Velocity by Barrel Length of Various Calibers
This page will examine barrel length to velocity differences for various calibers. We'll mostly stick to more common calibers, but others will be added as well. Data will be sourced from various sources. One example is the extremely useful "Ballistics by the Inch" website, which recently discontinued their project but has been a valuable source for this type of information. As a result, this page will act as an extra copy of that valuable data.
But first, the concepts will be discussed below, and data from Ballistics by the Inch and other various sources will follow. We'll also analyze the optimal minimum barrel length for various calibers. For example, answering the questions of what would be the minimum barrel length for an AR-15 pistol chambered in 9mm, without wasting potential muzzle velocity, and similar concerns.
Contents
- 1 How Does Barrel Length Affect Velocity?
- 2 Why Does Barrel Length Affect Velocity?
- 3 .22 Long Rifle
- 4 .22 Magnum
- 5 .223 Remington
- 6 5.56x45mm NATO
- 7 .25 ACP
- 8 .300 Blackout
- 9 .32 ACP
- 10 .32 H&R Magnum
- 11 .38 Special
- 12 .380 ACP
- 13 .357 SIG
- 14 9mm Luger
- 15 9x18mm Makarov
- 16 9x18mm Ultra
- 17 10mm Auto
- 18 .40 S&W
- 19 .41 Remington Magnum
- 20 .44 Special
- 21 .45 ACP
- 22 .45 Colt
- 23 .45 Super
- 24 Help Support FirearmWiki
How Does Barrel Length Affect Velocity?
It is well-established fact that the length of a firearm's barrel will affect velocity (and therefore muzzle energy and even trajectory) to varying degrees. This is because the longer the propellant has had time to burn, the more of its maximum effect on the projectile can be utilized. Otherwise, energy will be wasted and propellant will likely burn off outside the barrel.
Why Does Barrel Length Affect Velocity?
This can depend on a number of factors, such as burn rate of the propellant, bore diameter, and probably others as well. The same caliber gun with the same barrel length could even show different results. For example, two revolvers of the same caliber and barrel length could differ in their amount of cylinder gap, allowing one to waste a bit more energy than the other. Likewise, semi-automatic or fully-automatic firearms will typically have lower muzzle velocity due to some of the propellant's energy being bled off into the gas system to work the action, and this can vary by individual firearm as well. Some guns, such as Heckler & Koch's integrally suppressed MP5SD are actually designed to bleed off excessive gas pressure to make sure any rounds they fire will remain subsonic! However, that is an edge case and can mostly be ignored as it pertains to the topic at hand.
We'll note various barrel lengths and load data on various calibers, from various sources.
.22 Long Rifle
Velocity by barrel length for .22 Long Rifle (also referred to as .22LR or often just ".22" for short). Data for .22LR shown below is sourced from Ballistics by the Inch. A number of popular loads from major manufacturers were tested. We'll also discuss things like ideal barrel lengths for various firearms to help navigate the various barrel length offerings. This is especially relevant when it comes to things like AR-15 rifle and/or pistol builds, as well as offerings like the Ruger 10/22 (and its "Charger" pistol variants).
Barrel Length | CCI 27 gr. CPHP | CCI 29 gr. CPRN | CCI Stinger: 32 gr. CPHP | Remington Yellow Jacket 33 gr. (truncated cone, CPHP) | Remington Viper 36 gr. (truncated cone CP) | Remington Golden Bullet 36 gr. CPHP | CCI Mini-Mag 40 gr. CPRN | Winchester Super X 40 gr. RN | CCI Velocitor 40 gr. CPHP | Aguila Sniper SubSonic 60 gr. LRN |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
18" | 1158 | 1114 | 1510 | 1407 | 1342 | 1181 | 1212 | 1250 | 1366 | 903 |
17" | 1116 | 1060 | 1502 | 1396 | 1304 | 1178 | 1206 | 1227 | 1376 | 903 |
16" | 1130 | 1094 | 1489 | 1398 | 1306 | 1185 | 1207 | 1251 | 1340 | 900 |
15" | 1133 | 1083 | 1496 | 1369 | 1305 | 1178 | 1211 | 1241 | 1336 | 879 |
14" | 1096 | 1103 | 1483 | 1334 | 1294 | 1163 | 1224 | 1222 | 1349 | 883 |
13" | 1098 | 1071 | 1496 | 1381 | 1296 | 1147 | 1183 | 1248 | 1341 | 891 |
12" | 1089 | 1074 | 1476 | 1334 | 1293 | 1167 | 1221 | 1235 | 1335 | 892 |
11" | 1092 | 1079 | 1463 | 1360 | 1280 | 1180 | 1210 | 1223 | 1338 | 881 |
10" | 1115 | 1065 | 1452 | 1304 | 1270 | 1150 | 1169 | 1193 | 1316 | 859 |
9" | 1092 | 1042 | 1430 | 1315 | 1267 | 1129 | 1169 | 1203 | 1275 | 868 |
8" | 1092 | 1048 | 1396 | 1271 | 1212 | 1101 | 1158 | 1191 | 1268 | 857 |
7" | 1060 | 1056 | 1367 | 1284 | 1229 | 1073 | 1139 | 1162 | 1244 | 820 |
6" | 1049 | 993 | 1321 | 1249 | 1165 | 1063 | 1101 | 1133 | 1093 | 824 |
5" | 1029 | 1014 | 1286 | 1214 | 1156 | 1009 | 1097 | 1070 | 1172 | 796 |
4" | 956 | 948 | 1191 | 1113 | 1104 | 984 | 1014 | 1043 | 1120 | 762 |
3" | 907 | 893 | 1129 | 1045 | 998 | 890 | 948 | 965 | 1026 | 726 |
2" | 861 | 860 | 974 | 945 | 875 | 846 | 856 | 862 | 882 | 663 |
Best Barrel Length For .22 Long Rifle
For Subsonic Loads
For a heavy subsonic load like the Aguila Sniper Subsonic 60 gr., the loading doesn't gain too much velocity in anything more than an 8" barrel. For non subsonic loadings, it's important not to go so short as to make all .22 loadings subsonic, unless that's what you're looking for! Something like an AR-15 in the 8-inch barrel range, or Ruger's shorter 8" "Charger" 10/22's, pairing these with a 5" suppressor like the SilencerCo Sparrow leaves you with a suppressed firearm that is still 5 inches shorter than a more typical rifle setup at around 18" barrel length.
For Maximum Velocity
If one were so inclined to squeeze every bit of velocity out of a .22LR firearm, an 18" barrel does an excellent job of taking full advantage of everything the round has to offer. Some manufacturers offer Ruger 10/22 barrels at 21 inches in length. But as an example, Volquartzen offers match-grade bull barrels in lengths like 16.5" as well. Keep in mind that according to the data above, velocity gains at longer than 16" barrel length were fairly negligible, so 16" appears to be more than enough overall. Still, most stock .22 rifles come with an 18" barrel, so don't worry too much. Any more length is up to you, but doesn't appear to be necessary for a .22LR firearm.
