How to Test Bullet Speed

Bullets travel faster than the speed of sound, which is why you hear a loud bang when the bullet is fired. Correspondingly so, if you were standing under a bullet as it passed you'd hear a cracking or snapping sound as the bullet breaks the sound barrier while in flight. Bullet speed or velocity is rated in terms of feet per second (FPS), and speed tests are performed using a chronograph. Note that you should always use extreme caution when attempting to test bullet speed.

Things You'll Need

  • 2 tables of equal height
  • Shooting rest (optional)
  • Padded gun vise
  • Chronograph
  • Target
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Instructions

    • 1

      Set up a shooting rest or mount a padded gun vise to a shooting table. Place the gun into the vise and position it so that you can aim squarely at the target. Lock the vise into position so that the weapon will not move during firing. Place your target at whatever distance you prefer, corresponding to the weapon's effective range.

    • 2

      Set up a table equal to the height of the first table or rest. Set up the chronograph on the table about 5 feet from the muzzle of your weapon. Go back to the weapon and look through the sights to ensure that the muzzle is pointing directly through the chronograph portal.

    • 3

      Fire the weapon and read the results on the chronograph; then write them down. Fire four more shots; then round the shots to the nearest repeated results. For example, write: shot one, 3,011 FPS; shot two, 3,012 FPS; shot three, 3,012 FPS; shot four, 3,012 FPS; shot five, 3,011.5 FPS, which would round to an approximate velocity of 3,012 feet per second.