Which unit is used to express the muzzle velocity of the M940 round?

Which unit is used to express the muzzle velocity of the M940 round?

• A. MPH
• B. KPH
• C. RPS
• D. FPS

Answer: (D)

Muzzle velocity is the speed of the bullet as it exits the barrel. The unit feet per second (fps) is used because it directly expresses how far the bullet travels each second right at the moment it leaves the muzzle, and it’s the standard in many firearm specifications in the United States. Miles per hour or kilometers per hour would give large, less intuitive numbers for this initial velocity, since they measure overall speed over a longer distance, not the immediate exit speed. Revolutions per second would describe spin, not forward travel. So the feet-per-second unit best conveys the actual forward velocity at the muzzle.

Muzzle velocity is the speed of the bullet as it exits the barrel. The unit feet per second (fps) is used because it directly expresses how far the bullet travels each second right at the moment it leaves the muzzle, and it’s the standard in many firearm specifications in the United States. Miles per hour or kilometers per hour would give large, less intuitive numbers for this initial velocity, since they measure overall speed over a longer distance, not the immediate exit speed. Revolutions per second would describe spin, not forward travel. So the feet-per-second unit best conveys the actual forward velocity at the muzzle.