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[Titan_HQ]

Okay, not sure if this is the right forum for the technicalities of the in-universe world, but I don't see anywhere else.

My question is to do with small arms, specifically the projectiles they fire. I should say now that I realise that it is *just* a gameplay mechanic but I like to think about how things would work if they were real.
For comparison I have below the Kinetic energy and momentum for 5.56mm and 7.62mm NATO rounds. Kinetic energy is obvious, and momentum is the force transfered to the target. It is up for debate, however I sit on the side of greater momentum = greater lethality.

Kinetic Energy = (0.5) * mass * (velocity^2)
Force (momentum) = mass * velocity

5.56:
E(k) = (0.5) * 3.5g * (987.6^2) = 1706869. /1000 = 1706.8J
F(m) = 3.5g * 987.6 = 3456.6. /1000 = 3.5 kg m/s

7.62:
E(k) = (0.5) * 9.7g * (859.6^2) = 3582890. /1000 = 3582.8J
F(m) = 9.7g * 859.6 = 8338.1. /1000 = 8.3 kg m/s


Now we know that ME small arms used a "block" of metal which is used to provide shavings that are propelled at hyper-velocities.
If we assume a grain of 1mm of metal block weighs 0.02g (based on density of uranium) and we take hyper-velocity to mean 35000m/s or 35km/s then that gives us:

E(k) = (0.5) * 0.02g * (35000^2) = 12 250 000. /1000 = 12250J
F(m) = 0.02g * 35000 = 700. /1000 = 0.7 kg m/s

So while the kinetic energy of these grains is massive, similar to .50 BMG (15037J), the force delivered on target is significantly sub-par. Not to mention that 35km/s is a "way above anything that is remotely possible" maximum velocity.
It seems to me that while the idea of nearly limitless ammunition is nice, in reality a projectile needs to be at minimum 3mm*6mm, and made of less dense materials than Uranium in order to properly transfer that energy to the target.

My point is that I don't think the small arms in Mass Effect would be an improvement over conventional firearms unless they were using ammunition of a more conventional type that had a larger mass and size, and a lower velocity of "only" 4-7km/s.

Now I realise I have just picked apart a cornerstone of the Mass Effect universe for no good reason, however I would like your thoughts on this. Are my calculations wrong? And more importantly is my evidence correct? Are small arms as we know them useless without larger ammunition and the old detachable magazine we know and love?