Best Overall Barrel Length for .22 Long Rifle
The big question to ask is whether you plan on using a suppressor with your .22 Long Rifle firearm, and how long that suppressor is. If looking for a more average setup, a typical 18" barrel will give you everything the round has to offer, and it's not worth putting a ton of thought into it. If you want to get the vast majority of .22 Long Rifle performance in a short package, 8 or 10 inches like the lengths offered on the 10/22 Charger, will do well. But if you're absolutely planning to attach a suppressor, it appears that an 8" barrel is a great place to be. Remember that a suppressor will increase muzzle velocity somewhat. If going with something like a SilencerCo Sparrow, an 8" barrel with this 5" suppressor gives you a handy 13" effective barrel length, without leaving performance on the table. You could even go shorter, but the additional length of a suppressor probably won't fully make up for performance loss with a shorter barrel. Overall, if you could only pick one barrel length for any application (or multiple applications with the same firearm), something like an AR-15 pistol with an ~8" barrel will be great. For an average rifle setup, a typical stock 18" barrel is a no-stress decision. But if you must have every bit of velocity with a suppressed setup, 10" still leaves you with an overlength under 18" with almost all suppressor offerings. In that case, something like the Rugged Oculus with a potentially tiny length of only 3.25 inches could be an attractive option to keep the setup short.
.22 Magnum
The table below shows velocity and barrel length data for various .22 Magnum loadings. This data can be especially useful, since this cartridge has gained significant popularity for self-defense, especially in smaller revolvers. This information has been sourced from Ballistics by the Inch.
Barrel Length | CCI Game Point 40 gr. JSP | CCI Maxi-Mag 40 gr. JHP | CCI Maxi-Mag +V 30 gr. JHP | CCI V-Max 30 gr. Polymer Tip | Federal 30 gr. Speer TNT HP | Fiocchi PSD 40 gr. JSP | Fiocchi PSD 40 gr. JHP | Hornady Critical Defense FTX 45 gr. | Hornady V-Max 30 gr. | Hornady NTX 25 gr. | Winchester 30 gr. V-Max Polymer Tip |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
19" | 1827 | 1999 | 2285 | 2348 | 2355 | 1908 | 1936 | 1773 | 2296 | 2265 | 2149 |
18" | 1837 | 1985 | 2322 | 2298 | 2324 | 1920 | 1950 | 1764 | 2313 | 2235 | 2110 |
17" | 1825 | 1980 | 2280 | 2288 | 2334 | 1918 | 1938 | 1755 | 2318 | 2241 | 2160 |
16" | 1780 | 1987 | 2316 | 2276 | 2283 | 1887 | 1934 | 1702 | 2252 | 2166 | 2129 |
15" | 1799 | 1967 | 2304 | 2294 | 2275 | 1916 | 1873 | 1738 | 2240 | 2229 | 2127 |
14" | 1783 | 1963 | 2230 | 2298 | 2244 | 1885 | 1951 | 1751 | 2243 | 2250 | 2105 |
13" | 1749 | 1889 | 2181 | 2220 | 2227 | 1852 | 1886 | 1698 | 2245 | 2191 | 2071 |
12" | 1750 | 1881 | 2168 | 2204 | 2163 | 1843 | 1811 | 1699 | 2144 | 2138 | 2052 |
11" | 1709 | 1835 | 2079 | 2097 | 2135 | 1788 | 1845 | 1652 | 2093 | 2146 | 1989 |
10" | 1687 | 1817 | 2060 | 2144 | 2102 | 1791 | 1772 | 1643 | 2069 | 2065 | 1951 |
9" | 1672 | 1759 | 2000 | 2061 | 2018 | 1723 | 1772 | 1630 | 1966 | 2024 | 1924 |
8" | 1594 | 1706 | 1950 | 2012 | 1979 | 1650 | 1696 | 1536 | 1977 | 1928 | 1803 |
7" | 1529 | 1617 | 1887 | 1904 | 1879 | 1626 | 1606 | 1525 | 1821 | 1818 | 1763 |
6" | 1484 | 1575 | 1763 | 1804 | 1821 | 1526 | 1544 | 1454 | 1740 | 1824 | 1694 |
5" | 1355 | 1474 | 1672 | 1723 | 1657 | 1433 | 1477 | 1307 | 1602 | 1670 | 1575 |
4" | 1248 | 1353 | 1510 | 1504 | 1457 | 1287 | 1269 | 1239 | 1379 | 1492 | 1454 |
3" | 1089 | 1160 | 1236 | 1336 | 1228 | 1101 | 1117 | 1049 | 1153 | 1308 | 1288 |
2" | 887 | 946 | 884 | 1085 | 895 | 899 | 853 | 843 | 962 | 1114 | n/a |
.223 Remington
Velocity by barrel length for .223 Remington - From Ballistics by the Inch.
barrel length | Remington UMC 45 gr. JHP | Remington UMC 50 gr. JHP | Remington UMC 55 gr. MC |
---|---|---|---|
18" | 3354 | 3179 | 2983 |
16" | 3257 | 3076 | 2943 |
14" | 3099 | 2901 | 2878 |
12" | 2943 | 2964 | 2724 |
10" | 2776 | 2682 | 2616 |
8" | 2536 | 2478 | 2380 |
6" | 2189 | 2153 | 2041 |
5" | 1939 | 1921 | 1861 |
4" | 1709 | 1674 | 1564 |
3" | 1277 | 1276 | 1147 |
5.56x45mm NATO
Velocity by barrel length for 5.56x45mm NATO cartridge. Information is primarily from RifleShooter.com. We'll also discuss best barrel length for something like an AR-15 pistol as well as "SPR" / DMR-type setup below, to help you to better navigate various typical barrel length offerings.
