Murphy: The computer program doesn't care if the powder burns 100% or not. The key is that 100% of the weight of the original powder charge is ejected from the bore at whatever velocity the equation uses.

The 'mass' of the ejected material is what counts along with the velocity. As long as the stuff is flying out the bore at gas speed, it matters not what the stuff is or how it got accelerated.

The equation is valid with black powder also, and we know that much of black powder generated 'gasses' are actually solids. These particles are carried at gas velocity, at least until the pressure is relieved and they hit still air.

In a kenetic energy calculation the velocity is given a squared value, thus the dramatic increase in energy when the speed goes up.


"The price of good shotgunnery is constant practice" - Fred Kimble