If you shot a handgun striaght up in the air, how long would it be untill it came down and hit the floor ?

Question

I am not stupid enough to even try doing this. I don't even own any type of gun. I was just curious of knowing because I've seen people shoot their guns in the air.

Answer 1

hope you know how to solve differential equations...

Answer 2

Depends on heavy the hand gun is.

Answer 3

I hope you don't expect it too land right in front of you.

Cause it won't

Answer 4

didn't you ever take high school math? they ask questions like this on the math b regents all the time.

Answer 5

3.8 seconds flat.

: /

Answer 6

depends on the gun, the load in the bullet, the exact angle, and wind speed.

Answer 7

If you hold on to the handgun it won't hit the floor.

Answer 8

3.773 minutes. actually check mythbusters i forgot

Answer 9

Too fast for you to realize what you did and change your mind.

Not long enough for the prison sentence you would receive for the innocent human life you may take down in the process.

Answer 10

It  would depend upon the velocity with which it left the muzzle of the gun and the ballistic coeffieient of the bullet.  More velocity and more streamlined design of the bullet results in it reaching a greater height.  Once it has reached its maximum height, all bullets will return to earth with roughly the same velocity.  The more height, the longer it will take to return to earth.

Answer 11

For an average handgun velocity, about 40-50 Seconds.

That number above from mythbusters is more for a rifle bullet.

Do your math KJ.

Answer 12

You would need to know the maximum velocity and range of the bullet.  Then calculate on how long it will take to fall back to earth.   Remember the bullet will stop before gravity pulls the bullet back to earth.  So you will need to know the rate that a item falls to earth, calculated with the resistance of atmosphere.

The bullet will not return to earth at the same velocity as it did when it was shot straight up.

Therefore you will need to add the time that it took to reach its highest point and the time it took to fall back to earth.

Answer 13

It depends on the caliber.

Not all handgun ammo is the same power, it might take a 500SW magnum a few minutes to come back down, it might take a 25acp 30 seconds.

Answer 14

For the normal handgun it would be less than a minute.  I have the math formula on my desk somewhere but can't find it right now; it has to do with mass, velocity, air density and some other factors.  When the bullet does come down it is not going to harm anybody as the mass is not there to do so.  When the muzzle velocity is over 2000 fps the time goes over the one minute mark.  Now I am going to clean my desk and see if I can find that darned formula.  

Answer 15

That is really dangerous as a returning bullet can come down hard enough to do serious damage.  Every New Year's I'd see dented hood, damaged roofs and broken car glass.  Some steel hoods were even through-n-through.  A person hit by a returning bullet can be seriously injured and even killed.  So don't let curiosity get the best of you.  It doesn't matter how many seconds it would take to come down but what will it hit when it comes back down?

H

Answer 16

If you do try this... You deserve for it to hit you. But it will most likely kill some innocent child a mile away.

In about 1 min.

Answer 17

Well, if you shot it inside, it wouldn't hit the floor, it would hit the ceiling. If you shot it outside, it STILL wouldn't hit the floor....Maybe the grass or ground. Why do you ask? If you shoot it, count the seconds and wait.