Barrel Length | Federal XM193 (55 gr. FMJ) | Winchester M855 (62 gr. Penetrator) |
---|---|---|
26" | 3431 fps | 3280 fps |
25" | 3426 fps | 3229 fps |
24" | 3409 fps | 3188 fps |
23" | 3350 fps | 3169 fps |
22" | 3366 fps | 3158 fps |
21" | 3305 fps | 3117 fps |
20" | 3306 fps | 3097 fps |
19" | 3259 fps | 3060 fps |
18" | 3202 fps | 3052 fps |
17" | 3151 fps | 2972 fps |
16.5" | 3187 fps | 2992 fps |
14" | 3039 fps | 2808 fps |
13" | 2974 fps | 2694 fps |
12" | 2919 fps | 2646 fps |
11" | 2834 fps | 2579 fps |
10" | 2767 fps | 2489 fps |
9" | 2662 fps | 2403 fps |
8" | 2520 fps | 2296 fps |
7" | 2410 fps | 2135 fps |
6" | 2202 fps | 1955 fps |
Best Barrel Length For 5.56 NATO
For Subsonic Loads
Many will advise against bothering with subsonic loads using heavier bullets in a 5.56 firearm and instead opt for an AR-15 chambered in .300 Blackout, since it will have better muzzle energy due to much heavier bullets at the same velocities. Still, a typical 16" barrel with 1-in-7 twist rate (for heavier bullets) and a suppressor of your choosing should work acceptably well overall and still retain a lot more energy than a .22 LR. Likewise, a handier barrel in the 10-inch range and a typical 6-7" suppressor should also be a good setup for a pistol or SBR build. As if often the case, it depends what the user is looking for. But overall, for an optimal AR-15 type rifle with suppressor, 5.56 should not be your first option unless you want it for fun or will also be shooting standard velocity ammo and so on.
For Maximum Velocity & Range
For maximum velocity with 5.56x45mm NATO, a 20-inch barrel will give the most velocity possible out of a common barrel length rifle. For best accuracy, a heavy / bull barrel is preferred. Theoretically, a 22-inch barrel would be the best combination between somewhat manageable maneuverability and maximum velocity, but it's a non-standard length. Anything longer is even more non-standard, and has diminishing returns, though still does offer velocity advantage. But excessive barrel lengths like this should probably only ever be considered if you plan on shooting at 1,000 yards with a dedicated benchrest setup, which is also uncommon. For most applications, an 18" heavy barrel will still offer velocity advantage over a typical 16" barrel and plenty of accuracy. Consider that this is the basic setup of the U.S. military's former Mk 12 Mod 0 "SPR" (Special Purpose Rifle), which was said to have an effective range up to 700 meters.
Note: If you're looking for absolute maximum range from something like an AR-15 platform, it may be worth considering cartridges like the 6.5 Grendel, .224 Valkyrie, and others. The 6mm ARC seems to have impressive potential from our understanding. Also consider the lesser-known .277 Wolverine, which is a bridge between the .223/5.56 and .300 Blackout, and uses the same .223/5.56 cases to load with.
Best Overall Barrel Length for 5.56 NATO
Best barrel length for 5.56mm (and .223 Remington) depends on your use case. For an overall great rifle, there's nothing wrong with the most popular barrel length of 16 inches. It doesn't have any major disadvantages in velocity and is still overall quite maneuverable. For a pistol or SBR setup, if trying to maintain decent velocity and maneuverability, anything less than a barrel in the 10-inch range seems like a hard sell because velocity begins to drop heavily. When using a silencer / suppressor, also be sure to keep in mind that many manufacturers have a minimum barrel length for requirement for their warranties, which is often (but not always) about 10 inches or above in the case of common 5.56mm suppressors. Also consider that longer barrels will work better with a suppressor. As a result, most who want a suppressor may want to opt for a barrel in the 10 inch range, which works out if you want a pistol-type setup for use with and without a suppressor. Since many silencers are in the 6" to 7" range, this gives a similar length to a typical 16" barrel AR-15, and also give some velocity advantage over an unsuppressed 10 inch barrel.
.25 ACP
The velocity and barrel length data for .25 ACP found below, was sourced from Ballistics by the Inch.
Barrel Length | American Eagle 50 gr. TMJ | Winchester .45 gr. Expanding Point | Winchester 50 gr. FMJ |
---|---|---|---|
18" | 1049 | 1001 | 978 |
17" | 997 | 996 | 980 |
16" | 1005 | 977 | 1026 |
15" | 999 | 991 | 1032 |
14" | 1016 | 986 | 1057 |
13" | 1003 | 996 | 1023 |
12" | 1015 | 979 | 1014 |
11" | 1023 | 999 | 1001 |
10" | 1025 | 994 | 997 |
9" | 982 | 951 | 1005 |
8" | 1000 | 951 | 982 |
7" | 1003 | 970 | 1007 |
6" | 963 | 939 | 983 |
5" | 904 | 902 | 949 |
4" | 847 | 896 | 942 |
3" | 867 | 850 | 903 |
2" | 753 | 816 | 780 |
.300 Blackout
Velocity by barrel length for .300 Blackout (also known as ".300 BLK"(SAAMI) or ".300 AAC Blackout" (C.I.P.) - From MrGunsnGear on YouTube. We'll also briefly discuss best barrel length for something like an AR-15 pistol, below to allow you to better navigate various typical barrel length offerings.
barrel length | 110 gr. (Velocity) | 110 gr. (Energy) | 125 gr. (Velocity) | 125 gr. (Energy) | 150 gr. (Velocity) | 150 gr. (Energy) | 220 gr. (Velocity) | 220 gr. (Energy) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
16" | 2412 fps | 1421 ft lbs | 2221 fps | 1339 ft lbs | 1854 fps | 1154 ft lbs | 1102 fps | 593 ft lbs |
12.5" | 2289 fps | 1280 ft lbs | 2118 fps | 1245 ft lbs | 1789 fps | 1066 ft lbs | 1027 fps | 515 ft lbs |
10.3" | 2203 fps | 1185 ft lbs | 1984 fps | 1094 ft lbs | 1709 fps | 973 ft lbs | 960 fps | 450 ft lbs |
9" | 2167 fps | 1147 ft lbs | 1975 fps | 1090 ft lbs | 1661 fps | 919 ft lbs | 957 fps | 447 ft lbs |
7.5" | 2118 fps | 1096 ft lbs | 1957 fps | 1063 ft lbs | 1709 fps | 973 ft lbs | 953 fps | 444 ft lbs |
Best Barrel Length For .300 Blackout
For Subsonic Loads
Based on the data above, it appears that for subsonic loads such as 220 grain (where the .300 BLK really shines), barrel length can be an afterthought, particularly if you plan on using a suppressor. Something like a 7.5" barrel with an appropriate 7 to 8 inch suppressor would allow for a package that is still shorter and a little handier than a typical 16" barrel setup. Keep in mind that many manufacturers will not warranty their suppressors on barrels shorter than around 7.5 inches. This would still make a handy setup for military and law enforcement applications, as well as home defense or just a fun recreational setup for novelty.
For Maximum Velocity
If one were so inclined to use their .300 AAC Blackout setup as a full barrel length "AK replacement" in an AR-15 platform and without a suppressor, a 16" barrel will of course give you the most velocity out of any load, and more energy out of subsonic loads as well. Of course, adding a suppressor to that setup would give you a functional barrel length of over 22", which is not particularly handy. This could be acceptable for 5.56 but not as justifiable in a shorter range .300 Blackout rifle. Also, with the added length of the suppressor, some subsonic loads might break the sound barrier, so this is also something to consider beforehand.
