AlllO? 3T0b3M

NBSIR 84-2884

Test Procedure for Armor- Piercing

Handgun Ammunition

Prepared by the

U S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Bureau of Standards

Law Enforcement Standards Laboratory

National Engineering Laboratory

Washington, DC 20234

May 1984

Submitted to the

National Institute of Justice

U.S. Department of Justice

•QC Washington, DC 20531

100

.U56

8^-2384

1984

C.cSi

(j; ATI ok;

‘ OF s:

NBSIR 84-2884

TEST PROCEDURE FOR ARMOR-PIERCING

HANDGUN AMMUNITION

Prepared by the

U S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Bureau of Standards

Law Enforcement Standards Laboratory

National Engineering Laboratory

Washington, DC 20234

May 1984

Submitted to the

National Institute of Justice

U.S. Department of Justice

Washington, DC 20531

r

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, Malcolm Baldrige, Secretary

NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS, Ernest Ambler, Director
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This report was prepared by the Law Enforcement Standards Laboratory (LESL) of the National Bureau

of Standards under the direction of Daniel E. Frank, Protective Equipment Program Manager, and Lawrence K.

Eliason, Chief of LESL. Preliminary test method development was accomplished by Mr. Russell N. Prather, Chemical Systems Laboratory, Aberdeen Proving Grounds, U.S. Army. This work was sponsored by the National Institute of Justice, Lester D. Shubin, Standards Program Manager.
FOREWORD

The Law Enforcement Standards Laboratory (LESL) of

the Rational bureau of Standards (NBS) furnishes technical

support to the National Institute of Justice (NIJ),

formerly the National Institute of Law Enforcement and

Criminal Justice. The primary objective of the LESL

program is to conduct research that will assist law

enforcement ana criminal Justice agencies in the

selection and procurement of quality equipment.

LESL: (1) Conducts research to develop test methods

that can be used to evaluate the variety of equipment

used by the entire criminal justice system, (2) subjects

existing equipment to laboratory tests for the purpose

of establishing performance criteria, and (3) conducts

research leading to the development of several series

of docui.ients , including national voluntary equipment

stanaards , user guides , and technical reports . This document is a law enforcement technology

report developed by LESL as part of the NIJ Technology

Assessment Program. The test method described in this

report is the result of research conducted in response

to the NIJ request to devise a method whereby handgun

ammunition could be evaluated to determine whether it

should be classified as armor -piercing ammunition.

Additional reports as well as other documents are being

issued under the LESL program in the areas of protective

equipment, communications equipment, security systems,

weapons, emergency equipment, investigative aids,

vehicles, and clothing.

Technical comments and suggestions concerning this

report are invited from all interested peirties. They

may be addressed to the Law Enforcement Standards

Laboratory . National Bureau of Standards , Washington , DC

2023^.

Lawrence K. Ellason, Chief

Law Enforcement Standards Laboratory

iii

CONTENTS

Page

Purpose 1 Scope 1 Definitions 1 Perforated Plate 1 Test Plate 1 Test Plate Holder 1 Test Equipment 2

Test Procedure 2

TEST PROCEDURE FOR ARMOR-PIERCING HANDGUN AMMUNITION

PURPOSE

This test procedure was developed as a discriminator between armor-piercing

handgun ammunition and nonarmor-piercing handgun ammunition. The test procedure is intended to be used with a companion dociunent, the industry standard for commercial

handgun ammunition.*

SCOPE

The scope of this report is limited to specifying a test method that determines the

penetration ability of handgun bullets. Since this procedure only measures the number of

target plates which are perforated by a given bullet, other applicable documents must be

consulted before the particular ammunition is labeled “Armor Piercing.”

DEFINITIONS

Perforated Plate

A test target plate through which the light from a 60-W light bulb will pass when the

plate is held up to the bulb is deemed to be perforated. If a bullet passes partially through

a plate and becomes lodged therein the plate is deemed to be perforated even though no

light passes around the bullet.

Test Plate

One of a series of aluminum squares at which the handgun bullet will be fired.

Test Plate Holder

A framework similar to that shown in figure 1 that holds the test plates perpendicular

to the initial line of flight of the bullet being tested.

*Supporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute, Inc. Voluntary industry performance standards for pressure and velocity of centerfire pistol and revolver ammunition for the use of commercial manufacturers. Volume II. ANSI Standard Z299.3 approved February 15, 1979. Available from the American National Standards Institute, Sales Department, 1430 Broadway, New York, NY 10018.

1
Saw cuts 5/32 in (0.40 cm) deep

and greater than 0.090 in (0.023 cm)

wide on 2 in (5.08 cm) centers

in each of the three pieces that make up the test fixture 2x4x22 in, two required

(5.08x10.16x55.88 cm)

1x10x22 in, one required

(2.54x25.40x55.88 cm)

NOTE: Support blocks are any suitable materiaL The original test fixture was wood. A total of 10 plates

should be provided.

5-23/32 in (14.53 cm)

Figure 1. Test target.

TEST EQUIPMENT

• Test layout for instrumental velocity as prescribed in ANSI Z299.3* (see fig. 2). • Universal receiver and mount.*

• Standard velocity and pressure barrels (nonvented).*

• Suitable test area with a backstop capable of safely stopping the bullets to be tested.

• Test target per figure 1. • Square aluminum test plates, 2024-T3, 6±l/32 in (15.24±0.08 cm) on each side by

0.090±0.004 in (0.023 ±0.010 cm) thick.

