Is there any cartridge available where a bullet has gone 6000 feet per second??Just curiuos.

Angeldust,

I've never heard of a cartridge with a 6000 fps velocity. I've heard and read of experimental research that resulted in velocities higher than 6000 fps. I seem to recall reading something about the test performed by Nosler on their Ballistic Tips where they drove bullets over 6000 fps without ill effects during their testing. I wish I could quote verse and chapter for you, but the old memory won't do that any more. Good luck.

I remember reading about an ultra fast cartridge gun that uses liquid propellant, I think it's in the 7000fps range IIRC. I have not heard about a smokeless powder cartridge that goes beyond 5000fps.

For non-cartridge guns, NASA uses a gas gun for simulating pellet size asteroids, it is said to be 8 times as fast as a bullet fired from a gun, didn't elaborate the setup or how fast this thing actually is.

Rail guns are even faster, pushed by energized plasma, capable of 10km/s muzzle velocity(rail guns have no speed limit except speed of light as long as you provide energy and barrel for acceleration), they were designed by the military for the purpose of attacking enemy satellites from the ground.

I think I read that the military reaches 6000+ fps in some of their artillery shells. The larger size of the propellant granules allows for a progressive burn rate that enables them to surpass the 6K fps mark.

I believe that you are referring to the 120mm sabot round used in the main gun of the M1A1 Abrams tank. Top velocity for that round is 5,000+ fps. Most artillery, as in gun/howitzers, shoots in the 2500 fps range depending on charge. With the exception of the sabot round in the main gun (line of sight shooter) there is no advantage to shooting extreme high velocity. In some cases where additional range was desired RAP (rocket assisted projectiles) and other technologies such as base bleed projectiles were used. When it came right down to it the MLRS (multiple launcher rocket system) was deemed the most practical response to long range weapons systems. These are of course all US weapons systems.

/

A rather simple device, really, the flashlight sends photon particles at 186,000,000 miles per second. OF course this is 1970 physics, and photons may not be particles anymore,and the speed of light may have changed. The problem is getting a 150 grain Photon: no one sells those.LOL

For what it is worth, pick up a copy of P.O Ackley's reloading manuals. I haven't looked in a long time, but I seem to remember that there was a .22 wildcat that acheived something like 5700fps with a 15 gr. bullet. I also think the the rifle used had a 30" smooth bore barrel. I realize that a lot of his ballistics weren't quite accurate, but it is a start for you.
Good luck.

Jameister, I think that you have too many zeros . Believe that the speed of light is 186 thousand mps not 186 million mps.

[ 06-16-2003, 21:39: Message edited by: snake river rufus ]

LIGHT = 186,000 miles per second.
11,160,000 miles in a minute
669,600,000 miles in an hour
16,070,400,000 miles in a 24 hr day
5,865,696,000,000 miles in a year

for those not Trekkie fans, each warp constitutes multiple light speed, so "warp 2" is twice the speed of light.

Lawcop, now we need to get a definition of "Ludicrous Speed" ( movie Spaceballs, as said by Rick Moranis playing Dark Helmet).

Roy Weatherby was hired by the military to do velocity test and it is reported that he reached velocity over 6000 fps. If I can find the article I'll give you more information.

Scratch

the 22-243 Middleton can reach 5300 fps with a 30 grian bullet. 50g RL-15 with F-210 and Win brass.

I felt I should also mention that the military has reached 6000fps with solid propellent because the barrels they use are smooth bore shooting a self-stabalizing (read wings) projectiles.

quote:

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Originally posted by Customstox:
[QB]Lawcop, now we need to get a definition of "Ludicrous Speed" [QB]

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Will the bullet go plaid?

I can get measured velocities in the low 6000's with my 30-06 if the sun is just right and I stand too close to the chronograph.

H. C.

The fastest velocities I've ever heard of were, I believe, Roy Weatherby doing tests for the military with the .378 Weatherby case. I believe he was acheiving 5000+ fps with that. In fact, I think he had a .22-.378 Weatherby that might have been getting 6000 fps but the bullets were vaporizing out of the barrel.
I can remember the article, but good luck finding it.

Far Right and Scratch were right. Just read that article not long ago. I do believe it was in one of Ackley's books, or Jack O'Connors.

The Army contracted Weatherby for some experimentations. their goals were first 5,000 and then 6,000.

The bullet weight was 60 grains and the case was the 378 weatherby. I believe the caliber was 30.

POwders were not commercial powders. I don't think they hit the 6,000 but came close.

Talked to a gunsmith in casual conversation a few weeks ago about velocity. When he was on active duty in the Marines as an armorer doing work with the Phillipinos, they necked down a 50 caliber to 375 bore. They were hoping to break 4,000 fps and statistically they said it should. However 3800 was all they could get with any powder.

Just gets to a point the laws of physics won't go any futher, or faster I should say.

Besides want to buy a new barrel every 10 rounds?

My dad and I necked a .50 BMG down to .30 caliber back in 1994 (the military had experimented with a similar round in thee 1950's). Anyways, 110 grain bullets could just touch 6,000 fps, but I don't recommend the round. Though I've worked with a lot of overbore cartridges, this one is just this side of a bomb.

Lee Martin
www.singleactions.com