Best Overall Barrel Length for .300 Blackout
The major question still comes down to whether you plan on using a silencer or not. If strictly looking for quietest and best handling setup, one could easily go as short as 5.5" which is offered by a number of manufacturers. Remember, a 7 to 8 inch suppressor will add velocity and make up for such a short barrel, but not fully. Overall a good compromise would be a barrel in the 7" to 9" range, which will offer an overall barrel length of about 14 to 16", granting solid muzzle velocity with all loads, handling that is slightly better or similar to a typical 16" carbine setup, and has the benefit of having a suppressor attached. 7.5" would probably be your best bet overall with a suppressor, especially since this is the minimum warranty barrel length for most suppressor manufacturers. If you want maximum velocity with a barrel still shorter than the norm and don't plan on using a suppressor, 12.5" is a great choice for a pistol style setup. And even if you opted to add one, you're still around (or just under) 20 inch barrel length, which isn't terribly excessive. Another thing to note is that shorter and thicker suppressors are out there, such as the Brevis II line from Delta P (5.5 inches long). This would allow a 12.5" barrel to make much more sense, but suppressors like that are not cheap.
.32 ACP
Below is a table of velocity / barrel length data for the .32 ACP cartridge. It has been sourced from the Ballistics by the Inch website.
Barrel Length | Cor Bon 60 gr. JHP | Federal 65 gr. Hydra-shok JHP | Winchester 71 gr. FMJ | Winchester 60 gr. Silvertip HP |
---|---|---|---|---|
18" | 1394 | 902 | 865 | 941 |
17" | 1358 | 982 | 941 | 1035 |
16" | 1292 | 983 | 891 | 983 |
15" | 1354 | 1037 | 990 | 985 |
14" | 1325 | 1071 | 921 | 991 |
13" | 1332 | 1009 | 976 | 1015 |
12" | 1291 | 943 | 944 | 990 |
11" | 1345 | 996 | 976 | 1023 |
10" | 1332 | 945 | 971 | 999 |
9" | 1302 | 944 | 976 | 990 |
8" | 1305 | 964 | 996 | 1009 |
7" | 1264 | 957 | 979 | 1018 |
6" | 1242 | 1019 | 959 | 980 |
5" | 1231 | 1012 | 973 | 967 |
4" | 1157 | 939 | 939 | 933 |
3" | 1074 | 893 | 871 | 874 |
2" | 944 | 805 | 782 | 787 |
.32 H&R Magnum
Velocity by barrel length for .32 H&R Magnum - Information sourced from Ballistics by the Inch.
barrel length | Federal 85 gr. JHP |
---|---|
18" | 1260 |
17" | 1186 |
16" | 1155 |
15" | 1224 |
14" | 1211 |
13" | 1221 |
12" | 1233 |
11" | 1219 |
10" | 1201 |
9" | 1223 |
8" | 1201 |
7" | 1156 |
6" | 1134 |
5" | 1114 |
4" | 1031 |
3" | 953 |
2" | 845 |
.327 Federal Magnum
Velocity by barrel length for .327 Federal Magnum - Information from Ballistics by the Inch.
barrel length | Federal 85 gr. Hydra-Shok | American Eagle 100 gr. JSP | Speer 115 gr. Gold Dot |
---|---|---|---|
18" | 1910 | 2186 | 1880 |
17" | n/a | 2158 | 1848 |
16" | 1900 | 2141 | 1894 |
15" | n/a | 2128 | 1875 |
14" | 1869 | 2112 | 1816 |
13" | n/a | 2072 | 1815 |
12" | 1838 | 2063 | 1785 |
11" | n/a | 2023 | 1773 |
10" | 1803 | 1950 | 1738 |
9" | n/a | 1957 | 1727 |
8" | 1752 | 1913 | 1681 |
7" | n/a | 1874 | 1659 |
6" | 1675 | 1808 | 1639 |
5" | 1581 | 1701 | 1535 |
4" | 1462 | 1604 | 1451 |
3" | 1331 | 1398 | 1316 |
2" | 976 | 1056 | 1042 |
.38 Special
Velocity by barrel length data for the .38 Special - Sourced from Ballistics by the Inch.
barrel length | Cor Bon 110 gr. JHP | Cor Bon 125 gr. JHP | Cor Bon 110 gr. DPX | Federal 125 gr. Hydra-shok JHP | Speer 135 gr. Gold Dot HP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
18" | 1243 | 1190 | 1332 | 1247 | n/a |
17" | 1211 | 1209 | 1298 | 1233 | n/a |
16" | 1298 | 1261 | 1388 | 1252 | 1315 |
15" | 1220 | 1210 | 1301 | 1231 | 1255 |
14" | 1187 | 1180 | 1274 | 1214 | 1264 |
13" | 1151 | 1182 | 1311 | 1199 | 1247 |
12" | 1181 | 1164 | 1298 | 1192 | 1233 |
11" | 1200 | 1144 | 1232 | 1178 | 1242 |
10" | 1163 | 1135 | 1232 | 1182 | 1217 |
9" | 1162 | 1129 | 1230 | 1144 | 1209 |
8" | 1105 | 1092 | 1214 | 1119 | 1189 |
7" | 1095 | 1069 | 1171 | 1094 | 1145 |
6" | 1021 | 1014 | 1106 | 1052 | 1115 |
5" | 1009 | 1045 | 1129 | 1029 | 1101 |
4" | 1013 | 996 | 1084 | 954 | 1027 |
3" | 851 | 854 | 963 | 831 | 892 |
2" | 675 | 723 | 814 | 700 | 756 |
.357 Magnum
Velocity by barrel length data for the .357 Magnum - Information sourced from Ballistics by the Inch.
