How Far Will Recoil Push You in a Frictionless Environment??

Published on August 23, 2022
Duration: 17:50

This experiment quantifies the recoil force experienced by a shooter in a simulated frictionless environment. Matt Carriker of Demolition Ranch uses a harness and measuring board to demonstrate how different firearms, from a .22 LR Ruger 10/22 to a .50 BMG Lynx, push a shooter back. The results highlight a clear correlation between caliber, firing rate, and the magnitude of recoil displacement, illustrating Newton's Third Law in a practical, albeit extreme, scenario.

Quick Summary

In a frictionless environment, firearm recoil directly causes linear displacement. Larger calibers and automatic fire generate more momentum, pushing the shooter further back. The Demolition Ranch experiment showed a .50 BMG causing massive movement, while a 7.62x39mm full-auto AK pushed the shooter over 3 feet.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction & Skit
  2. 00:47Sponsor: SimpliSafe
  3. 02:27Experiment Setup & Goal
  4. 04:45Testing Ruger 10/22 (.22 LR)
  5. 05:40Testing Taurus Raging Hunter (.44 Magnum)
  6. 07:12Testing Desert Eagle (.50 AE)
  7. 08:30Testing .458 SOCOM AR Platform
  8. 10:28Testing .50 Beowulf
  9. 11:27Testing Mossberg 12 Gauge
  10. 12:51Testing Uzi (9mm Full Auto)
  11. 13:23Testing Full Auto AK-47 (7.62x39mm)
  12. 14:41Testing Lynx .50 BMG

Frequently Asked Questions

How does recoil affect a shooter in a frictionless environment?

In a frictionless environment, recoil directly translates into linear motion. The experiment shows that the force generated by firing a firearm pushes the shooter backward along a straight line, with the distance traveled proportional to the momentum imparted by the projectile and propellant gases.

Which firearms produced the most recoil in the Demolition Ranch experiment?

The firearms generating the most significant recoil displacement were the full-auto AK-47 (7.62x39mm), which pushed the shooter past 3 feet, and the Lynx .50 BMG, which exhibited massive recoil that was difficult to manage even in the specialized setup.

What is the principle behind measuring recoil force in this experiment?

The experiment demonstrates Newton's Third Law of Motion: for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. The action of the bullet and gases exiting the barrel creates an equal and opposite reaction force (recoil) that pushes the firearm and shooter backward.

How did caliber affect recoil displacement in the frictionless test?

Larger calibers consistently produced greater recoil displacement. For instance, a .50 Beowulf resulted in 18 inches of movement, significantly more than the 6-8 inches seen with a .50 AE Desert Eagle or the minimal movement from a .22 LR.

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