Free recoil

This article is about the energy produced by small arms when discharged. For other uses, see Recoil (disambiguation).

Free recoil is a vernacular term or jargon for recoil energy of a firearm not supported from behind. Free recoil denotes the translational kinetic energy (E_t) imparted to the shooter of a small arm when discharged and is expressed in joule (J) and foot-pound force (ft·lb_f) for non-SI units of measure. More generally, the term refers to the recoil of a free-standing firearm, in contrast to a firearm securely bolted to or braced by a massive mount or wall.

Free recoil should not be confused with recoil. Free recoil is the given name for the translational kinetic energy transmitted from a small arm to a shooter. Recoil is a name given for conservation of momentum as it generally applies to an everyday event.

Free recoil, sometimes called recoil energy, is a byproduct of the propulsive force from the powder charge held within a firearm chamber (metallic cartridge firearm) or breech (black-powder firearm). The physical event of free recoil occurs when a powder charge is deflagrated within a firearm, resulting in the conversion of chemical energy held within the powder charge into thermodynamic energy. This energy is then transferred to the base of the bullet and to the rear of the cartridge or breech, propelling the firearm rearward into the shooter while the projectile is propelled forward down the barrel, with increasing velocity, to the muzzle. The rearward energy of the firearm can be when calculated is the free recoil and the forward energy of the bullet when calculated and is the muzzle energy.

The concept of free recoil comes from the tolerability of gross recoil energy. Trying to figure the net recoil energy of a firearm (also known as felt recoil) is a futile endeavor. Even if you can calculate the recoil energy loss due to: muzzle brake; recoil operated action or gas operated action; mercury recoil suppression tube; recoil reducing butt pad and or hand grip; shooting vest and or gloves, the human factor is not calculable.

Therefore, free recoil stands as a scientific measurement of recoil energy, just as the room or outside temperature is measured. The comfort level of a shooter’s ability to tolerate free recoil is a personal perception. Just as it is a person's, personal perception of how comfortable he or she feels to room or outside temperature.

There are many factors that determine how a shooter will perceive the free recoil of his or her small arm. Some of the factors are, but not limited to: body mass; body frame; experience; shooting position; recoil suppression equipment; small arm fit and or environmental stressors.

Calculating free recoil

There are several different ways to calculate free recoil. However, the two most common are the momentum short and long forms.

Both forms will yield the same value. The short form uses one equation as where the long form requires two equations. With the long form you will first find for the fire arm velocity. With the velocity known for the small arm, the free recoil of the small arm can be calculated using the translational kinetic energy equation.

Momentum short form: $E_{tgu}=0.5\cdot [{\tfrac {(m_{p}\cdot v_{p})+(m_{c}\cdot v_{c})}{1000}}]^{2}/m_{gu}$
Momentum long form: $v_{gu}={\tfrac {(m_{p}\cdot v_{p})+(m_{c}\cdot v_{c})}{1000\cdot m_{gu}}}$ → $E_{tgu}=0.5\cdot m_{gu}\cdot v_{gu}^{2}\,$

Where as:

E_tgu is the translational kinetic energy of the small arm as expressed by the joule (J).

m_gu is the weight of the small arm expressed in kilograms (kg).

m_p is the weight of the projectile expressed in grams (g).

m_c is the weight of the powder charge expressed in grams (g).

v_gu is the velocity of the small arm expressed in meters per second (m/s).

v_p is the velocity of the projectile expressed in meters per second (m/s).

v_c is the velocity of the powder charge expressed in meters per second (m/s).

1000 is the conversion factor to set the equation equal to kilograms.

An example of calculating free Recoil using SI units

Small arm: Mauser 98 chambered in 7×57mm weighing 4.54 kilograms (10 pounds).

Projectile: spitzer type weighing 9.1 grams (140 grains) with a muzzle velocity of 823 meters per second (2700 feet per second).

Powder charge: single base nitrocellulose weighing 2.75 grams (42.5 grains) with a powder charge velocity of 1585 meters per second (5200 feet per second).