barrel length | Cor Bon 110 gr. JHP | Cor Bon 125 gr. JHP | Cor Bon 140 gr. JHP | Cor Bon 125 gr. DPX | Federal 125 gr. JHP | Federal 158 gr. JHP | Federal 130 gr. Hydra-Shok JHP low recoil | Federal 158 gr. Hydra-Shok JHP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
18" | 1718 | 2113 | 1941 | 1936 | 2072 | 1719 | 2017 | 1721 |
17" | 1686 | 2067 | 1947 | 1907 | 2026 | 1689 | 2009 | 1712 |
16" | 1790 | 2119 | 2004 | 1946 | 2051 | 1739 | 2044 | 1741 |
15" | 1728 | 2069 | 1942 | 1915 | 2032 | 1708 | 2012 | 1718 |
14" | 1691 | 2054 | 1933 | 1897 | 2017 | 1732 | 1993 | 1715 |
13" | 1682 | 2024 | 1916 | 1885 | 1979 | 1674 | 1984 | 1687 |
12" | 1725 | 1994 | 1851 | 1858 | 1945 | 1654 | 1934 | 1679 |
11" | 1667 | 1978 | 1814 | 1831 | 1973 | 1643 | 1922 | 1671 |
10" | 1619 | 1943 | 1802 | 1804 | 1943 | 1630 | 1922 | 1638 |
9" | 1615 | 1901 | 1745 | 1779 | 1881 | 1563 | 1812 | 1586 |
8" | 1600 | 1851 | 1717 | 1728 | 1817 | 1570 | 1593 | |
7" | 1578 | 1784 | 1671 | 1682 | 1784 | 1516 | 1765 | 1536 |
6" | 1461 | 1715 | 1580 | 1648 | 1702 | 1465 | 1662 | 1485 |
5" | 1377 | 1614 | 1493 | 1552 | 1571 | 1373 | 1586 | 1402 |
4" | 1286 | 1496 | 1394 | 1471 | 1511 | 1293 | 1453 | 1332 |
3" | 1109 | 1257 | 1172 | 1271 | 1255 | 1102 | 1194 | 1122 |
2" | 928 | 904 | 911 | 1050 | 949 | 858 | 919 | 914 |
.380 ACP
Velocity by barrel length for the .380 ACP - Data sourced from Ballistics by the Inch.
barrel length | Buffalo Bore 90 gr. JHP +P | Buffalo Bore 95 gr. FMJ +P | Cor Bon 80 gr. DPX | Hornady 90 gr. HP/XPT FPD | Hornady 90 gr. FTX | Speer 90 gr. Gold Dot | Winchester 85 gr. Silvertip | Winchester 95 gr. PDX1 Bonded |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
18" | 1441 | 1348 | 1050 | 1042 | n/a | 1218 | 1099 | 1184 |
17" | 1407 | n/a | 1091 | 1049 | n/a | 1207 | 1092 | 1150 |
16" | 1411 | n/a | 1103 | 1056 | n/a | 1218 | 1108 | 1181 |
15" | 1396 | 1349 | 1133 | 1153 | n/a | 1238 | 1099 | 1175 |
14" | 1384 | n/a | 1086 | 1048 | n/a | 1234 | 1104 | 1149 |
13" | 1394 | n/a | 1092 | 1013 | n/a | 1224 | 1113 | 1169 |
12" | 1397 | 1329 | 1103 | 1134 | n/a | 1233 | 1071 | 1200 |
11" | 1384 | n/a | 1107 | 1027 | n/a | 1231 | 1098 | 1187 |
10" | 1355 | 1280 | 1125 | 1026 | n/a | 1201 | 1095 | 1129 |
9" | 1346 | 1289 | 1068 | 1022 | n/a | 1184 | 1065 | 1126 |
8" | 1329 | 1271 | 1081 | 1011 | n/a | 1177 | 1053 | 1103 |
7" | 1314 | 1244 | 1077 | 978 | n/a | 1164 | 1026 | 1091 |
6" | 1290 | 1223 | 1060 | 960 | n/a | 1132 | 1019 | 1042 |
5" | 1254 | 1175 | 1021 | 936 | n/a | 1093 | 990 | 1062 |
4" | 1226 | 1147 | 994 | 907 | 960 | 1052 | 966 | 966 |
3" | 1158 | 1090 | 946 | 860 | 877 | 958 | 900 | 905 |
2" | 1052 | 984 | 875 | 780 | 790 | 852 | 813 | 830 |
.357 SIG
Velocity by barrel length for the .357 SIG - From Ballistics by the Inch.
barrel length | Cor Bon 115 gr. JHP | Cor Bon 125 gr. JHP | Cor Bon 125 gr. DPX | Federal Premium 125 gr. JHP |
---|---|---|---|---|
18" | 1770 | 1729 | 1508 | 1722 |
17" | 1781 | 1736 | 1526 | 1720 |
16" | 1768 | 1723 | 1500 | 1723 |
15" | 1794 | 1746 | 1545 | 1733 |
14" | 1764 | 1747 | 1518 | 1723 |
13" | 1759 | 1721 | 1521 | 1704 |
12" | 1751 | 1699 | 1514 | 1683 |
11" | 1721 | 1699 | 1495 | 1665 |
10" | 1708 | 1690 | 1474 | 1658 |
9" | 1694 | 1669 | 1468 | 1636 |
8" | 1654 | 1627 | 1451 | 1612 |
7" | 1641 | 1599 | 1429 | 1585 |
6" | 1588 | 1552 | 1395 | 1531 |
5" | 1578 | 1537 | 1402 | 1501 |
4" | 1491 | 1468 | 1317 | 1426 |
3" | 1373 | 1326 | 1237 | 1319 |
2" | 1222 | 1173 | 1125 | 1145 |
9mm Luger
Also known as 9mm Parabellum, 9x19mm, etc. Data is from Ballistics by the Inch.
Barrel Length | Cor-Bon 90 gr JHP +P | Cor-Bon 115 gr JHP +P | Cor-Bon 125 gr JHP +P | Cor-Bon 115 gr DPX | Federal 115 gr JHP | Federal 135 gr Hydra-Shok JHP (low recoil) | Federal 105 gr Expand'g FMJ | Federal 124 gr Hydra-Shok JHP | Federal 147 gr Hydra-Shok JHP | Speer 124 gr Gold Dot Short Barrel |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
18" | 1754 | 1543 | 1449 | 1458 | 1297 | 1194 | 1370 | 1231 | 1038 | 1395 |
17" | 1766 | 1550 | 1421 | 1455 | 1320 | 1207 | 1381 | 1250 | 1096 | 1400 |
16" | 1740 | 1525 | 1430 | 1476 | 1295 | 1185 | 1358 | 1243 | 1073 | 1379 |
15" | 1768 | 1536 | 1392 | 1416 | 1304 | 1194 | 1364 | 1244 | 1090 | 1375 |
14" | 1767 | 1532 | 1405 | 1440 | 1295 | 1182 | 1372 | 1241 | 1090 | 1390 |
13" | 1738 | 1517 | 1477 | 1427 | 1281 | 1183 | 1343 | 1237 | 1081 | 1378 |
12" | 1716 | 1514 | 1385 | 1380 | 1282 | 1184 | 1273 | 1225 | 1081 | 1361 |
11" | 1690 | 1496 | 1372 | 1391 | 1268 | 1166 | 1318 | 1212 | 1059 | 1360 |
10" | 1647 | 1474 | 1372 | 1379 | 1253 | 1167 | 1314 | 1211 | 1067 | 1338 |
9" | 1663 | 1476 | 1369 | 1377 | 1238 | 1161 | 1307 | 1212 | 1055 | 1345 |
8" | 1634 | 1458 | 1366 | 1366 | 1234 | 1145 | 1278 | 1180 | 1047 | 1329 |
7" | 1619 | 1446 | 1329 | 1350 | 1223 | 1136 | 1258 | 1161 | 1040 | 1316 |
6" | 1566 | 1402 | 1312 | 1332 | 1188 | 1113 | 1235 | 1131 | 1030 | 1284 |
5" | 1539 | 1372 | 1282 | 1315 | 1166 | 1085 | 1194 | 1115 | 1007 | 1259 |
4" | 1444 | 1316 | 1226 | 1265 | 1094 | 1039 | 1140 | 1061 | 951 | 1203 |
3" | 1345 | 1245 | 1170 | 1215 | 1029 | 976 | 1074 | 988 | 902 | 1108 |
2" | 1215 | 1134 | 1061 | 1132 | 948 | 909 | 985 | 900 | 837 | 1074 |
Best Barrel Length For 9mm?
