Momentum of a bullet

[flano]

What bullet is fired with the highest momentum?
cheers

[fo3nix]

momentum = mass x velocity. so assuming mass to be constant (after firing from the gun), max momentum is mass x max velocity, whatever that may be for the gun in question.

[landie]

You cannot assume that the mass is constant. Cartridges (bullets) vary in diameter and weight quite significantly.

[flano]

the bullet with the highest mometum? ie not an explanation of momentum, just the bullet and the kg/s please

[landie]

Well you'll have to be more specific, flano. Hand gun? machine gun? Automatic pistol? Rifle?

[mikeyp]

They all fire bullets don't they? Dosn't matter which type of gun. Anyway, I don't really know! But I have read somewhere that there are magnetic guns (sometimes called rail guns) that can fire at 20km/sec. I'd imagine they'd have a pretty high momentum.

[chris-n-vick]

the bullet fired with the most momentum would be a Heavy bullet shot with a powerful charge.

[flano]

OK lads what type of bullet??????????????

[chris-n-vick]

probably something like the one in the middle of the picture located [url=http://www.shootingtimes.com/handgun_reviews/monster_110 3/]here[/url

[chris-n-vick]

doh!

here is the correct link

http://www.shootingtimes.com/handgun_reviews/monster_110 3/

[Andy008]

The .357 Magnum is the single most powerful type of ammunition in the world.

Used in 1994 by the IRA to assassinate Dublin gangster Martin Cahill.

[Marsh]

I think it will be a rifle bullet because they have a higher speed.  See at the bottom of http://www.kifaru.net/rifl2.htm How you measure "muzzle energy" in pounds, I don't know but it looks like a good phrase to Google with.

[Marsh]

Thinking further it'll be a bullet used for shooting big game.  The extract below is from
http://www.chuckhawks.com/rifle_battery.htm   It gives the names of several catridges � I'll leave you to research which has the highest momentum

"The big bore rifle
The last, and normally least used, class of hunting rifle that some hunters will wish to acquire is a big bore rifle. The big bore kicks very hard, and it has a rainbow trajectory that makes hitting at long range problematical. The only beasts for which such a rifle is best suited are the thick-skinned dangerous types, such as Cape buffalo, American bison, elephant, rhino, and wild water buffalo.
There are two main groups of powerful big bore rifles. The first are what I call the American big bores or buffalo rifles. These are chambered for cartridges such as the .405 Winchester, .444 Marlin, .450 Marlin, and .45-70 Government. These are calibers intended primarily for hunting the largest North American game, such as musk ox and bison. The most popular of these is the .45-70.
The other, more numerous, group is the African or safari rifle. These are chambered for cartridges such as the .416 Rigby, .416 Remington Magnum, .458 Winchester Magnum, .460 Weatherby Magnum and .470 NE. These are primarily intended for hunting African elephant, Cape buffalo, and rhinoceros. The most popular of these cartridges is the .458 Winchester Magnum. Because of its standard (.30-06) length case the .458 Win. is also probably the most versatile of the elephant rifle cartridges for the North American hunter."