Have you ever wondered how far a bullet can travel in water? Well, the answer may surprise you. Bullets can travel quite a distance in water, depending on the type of gun and the type of bullet.
For example, a 9mm handgun can shoot a bullet up to 25 feet in water, while a .357 Magnum can shoot a bullet up to 100 feet in water. So, if you’re ever swimming and happen to see a gun being fired at you from afar, don’t worry, chances are the bullet won’t be able to reach you.
How Far Do Bullets Travel in Water?
We all know that bullets travel much farther in water than they do in air. But just how far can they travel?
The answer may surprise you.
It turns out that the record for the longest distance a bullet has traveled in water is held by none other than the U.S. Navy. In 2007, during a training exercise, a Navy SEAL fired a sniper rifle from a submerged submarine at a target more than 2 miles away!
Interestingly, the bullet didn’t even come close to reaching its target. But it did travel an impressive distance nonetheless.
So, just how does a bullet travel so far in water?
Well, it has to do with the density of water and the shape of the bullet. You see, when a bullet is fired into water, it creates a cavity around itself as it travels through the liquid. This cavity is filled with water vapor, which is less dense than liquid water.
Therefore, the pressure on the front of the bullet is greater than the pressure on the back of the bullet, and this propels it forward through the water at high speeds.
How Far Will a 22 Bullet Travel in Water
A 22 caliber bullet will travel underwater for a distance of approximately 22 feet before it loses all its kinetic energy and sinks. This is due to the relatively low density of water, which offers far less resistance to a projectile than air does. The exact distance a 22 bullet will travel in water can vary slightly depending on the type and weight of the bullet, as well as the temperature and pressure of the water.
How Far Will a 5.56 Bullet Travel in Water?
It is difficult to determine how far a 5.56 bullet will travel in water because it depends on the density of the water and the depth of the water. In general, a 5.56 bullet will travel farther in salt water than fresh water because salt water is more dense than fresh water. The depth of the water also affects how far the bullet will travel because the deeper the water, the more resistance there is to the movement of the bullet.
Can a Bullet Hit You Underwater?
In short, yes – a bullet can hit you underwater. In fact, it will actually travel faster and further underwater than it will in the air. Of course, there are some caveats to this.
The type of gun and ammunition you are using will play a big role in how effective your shot is underwater. For example, a handgun firing a lead bullet is not going to be as effective as a rifle firing an armor-piercing round. Additionally, the depth of the water will also affect how far and fast the bullet travels.
Generally speaking, however, if you are shooting at someone who is swimming or otherwise submerged, there is a good chance your bullet will reach them.
How Fast a Bullet Travels in Water?
A bullet traveling through water is slowed down by the water’s resistance, or drag. The faster the bullet travels, the more drag it experiences. As a result, bullets don’t travel as fast in water as they do in air.
The exact speed depends on the type of gun and bullet being used, but a general rule of thumb is that bullets travel at about one-third their normal speed when submerged in water. So, if a bullet typically travels at 1,000 feet per second (fps) out of a gun barrel, it will only travel at about 333 fps once it enters the water.
While this may not seem like a significant difference, it can make a big difference when trying to hit a target.
For example, if you’re shooting at a fish swimming 10 feet away from you and the bullet takes one second to reach its target, the fish will have moved about 30 feet by the time the bullet gets there. In other words, you’ll miss your target unless you aim ahead of where the fish is currently swimming.
So why does drag cause bullets to slow down?
It has to do with friction. When an object moves through water (or any fluid), the molecules of that fluid push against the object and create friction. The more surface area an object has relative to its size (i.e., its shape), the more drag it experiences as it moves through fluid molecules.
That’s why streamlined objects like torpedoes move faster through water than bulky objects like boats – they have less surface area for fluid molecules to push against.
How Far Will a 9 Mm Shoot Underwater?
Most 9mm handguns can shoot accurately underwater up to around 15 feet. Beyond that, the accuracy decreases dramatically. The main reason for this is because the water creates drag on the bullet, which makes it harder for the gun to aim correctly.
In addition, the water pressure can cause the bullet to change direction and travel in a different trajectory than what was intended.
Conclusion
How Far Do Bullets Travel in Water?
We all know that bullets travel faster than the speed of sound. But how fast do they travel in water?
And how far can they travel in water before losing their energy and stopping?
It turns out that bullets travel much slower in water than they do in air. In fact, they can only travel about 1/5th as fast in water as they do in air.
So, if a bullet is travelling at 1000 feet per second (fps) in air, it will only be travelling at 200 fps in water.
However, even though bullets slow down considerably when travelling through water, they can still pack a punch. A bullet travelling at 200 fps can still cause serious damage to someone or something it hits.
So, how far can bullets travel in water before losing all their energy and stopping? It depends on the type of bullet and the type of gun it was fired from. For example, a 9mm pistol firing a 115-grain FMJ bullet will have a muzzle energy of around 350 ft-lbs.
This same bullet fired from a rifle will have a muzzle energy of around 1600 ft-lbs.
Now, because pistols have lower muzzle energies than rifles, their bullets will also lose their energy more quickly when travelling through water. As such, a 9mm pistol firing a 115-grain FMJ bullet will only be able to shoot its target from about 3 feet away before the bullet loses all its energy and stops dead in the water.
On the other hand, a rifle firing the same type of bullet will be able to shoot its target from up to 10 feet away before the bullet runs out of steam and stops floating through the water.