Based on the data above, it appears that almost all loads tested got their greatest percentage increase in velocity up until about a 7" barrel length. Velocity did of course increase further with longer barrels, but to a much smaller degree. For example, going from a 4" barrel to 7" (a 3 inch difference), every load got well over a 100 fps increase in velocity. However, going a full 10 inches longer up to a 17" barrel gained most of the tested loads under 100 feet per second in velocity. In fact, going from a 17 inch barrel up to 18 inches, actually LOST velocity in all but two of the loads, although the decrease was negligible.
It appears that overall, the optimal barrel length for 9mm (for something like an AR-15 pistol build, SBR, or similar setup), is about 7 to 8 inches for maximum efficiency and handling. If you still wanted to maintain an ultra-short setup with a suppressor, you could go even shorter with barrel length, as the additional length of the suppressor will increase velocity. Even at 7-8" barrel, the additional length of a suppressor would still allow the pistol or SBR to remain more compact than a 16" barrel. A 7" barrel with a 7" suppressor would still give an overall length of 14 inches. If you were looking for a rifle setup, there appears to be no major reason to go above the federal 16" barrel requirement, unless local laws differ, or whatever the case may be.
9x18mm Makarov
Velocity by barrel length for 9x18mm Makarov - From Ballistics by the Inch.
barrel length | Glaser 70 gr. Pow'r Ball | Hornady 95 gr. XTP |
---|---|---|
18" | 1503 | 1075 |
17" | 1493 | 1082 |
16" | 1463 | 1112 |
15" | 1475 | 1100 |
14" | 1459 | 1106 |
13" | 1463 | 1076 |
12" | 1464 | 1081 |
11" | 1432 | 1068 |
10" | 1419 | 1063 |
9" | 1404 | 1054 |
8" | 1389 | 1041 |
7" | 1357 | 1028 |
6" | 1310 | 988 |
5" | 1316 | 973 |
4" | 1237 | 965 |
3" | 1152 | 890 |
2" | 1068 | 831 |
9x18mm Ultra
Velocity by barrel length for 9x18mm Ultra - Data sourced from Ballistics by the Inch.
barrel length | Fiocchi 100 gr. FMJTC |
---|---|
18" | 1201 |
17" | 1229 |
16" | 1233 |
15" | 1221 |
14" | 1233 |
13" | 1225 |
12" | 1214 |
11" | 1211 |
10" | 1185 |
9" | 1148 |
8" | 1139 |
7" | 1136 |
6" | 1098 |
5" | 1085 |
4" | 1019 |
3" | 938 |
2" | 860 |
10mm Auto
Velocity by barrel length for the 10mm Auto - Data from Ballistics by the Inch.
barrel length | Cor Bon 135 gr. Pow'R Ball | Cor Bon 135 gr. JHP | Cor Bon 150 gr. JHP | Cor Bon 165 gr. JHP | Cor Bon 155 gr. DPX | Federal 180 gr. Hydra-Shok | Buffalo Bore 180 gr. JHC | Winchester 175 gr. Silvertip | Hornady 200 gr. XTP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
18" | 1640 | 1710 | 1567 | 1447 | 1319 | 1232 | 1573 | 1370 | 1260 |
17" | 1626 | 1711 | 1559 | 1459 | 1352 | 1209 | 1564 | 1362 | 1243 |
16" | 1643 | 1701 | 1570 | 1441 | 1349 | 1220 | 1573 | 1384 | 1257 |
15" | 1620 | 1662 | 1574 | 1441 | 1339 | 1204 | 1555 | 1357 | 1267 |
14" | 1639 | 1691 | 1569 | 1439 | 1355 | 1222 | 1583 | 1397 | 1280 |
13" | 1634 | 1679 | 1547 | 1437 | 1354 | 1223 | 1586 | 1365 | 1269 |
12" | 1615 | 1653 | 1519 | 1410 | 1307 | 1195 | 1562 | 1321 | 1267 |
11" | 1600 | 1643 | 1521 | 1401 | 1329 | 1182 | 1543 | 1312 | 1225 |
10" | 1580 | 1601 | 1494 | 1400 | 1333 | 1171 | 1509 | 1348 | 1234 |
9" | 1568 | 1594 | 1489 | 1378 | 1306 | 1179 | 1508 | 1304 | 1206 |
8" | 1533 | 1575 | 1466 | 1349 | 1294 | 1146 | 1482 | 1276 | 1190 |
7" | 1508 | 1575 | 1446 | 1331 | 1268 | 1129 | 1453 | 1269 | 1184 |
6" | 1432 | 1504 | 1426 | 1307 | 1254 | 1093 | 1428 | 1228 | 1174 |
5" | 1418 | 1411 | 1382 | 1260 | 1244 | 1069 | 1399 | 1225 | 1133 |
4" | 1328 | 1322 | 1301 | 1209 | 1183 | 1013 | 1338 | 1149 | 1077 |
3" | 1248 | 1255 | 1218 | 1157 | 1116 | 927 | 1250 | 1089 | 1032 |
2" | 1083 | 1071 | 1020 | 976 | 1014 | 841 | 1111 | 950 | 912 |
.40 S&W
Velocity by barrel length data for .40 Smith & Wesson - Sourced from Ballistics by the Inch.
