- 01: Introduction
- 02: History
- 03: Propellants, Firearms, and Ammunition Development
- 04: Modern Firearms Manufacture
- 05: Small Arms Ammunition
- 06: Evidence Handling Procedures
- 07: Equipment and Instrumentation
- 08: Examination of Firearms
- 09: Cartridge and Shotshell Examination
- 10: Characterization and Evaluation of Fired Projectiles
- 11: Bullet Comparison and Identification
- 12: Gunshot Residue and Distance Determination
- 13: Toolmark Identification
- 14: Communicating Results
- Resources
Ballistic Testing
Home > Small Arms Ammunition > Ballistic Testing
After final assembly, the cartridges must be tested before packing and shipping. The testing process is similar for all classes of ammunition; they are tested against company standards as well as those recommended by the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute Inc.– SAAMI. While the SAAMI standards are voluntary, failure to follow these may result in a product that is unsafe and dimensionally incompatible with some firearms.
The cartridges undergo testing in the following areas:
- Pressure testing
- Velocity testing
- Function firing
- Accuracy testing
- Customized specifications
- Cosmetic evaluation
Testing is destructive; tested cartridges are expended. Consequently, valid and reliable testing must be based on accepted statistical sampling procedures. Both in-process and final acceptance testing is performed. The samples tested must meet the pressure standards.
Sample cartridges are measured to ascertain that all physical dimensions meet factory specifications and the guidelines recommended by SAAMI. They are also examined for cosmetic defects.
