What are Foot Pounds of Air Rifle Hunting Energy : American Airgunner 

I'm in the UK and this video was the most relaxed and easy to understand video I've come across and as a newbie to air rifle / pistol shooting everything became very clear . Cheers fellas Johnnie Cohen

In all the videos I’ve watched in foot pounds I’ve never heard it put so clearly as to move one foot per one pound so thank you for being the first to make it so clear.

I'm pained by the lack of physics understanding, though the confusing nature of Imperial Units doesn't help. I'll try and give a concise explanation of the relevant physical concepts here, but before discussing foot-pounds specifically, I think it will help to talk more generally about energy. When considering a moving projectile, the energy we care about is kinetic energy, the equation for which is given by: Kinetic Energy = 1/2 x mass x velocity^2 We can see here why both mass and velocity are important, increase either and you increase the kinetic energy (though the effect is squared for velocity). There are many factors which determine how much damage a projectile will do (size, fragmentation, etc.) but the maximum destructive power is a function of kinetic energy. This is why kinetic energy is the most important measurement for a projectile. Foot-pounds is just a measure of energy, and using the kinetic energy equation you can understand how velocity and mass impact the foot-pound measurement. Understanding where the foot-pound unit comes from and how to calculate it is somewhat more complicated, so stop reading here if you don't want to get into the weeds. Work and energy are related by the work-energy theorem which states that: net work = change in kinetic energy. This equality between work and energy means they can be measured with the same unit, hence foot-pounds is a unit of work and energy. I bring this up because the origin of foot-pounds is more easily understood as a measurement of work. Work is force multiplied by distance. In the case of foot-pounds, 1 foot-pound = 1 pound-force x 1 foot. Here we have introduced unit you may not be familiar with: the pound-force (lbf). This is simply the amount of force that 1lb (mass) exerts when under standard gravity (the gravity at sea-level). Since the acceleration of standard gravity is ~32.17 ft/sec^2, we have that 1lbf ≈ 32.17 ft*lb/sec^2, and so we have: 1 foot-pound ≈ 32.17 lb*ft^2/sec^2. So if we have a projectile with mass in grains, M, and velocity in feet per second, v, how can we calculate it's foot-pounds? Starting with the equation for kinetic energy we can write: KE = 1/2 x M x v^2 grains*ft^2/sec^2 Note the units: grains*ft^2/sec^2. To change it to foot-pounds we need to do some unit conversion. First note that there are 7000 grains per pound, so we can rewrite our energy as: KE = 1/14000 x M x v^2 lb*ft^2/sec^2 Now to get to foot-pounds all we have to do is divide by the ≈ 32.174049 lb*ft^2/sec^2 there are per foot-pound (I've used a more accurate approximation for standard gravity in this final equation). This gives an equation for kinetic energy in foot-pounds: KE ≈ M x (v)^2 /450437 foot-pounds. So with a shooting chronograph measuring feet per second and the known mass of the projectile in grains, you can use the above equation to calculate its foot-pounds.

Great video guys. Good information especially the 671 fps to pellet grain benchmark.

Shot Placement is also key.

I love these roundtable discussions. They provide useful information on subjects about which I'm curious. Thank you.