barrel length | Cor Bon 135 gr. JHP | Cor Bon 150 gr. JHP | Cor Bon 165 gr. JHP | Cor Bon 140 gr. DPX | Federal 135 gr. expand'g FMJ | Federal 180 gr. JHP | Federal 135 gr. Hydra-Shok JHP low recoil | Federal 180 gr. Hydra-Shok JHP | Federal 165 gr. Hydra-Shok JHP | Federal 155 gr. Hydra-Shok JHP | Speer 180 gr. Gold Dot Short Barrel |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
18" | 1662 | 1457 | 1378 | 1442 | 1411 | 1165 | 1425 | 1189 | 1117 | 1355 | 1105 |
17" | 1650 | 1498 | 1387 | 1460 | 1403 | 1196 | 1414 | 1207 | 1133 | 1346 | 1133 |
16" | 1636 | 1464 | 1351 | 1433 | 1398 | 1142 | 1398 | 1175 | 1084 | 1317 | 1143 |
15" | 1672 | 1478 | 1392 | 1438 | 1421 | 1165 | 1398 | 1181 | 1114 | 1341 | 1149 |
14" | 1649 | 1460 | 1377 | 1448 | 1382 | 1156 | 1401 | 1170 | 1128 | 1337 | 1134 |
13" | 1630 | 1429 | 1379 | 1393 | 1385 | 1148 | 1392 | 1160 | 1132 | 1327 | 1137 |
12" | 1618 | 1438 | 1341 | 1414 | 1373 | 1120 | 1371 | 1163 | 1123 | 1313 | 1143 |
11" | 1591 | 1408 | 1350 | 1403 | 1359 | 1124 | 1355 | 1132 | 1103 | 1300 | 1124 |
10" | 1587 | 1405 | 1329 | 1392 | 1345 | 1123 | 1338 | 1148 | 1124 | 1294 | 1125 |
9" | 1555 | 1406 | 1297 | 1382 | 1349 | 1113 | 1342 | 1133 | 1096 | 1297 | 1136 |
8" | 1537 | 1382 | 1293 | 1384 | 1314 | 1104 | 1318 | 1115 | 1096 | 1257 | 1099 |
7" | 1514 | 1354 | 1272 | 1368 | 1305 | 1084 | 1288 | 1092 | 1064 | 1241 | 1101 |
6" | 1476 | 1340 | 1251 | 1328 | 1281 | 1067 | 1267 | 1081 | 1052 | 1209 | 1068 |
5" | 1453 | 1303 | 1225 | 1308 | 1233 | 1047 | 1225 | 1051 | 1038 | 1190 | 1053 |
4" | 1350 | 1240 | 1164 | 1236 | 1201 | 1016 | 1155 | 1022 | 985 | 1126 | 1011 |
3" | 1212 | 1169 | 1085 | 1190 | 1152 | 962 | 1080 | 964 | 924 | 1065 | 979 |
2" | 1117 | 1071 | 998 | 1093 | 1032 | 905 | 964 | 892 | 869 | 972 | 930 |
.41 Remington Magnum
Velocity by barrel length for the .41 Remington Magnum - Data is sourced from Ballistics by the Inch.
barrel length | Federal 180 gr. Barnes Exp. Vital-Shok | Winchester 175 gr. Silvertip | Winchester 240 gr. Platinum Tip | Cor Bon 180 gr. DPX | Cor Bon 170 gr. JHP | Speer 210 gr. Gold Dot HP | Buffalo Bore 170 gr. JHP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
18" | 1660 | 1498 | 1442 | 1629 | 1486 | 1745 | 2124 |
17" | 1645 | 1480 | 1460 | 1611 | 1466 | 1739 | 2109 |
16" | 1664 | 1474 | 1440 | 1595 | 1482 | 1706 | 2093 |
15" | 1665 | 1495 | 1442 | 1585 | 1489 | 1717 | 2054 |
14" | 1627 | 1494 | 1412 | 1572 | 1490 | 1710 | 2085 |
13" | 1635 | 1482 | 1427 | 1566 | 1505 | 1692 | 2022 |
12" | 1617 | 1472 | 1422 | 1583 | 1493 | 1683 | 2001 |
11" | 1605 | 1462 | 1400 | 1548 | 1464 | 1626 | 1996 |
10" | 1582 | 1430 | 1386 | 1547 | 1425 | 1629 | 1958 |
9" | 1561 | 1371 | 1359 | 1501 | 1402 | 1589 | 1907 |
8" | 1494 | 1336 | 1327 | 1467 | 1378 | 1567 | 1871 |
7" | 1473 | 1294 | 1280 | 1413 | 1361 | 1500 | 1810 |
6" | 1425 | 1247 | 1246 | 1394 | 1325 | 1445 | 1678 |
5" | 1353 | 1185 | 1195 | 1317 | 1244 | 1363 | 1625 |
4" | 1238 | 1072 | 1098 | 1242 | 1181 | 1268 | 1481 |
3" | 1133 | 918 | 1027 | 1114 | 1030 | 1118 | 1325 |
2" | 934 | 680 | 835 | 917 | 825 | 884 | 985 |
.44 Special
Velocity by barrel length data for .44 Special. From Ballistics by the Inch.
barrel length | Cor Bon 165 gr. JHP | Cor Bon 200 gr. DPX |
---|---|---|
18" | 1353 | 1286 |
17" | 1377 | 1339 |
16" | 1338 | 1307 |
15" | 1339 | 1315 |
14" | 1327 | 1298 |
13" | 1351 | 1290 |
12" | 1314 | 1234 |
11" | 1289 | 1250 |
10" | 1296 | 1263 |
9" | 1224 | 1215 |
8" | 1237 | 1210 |
7" | 1184 | 1146 |
6" | 1133 | 1098 |
5" | 1102 | 1084 |
4" | 1013 | 972 |
3" | 906 | 859 |
2" | 854 | 713 |
.44 Magnum
Velocity by barrel length for the .44 Magnum - Data from Ballistics by the Inch.
barrel length | Cor Bon 165 gr. JHP | Cor Bon 225 gr. DPX | Federal 240 gr. Hydra-Shok JHP | Speer 200 gr. Gold Dot Short-bbl HP |
---|---|---|---|---|
18" | 1558 | 1540 | 1643 | 1341 |
17" | 1590 | 1563 | 1629 | 1354 |
16" | 1552 | 1532 | 1619 | 1377 |
15" | 1564 | 1550 | 1645 | 1361 |
14" | 1541 | 1506 | 1623 | 1358 |
13" | 1549 | 1495 | 1608 | 1341 |
12" | 1514 | 1474 | 1579 | 1353 |
11" | 1497 | 1472 | 1584 | 1315 |
10" | 1501 | 1467 | 1571 | 1319 |
9" | 1438 | 1447 | 1535 | 1278 |
8" | 1433 | 1387 | 1497 | 1282 |
7" | 1385 | 1385 | 1462 | 1251 |
6" | 1321 | 1320 | 1380 | 1197 |
5" | 1270 | 1301 | 1367 | 1170 |
4" | 1150 | 1250 | 1251 | 1099 |
3" | 1015 | 1095 | 1095 | 964 |
2" | 952 | 951 | 944 | 833 |
.45 ACP
The .45 ACP velocity and barrel length data below is sourced from Ballistics by the Inch.
