Once again we return to Cyberpunk, and look over several bullet speeds. All examples are taken from Blackhands Street Weapons 2020.
1. Malorian Arms Silver Gun
Malorian Arms Silver Gun
Quiet and deadly describes Eran Malour's revolutionary new personal defense weapon. Recent discoveries in flywheel technology have been utilized in creating a close range weapon that is as effective as a shotgun but no louder than an electric toothbrush. The sliver gun uses a squeeze cocking action to activate the four-inch flywheel. When triggered, the wheel presses against a polyceramic block creating a multitude of sharp, 4cm fragments traveling well in excess of 1200 feet per second! The internal power cell can spin the flywheel up to eighteen minutes before replacement !cost per cell: 7ebl. The sliver gun is also available in an accessory cyberarm version
The Malorian Arms Silver Gun fires bullets at a rate faster than 1200 feet per second. 1200 feet is 365.76m.
T = 365.76/340.29
= Mach 1.07484792
2. Malorian Arms Heavy Flechette Pistol
Malorian Arms Heavy Flechette Pistol
Firing a single 150 grain, 4mm dart at over 1700 feet per second, the Malorian Arms heavy flechette pistol is second to none in flechette handgun technology. Using a liquefied gas combustion system, this semiautomatic pistol packs a serious wallop in a handgun-sized package. The rechargeable liquid propellant reservoir can fire over two hundred rounds before needing a refill <30ebl. The large magazine capacity makes this weapon a favorite with firepower freaks everywhere. Eran Malour has specifically designed his new flechette gun with the Nenhanced" customer in mind. The weapon comes chipped from the factory, safety interlocked and encoded to the owner, so use by anyone else is impossible. This feature is a definite plus to anyone needing a strong home defense weapon, but who worries that children might hurt themselves with an accidental discharge. ~: Dense metallic bolt has double the AP effect
1700 feet is equal to 518.16m.
T = 518.16m/1s
= 518.16/340.29
= Mach 1.52270123
3. Tsunami Arms Ramjet Rifle
Tsunami Arms Ramjet Rifle
The top-secret Japanese weapons design firm once again lives up to its rep with the Ramjet Rifle, a remarkable new weapon which is well suited to the roles of sniper, counter-sniper and light anti-armor weapons system. What makes this rifle special is the bullet which it fires-not a normal slug, flechette or gyrojet, these 8.5mm projectiles are small ramjet engines! Fired from the rifle at a velocity of 3,200 feet per second, the supersonic bullets have a conical aperture in their nose into which the air is compressed. This jet of hot air ignites the fuel stored in the bullet which blasts out the back, accelerating the round. This results in a constant increase in the velocity and energy of the shell until it reaches its maximum range, making the Ramjet Rifle a harder hitter the further it is from its target. The gun is a semiautomatic, caseless ammo-firing bullpup made of lightweight polymers, boasting an adjustable grip and stock as well as an adjustable bipod and a free-floating heavy barrel. For superior accuracy at long ranges, the Ramjet Rifle comes equipped with a 4x telescopic laser-reflex smartgun interlock, which paints the target with a laser and then uses microprocessor-controlled liquid lenses to determine the range and the proper elevation to hit the target at that range by moving the aimpoint, causing the shooter to bring it to the correct angle. Note: 506+3 at Close range, 606+1 at Medium range, 706 at long range and 706+3 at Extreme range. Armor SP is x3, and penetrating damage is doubled since it is effectively a large hollow-point round. [Chromebook 2]
3200 feet is 975.36m.
T = 975.36m/1s
= 975.36/340.29
= Mach 2.86626113
4. Barrett-Arasaka Light-20
Barrett-Arasaka Light-20
The cyberpsycho hunter's favorite. Almost 2 meters long, this ·cannon" fires a depleted uranium shell at supersonic speeds. Guaranteed to drop a metalhead at 50 meters. Long-range sniping weapon common to special ops teams. Also known as the Type-13 Heavy Sniper Rifle to the Japanese Police/SDF. ~:The heavy sub-caliber penetrator damages armor for 2SP per hit [Cyberpunk 2020, Corpbook 71
Although it doesn't list a direct speed in feet per second or meters per second, it says the shells are supersonic, making them at least mach 1.