TEST PROCEDURE

Set up the test equipment as prescribed in ANSI Z299.3.* Use the universal receiver

mount to firmly clamp the universal receiver, with the barrel horizontal, in such a manner

that the alignment of the weapon is not altered when it is discharged.

Position a sheet of cardboard behind the second screen of the velocity layout and fire a pretest round through the cardboard to determine the line of flight and the point of

impact of the bullet. Place the test target in back of the sheet of cardboard, with the center of the first target plate in line with the bullet hole made by the test round, and then remove the cardboard. Fire one round of the ammunition to be tested in the test gun. Count the number of plates in the test target that are perforated by the bullet just fired. The laboratory that employs this single-round procedure should repeat it based on a recognized sampling plan to assure statistical reliability in sampling and labeling as “Armor Piercing.” Note: Plates of the test target may not be reused if they underwent any impact

during a previous test.

•Ibid
Figure 2. Schematic velocity test layoutfor instrumental velocity at 15 ft (4.572 m) over 20ft (6.096 m).

3
immM.11 w

''

. . v'; /• yff y • ., , ,

• •< • -Y .w-w

A'Vysru.' cuv«

:> -‘V! t',; =^'^. ( 'M' ' yv'HfU; wi'Vi .*0', :•> -,i <!< Ck?,

•!:>.• •;• .Jii'. ItW'H'* ,'f‘CMl'# '

K-.

P I. ' '\.

: n't ,v>i fn#

,» 7% /L Ij

,»-:v ; 'X„

«;»« 'Ste.Ai

'V.

'Vi^

s’^

w%rt •^wv

• ‘H

'*'v

v« *; >y-r:»-t-A^ -fe.WiS

. ,fcv

V. ,iiy

y ;4s> ]'•»?

)„ .''^4 ftf.«

crtt to"M» .w

''v^jSf' "

.

;v'^ i' ;

WMlj '. >**« Vi

„

-', . 'I.. r',i4^-:f M»y.

.

_ ii'<y .'•^r.'.t-*',

0

>y ' i.-S

• oi'T m* —

' \/''ii''^'r'l

'

. .::.... M" *•;
IBS'lUA (REV. 2-ec) U.S. DEPT. OF COMM. 1. PUBLICATION OR 2. Performing Organ. Report No. 3. Publication Date BIBLIOGRAPHIC DATA

SHEET (See instructions)

REPORT NO.

NBSIR 84-2884 May 1984

4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE

Test Procedure for Armor -Piercing Handgun Ammunition

5. AUTHOR(S)

Daniel E. Frank, Program Manager

6. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION (If joint or other than NBS. see instructions)

NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20234

7. Contract/Grant No.

8. Type of Report 8> Period Covered

Final Report

9.

SPONSORING ORGANIZATION NAME AND COMPLETE ADDRESS (Street. City, Stote, ZIP)

National Institute of Justice

U.S. Department of Justice

Washington, DC 20531

10.

SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES

Document describes a computer program; SF-185, FIPS Software Summary, is attached.

11.

ABSTRACT (A 200-word or less factual summary of most significant information. If document includes a significant

bibliography or literature survey, mention it here)

A test metiiod and test parameters are defined for discriminating

between armor -piercing handgun ammunition and nonarmor -piercing

handgun ammunition. A multi-plate aluminum test target is described

where the number of plates perforated by the bullet, when fired at

the test target out of an industry standard velocity gun, performs

the discrimination between armor-piercing and nonarmor -piercing

bullets. 12.

KEY WORDS (Six to twelve entries; alphabetical order; capitalize only proper names; and separate key words by »em/co/oni,

armor-piercing eunmunitionr bullets; handgun ammunitionr penetration

test; test methods; test plates

13. AVAILABILITY

[~X1 Unlimited

I I For Official Distribution, Do Not Release to NTIS

Order From Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office. Washington, D.C.

20402.

[Xj Order From National Technical Information Service (NTIS), Springfield, VA, 22161

14. NO. OF

PRINTED PAGES

15. Pnc«

$7.00

J tCOWMJ- ' ' 4 4 > 1 t
' ; 7;ir'-;

w\' ! ''.•.^g'’,,.-'^' .1 r vjy :.ft ~'.^r

.. . . ^ f AT^a >« nf,t,M I j /<jisV -^'0 XfpHS-fj M'»^,t 3 lK2 ... ’"' ' ' " f^'iTaOr. qtux

j,'^ r.'2ri "|

I'MM '*f^\ t

* "^4>y "^irV

d SilfeX^VTifi

'

,i> fe' 1-; > ,-; o"' Tt^

. i

'' /( .*^ i ,

'. li 1,3 -M»

^•.'..»'-:-V,,V'-.’K;' !•*» 'l ,

f»'^X:t^itt. *0 its* • i -*'4

'

tro '• y

;;.jii f - .>r»v(i''' ' ~ '’ t* iitof; '».*ii'’l'.-^;' ji

' ' t;M .,'' rf,«Si»; < ,» -C-V'-W , fVH

j

1; -i-fi %i> S‘»i

^ .i ''Y

i^sJ" !• 'y." Z ft/ • ^1 *.'J^'> ^

:. . ;.;: r.:,! ,..-,i^ fvp Vs.- c

> tm. ^ :} A| vk4.

V. ' .;.•• * 4* *“