Estimating Gun Muzzle Velocity via Propellant Charge Weight

(Revised April 2024)

Bibliography:
Technology of Tanks by R.M. Orgorkiewitz

Where:

VM: Muzzle Velocity (m/sec)
MC: Propellant Charge Mass (kg)
MP: Projectile Mass (kg)

NOTE FOR YOUR CALCULATIONS: 2790 m/s is the highest velocity achieved by a conventional propellant tank gun; by the Canadian ARDE using a 81.3mm L95 smoothbore.

EXAMPLE: How fast will a 5 kilogram projectile travel when it's accelerated by 10 kilograms of propellant?

1500(10/5)0.45 = 2,409.06 m/sec

PRE-BUILT CALCULATOR


Projectile Mass (kg)
Propellant Mass (kg)

Muzzle Velocity (m/sec)

Finding Propellant Mass Necessary For A Given Velocity/Shell Mass

OpenAI rearranged the equation into this format to find for Propellant Charge Weight when Velocity and Shell Mass are known:

The variables are the same as in the previous equation.

PRE-BUILT CALCULATOR


Projectile Mass (kg)
Projectile Muzzle Velocity (m/sec)

Charge Weight (kg)