Rate of Fire Calculator
How to Calculate Rate of Fire
Understanding the rate of fire (RoF) is crucial in various fields, including ballistics engineering, video game development (DPS calculations), and mechanical analysis of automated machinery. The rate of fire represents the frequency at which a device can discharge projectiles or complete cycles.
This calculator helps you determine the standard metrics used in the industry: Rounds Per Minute (RPM) and Rounds Per Second (RPS).
The Rate of Fire Formula
The mathematics behind calculating the rate of fire is relatively straightforward. It involves measuring the total number of cycles (shots) within a specific time frame and then scaling that number to a minute or a second.
RPM = (Total Rounds / Time in Seconds) × 60
RPS = Total Rounds / Time in Seconds
Input Parameters Explained
- Total Rounds Fired: The count of projectiles discharged or cycles completed during your test. For accuracy, do not count the first shot if starting from time zero; count the intervals (n-1) if measuring split times, or total shots if measuring a total duration dump.
- Duration (Seconds): The exact time elapsed from the first event to the last event. Using a high-precision stopwatch or audio analysis software yields the best results.
Understanding the Results
RPM (Rounds Per Minute): This is the most common metric used to describe automatic firearms, paintball markers, or industrial staplers. A standard military rifle might cycle between 600 and 900 RPM.
RPS (Rounds Per Second): This metric is often used in physics simulations or fast-paced gaming logic (tick rates). It represents raw frequency (Hz).
Cycle Time: This indicates the time gap between two consecutive shots. It is the inverse of the frequency. For example, a weapon firing at 600 RPM fires once every 100 milliseconds.
Practical Example
If you record a video of a mechanism firing and observe that it discharges 15 rounds in exactly 1.5 seconds:
- RPS: 15 / 1.5 = 10 rounds per second.
- RPM: 10 * 60 = 600 rounds per minute.