I was having an argument recently with a friend on the difference between gun recoil and the knockdown power of a handgun round, say one that impacts a hard trauma plate on a bullet proof vest.
He convinced me of one thing. The recoil of the gun won't necessarily be equal to the force of the round hitting the plate because a round is a form of shaped charge. The primer launches the propellant out the barrel with the bullet and burns over time.
So here's the question. How much of a difference does this shaped charge effect make? Or in other words is the felt recoil force much less than the impact force?
I may be poorly stating this question but I'd like some insight. Thanks in advance.
He convinced me of one thing. The recoil of the gun won't necessarily be equal to the force of the round hitting the plate because a round is a form of shaped charge. The primer launches the propellant out the barrel with the bullet and burns over time.
So here's the question. How much of a difference does this shaped charge effect make? Or in other words is the felt recoil force much less than the impact force?
I may be poorly stating this question but I'd like some insight. Thanks in advance.