PercyShelley
Member
- Joined
- Feb 15, 2007
- Messages
- 1,075
Some years ago I ran across this article:
http://www.z-hat.com/Efficiency of the 300 Hawk.htm
On the thermodynamic efficiency of firearms; that is, how much of the energy of the burning gunpowder gets converted into motion of the bullet.
Does anyone know if the figures in this article are correct? They certainly pass the smell test; about 30% efficiency is close to what most internal combustion engines achieve, and a firearm is not so different from a piston engine.
http://www.z-hat.com/Efficiency of the 300 Hawk.htm
On the thermodynamic efficiency of firearms; that is, how much of the energy of the burning gunpowder gets converted into motion of the bullet.
Does anyone know if the figures in this article are correct? They certainly pass the smell test; about 30% efficiency is close to what most internal combustion engines achieve, and a firearm is not so different from a piston engine.