Gunshots heard all around HPP lastnight

[Bullwinkle]

Guys think out the problem.... the bullet runs out of energy at the apex of its travel... then reaches zero upward speed.. at the apex the bullet begins its descent. If typical it will be tumbling and much slower than 120 no matter what the initial upward angle

Doesn't matter what angle its fired at ...

Wikipedia: "And the same terminal velocity is reached for a typical 150 grain bullet travelling in the downward vertical direction — when it is returning to earth having been fired upwards, or perhaps just dropped from a tower — according to a 1920 U.S. Army Ordinance study"

back to skydiving analogy

When I leave the airplane Im moving forward at the aircraft speed.... my body slows slows as I exit and begins the descent..... by the time my forward speed bleeds off .... my descent being vertical. Speed never exceeding terminal velocity however. Unless I strap on a jet pack.

again basic physics - My money still being on backfiring as a source of the automatic gunshot sound

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terminal_velocity
http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/K-12/airplane/termv.html