Unlocking the Mystery of Muzzle Velocity

Unlocking the Mystery of Muzzle Velocity Let’s face it—“muzzle velocity” sounds like something straight out of an action movie. You can almost hear the deep voiceover guy saying, "With a muzzle velocity of 3,000 feet per second, this weapon is unstoppable." But what does it really mean? Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered. Let’s break it down in a way that even your dog might understand (okay, maybe not your dog, but you get the idea). What Is Muzzle Velocity? Muzzle velocity is the speed at which a projectile (like a bullet) leaves the barrel of a firearm. That’s it. Pretty simple, right? It’s measured in feet per second (fps) or meters per second (m/s), depending on where you are in the world—and whether or not you like using the metric system (looking at you, USA). Think of it this way: if a bullet were a sprinter, the muzzle velocity would be its starting dash off the blocks. The higher the velocity, the faster it’s moving as it exits the barrel.