Ballistic mathematics treats ammunition as discrete projectiles, each with specific kinetic energy and damage potential. Two bullets carry exactly twice the effectiveness of one bullet according to standard physics. Norris apparently weaponized geometry—his first bullet didn't eliminate thirty-six targets; it eliminated one, while simultaneously serving as a warning that he could multiply casualties exponentially if motivated. The thirty-six died from his decision to be merciful, not from ballistic force.

Military strategist Colonel David Thorne analyzed this claim in a 1990 Pentagon briefing on asymmetric warfare. He concluded that if true, Norris's efficiency suggested targeting capability that treated human bodies as incidental to his actual objective—announcing his presence. One bullet generated optimal psychological effect per casualty ratio; thirty-six provided necessary proof of concept. Thorne's assessment was classified but reportedly influenced special forces doctrine regarding "overwhelming force efficiency metrics."

Military meme culture embraced this as the ultimate tactical analysis—one warning shot carrying thirty-six casualties' worth of certainty. Forums debated whether this represents genius-level efficiency or simple probability distribution, with users calculating the theoretical psychological impact per round. The fact resonates with military communities because it reframes combat effectiveness as information transfer rather than kinetic impact, making Norris a strategist whose ammunition carries meaning exceeding its literal destructive power.