5. Kendachi Fragmentation Flechettes
Kendachi Fragmentation Flechettes
This ammunition, manufactured by the Kendachi Corporation, consists of a synthetic-cased or caseless cartridge which fires a subcaliber alloy flechette. These saboted, fin-stabilized arrows travel at impressive speeds (up to 4,000 feet per second), giving them superior armor penetration ability. They are also injected with a near-microscopic filling of a C6-style plastic explosive, and are chemically time-delayed to detonate a micro-second after impact. Using this design, the needle-like projectiles are able to successfully penetrate armor without suffering from overpenetration. The classic problem with flechettes is this: Being of very small diameter and traveling at extremely high velocity, a flechette may bass directly through the target and leave only a tiny hole in the body. To overcome this, Kendachi's fragmentation flechettes pack just enough explosive to break themselves apart once they enter the body, thereby creating a devastating wound cavity.~: Kendachi's Fragmentation Flechette ammo is available for any weapon at 5x the cost of regular rounds; they treat soft armor as 1/2 SP and do normal damage to flesh. Beware- these rounds are Rare availability and very illegal. Usually found with Orbital weapons. Cannot be fired from weapons with Electrothermal Enhancement. [Chromebook 2]
Arrows this time, not bullets, but still super fast! 4000 feet is equal to 1.2192km.
T = 1.2192km/1s
= 1219.2/340.29
= Mach 3.583
6. Maximum bullet speed
Electrothermal Ammo Enhancement
Overcome the laws of physics! The maximum speed a bullet can be accelerated with gunpowder (around 6,500 feet per second) and the pressure spike created by a gunpowder gas explosion have always limited the capabilities of firearms technology - until now. Take your firearms beyond the limitations of the last century with Electrothermal Enhancement. By modifying the breech lock, adding a battery pack, insulating the weapon and using high-tech ammunition, a firearm's muzzle energy can be doubled! (Without blowing apart, too!) Electrothermal (ET) ammunition has the same cartridge dimensions as regular cased loads, but instead of a primer and powder, ET guns employ an electrical pulse and a liquid working fluid. This liquid can be anything from methanol to water, but it must be primed with around 10,000 amps. This energy pulse causes the liquid to combust, changing its state to plasma, which pushes the bullet down the barrel at incredible velocities. ET guns can also modulate barrel pressure with a throttle, controlling the energy in the priming process with a safe time/pressure trace. As an example, a 5.56mm bullet has a muzzle energy of 1330 foot-pounds, while an ET 5.56mm has a muzzle energy of 2764 ft-lbs! ~: ET enhancement insulates the gun against electrical surges, modifies it to accept a 100-shot battery (150ebl, and replaces the hammer with an electrode: The result is that the gun's performance is increased by 50%-both damage and range. The procedure can be performed by many arms factories and some gunsmiths . Price is equal to 50% of the weapon's base cost, and adds 0.5-1 kg to the weapon. Only weapons which used cased ammo can take advantage of ET enhancement . ET ammo costs 2x normal cost, and can be bought as AP. £Chromebook 21
6500 feet a second is the maximum bullet speed (at least in 2020, and for bullets). 6500 feet is equal to 1.9812km.
T = 1.9812km/1s
= 1981.2/340.29
= Mach 5.82209292
7. Pursuit Security, Incorporated Beanbag Gun
Pursuit Security. Incorporated Beanbag Gun
This compact weapon, shaped like a bicycle pump, delivers a small, soft beanbag up to 3m away at 300fps. Compressed air cartridges Cgood for up to 5 shots> are extra. Any area hit that is not armored will be numbed unless a Very Difficult BOD check is made (Endurance skill applies>. The ammo is blister-packed and can be found on the wire spin-racks at discount stores. [Solo of Fortune 2]
Let's have a look at a few non-fatal weapons before moving back into the dangerous stuff. Pursuit Security, Incorporated Beanbag Gun shoot pellets at 300 feet per second. 300 feet is equal to 91.44m, and thus 91.44m/s.
