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Pistol Power Factor Calculator

USPSA, IDPA, and IPSC Ballistics Tool

Your Calculated Power Factor
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Understanding Pistol Power Factor

In competitive practical shooting sports like USPSA (United States Practical Shooting Association), IDPA (International Defensive Pistol Association), and IPSC, Power Factor (PF) is a calculation used to quantify the momentum of a cartridge. This ensures that shooters are using ammunition that generates a realistic level of recoil, preventing competitors from using "mouse fart" loads that offer an unfair advantage in speed and control.

The Power Factor Formula

The math used by range officers and match chronographs is straightforward:

Power Factor = (Bullet Weight [grains] × Muzzle Velocity [fps]) / 1,000

Major vs. Minor Scoring

Most competitions categorize ammunition into two tiers. Scoring is often weighted; "Major" loads receive more points for peripheral hits on targets than "Minor" loads to compensate for the increased recoil and difficulty of follow-up shots.

  • Minor Power Factor: Typically a minimum of 125.0. Most factory 9mm ammunition easily meets this threshold.
  • Major Power Factor: Typically a minimum of 165.0 (USPSA) or 160.0-170.0 (IPSC/IDPA depending on division). This usually requires .40 S&W, .45 ACP, or "9mm Major" specifically handloaded for Open Division pistols.

Real-World Examples

Load Type Weight Velocity PF
9mm Luger (Standard) 115 gr 1,150 fps 132.2 (Minor)
.40 S&W (Competition) 180 gr 930 fps 167.4 (Major)
.45 ACP (Target) 230 gr 750 fps 172.5 (Major)
function calculatePF() { var weight = document.getElementById('bulletWeight').value; var velocity = document.getElementById('velocity').value; var resultArea = document.getElementById('resultArea'); var pfScoreDisplay = document.getElementById('pfScore'); var pfStatusDisplay = document.getElementById('pfStatus'); if (weight === "" || velocity === "" || weight <= 0 || velocity = 165) { pfStatusDisplay.innerText = "QUALIFIES AS MAJOR"; pfStatusDisplay.style.backgroundColor = "#e8f5e9"; pfStatusDisplay.style.color = "#2e7d32"; pfScoreDisplay.style.color = "#2e7d32"; resultArea.style.backgroundColor = "#f1f8e9"; } else if (pf >= 125) { pfStatusDisplay.innerText = "QUALIFIES AS MINOR"; pfStatusDisplay.style.backgroundColor = "#e3f2fd"; pfStatusDisplay.style.color = "#1565c0"; pfScoreDisplay.style.color = "#1565c0"; resultArea.style.backgroundColor = "#e3f2fd"; } else { pfStatusDisplay.innerText = "SUB-MINOR (DOES NOT QUALIFY)"; pfStatusDisplay.style.backgroundColor = "#ffebee"; pfStatusDisplay.style.color = "#c62828"; pfScoreDisplay.style.color = "#c62828"; resultArea.style.backgroundColor = "#ffebee"; } }

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