The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post

ScottRiqui · February 10, 2012, 07:15 PM

Basically, the minimum "power factor" is just there to ensure that shooters are using "regular" loads and not low-power "target loads". To calculate the power factor for a particular load (shot from your particular gun), simply multiply the weight of the bullet (in grains) by the velocity (in feet per second). This is a measurement of the bullet's momentum, although you usually drop the units and just describe the power factor as "125,000" or even just "125" for short.

This chart shows the minimum required power factor for the various IDPA classes:

http://www.ccidpa.org/idpa-power.html

February 10, 2012, 07:15 PM	#2
ScottRiqui Senior Member Join Date: January 27, 2010 Location: Norfolk, VA Posts: 2,905	Basically, the minimum "power factor" is just there to ensure that shooters are using "regular" loads and not low-power "target loads". To calculate the power factor for a particular load (shot from your particular gun), simply multiply the weight of the bullet (in grains) by the velocity (in feet per second). This is a measurement of the bullet's momentum, although you usually drop the units and just describe the power factor as "125,000" or even just "125" for short. This chart shows the minimum required power factor for the various IDPA classes: http://www.ccidpa.org/idpa-power.html