The momentum short form:

E_{tgu}=0.5\cdot [{\tfrac {(m_{p}\cdot v_{p})+(m_{c}\cdot v_{c})}{1000}}]^{2}/m_{gu}

and with the numeric values in place;

E_{tgu}=0.5\cdot [{\tfrac {(9.1\cdot 823)+(2.75\cdot 1585)}{1000}}]^{2}/4.54=

E_{tgu}=0.5\cdot [{\tfrac {(7489.3)+(4358.75)}{1000}}]^{2}/4.54=

E_{tgu}=0.5\cdot [{\tfrac {11848.05}{1000}}]^{2}/4.54=

E_{tgu}=0.5\cdot 11.848^{2}/4.54=\,

E_{tgu}=0.5\cdot 140.367/4.54=\,

E_{tgu}=70.188/4.54=\,

E_{tgu}=15.46J\,

of free recoil

For non-SI units of measure of energy see Foot-pound force. The conversion is: 1 J = 0.737 562 ft·lb_f

Calculating free Recoil using non-SI units

From the momentum long form in both Imperial units of measure and in an English Engineering format:

Momentum long form: $v_{gu}={\tfrac {(m_{p}\cdot v_{p})+(m_{c}\cdot v_{c})}{7000}}/m_{gu}$ → $E_{tgu}={\tfrac {m_{gu}\cdot v_{gu}^{2}}{2g_{c}}}\,$

Where as:

E_tgu is the translational kinetic energy of the small arm as expressed by the foot-pound force (ft·lb_f).

m_gu is the weight of the small arm expressed in pounds (lb).

m_p is the weight of the projectile expressed in grains (gr).

m_c is the weight of the powder charge expressed in grains (gr).

v_gu is the velocity of the small arm expressed in feet per second (ft/s).

v_p is the velocity of the projectile expressed in feet per second (ft/s).

v_c is the velocity of the powder charge expressed in feet per second (ft/s).

g_c is the dimensional constant and is the numeral coefficient of 32.1739

7000 is the conversion factor to set the equation equal to pounds.

The Calculated free recoil for small arms

The following free recoil energy table does not take into consideration: recoil suppression devices or loss of energy due to auto loading mechanism.
English units of measure are enclosed in parentheses.

Handguns

Firearm mass-kg (lb)	Cartridge and projectile mass-g (gr)	Velocity-m/s (ft/s)	Powder Charge mass-g (gr)	Free recoil
Firearm mass-kg (lb)	Cartridge and projectile mass-g (gr)	Velocity-m/s (ft/s)	Powder Charge mass-g (gr)	J	(ft·lb_f)
Glock 17/ 905 g (31 oz)	9mm Luger/8.0 (124)	374 (1228)	0.39 (6.1)	7.7	5.7
Glock 20/ 1110 g (39 oz)	10mm Auto/11.7 (180)	338 (1110)	0.5 (7.7)	10.3	7.6
Dan Wesson VH7/ 1390 g (49 oz)	.357 Magnum/9.7 (150)	457 (1500)	1.0 (15.5)	14	10.3
Smith & Wesson Model 29/ 1390 g (49 oz)	.44 Magnum/15.6 (240)	457 (1500)	1.6 (24)	34	25
Springfield Armory 1911A1/ 1110 g (39 oz)	.45 ACP/14.9 (230)	259 (850)	0.47 (7.2)	9.8	7.2