Hi guys, im from the uk and own a sub-12 foot pound air arms s510 Yes, most of the people i know that have air rifles own a sub 12 too, because firearms licences are very strict, also, we have to consider depreciation of the guns over re applying for licences So, i had a friend that was 177 to the bone, i have owned a 177 pistol, but for rifles im a 22 guy Me and the friend that had the 177 was shooting at empty soda cans, and he was putting holes through the cans, entry and exit holes were pellet on pellet, no bigger hole than 5mm I was shooting at the same soda cans, putting around a 6mm hole in the front, and completely blowing the back out the can with a 1.5 inch diameter hole, as my pellets were thumping the inside of the cans like a sledge hammer The 177 were gliding through like a laser beam My friend said he wouldnt hunt with his 177, but i would happily hunt with my 22 In fact, another friend had a piece of land around two acres, and he let me shoot on his land, i dropped a squirrel with a 12 foot pound, 22 springer The pellet hit rhe squirrel right between the eyes, and it dropped out the tree like a stone, like it had been hit by a truck Shot placement is key with the low powered guns, i have seen a well known youtuber in africa using a 30 cal i think it was on ground squirrels, and it didnt matter where he hit them, they were vapourising into red mist, good for pest control, not so good if you wanted to keep the quarry to say supply a taxidermists shop So yes, foot pounds plays a vital role in air gunning, you need to know what your shooting at, what you intend to do with what your shooting at, what calibre your using, your backstop Its no good using a cannon to kill flies, with a paper back stop that backs onto a street, that would be cause enough for blue lights turning up, you have to be responsible I will always say, a 177 is nice for target practice, but take a 22 to get a job done

Most enjoyable video you guys obviously know your stuff and have explained it perfectly,kind regards from the UK,Phil.

Awesome video!! Easy explained to the common being. Thks a lot and congrats

Excellent video very knowledgable cheers guys thanks 🙏

Thanks you guys for the information it means alot for me

Great video guys. Loved it

thank you for this video...

You lot in America can go into Walmart and buy a springer off the shelf that shoots .22 at 1050fps - that equates to around 30ftlbs. We in uk are limited to 12ftlbs unless you have a firearms certificate

We used to get your show on cable, I miss it.

Great info fellas. I'm glad this topic came up and was discussed. As we know that's just the tip of that iceberg. That's what makes airgunning so much fun at least for me. The math to shoot 50-100-150-200 yards is like shooting a powder rifle 700-1000 yards. That's my opinion of course. But it makes the sport so interesting!

This has to be the best video I've seen so far explaining speed vs energy very well explanation every new air gunner should watch it I wish I had seen it long ago when I was new and confused about the difference, I know all this stuff now but found out the harder way great stuff guys 👍👍👍👍

Interesting stuff. thanks

thank you for the info

thank you for sharing information for us novice shooters

Please add subtitles in all your videos. This is essential for the hearing impaired and can also help those who want to learn languages. Thanks

nice video , so much info around this guys . I just got a Benjamin Armada .25 cal , and I didn't know how many foot pounds delivers until now , I believe is 40 . Glad I live on the US , base on what they said 12 pounds+ is consider a fire arm in the UK

Thanks explained so as it could be understood and not full of stuff that you need a degree to understand. All the best from the UK 🇬🇧.

It would be nice to know what minimum energy is required for different sized game.

Great video. I'm just getting into air guns. I need to do larger pest varmint control in an environment where firearms are out, poisoning is out and traps are not even a viable option. My old pump-up pelt/BB gun is not working so well. I would like to know what will work best without just throwing money at guns till I find something that works. Make sense?..

Great video guys. My benjamin marauder .22 will blow a hole clean through an empty 1lb camping propane tank at twenty yards with a 15.4 grain pellet. Foot pounds of energy is big. Especially when taking care of pest animals. Or if your in the woods hunting and a boar hog decides hes coming for you. POP!! Down boar hog and you walk away unharmed plus the family has supper on the table.

thank you so much for this video, i finally get it.

