SAAMI ITEM 241-Setting the Standard Safety and Technical Standards for Firearms and Ammunition

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SETTING THE

STANDARDSAFETY AND TECHNICAL STANDARDS

FOR FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION

Presented by

SPORTING ARMS AND AMMUNITION MANUFACTURERS' INSTITUTE, INC.

Since 1926


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Introduction

The Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers

Institute is an association of the nations leading manufactur-ers of sporting firearms, ammunition, and components. Sincebeing founded in 1926, SAAMI has been actively involvedin the publication of industry standards, coordination oftechnical data, and the promotion of safe and responsiblefirearms use. SAAMI currently publishes more than 700 vol-untary standards related to firearm and ammunition qualityand safety.

SAAMI Sets Product Standards

For Firearms and Ammunition

The primary work of SAAMI is done by its TechnicalCommittee in the setting of industry standards. Productstandards for firearms and ammunition are developed by two

Product Standards Task Forces, one for ammunition and onefor firearms. Recommendations of the task forces are sub-mitted for review by the entire TechnicalCommittee. Other key areas of technicalexpertise and standardizationinclude pressure measurement,muzzle loading, and working

toward universal, internation-ally recognized standards byworking with the CommissionInternationale Permanente(CIP). In Europe, proof housesor testing facilities for firearmsand ammunition, have setEuropean standards since the 1800s.

The CIP is an international associa-tion of proof houses. By workingtogether, the CIP and SAAMI areworking toward the development ofinternational standards.

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SAAMI Is An Accredited Standards

Developer For The American National

Standards Institute (ANSI)

SAAMI is an accredited standards developer for theAmerican National Standards Institute. As an accredited stan-dards developer, SAAMIs standards for industry test methods,definitive proof loads, and ammunition performance specifica-tions are subject to ANSI review and various ANSI criteria.

According to the American National Standards Institute,Approval of an American National Standard requires verifica-tion by ANSI that the requirements for due process, consen-sus, and other criteria for approval have been met by thestandards developer.

Consensus is established when, in the judgment of the ANSI

Board of Standards Review, substantial agreement has beenreached by directly and materially affected interests.Substantial agreement means much more than a simplemajority, but not necessarily unanimity. Consensus requiresthat all views and objections be considered, and that a con-certed effort be made toward their resolution.

Standards are developed when the governing body, SAAMI,

proposes a new standard and circulates the draft to can-vassees. Canvassees for each standard include governmentagencies (such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation andthe U.S. Customs Service), non-SAAMI member compa-nies, and interested parties (such as the National Instituteof Standards and Technology). Once the draft standard hasbeen reviewed and returned to SAAMI with comments or

corrections, the canvass group votes on whether or not toaccept the standard. If there is disagreement and a can-vassee opposes the standard but the standard is accepted bythe other members of the canvass group, there is an ANSIappeals process that decides the matter.

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If changes are needed,the proposal must

be resubmitted andreconsidered by the

canvassees.

SAAMI ProposedStandard

SAAMI/ANSI Standard Process

American National

Standards InstituteApproval Process & Criteria

U.S. Customs Service

FBI

National Institute of Standards

& Technology

Royal Canadian

Mounted Police

Association of Firearms &

Tool Mark Examiners

others

make comments, corrections,etc.

The proposed standard is

unanimously approved byall canvassees. It is then

published as an ANSI standardand required to be reviewed

at least every 5 years.

OR

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It is ANSI and SAAMI policy that every five years the stan-dards be revised or reaffirmed. Even if the standards remainthe same, they must go through the approval process out-lined above. Simply stated, the standards accepted by ANSIand promulgated by SAAMI are reviewed and accepted byoutside experts, and every five years the validity of thestandards are re-affirmed.

In 1996, SAAMI was audited by ANSI and received exempla-ry marks for technical expertise, professionalism, and com-

petency. The audit concluded that, SAAMI staff is compe-tent and knowledgeable concerning the SAAMI standardsprocess and ANSI requirements. The standards are processedin a professional manner.

