How this calculator works
A rate is simply a count divided by a time. Because the answer is reported per minute, the time is first converted to minutes, then the round count is divided by that number. The same information read the other way gives the average time for one round and the time a fixed number of rounds would take. The calculation assumes a steady rate: in real firing, reloads, magazine changes, aiming and pauses all lower the average compared with the short burst that is often quoted.
Formula
rounds per minute = rounds / (time in minutes). rounds per second = rounds / time in seconds. time per round = time / rounds. time for 100 rounds = time x 100 / rounds.
Worked example
Thirty rounds fired in six seconds is 30 / (6 / 60) = 300 rounds per minute. The same burst fires 5 rounds per second, averages 0.2 seconds per round, and would take 20 seconds for 100 rounds. Ten rounds in ten seconds is only 60 rounds per minute, which shows how much a long pause lowers an average.
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Frequently asked questions
What does a cyclic rate mean?
The cyclic rate is the rate while the mechanism keeps cycling without pauses for aiming or reloading. It is higher than the practical rate, which includes magazine changes and trigger discipline. This calculator reports whatever average the two entered numbers describe.
Why is rounds per minute used when the burst is so short?
It gives a common scale for comparing very different weapons and mechanisms. A hundred rounds per minute and six hundred rounds per minute are easier to compare than 0.5 seconds and 0.1 seconds per round.
Does this account for belt-fed or magazine capacity?
No. It is a pure rate calculation. If you want the time including reloads, add the reload time to the firing time and use the total.
Can I use minutes or hours instead of seconds?
Yes. The time field accepts seconds, minutes or hours, and the result is always converted to the unit shown. The arithmetic is unchanged as long as the unit conversion is correct.