Ammo
Muzzle Velocity
The speed of a bullet as it leaves the barrel, measured in feet per second (fps) — a major driver of trajectory and energy.
Muzzle velocity is how fast the bullet is traveling the moment it exits the barrel, in feet per second. It's set by the cartridge, powder charge, bullet weight, and barrel length — longer barrels generally yield more velocity as the powder has more time to push. A chronograph measures it directly.
Velocity drives both trajectory and energy: faster bullets shoot flatter and arrive with more energy, but also generate more recoil and muzzle blast. It's one of the two key inputs (with ballistic coefficient) for any trajectory calculation, which is why precision shooters chronograph their loads.