Bring back these round table videos

Wow what an information. These guys should get paid

I really like u gays. Very nice topics u always choose

Great video. When I first started air gunning it was because ammo prices were through the roof. I was living in a neighborhood that had a humongous Crow problem. At the time I only had a little Daisy 880 and I would shoot these crows and they would just fly away.... Not liking me very much I assume. So I went looking for a rifle that could take these crows out. The Gamo big cat 1400 had just come out. And when I saw that big 1400 ft per second on the box I wanted it. Gamo must test their rifles in a vacuum or on top of Mount Everest. Even with the PBA ammunition it wasn't even close to 1400 ft per second. To make a long story short overtime I figured out that a heavier pellet was better and switch to the h&n baracuda Hunter Extreme overtime I figured out that a heavier repellent was better and switch to the H & N Barracuda hunter extreme. That helped improve things 90%. My biggest beef today with that rifle is that it is so light with a composite stock it is super hold sensitive. And it's effective range is probably 25 yd Max. I haven't retired it but I did replace it. I bought a Hatsan 125 sniper rifle in the same 17 caliber for only $20 more than what I paid for the Gamo and it is one sweet honey of a rifle. It's heavy which helps control The Recoil of the power plant. It's faster by almost 200 ft per second. And its accuracy at 50 yards is amazing. Even at a hundred yards I'm looking at a 5 to 7 in group depending on the Wind. That completely blows me away. It's actually almost on par with my Gamo SE Hunter Extreme in 22 caliber. Which is a great rifle with the worst trigger I've ever put my finger on. It is a tack driver at 50 yards but at 70 yards the groups really open up. Long story short guess I could keep going on all day about this it's my passion. But I have to walk the dog and fix dinner. Lol! After 12 years of learning the hard way I know exactly what the magic number is. I keep dope books just like I do when I go shoot my powder burners. And for a guy that hated math in high school. I'm actually in love with doing math now. You won't become a proficient shooter if you don't. If there's one thing I love about the sport of shooting... It's that it can give you the biggest headache in the world because there are so many variables. The longer you do this for the easier it gets but when you first start out it's almost overwhelming. Is your scope mounted right is there cant to the scope, was my body positioned correctly...... Was my breathing correct, am I using the proper trigger pull.... Did I adjust the second focal plane correctly on my scope.... Is it me or is it the ammunition I'm using... The list can just go on and on. But once you're settled in it's easier to diagnose a bad day at the range. A shout out to Rick Eustler... That guy has helped me out a lot along the way. Facts not fluff!!!! One of these days I hope I have the money to go to competition and compete. And it would sure be a blast just to meet all of you guys in person.

Hello, my .22 call break barrel springer produce 488 fps on 16.2 grain flat head pellet with energy of 8.6 ft/lb. It only like mastershot flat head pellet of 16.2 grain, other pellet does not give such fine accuracy on my air rifle. So, my question is that can this air rifle put partridge and rabbit at which distance successfully ?

Good information, but I’d like to see the actual calculation.

I really appreciate these video's. Very Informative. My only suggestion is that the audio volume be addressed as I've noticed that the video volume in general is way too low. With my device volume all the way up its hard to hear. I notice this on my phone as well as my laptop.

He never shuts up, let him explain! 😠

Sir I find your videos best and very much informative. I have a 20 joules and 850 FPS PCP air riffle. What grain or pellet weight should I use for most effective result. Please suggest me. Thanks a million

I wish they would do a segment on the old guns like the daisy red rider and crosman 760. Also can a anyone tell what is the best brand of 12 gram co2 cartridge, I have been using the crosman ones but I feel like there a little below par.

I use my modified 1322 at three pumps for sparrows at close range paired with a hollow point..goes in but not out..

One thing that I believe needs to be said....ft lbs are important, but it does not take into consideration momentum. This is very important, as big slugs do big things... for instance, a 35 cal pellet(81grn) moving at 850 fps gives us almost exactly the same energy as a 22 lr, but is considerably more effective on game. If in doubt,consider the 44 magnum revolver.... it has literally taken everything that walks....including elephants. The .223 has more energy ,but ,is there anyone out there that wants to try a grizzly or a Cape buffalo? I would love to see comparisons on a video... like a 22 hornet (600 ft lbs plus) against an Airforce Texan (450 ft lbs) or a Badger (325 ft lbs )... it would really put things in perspective for hunters who are " on the fence" about hunting with an air rifle...

and the penetration ??, more area for the big calibre, less pressure impact can you explain ? how afect the area?

The first thing that he said about foot pounds I thought about it for a second and pieced out the word and figured out what it means

I agree and wish all mfgs would also list ft*lbs or joules on the box including speed and weight. I know, I know, you can always download that from the mfg's website, and print it out - which is unfortunately what I do, and forget to bring along with me....