Barrel Length | Buffalo Bore 185 gr. FMJ Flat Nose (Std. P) | Buffalo Bore 230 gr. FMJ RN (Std. P) | Buffalo Bore 185 gr. JHP (+P) | Buffalo Bore 230 gr. JHP (+P) | Double Tap 160 gr. Barnes "TAC-XP" (+P) | Federal 230 gr. "HST" JHP (Std. P) | G2 Research 162 gr. "RIP" JHP (Std. P | Hornady 185 gr. FTX Critical Defense (Std. P) | Hornady 220 gr. Flexlock Critical Duty (+P) | Liberty Civil Defense 78 gr. JHP (+P) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
18" | 1031 | 985 | 1398 | 1161 | 1457 | 926 | 1074 | 1210 | 1057 | 2230 |
16" | 1024 | 1016 | 1438 | 1163 | 1442 | n/a | n/a | 1214 | 1077 | n/a |
14" | 1008 | 996 | 1399 | 1148 | 1451 | n/a | n/a | 1196 | 1066 | n/a |
12" | 976 | 996 | 1357 | 1129 | 1410 | 924 | 1057 | 1183 | 1063 | 2153 |
10" | 909 | 955 | 1326 | 1110 | 1334 | n/a | n/a | 1151 | 1059 | n/a |
9" | 916 | 952 | 1308 | 1097 | 1270 | n/a | n/a | 1135 | 1040 | n/a |
8" | 921 | 944 | 1286 | 1094 | 1280 | n/a | n/a | 1123 | 1035 | n/a |
7" | 891 | 923 | 1257 | 1075 | 1224 | n/a | n/a | 1100 | 1026 | n/a |
6" | 867 | 923 | 1236 | 1062 | 1245 | n/a | n/a | 1089 | 1017 | n/a |
5" | 854 | 880 | 1196 | 1016 | 1208 | 896 | 990 | 1041 | 985 | 1865 |
4" | 820 | 845 | 1135 | 981 | 1143 | 838 | 953 | 994 | 951 | 1823 |
3" | 722 | 800 | 1063 | 907 | 1049 | 789 | 914 | 906 | 907 | 1672 |
.460 Rowland
The .460 Rowland is essentially a magnum cartridge of the .45 ACP, meant to create and handle much higher pressures for a significant increase in performance. It is meant to replicate .44 Magnum performance in a .45 ACP semi-automatic handgun.
The data below is sourced from Ballistics by the Inch.
Barrel Length | Cor-Bon Hunter 230 gr. JHP |
---|---|
18" | 1356 |
17" | 1366 |
16" | 1354 |
15" | 1352 |
14" | 1342 |
13" | 1344 |
12" | 1314 |
11" | 1293 |
10" | 1335 |
9" | 1303 |
8" | 1299 |
7" | 1273 |
6" | 1261 |
5" | 1208 |
4" | 1124 |
3" | 1082 |
2" | 974 |
.45 Colt
Velocity by barrel length for the .45 Colt cartridge - Data sourced from Ballistics by the Inch.
barrel length | Cor Bon 200 gr. JHP +P | Cor Bon 225 gr. DPX +P | Federal 225 gr. semi-wadcutter Lead HP |
---|---|---|---|
18" | 1275 | 1482 | 1042 |
17" | 1254 | 1464 | 1050 |
16" | 1245 | 1483 | 1060 |
15" | 1239 | 1494 | 1045 |
14" | 1238 | 1454 | 1034 |
13" | 1244 | 1431 | 1031 |
12" | 1179 | 1420 | 1005 |
11" | 1198 | 1406 | 1000 |
10" | 1180 | 1387 | 1000 |
9" | 1154 | 1356 | 965 |
8" | 1140 | 1340 | 947 |
7" | 1090 | 1278 | 925 |
6" | 1043 | 1210 | 891 |
5" | 957 | 1157 | 847 |
4" | 875 | 1093 | 757 |
3" | 775 | 936 | 684 |
2" | 675 | 778 | 609 |
.45 Super
Velocity by barrel length for the .45 Super cartridge - Information is sourced from Ballistics by the Inch.
barrel length | Buffalo Bore 185 gr. JHP | Buffalo Bore 200 gr. JHP | Buffalo Bore 230 gr. FMJ | Buffalo Bore 230 gr. JHP | Buffalo Bore 255 gr. Hard Cast | Double Tap 185 gr. JHP | Double Tap 185 gr JHP Bond. Def. | Double Tap 230 gr. JHP Bond. Def. | LeHigh Defense 170 gr. JHP | Underwood 170 gr. CF | Underwood 185 gr XTP JHP | Underwood 230 gr. GD JHP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
18" | 1585 | 1459 | 1323 | 1320 | 1281 | 1657 | 1631 | 1325 | 1375 | 1496 | 1628 | 1301 |
16" | 1608 | 1486 | 1310 | 1339 | 1279 | 1622 | 1590 | 1341 | 1371 | 1478 | 1603 | 1295 |
14" | 1558 | 1436 | 1290 | 1313 | 1240 | 1599 | 1549 | 1334 | 1349 | 1466 | 1603 | 1295 |
12" | 1534 | 1409 | 1265 | 1301 | 1232 | 1580 | 1531 | 1297 | 1331 | 1445 | 1565 | 1261 |
10" | 1498 | 1397 | 1237 | 1267 | 1206 | 1559 | 1558 | 1280 | 1310 | 1409 | 1534 | 1249 |
9" | 1467 | 1373 | 1220 | 1261 | 1189 | 1525 | 1522 | 1246 | 1290 | 1406 | 1516 | 1234 |
8" | 1450 | 1339 | 1198 | 1249 | 1175 | 1506 | 1464 | 1233 | 1289 | 1382 | 1498 | 1204 |
7" | 1434 | 1327 | 1170 | 1209 | 1148 | 1473 | 1422 | 1220 | 1253 | 1360 | 1467 | 1191 |
6" | 1408 | 1288 | 1142 | 1179 | 1136 | 1442 | 1442 | 1235 | 1244 | 1333 | 1428 | 1164 |
5" | 1348 | 1245 | 1124 | 1158 | 1100 | 1353 | 1371 | 1149 | 1213 | 1295 | 1394 | 1129 |
4" | 1269 | 1179 | 1075 | 1107 | 1060 | 1328 | 1229 | 1105 | 1180 | 1242 | 1304 | 1090 |
3" | 1173 | 1105 | 1005 | 1035 | 1000 | 1199 | 1117 | 1061 | 1189 | 1162 | 1210 | 1023 |
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