Effective range (weapon)

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The effective range defines the combat range of firearms . It is the distance at which the firearm is still effective. The higher the effective range, the greater the combat range of the weapon.

Ballistic and effective range

The ballistic range is the real firing range of a weapon, as it results from two factors ( external ballistics ):

  • The theoretical range of the ballistic curve (trajectory of the projectile ) under ideal conditions (type of weapon, geometry of the firing conditions and the stability of the trajectory of the projectile)
  • The operational range that is possible under real conditions such as wind and weather conditions on site.

These ranges do not imply a statement as to what effect is achieved in the field of fire. A hit is required at all. The following applies:

The hit probability decreases with the square of the increasing distance.

The effective range therefore generally also includes the hit rate , i.e. the ratio of successful hits to shots fired. If the hit rate is too low, using the weapon at this distance to the target does not make sense, the target is “out of range” (which does not mean that it is not hit by accident). So the effective range is largely determined by the precision and theoretical range of the weapon. The effective range is a maximum value .

What is meant by effective range is, however, specifically the maximum distance within which there is a high probability of the desired effect in the event of a hit with weapon fire. The effect is generally the neutralization of the target (killing an infantry soldier , penetrating armor , effectiveness of a rubber bullet, penetration depth of the arrow in a sports bow, etc.). Therefore, the effective range for sufficient penetration also includes the condition of a certain minimum speed in the target (hit speed ) . The hit behavior is described in the target ballistics .

For the range of missile weapons, see Range (Missile) .

meaning

In military and police firearms technology, the effective range is not a term related to the weapon, but rather to the use of ordnance , and depends on the countermeasures in the target: better protective measures of an opponent reduce the effective range of one's own equipment. Therefore, information about the effective range must always be seen in the context of contemporary ordnance technology. For example, the effective range for a normal pistol is around 80 meters. This means that hits from 80 meters with this weapon are on the one hand improbable and on the other hand the target is no longer reliably neutralized or even killed when hit because the projectile has too little penetration . However, this value only relates to an unprotected target person, as occurs in civilian use. The same weapon against a modernly equipped military opponent could only be used as a close combat weapon . In general, an insufficient effective range leads to the decommissioning of a weapon system.

literature

  • Rheinmetall AG (ed.): Waffentechnisches Taschenbuch. 9th edition, unchanged reprint of the corrected 5th edition. Umschau & Braus Verlag, Neustadt / Weinstrasse 1995, ISBN 3-524-88037-1 .
  • Paul Hinneberg (ed.): The culture of the present. Part 4: W. v. Dyck (ed.): The technical sciences. Volume 12: Max Schwarte (Red.): Technology of the War. Teubner, Leipzig et al. 1913.

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