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General >> Here Be Maths... >> .44 magnum claim
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Message started by timothyausten on Dec 3rd, 2024 at 1:28pm

Title: .44 magnum claim
Post by timothyausten on Dec 3rd, 2024 at 1:28pm
The comparison between the kinetic energy delivery of a sling and a .44 magnum holds true, so long as the slingstone is large enough. The kinetic energy of a 16 gram .44 round is 1036.8 Joules. For example, it is possible to match the kinetic energy of a .44 magnum with an 8 kg stone thrown 26.45 meters, or a 4 kg stone thrown 52.9 meters. It becomes increasingly difficult with smaller stones. For example, a 125 gram stone must be thrown hard enough to reach 1692.73 meters (about a mile). These estimations are made, assuming a 45° launch angle, without taking wind resistance into account, using:


velocity = √(distance·9.8/sin(2·angle))


Joules = kg·m/s2/2

meters             kg      
13224.49  0.016      
3385.47    0.063      
1692.73    0.125      
846.37          0.250      
423.18          0.500      
211.59          1.000      
105.80          2.000      
52.90          4.000      
26.45          8.000      
13.22          16.000      
6.61          32.000      

My calculations:
velocity based on distance.xlsx
chart.png (9 KB | 10 )

Title: Re: .44 magnum claim
Post by joe_meadmaker on Dec 3rd, 2024 at 10:10pm

timothyausten wrote on Dec 3rd, 2024 at 1:28pm:
an 8 kg stone thrown 26.45 meters

Hmmm...........where to find an 8 kg stone???  ::)

Title: Re: .44 magnum claim
Post by timothyausten on Dec 4th, 2024 at 3:34am
I'd like to see you sling an 8 kg stone 26.46 meters. You might have to pirouette, or use a staff sling, or both. 😃

Title: Re: .44 magnum claim
Post by joe_meadmaker on Dec 4th, 2024 at 7:08pm
I started looking at cannon balls on ebay.  ;D

Kind of expensive, but not too crazy.  I think I might give it a go.  It will need to wait a little while though.  I hurt my left arm moving my target around and it still needs some healing time.  I'll definitely need two good arms for handling that weight.  I'd prefer the weather be a little warmer too.  So maybe in the spring.

Title: Re: .44 magnum claim
Post by timothyausten on Dec 5th, 2024 at 2:06am
Take it easy. 😎

Title: Re: .44 magnum claim
Post by JudoP on Dec 27th, 2024 at 9:41am
These comparisons are eyecatching, but I would question their usefulness. As a relatively large man at full sprint I can exceed the kinetic energy of a .44 round.

Ke = 1/2 mv^2 = 1/2 * 110 * (5m/s)^2 = 1375J

Yet a rugby tackle from me would obviously not be as lethal as a 44 round. Not even as much as a 22 round which is far lower energy (and probably a better comparison of the type of energies that can be generated with a sling generally).

With bullets we have to consider the lethality of a small dense object effectively focusing that energy to a small area. The pressure that can be created at impact point is enough to tear holes through flesh which can have lethal effects. Huge slingstones cannot generate that kind of pressure and cannot kill via that mechanism. It's really comparing apples and oranges at this stage.

Title: Re: .44 magnum claim
Post by timothyausten on Dec 27th, 2024 at 6:58pm
I often hear the .44 magnum comparison being repeated, but without any facts to back it up. I recently I saw an Instagram post claiming to throw with the same energy or with the same stopping force as a .44, and the slinger was only throwing a medium-sized rock, like around 100 grams. I couldn't find the origin of the claim, or any mathematical analysis to support it.

I've only seen empirical tests with ballistics dummies and various food targets, but they don't always say quantitatively how much energy goes into the throw, which is why I've done a ''back of the envelope" analysis here. I am not looking to debunk the .44 claim, so much as show under what circumstances it might be possible. If anyone wants to record a .44 magnum equivalent throw, then they can use the analysis here to support their demonstration.

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