8. Pursuit Security, Incorporated Stundart Pistol
Pursuit Security, Incorporated Stundart Pistol
or the Solo needing a non-lethal alternative, the stundart gun is an excellent choice. This weapon is an over-and-under doublebarrel break-open configuration. The stundart ammunition itself consists of a special low velocity (400 fps) .45 caliber plastic cartridge. The projectile is a pronged copper-jacketed capacitor capable of storing a charge of up to 70,000 volts (- 1 to Stun Savel! The dart-like projections allow the round to deliver its charge through heavy clothing, fur, and even some ballistic cloth armors . Incapacitation is instantaneous and lasts up to one hour. ~: This weapon is unsafe to fire with any regular ammunition (90% chance of misfire, 2D6+1 damage to shooter's arm>. Projectiles are sold four to a package and have an expiration date for use. [Chromebook 1]
400 feet is equal to 121.92m, so 121.92m/s.
9. Royal Enfield Ordnance 25mm Cockerill Assault Cannon
Royal Enfield Ordnance 25mm Cockerill Assault Cannon
The first in a new range of anti-light vehicle weapons designed to complemenVreplace the LAW 80 and the Carl Gustav. The Cockerill cannon is a slightly scaled-down version of the 30mm weapon used in the Scimitar armored vehicle. To offset the immense potential recoil, the Cockerill uses low-pressure, rocket-assisted rounds. The round is fired by a reduced charge. When it travels 2m from the muzzle, the rocket motor ignites, boosting it to just over 800m/s (2623fps). Because of the firing system it is possible to fire the cannon from the hip- although it is not recommended CWA drops to -1 >. Only people with sufficient size can do so; others must use the bipod. It requires a minimum BOD of 6 to carry and use this weapon due to its size and weight . Rounds for this weapon include AP
With the non-fatals out of the way, time to look at the heavy weapons! This one gives us the speed in m/s and feet/s, that being 800m/s (or 2623 feet/s).
T = 800m/1s
= 800/340.29
= Mach 2.35093597
.
10. Rhinemetall EMG-BS Railgun
Rhinemetall EMG-BS Railgun
This electromagnetic gun uses superconducting technology to launch a 15-gram Mylar-coated Lexan slug at 8000fps! The weapon has an integral magazine with 5 power loops and a 5-round projectile pack. Power charging for the ammo unit costs 1200eb. Weapon weight, 35kg. ~: A minimum BOD of 11 is required to fire the weapon without a linear frame or ACPA. The gyrostabilized mount-harness has no MA penalty, but does have an EV of 1. Using the gun without the harness requires a min BOD of 12 and a smartgun link, plus -1 MA and EV of 2. Extra-AP effect is 1 /4x armor, 1 /2x penetrating damage. [Chromebook 21
Leaving the best until last, the Rhinemetall EMG-BS Railgun can fire rounds at a staggering 8000 feet per second! 8000 feet is equal to 2.4384km.
T = 2.4384km/1s
= 2438.4/340.29
= Mach 7.16565283
If that's not enough, this one also gives us the weight of the rounds, that being 15g (or 0.015kg), which allows us to find the KE!
KE = (0.5)mv^2
= (0.5) X 0.015 X 2438.4^2
= 44593.4592 joules
Final Results
Malorian Arms Silver Gun bullet speed = >Mach 1.075
Malorian Arms Heavy Flechette Pistol bullet speed = Mach 1.523
Tsunami Arms Ramjet Rifle bullet speed = Mach 2.866
Barrett-Arasaka Light-20 shell speed = Mach 1
Kendachi Fragmentation Flechettes arrows speed = Mach 3.583
Maximum bullet speed = Mach 5.822
Pursuit Security, Incorporated Beanbag Gun pellet speed = 91.44m/s
Pursuit Security, Incorporated Stundart Pistol dart speed = 121.92m/s
Royal Enfield Ordnance 25mm Cockerill Assault Cannon rocket speed = Mach 2.351
Rhinemetall EMG-BS Railgun rounds speed = Mach 7.166
Rhinemetall EMG-BS Railgun rounds energy = 44593.459 joules
As one last note, all of these are from 2020, so as of 2077 the technology would have improved even further.