A rifle bullet typically travels at speeds ranging from about 1,200 feet per second (fps) to over 4,000 fps. For example, some centerfire rifle cartridges have muzzle velocities from around 1,200 fps to more than 4,000 fps, with certain varmint hunting rounds reaching nearly 4,000 fps. The speed varies depending on the rifle type, ammunition, barrel length, and bullet weight. Bullets slow down after leaving the barrel due to air resistance and gravity, so their velocity decreases as they travel downrange. More specifically:
- Common centerfire rifle bullets travel between 1,200 and 4,000 fps.
- Some popular hunting rounds exceed Mach 3 (about 3,260 fps).
- Rimfire and pistol rounds usually travel slower, from about 500 to 1,400 fps.
- An assault rifle bullet from a 20-inch barrel can travel around 3,200 fps.
- The fastest rifle bullets in factory loads can reach speeds over 4,600 fps (e.g., some .22 caliber centerfire cartridges).
In miles per hour, a typical rifle bullet can reach speeds up to around 2,700 mph at the muzzle, such as a Remington .223 bullet leaving the muzzle at over 2,700 mph (about 4,400 km/h). In summary, rifle bullets travel extremely fast, typically in the range of 1,200 to over 4,000 feet per second, or roughly 800 to 3,000 miles per hour, with exact speed depending on many factors like rifle, ammunition, and barrel length.
