Can anyone tell me what the fastest bullet is from a rifle? A friend of mine says there is a 30-06 with some type of sabbot that will leave the barrel at 4900 fps. The fastest I think I have seen is a 22.250 topped with a 40 grainer at 4150 fps. Then the 243 WSSM with a 55 grain bullet at 4060 fps.

IIRC, it is the "eargesplittenloudenboomer" (50 BMG necked down to 22 cal). A muzzle velocity of ~5k fps, and a barrel life of ~9 rounds . See "Cartridges of the World".

Regards, Bill

(Edited to add) P.S. Electromagnetic, or EM guns, can propel slugs at up to 20k fps!

[ 11-25-2003, 20:49: Message edited by: Bill M ]

In the 1960's or early 1970's a laboratory researching the potential result of high-speed "space dust" impacting a satellite (or a manned capsule) used a stock Remington 700 in .22-250 with a case full of Bullseye and nylon projectiles of only a few grains weight. These tiny projectiles were fired into various types of metal skin to assess the potential damage. As I recall, they were able to get the little pills up to around 14,000 fps, but at the price of destroying the brass case with each shot and having to hammer the action open. The factory barrel was "shot out" after a short while and was replaced with a smooth bore stainless barrel. The amazing thing was that the action kept on functioning for the duration of the trials. No, the Remington 700 is not my favorite action for a number of reasons, but for simple strength it's pretty tough.

I have chronographed light 22 bullets at 4400 fps from my 29" Swift. I've only shot 5 of them as I believe they would ruin the barrel in short order but the load was not high pressure. Ruger and Hornady are advertising 4200 and change from their new 32 gr 204 Ruger cartridge without that problem. We'll have to see.

[ 11-26-2003, 01:21: Message edited by: tiggertate ]

I regularly shoot 55 gr .224s 4400 fps from my 300 WSM using sabots with 65 grs of AA2230. This is a mild load in the vicinity of 36,000 psi. It can go much faster, but not with good accuracy, and the 1 in 10 twist will turn them into flak (hard on the chronograph) at some point.

The company i work for helped to develop the 120 MM main tank gun for the Army and it uses a sabot to fire a 14 lb projectile 5600 fps with an accuracy of 1 meter in 4000 meters. It is a smooth bore, so not technically a "rifle".

I was a little inaccurate in my wording. By "low pressure" I meant nothing outrageous. I am sure they weren't mild by any usual definition. This rifle shoots in the teens with 55 gr BTs at about 3600 fps and very low pressure relative to the 37 gr Sisk I referenced above. I don't want to advance the throat any sooner than necessary just to run up speed. That's what I meant by ruining the barrel, not literally burning it out. Should have said all that the first time but I get long winded sometimes and try to abbreviate my thoughts.

[ 11-26-2003, 22:34: Message edited by: tiggertate ]