There are so many factors that go into terminal performance of a projectile that there are books written on the subject. Thick books, because it's a very complex subject. I've been shooting all types of guns for over 40 years and have barely scratched the surface of ballistic performance. That's why I use computer software to help me understand how my guns will perform - energy, velocity, trajectory.

I have gamo swarm magnum 10x gen 2 How much power is this..?? How much damage can this do ..? 26.6 Foot Pounds, Trigger Pull 3.2/2.6 Pounds, Length of Pull 15 In., 41lbs cocking effort 1650 fps with .177 cal pellets.. JBS HADES .177 10.34 gr

Foot pounds and velocity are kind of like horsepower and torque, people can get hooked on the wrong importance of each sometimes...

I read that "foot Pounds" was the energy created by dropping a one pound weight from a certain height. for example, 10 foot pounds is the force generated equal to dropping a one pound weight from ten foot height. This makes more sense to me than what Tom Gaylord stated on "moving" one pound of weight at distance. I have a .25cal air rifle according to chart on Pyramyd Air website (Tom Gaylord is staff member), that says it shoots 30 foot pounds! I cant see my 16 grain pellet moving a one pound weight 30 feet! But I can see that pellet hitting a target with the same force that a one pound weight hits it if dropped from 30 foot height.

The magic number is 450240.... Ok. If you know the velocity and weight in grains of the slug. Then multiply velocity times velocity times weight in grains ÷ 450240. Try it with any gun of any caliber. As long as you know the velocity and the weight in grains of the projectile. Use calculator..

In NJ, air guns, BB guns, and sling shots, all need the same purchase permit to by and register.

What I'd like to know is, what is the average range of FPE in most airguns? 16-22? 18-20?

Everything discussed about ft.lb. vs. Ft/Sec is applicable for archery. The archery industry pushes speed for hunting but, generally speaking, for big game a heavy hunting arrow is required for superior penetration.

"671fps" At 671fps the FPE equals the weight of the pellet 475fps = 0.5 671fps = 1.0 822fps = 1.5 949fps = 2.0 1163fps = 3.0 For ease let's say you're shooting 10gr pellets 475 x 475 x 10 / 450240 = 5.0ft-lbs 671 x 671 x 10 / 450240 = 10.0ft-lbs 822 x 822 x 10 / 450240 = 15.0ft-lbs 949 x 949 x 10 / 450240 = 20.0ft-lbs 1163 x 1163 x 10 / 450240 = 30.0ft-lbs If you find this useful, great, please don't post to tell me 671 "is a bit more exact" Believe it or not, I don't always have a calculator on me. If I'm out somewhere and an airgunner tells me they're getting 825fps with a 7.9gr pellet, well, then I know they're getting around 12ft-lbs, at 950fps I know they're getting around 16ft-lbs.

So look on line for simple physics of defintions of weight (mass) , velocity ( measured as distance over time in feet per second or meters per second), or work or energy,etc.....the guys in this video do a good job, but some simple definitions will go a long way to better understanding how all this works.

in the US whats the power restriction on owning an air rifle without a licence? over here in the UK is 12 foot pounds! is it the same over there?

Does anyone know where to find an account of a Civil War soldier attempting to reach out and touch a slow moving cannon ball?

What caliber is the 20ftp gun that is next to the .177?

Question! Please, need a better understanding. So FPE, 1st example- 125 FPE, is the amount of energy that is able to push a one pound object 125 feet? Or the amount of energy capable of pushing a 125lb abject, 1 foot of distance? Which one?

I must admit I enjoyed the video though

Excellent video extremely informative and easy to understand thanks for the video!!!.💎😎

the formula is 1/2 x Mass X Velocity X Velocity=Kinetic Energy in US units the units work out as ft-lb . In US we use lbs so we have to divide by 32 to get slugs.

Accuracy is King no point having a 22 calibre or heavy pellet if your missing the target, 0.177 as flatter trajectory and is more accurate so most likely hut the target than .22, but 22 as more stopping power and low pass through.

