Rounds per Minute Calculator
Calculate rounds per minute (RPM) from number of rounds fired and time elapsed. Useful for measuring rate of fire for firearms or any cyclic process.
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter number of rounds fired.
- Enter time elapsed in seconds.
- The calculator displays rounds per minute (RPM), rounds per second, and time per round.
- Use this to measure rate of fire for firearms or any cyclic process.
Rounds per Minute Formula
RPM is calculated from rounds and time:
Rounds per Second = Rounds / Time
Time per Round = Time / Rounds
Example: 30 rounds in 2.5 seconds: RPM = (30 / 2.5) × 60 = 720 RPM. Rounds per second = 30 / 2.5 = 12 rounds/sec. Time per round = 2.5 / 30 = 0.083 seconds. This measures rate of fire for firearms or any cyclic process. Higher RPM = faster rate of fire.
Full Description
The Rounds per Minute Calculator measures rate of fire for firearms or any cyclic process. RPM (rounds per minute) is a standard measure of how quickly rounds are fired. Understanding RPM helps with firearm selection, training, and understanding firearm capabilities. Different firearms have different rates of fire based on action type, design, and operation.
RPM is calculated as (Rounds / Time in seconds) × 60. The calculator also shows rounds per second and time per round for additional context. Typical rates vary by firearm: Semi-automatic pistols (30-60 RPM), Assault rifles (600-900 RPM), Machine guns (500-1000+ RPM), Bolt-action rifles (10-20 RPM). Rate of fire depends on action type (full-auto vs semi-auto), skill, training, and firearm design. Full-auto firearms fire faster than semi-auto, but semi-auto can be fired quickly with skill.
This calculator helps you measure rate of fire. Enter rounds fired and time elapsed, and it calculates RPM, rounds per second, and time per round. Use it for firearm analysis, training, understanding rate of fire, or measuring any cyclic process. Remember, rate of fire is just one factor—accuracy and control are also important!
Frequently Asked Questions
How is rounds per minute calculated?
RPM = (Rounds / Time in seconds) × 60. Example: 30 rounds in 2.5 seconds: RPM = (30 / 2.5) × 60 = 720 RPM. This measures rate of fire for firearms or any cyclic process. Higher RPM = faster rate of fire.
What is a typical rate of fire?
Rates vary by firearm: Semi-automatic pistols: 30-60 RPM. Assault rifles: 600-900 RPM. Machine guns: 500-1000+ RPM. Bolt-action rifles: 10-20 RPM. The rate depends on action type, skill, and firearm design. Full-auto is faster than semi-auto.
How do I measure time accurately?
Use a stopwatch or timer. Start timer when firing begins, stop when firing ends. Measure total time for all rounds. For accuracy, fire multiple bursts and average. Example: 3 bursts of 10 rounds each, times: 1.2s, 1.3s, 1.1s. Average = 1.2s, RPM = (10 / 1.2) × 60 = 500 RPM.
What affects rate of fire?
Factors: Firearm action (full-auto vs semi-auto), skill and training, magazine capacity, reload time, and firearm design. Full-auto firearms fire faster than semi-auto. Skilled shooters can fire semi-auto faster. Reload time reduces effective RPM.