Eli5 If you shoot a bullet into the air how does it gain enough velocity on the way down to kill someone?

Question

Eli5 If you shoot a bullet into the air how does it gain enough velocity on the way down to kill someone?

In: 5

Answer 1

Bullets shot straight up start tumbling near the apex where they have to change direction. They are non-lethal.

Bullets shot *nearly* straight up never completely come to a stop (they maintain some speed perpendicular to gravity) and can keep their aerodynamic spin-stabilization. These bullets have the possibility of being lethal.