How to calculate the power of an airgun

[brihacharan]

Hi All,
> With everyone wanting to 'TUNE' their air rifles for enhancing its power & accuracy - this would perhaps help you in knowing your air rifle better:
> When it comes to Air guns, many people regard the Air gun as a toy. However, as I and many others can attest, the Air gun is a very viable tool for hunting and pest control. And one of the things that concern a hunter the most is the power available from his Air gun.
> There is a simple mathematical equation that you can use to determine the power that your Air gun develops which is expressed as ‘Foot Pounds’ or flbs.
> Here is the equation:
Mass (in grains) X Velocity (in feet-per-second) squared, divided by 450240 (gravitational constant)
Example:
1. Assuming the weight of the .22 cal pellet = 14 grains
2. The fps of your air rifle is 800
> Calculation:
14 x 800 (squared) = 64,0000 x 14 = 8960000 divide this by 450240 ( gravitational constant)
Answer = 20flbs approx.
> NOTE: Since the limit of POWER allowed by UK is 12 flbs, 20flbs is approx. over 60% more than regulation, which is plenty of power to knock out pests.
> Happy Plinking!!!
Cheers
Brihacharan

[fantumfan2003]

Great stuff and the maths is not difficult to remember either.

Talking of UK .....

When 12 can do it why go for 20

http://nigelallen.blogspot.com/2009/07/ ... r-for.html

Magnumitis gang please don't be upset.

M.

[Atanu]

Hi Brihacharan,

Great stuff indeed. Good 'ol mv2/g.

I wonder if there could be a method to approximate the fps of the airgun, without using a chrony.

BR// Atanu

[brihacharan]

Hi Fantumfan,
> Good blog by Nigel Allen - Interesting.
> Yet 'Magnumitis' is a deadly virus & once it gets into the system, its hard to get rid of!!
> It's like 'Souping Up' a 4 cylider car by re-boring the cylinders & fit enlarged pistons and add a 'Nitro' booster to gain acceleration & speed. Can the car take it? It'll fall apart sooner or later, because of structural limitations.
> So is with AirGuns!!!
> I think a well tuned gun that can produce around 15flbs with 14gr pellets (.22cal) should be good upto 30mtrs & that's plenty of muscle - plinking / pest control.
Cheers
Brihacharan