# Question about muzzle velocity (pistol) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 9, 2016, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-muzzle-velocity-pistol/742580 "2016-01-09T14:06:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2016, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-muzzle-velocity-pistol/742580/1 "2016-01-09T14:06:53Z")
In this listing of the [specifications of the Browning Hi-Power Mk I](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Browning_Hi-Power#Specifications_of_the_Mk_I), immediately below the standard muzzle velocity entry (of 350 m/s) there is also another listing for velocity. It is abbreviated as: “V[sub]12.50[/sub]” (and gives a figure of 340 m/s). I’ve not seen the term V[sub]12.50[/sub] before. Although I’m sure it’s defined on a webpage somewhere, damned if I can find it. So I’ll ask here: anyone know what it is? Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![MichaelEmouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/michaelemouse/32/101_2.png) [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2016, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-muzzle-velocity-pistol/742580/2 "2016-01-09T14:44:13Z")
The velocity at 12.5 meters from the muzzle which is about as far as most handguns are used in real situations? ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2016, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-muzzle-velocity-pistol/742580/3 "2016-01-09T17:01:28Z")
> [@MichaelEmouse](#): > > The velocity at 12.5 meters from the muzzle which is about as far as most handguns are used in real situations? Does the question mark mean you’re not certain? I think it’s very clever and certainly makes a lot sense - it would be a relevant measure in the real world and would be consistent with a 10 m/s drop off 12.5 m from the muzzle. If it’s not the right definition, it should be! ---
**Author:** ![AdamF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/adamf/32/6246_2.png) [@AdamF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AdamF)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2016, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-muzzle-velocity-pistol/742580/4 "2016-01-09T18:01:49Z")
It could also be the velocity 12.5 feet or 12.5 yards from the muzzle. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2016, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-muzzle-velocity-pistol/742580/5 "2016-01-09T18:07:18Z")
> [@MichaelEmouse](#): > > The velocity at 12.5 meters from the muzzle which is about as far as most handguns are used in real situations? That makes no sense as a statistic as compared to muzzle velocity. Any velocity loss is insignificant. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2016, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-muzzle-velocity-pistol/742580/6 "2016-01-09T21:45:21Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > That makes no sense as a statistic as compared to muzzle velocity. Any velocity loss is insignificant. Could it not make sense for a pistol? Just a WAG, but might some pistols (i.e. the bullets they fire) experience a pretty rapid drop off in velocity? The one cited is about 3 percent; might some have, say, a 10 percent drop off? That would translate to a loss of almost 20 percent of the muzzle energy and might then be considered a figure worth knowing. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2016, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-muzzle-velocity-pistol/742580/7 "2016-01-09T21:50:10Z")
[This chart](http://www.gunnersden.com/index.htm.handgun-ballistics.html)has handgun ballistics at muzzle, 50, yds, 100 yds. A 9mm 147 grains only loses 40 fps in 50 yds. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2016, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-muzzle-velocity-pistol/742580/8 "2016-01-09T21:57:57Z")
Looks like the chart fits with **MichaelEmouse** ’s interpretation, i.e. if you interpolate the figures provided in it to 12.5 m, many of them seem to fit the idea that there’d be about a 3 percent drop in velocity at that point. (ETA: for example, some show a 15 percent velocity drop at 50 yards) ---
**Author:** ![Isilder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@Isilder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isilder)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2016, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-muzzle-velocity-pistol/742580/9 "2016-01-10T12:30:43Z")
> [@KarlGauss](#): > > Looks like the chart fits with **MichaelEmouse** ’s interpretation, i.e. if you interpolate the figures provided in it to 12.5 m, many of them seem to fit the idea that there’d be about a 3 percent drop in velocity at that point. (ETA: for example, some show a 15 percent velocity drop at 50 yards) And did they measure the velocity at the barrel, or did they measure the velocity as 12.5 meters and worked backward ? I think they gave the raw = directly measured, data, v12.50 ,and v0 is derived… (or both are derived off time to travel 12.5 )