Most common bullets travel at roughly 600–2,000 miles per hour, with many around 1,700–2,000 mph right as they leave the gun’s barrel. The exact speed depends heavily on the type of gun and ammunition.

Basic speed ranges

  • Handgun bullets are often in the range of about 600–1,100 mph, depending on the caliber and load.
  • Typical rifle bullets are much faster, commonly around 1,500–2,200 mph at the muzzle.
  • Some high‑velocity rifle rounds can exceed about 2,500–3,000 mph in extreme cases.

Example bullet speeds

  • A .22 LR rimfire round is around 700–750 mph at the muzzle, depending on the specific load.
  • A common .223/5.56 rifle round is roughly 2,000–2,200 mph.
  • Many 9mm and similar pistol rounds work out to a bit over 1,000 mph.

Why speeds vary

  • Bullet speed changes with barrel length, powder charge, bullet weight, and design.
  • Bullets slow down quickly after leaving the barrel because of air resistance, so listed speeds are usually “muzzle velocity.”

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.