.22-250 Remington 65,000 8mm Remington Magnum 65,000
.223 Remington 55,000
.223 WSSM 65,000 Handgun PSI
.243 Winchester 60,000 .22 Long Rifle (rimfire) 24,000
.25-06 Remington 63,000 .22 Short (rimfire) 21,000
.257 Roberts 54,000 .22 WRF 19,000
.257 Roberts +P 58,000 .22 WRM 24,000
.260 Remington 60,000 .25 ACP 25,000
.264 Winchester Magnum 64,000 .32 ACP 20,500
.270 Winchester 65,000 .32 S&W Long 15,000
.270 WSM 65,000 .357 Magnum 35,000
.280 Remington 60,000 .357 Maximum 40,000
.284 Winchester 56,000 .357 Sig 40,000
.30 Carbine 40,000 .38 Auto 26,500
.300 Remington Short Ultra Magnum 65,000 .38 S&W 14,500
.300 Remington Ultra Magnum 65,000 .38 Special 17,000
.300 Savage 47,000 .38 Special +P 18,500
.300 Weatherby Magnum 65,000 .38 Super +P 36,500
.300 Winchester Magnum 64,000 .38 Super Auto +P 36,500
.300 WSM 65,000 .380 ACP 21,500
.30-06 Springfield 60,000 .40 S&W 35,000
.303 British 49,000 .41 AE 35,000
.30-30 Winchester 42,000 .41 Magnum 36,000
.30-30 Winchester (Saboted) 38,000 .44 Magnum 36,000
.308 Winchester 62,000 .44 Special 15,500
.308 Winchester (Saboted) 52,000 .45 ACP 21,000
.32 Winchester Special 42,000 .45 ACP +P 23,000
.338 Remington Ultra Magnum 65,000 .45 Long Colt 14,000
.338 Winchester Magnum 64,000 .45 Winchester Magnum 40,000
.35 Remington 33,500 .454 Casull 65,000
.375 H&H 62,000 .480 Ruger 48,000
.375 Remington Ultra Magnum 65,000 .50 AE 36,000
.416 Remington Magnum 65,000 10mm Auto 37,500
.444 Marlin 42,000 9mm Luger 35,000
.45-70 Government 28,000 9mm Luger +P 38,500
.50 BMG 55,000
5.56 x 45 mm NATO 55,000 Shotgun PSI
5mm RFM 37,000 .410 Bore 2 1/2" 12,500
6mm Remington 65,000 .410 Bore 3" 13,500
6.5 x 55mm Swede 45,000 10 gauge 11,000
7mm Mauser 51,000 12 gauge (all but 3 1/2" 11,500
7mm Remington Magnum 61,000 12 gauge 3 1/2" Magnum 14,000
7mm Remington Ultra Magnum 65,000 16 gauge 11,500
7mm STW 65,000 20 gauge 12,000
7mm Weatherby Magnum 65,000 28 gauge 12,500
7mm WSM 65,000
SAAMI Maximum Cartridge Pressure Specifications
The following SAAMI Pressure data was acquired and compiled from various websites.
To add additional Cartridge / Pressure items, insert them into the list by inserting rows

Cell Drop Down Selection List

---------------------- Handgun ------------------- PSI
.22 Long Rifle (rimfire) 24,000
.22 Short (rimfire) 21,000
.22 WRF 19,000
.22 WRM 24,000
.25 ACP 25,000
.32 ACP 20,500
.32 S&W Long 15,000
.357 Magnum 35,000
.357 Maximum 40,000
.357 Sig 40,000
.38 Auto 26,500
.38 S&W 14,500
.38 Special 17,000
.38 Special +P 18,500
.38 Super +P 36,500
.38 Super Auto +P 36,500
.380 ACP 21,500
.40 S&W 35,000
.41 AE 35,000
.41 Magnum 36,000
.44 Magnum 36,000
.44 Special 15,500
.45 ACP 21,000
.45 ACP +P 23,000
.45 Long Colt 14,000
.45 Winchester Magnum 40,000
.454 Casull 65,000
.480 Ruger 48,000
.50 AE 36,000
10mm Auto 37,500
9mm Luger 35,000
9mm Luger +P 38,500
------------------------- Rifle ---------------------- PSI
.22 Long Rifle (rimfire) 24,000
.22 Short (rimfire) 21,000
.22 WRF 19,000
.22 WRM 24,000
.222 Remington 50,000
.22-250 Remington 65,000
.223 Remington 55,000
.223 WSSM 65,000
.243 Winchester 60,000
.25-06 Remington 63,000
.257 Roberts 54,000
.257 Roberts +P 58,000
.260 Remington 60,000
.264 Winchester Magnum 64,000
.270 Winchester 65,000
.270 WSM 65,000
.280 Remington 60,000
.284 Winchester 56,000
.30 Carbine 40,000
.300 Remington Short Ultra Magnum 65,000
.300 Remington Ultra Magnum 65,000
.300 Savage 47,000
.300 Weatherby Magnum 65,000
.300 Winchester Magnum 64,000
.300 WSM 65,000
.30-06 Springfield 60,000
.303 British 49,000
.30-30 Winchester 42,000
.30-30 Winchester (Saboted) 38,000
.308 Winchester 62,000
.308 Winchester (Saboted) 52,000
.32 Winchester Special 42,000
.338 Remington Ultra Magnum 65,000
.338 Winchester Magnum 64,000
.35 Remington 33,500
.375 H&H 62,000
.375 Remington Ultra Magnum 65,000
.416 Remington Magnum 65,000
.444 Marlin 42,000
.45-70 Government 28,000
.50 BMG 55,000
5.56 x 45 mm NATO 55,000
5mm RFM 37,000
6mm Remington 65,000
6.5 x 55mm Swede 45,000
7.62 x 39 mm (M43) 45,000
7.62 x 51 mm NATO 60,000
7-30 Waters 45,000
7mm-08 Remington 61,000
7mm Mauser 51,000
7mm Remington Magnum 61,000
7mm Remington Ultra Magnum 65,000
7mm STW 65,000
7mm Weatherby Magnum 65,000
7mm WSM 65,000
8mm Mauser 35,000
8mm Remington Magnum 65,000
---------------------- Shotgun ------------------- PSI
.410 Bore 2 1/2" 12,500
.410 Bore 3" 13,500
10 gauge 11,000
12 gauge (all but 3 1/2" Magnum) 11,500
12 gauge 3 1/2" Magnum 14,000
16 gauge 11,500
20 gauge 12,000
28 gauge 12,500