The Energy Efficiency of the Shot in a Gas-Operated Gun

The process of firing a gun comprises the conversion of energy from the chemical energy of the propellant into the kinetic energy of the bullet, the kinetic energy of the automatic components and other forms of energies. In order to determine this energy distribution in an automatic gun operating on the principle of gas extraction, the processes occurring in the barrel and other gas chambers are considered according to the method of thermo-gas-dynamics. Results show that the kinetic energy of the bullet at the moment it leaves the muzzle is approximately 34 of the total energy released on firing. The remaining energy of the powder gas is wasted in thermal and gaseous effects that serve no useful purpose. Clarifying this energy conversion provides the basis for improving the energy efficiency of the shot. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2024.