Rifles

Firearm mass kg (lb)	Cartridge and Projectile mass g (gr)	Velocity m/s (ft/s)	Powder charge g (gr)	Free recoil
Firearm mass kg (lb)	Cartridge and Projectile mass g (gr)	Velocity m/s (ft/s)	Powder charge g (gr)	J	(ft·lb_f)
AKM/ 3.75 (8.2)	7.62×39mm/7.9 (122)	710 (2330)	1.55 (24)	7.19	5.3
M16A2 rifle/ 3.99 (8.5)	5.56×45mm/3.6 (55)	985 (3250)	1.68 (26)	6.44	4.75
AK-74/ 3.6 (7.5)	5.45×39mm/3.4 (53)	880 (2900)	1.5 (23.7)	3.4	2.5
Remington Model 700/ 3.6 (8)	.223 Remington/3.6 (55)	985 (3231)	1.6 (25.3)	5.0	3.7
Mauser/ 4.1 (9)	6.5×55mm Swedish Mauser/9.1 (140)	800 (2626)	3.0 (47)	17.9	13.2
CZ 550FS/ 4.1 (9)	7×57mm Mauser/9.1 (140)	792 (2596)	2.75 (42.5)	16.5	12.2
Marlin Model 1894/ 2.9 (6.5)	.30-30 Winchester/11 (170)	617 (2025)	2.0 (31)	17	12.5
M14 rifle/ 4.5 (9.9)	7.62×51mm NATO/10.1 (156)	845 (2771)	3.1 (48)	20	14.9
Remington Sendero/ 4.5 (10)	.308 Winchester/10.1 (156)	845 (2771)	3.1 (48)	20	14.8
Marlin Model 1894/ 2.9 (6.5)	.32 H&R Magnum/11 (95)	274 (900)	2.0 (31)	1.12	0.84
Mauser/ 4.1 (9)	8 x 68 S/14.3 (220)	847 (2780)	4.5 (70)	46	34
Remington Model 700/ 4.5 (10)	9.3 x 62 mm Mauser/18.5 (285)	710 (2330)	1.6 (25.3)	50	37
Shilo Sharps 1874/ 5.4 (12)	.45-70 Government/25.9 (400)	543 (1783)	3.6 (56)	56	41
Weatherby Mark V/ 4.6 (10.1)	.460 Weatherby Magnum/32.4 (500)	762 (2500)	8.1 (125)	156	115
A-Square Hannibal/ 5.4 (12)	.500 A-Square/38.9 (600)	762 (2500)	7.3 (113)	156	115
M82 Barrett rifle/ 14 (31)	.50BMG/41.9 (647)	902 (2960)	15.2 (235)	127	97
A-Square Hannibal/ 6.8 (15)	.577 Tyrannosaur/48.6 (750)	753 (2470)	10.4 (160)	206	152

Shotguns

Firearm mass-kg (lb)	Cartridge and projectile mass-g (gr)	Velocity-m/s (ft/s)	Powder Charge mass-g (gr)	Free recoil
Firearm mass-kg (lb)	Cartridge and projectile mass-g (gr)	Velocity-m/s (ft/s)	Powder Charge mass-g (gr)	J	(ft·lb_f)
Remington SP10/ 5.0 (11)	10 gauge/64 (2¼ oz)	381 (1250)	3.0 (47)	87	64
Benelli Eagle II/ 3.3 (7.2)	12 gauge/32 (1⅛ oz)	366 (1200)	1.3 (19.5)	30	22
AYA No.1/ 3.0 (6.7)	16 gauge/28 (1 oz)	372 (1220)	1.7 (26.5)	33	24
Beretta 686/ 2.9 (6.5)	20 gauge/25 (⅞ oz)	372 (1220)	1.5 (23)	18.4	13.6
Beretta 686/ 2.8 (6.2)	28 gauge/21 (¾ oz)	366 (1200)	1.1 (17.5)	16.7	12.3
Remington 870/ 2.7 (6.0)	.410/14 (½ oz)	366 (1200)	0.9 (14)	8.0	5.9

Black powder

Firearm mass-kg (lb)	Cartridge and projectile mass-g (gr)	Velocity-m/s (ft/s)	Powder charge mass-g (gr)	Free recoil
Firearm mass-kg (lb)	Cartridge and projectile mass-g (gr)	Velocity-m/s (ft/s)	Powder charge mass-g (gr)	J	(ft·lb_f)
Shilo Sharps 1874/5.4 (12)	Government .45-70/27.2 PP (420 PP)	428 (1403)	4.9 (75)	17.9	13.2

Resources

Arthur B. Alphin, Any Shot You Want, The A-Square Handloading and Rifle Manual, On Target Press, 1996.
Edward F. Obert, Thermodynamics, McGraw-Hill Book Co., 1948.
McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science and Technology, volume ice-lev, 9th Edition, McGraw-Hill, 2002.

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