Thread: New rifle, scope question

Originally Posted by Gibo

Mmmm so how does a big fat slow bullet vs a small fast bullet smack me around more or less in the same rifle?

The powder/primer charge gives the energy to the projectile according to 1/2mv². From this, very roughly, we get the velocity of the projectile. Then as the projectile leaves us on it's little journey the momentum, mass * velocity (mv), comes into play which imparts the velocity and energy back into the firearm, with roughly the same momentum. This energy is dissipated into the firearm and shooters shoulder. There are other things in play but these are the main bits.