Our recoil calculator tool will help you determine the recoil energy and velocity of your firearm based on the ammunition and firearm specifications you input.
Recoil Calculator
How to use the Recoil Calculator
To use the recoil calculator, input the bullet mass in grains, the bullet velocity in feet per second, and the gun weight in pounds. Once you have filled in these fields, click on the “Calculate” button to get the recoil energy in foot-pounds.
How it Calculates the Results
The calculator uses the following formula to calculate the recoil energy:
Recoil Energy (foot-pounds) = (Bullet Mass (grains) * Bullet Velocity (fps)^2) / (2 * Gun Weight (lbs) * 7000) * 64.348
This formula is based on the conservation of momentum and assumes a perfectly inelastic collision where the bullet and firearm move in opposite directions.
Limitations
Please note that this calculator assumes a straight-line recoil, which is an idealization. In reality, the actual recoil a shooter feels can be affected by numerous factors including the shape of the stock, the presence of recoil pads, the shooter’s stance and grip, and more. This calculator does not take these human and environmental factors into account, and as such, the calculated recoil energy is a theoretical value that serves as a starting point for understanding a firearm’s recoil.