speaking of Colt 1911's

[jwr747]

was looking at a early millitary service manual for the 1911 and with the specs,length,height, max chamber pressure ect. was a spec for max muzzle velocity.why would the military,or anyone, care what muzzle velocity was?? I can see wanting a bullet that that goes 830fps,but why put a max limit, is 850fps dangerous ? just wondering,thanks . jwr

 

[rcmodel]

Because the sights were intended to shoot where you looked with a 230 bullet at a specific muzzle velocity.

It would also be getting to be a high pressure load with the very fast powders of the day if it went much over 850 FPS.

rc

 

[Dobe]

was a spec for max muzzle velocity.why would the military,or anyone, care what muzzle velocity was?? I can see wanting a bullet that that goes 830fps,but why put a max limit, is 850fps dangerous ? just wondering,thanks . jwr

The military traditionaly will publish the effective range and max range of a weapon. Publishing the max velocity of a .45 ACP only means "this is the most you will get out of this cartridge through the currently issued handgun". In reality of course, 830 fps is an average.

It doesn't really mean any more than that.