Great video, great that you quoted UK laws. Here in Northern Ireland, although part of the UK all air guns are on F.AC. so we tend to avoid 12 ft lbs and go for the higher power like you guys in the U.S. Still think UK is best for airgun quality.

This would be the best app ever

Its fare to say the a bullet standing on end doesn't have 650 ft lbs against it??

Hello Rossi, you should know that foot pounds do matter since shooting the umarex hammer.....P.s. tell us more about that experience! kind regards, Lasse

The host as it may seem needs to shut up and let the man talk. He also laughs for no reason at all. Maybe on drugs?

Had me laughing within 30 seconds...subbed with a thumbs up. My favorite physics quote is, “energy is the messenger, and momentum is the message.” -Another less intelligent air gunner. 😉

🤙 PLEASE CAN ANYONE TELL ME IF THE TEXAN 50 CAL LSS SUPPRESSOR BE REMOVED AND USE THE RIFLE WITH JUST THE BARREL” ?

Can we buy that 50 cal air gun in india

Think about what you could break by throwing a small rock , then throwing a big rock at the same speed

My question is, Why does the ft lb increase but the velocity drops,

I am new to air gunning but not new to physics, that bringing said I don't know it all BUT a foot pound in a lever is is the rotational force called a torque that is created when you hold 1 pound a distance 1 foot away. If you have 2 foot pounds it is holding 2 pounds a distance 1 foot away OR holding 1 pound 2 feet away. The velocity is the feet per second or ft/sec. The energy you speak of is MOMENTUM. a bigger pellet moving at the same speed as a smaller pellet has a bigger momentum. If you increase the speed you increase the momentum there are limits of course like air resistance. So a pellet which has had twice the foot pounds applied to it will not necessarily have twice the velocity and there fore not have twice the momentum. NOW I know what these words mean but I don't know exactly how it applies to air guns obviously there is no 1 foot long lever inside the air gun. It may mean the gun create a force that is constant for 1 foot. It may mean the gun creates a force needed to balance an unbalanced lever. This video did not help me I think the guns should be rated in pounds not foot pounds. But this may help you guys: Moment ft-lbs = force lbs x distance ft Momentum = velocity x mass

and horsepower used to be tested against actual horses so 6 horsepower in 1901 is likely to be more powerful than 6 horsepower in 2001 as there is a lot more weight to these engines and when they are running their will provide a lot more torque if you seen the flywheel on some of these old hit and miss engines like they were displaying at the Dutchess County Fair you would see even the old tractors the flywheels were huge

Buy a gamo magnum, it can shoot a 14.3grain round at 1,000FPE, that’s 24ft-lb’s, enough to take out raccoons and small game. It’s also really fun to shoot.

so if ft lbs depends on the weight of a pellet and the speed (thats what your suggesting) then how are guns rated when you can shoot different weight (grain) pellets? also, how the hell is ft lbs calculated in a gun. any use of ft lbs i know of is based on a rotational force.

Muzzle velocity of a civil war 6 pounder was 1400 fps, not 350. Maybe the artillerymen were short-charging to save powder?

You have to put the least energy to the air the pellet is flying to. So the only why to reduce that energy wasted is to reduce the speed. But reducing the speed results in less energy in the pellet. So more weight is added.

Just visually explain F=M*A and remember I said VISUALLY.

Jim Chapman has a better perspective to listen to.

Actually foot pounds is a measure of energy in terms of potential energy. If you were able to shoot a pellet of a weight of that ammount of pounds in a perfectly vertical position it would indicate how many feet you are able to reach. That would be so assuming no air density (no air resistance) and a constant equal value for the gravity constant (approximately 9,805 m/ (s*s) in metric system of measures)

No way, that I could sit at the table with that guy. Too annoying. He's just not getting it.

Huh, so its not like how many times you pound with your foot?

I got the foot pounds after long marches in the Army...lol

What about joules????

