Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters fastest bullet

Using conventional gun powder, what is the fastest a bullet can be propelled ? What is the fastest a bullet has been propelled?

The fastest factory load that I remember was about 4,100 ft/sec.
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<br>At one aerospace company where I used to work in the 1960s, we had a simulator to test candidate space-craft materials for resistance to micrometeoroid impact. I had a brief and superficial role in that NASA project. I don't remember the muzzle velocity of that simulator's sabot-clad carbide pellet -- only that it was in the TENS OF THOUSANDS of feet per second (xx,000 to xxx,000 ft/sec). Some years ago, many years after the project, I asked the company for permission to write an article about that "super-duper varmint rifle" and was denied. Now I don't remember enough of the details to make a good article.

I read that Roy Weatherbydid some tests for the Army.He necked down one of his big cases and got something over 6000 fps.I think he used a 22 cal bullet.The same place I read that said that later some guys beat his speed.
<br>Can't remember where I read that.

I acutally seen this on a discovery program a couple of weeks ago. They have a new "electric" rifle that shoots a saboted projectile at 6 miles a second. The speed the electricity flows threw rails attached to a sabot is what propels the round. Slow motion photography showed the 2 foot long 2" diameter projectile blasting through 2 feet of steel like a knife through butter. The "wound" channel was pretty impressive to. I don't know what 6 miles a second equates to in FPS, but it is fast! Flinch

31680 FPS

The Army's request to Weatherby was to determine the fastest speed one could expect from a shoulder-fired weapon.Still can't remember where I read it,but do recall that Weatherby's effort was bested by a group using-as he did- conventional cases,powder,primer,and bullet.Their speed was still less than 7000 fps.

I believe there was mention of it in an edition of "Cartridges Of The World" By Frank Barnes.
<br>Bill

This is somewhat in line with the subject but not to the speeds already mentioned.
<br>A recent "Discovery Channel" program on tanks mentioned the 120mm Turrent mount on the latest model Tank fired a sabbot at just under 6,000fps. I was totally amazed at this. Now I'm getting the jest that was not so fast after all.
<br>Russ

Let me pose a similar but different -- and MUCH more significantly meaningful -- question (which I can't answer right now) --
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<br>What's the FLATTEST-shooting accurate cartridge now in use?
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<br>I have a superb candidate in mind and on hand and will run some tests but haven't done any yet.
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<br>The fastest bullet automatically produces poorer down-range performance, since the parameters that produce higher velocities detract from trajectories (always) and accuracy (often). Trajectory and inherent accuracy are FAR more important to satisfying shooting than top velocities can ever possibly be.

Ken,
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<br> For the flattest shooting, you probably need to include a specific range. 100 yards, 1000 yards, or....
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<br> I'm thinking the .408 Chey-Tac may win this contest. It's light bullet load is 305gr/BC .612/MV 3500fps. A 1000 yard zero has a max ord of only 62.8 inches.
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<br>MM