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**44 AMP** · June 25, 2006, 01:04 AM

A rough rule of thumb is 35-50 fps per inch for handguns, and 50-75fps per inch for rifles, BUT it is only an approximate. Each gun is a law unto itself.

I have seen a 100fps difference between three different guns with the same barrel length firing the same ammo. This is a little outside of the average, but it does happen. So it is possible for a "fast" carbine to equal the velocity from a "slow" rifle length barrel. The only sure way to tell for certain is to chronograph your gun/ammo. Anything else is just an estimate.

June 25, 2006, 01:04 AM	#11
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,871	Rule of thumb A rough rule of thumb is 35-50 fps per inch for handguns, and 50-75fps per inch for rifles, BUT it is only an approximate. Each gun is a law unto itself. I have seen a 100fps difference between three different guns with the same barrel length firing the same ammo. This is a little outside of the average, but it does happen. So it is possible for a "fast" carbine to equal the velocity from a "slow" rifle length barrel. The only sure way to tell for certain is to chronograph your gun/ammo. Anything else is just an estimate. __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.