The mysticism of Ft/lbs in the air gun world is the equivalent of torque in the automotive world. 🤣😂 Happy uk viewer here with my sub 12 Ft/lbs rifle. 🇬🇧 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Foot Pounds = Joules (Took me one week to realize that... I'm European)

6 foot pounds kills rabbits and hares simple. .177 with 7.6 grains drops them,......IF you have the energy at the target. If you have a rifle with about 900 to 1000 Fps in .177 and use a 7.6 grain, it is made for the job. Want to hit harder, go up to 10.5 grain. More Ft/LB on target. Just don't shot beyond effective range.

I am not sure the Godfather is correct with the definition of energy in this case. He is talking distance over time, work done, which is how horsepower is measured, but I think of this as static. If I hit a steel plate that does not move, how do you measure the energy? Force over area of course. 30 fte is 30 pounds of force measured anywhere in a 1 foot square area. That can mathematically be broken down to the force of a .30 cal head, which I think would be 61,128 pounds of force on a .30 diameter pellet head.

This is bussines in deed Eria Banda from Zimbabwe

The point is that the velocity on the box is meaningless, because you don't know how light of a pellet was used to achieve it. Once you know how fast a gun will shoot a particular weight of pellet then you know the power of the gun, or in other words, the foot pounds.

OK, now explain brake horse power vs regular!!??

And the maths is Force /energy = mass x velocity

Host: "The more you know the less you care, right?" Several thousand people: Watching Paul Harrell "tediously" shoot a chronograph and calculate energy foot-pounds. Sure buddy. Sure.

All I gotta say is Diana ar8... Ur welcome or gamo magnum

Ft/lb is the energy to lift 1 lb, 1 ft. Not move 1 ft.

Correct energy and shot placement. This is my Magic formula...

Interesting subject. Good entertainment also along with a cup of coffee on a saturday morning.. I mostly shoot replica co2 airpistols at short ranges (5-7meters) at home for own entertainment and pistol training so I have not really gotten into these things. But, I do have a break barrel rifle also ("Crosman Shadow" I'd recall...). And some heavier pellets (that actually looks like bullets) that I have not yet tried out. Then it is when all of this would come in. Velocity, distance, pellet weight, etc.. Would be interested to sight in the scope for those heavier pellets for use in my backyard (approx 20meter).

it is the energy required to lift a one lb weight one foot vertically. eg 12 ft lbs will lift a one lb weight 12 feet vertically SIMPLES

I prefer the 13 to 15 foot pounds of energy that my diana model 34 classic .22 air gun puts out when shooting the jsb domed 15.89 grain pellets that I shoot more than the 21 to 23 foot pounds of energy that I used to get from the diana 350 magnum .22 air gun that I used to have that I shot jsb diabolo 18.13 grain domed pellets out of because that extra 25 to 30% of foot pounds of energy was overkill and the gun was hard to cock and it was too big and too heavy and I didn't like the sights. Funny thing is I reckon in great Britain I would probably need a permit for my diana model 34 classic .22 air gun because I'm getting over 12 foot pounds of energy with the pellets I'm using

Now you need a licence to own a 12 foot pound air gun in Scotland. Now it is just as difficult or a easy "ha ha" to get the licence. To get this licence you need, 1 A landowner that will sign your application saying you can shoot on his land. 2 your medical history will be scrutinized. 3 you will need two pillars of society ie a lawyer, doctor or a cop or anyone else of that calibre, to also sign your application saying that they have known you for over 5 years and that you are of sound mind and body and that you would be a responsible gun owner. 6 Then you have to get a steel cabinet. Along with a load of other awkward questions and a £73 fee. In my opinion if you can get all of this why not just get a rim fire. Also if are seen by the police carrying an air rifle in its case or if they see one in your house they can and will take your air gun away to be tested for power, so you can say goodbye to your gun for a VERY long time.

There's a tool on the H&N site. You choose a pellet, you put in the ft pounds or joules of the gun and then you can see the velocity, energie en trajectory of the pellet on any distance till 100 meters. You can also put in the hight where your scope is mounted. Very useful 👍