Over the years, there have been attempts to put firearmsand ammunition under the Consumer Safety Protection Act.Recognizing that firearms are not traditional consumer

products, Congress exempted the firearms and ammunitionindustries in 1976 saying, The Consumer Product SafetyCommission shall make no ruling or order that restricts themanufacture or sale of firearms, ammunition, includingblack powder or gun powder, for firearms. Congress wascorrect because numerous anti-gun advocates have sinceargued that the CSPA should be allowed to regulate firearms

and ammunition in the name of safety. Numerous indus-tries in addition to firearms and ammunition were exempt-ed from the CSPA, including automobiles, boats, and air-craft. Congress has not wavered from its initial position.

Since 1926 SAAMI has been the principle organization inthe United States activelyengaged in the develop-

ment and promulgationof product standards forfirearms and ammunition.The U.S. military, the FederalBureau of Investigation, and

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many other state and local agencies frequently require thattheir suppliers manufacture to SAAMI specifications. SAAMIis the only trade association whose member companies

manufacture and set standards for high-performance lawenforcement ammunition.

SAAMI Proposes and Reviews

International and Domestic

Shipping RegulationsThe SAAMI Logistics & Regulatory AffairsCommittee (SLARAC) performs some of themost important functions of SAAMI.SLARAC participates in reviewing and pro-posing both domestic and internationalregulations so that products offered bySAAMI members can be distributed eco-nomically and safely, without unreasonable restrictions,throughout the world. Working with the U.S. Department ofTransportation, U.S. Treasury Department (Bureau of

Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms) on a domestic basis andinternationally through the United Nations Sub-Committeeof Experts on the Transportation of Dangerous Goods, SAAMI

is intimately involved in the development of domestic andglobal standards for the safe transportation and distributionof products manufactured by SAAMI-member companies.

The Logistics and Regulatory Affairs Committee regularlyoffers its expertise to agencies on such important matters asthe classification, labeling, placarding, and packaging ofsmall arms ammunition. The Committee conducts tests insupport of their views concerning the limited hazards asso-ciated with the storage and transportation of small armsammunition and components. The harmonization of domes-tic and international regulations is a high priority and is anongoing project.

ORM-D

CARTRIDGES, SMALL ARMS

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One important product of the SLARAC Committee is avideo, Sporting Ammunition and the Firefighter, which wasproduced by the Committee many years ago. The videoanalyzes the characteristics associated with small armsammunition when it is subjected to severe impact and fire.

When a primer ignites, it causes the propellant to burnwhich creates gases which, when under pressure in afirearm, send the bullet down the barrel. Pressure createdby the propellant being burned is what discharges a bullet.

As such, loose ammunition in a fire does not result in bullets

being discharged because the propellant is not burningunder pressure. The video, which has been widely circulatedto fire departments, concludes that while ammunitionproduces a popping sound when it burns, there is no massdetonation of the ammunition, any projectiles are of lowvelocity, and there is no threat to firefighters in their stan-dard turn-out gear.

The Environmental Committee Examines

Environmental Issues Affecting the Shooting

Sports By Analyzing and Collecting Data

and Offering Policy Proposals to Regulatory

Agencies and the Shooting Public.

The Environmental Committee provides SAAMI members andthe public with important information about the impact ofshooting on the environment. Responding to concernsabout lead and lead mobility at shooting ranges, SAAMIcommissioned E.A. Engineering, Science and Technology,

Inc. to prepare an exhaustive literature search on the issue.The committee has also helped develop range guidancerecommendations for range owners so the shooting sportscan be enjoyed in harmony with the environment.

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The following four books detail the many ANSI/SAAMI

industry standards for the manufacture of firearms andammunition.

These books are the ANSI-approved standards referencedpreviously. Each book includes detailed specifications andtechnical drawings. To order, please contact SAAMI at theaddress on the back cover.

Item #205 Z.299.3 1993ANSI/SAAMI Centerfire Pistol & Revolver$30.00

Item #206 Z.299.4 1992ANSI/SAAMI Centerfire Rifle

$35.00

Item #208 Z.299.1 1992ANSI/SAAMI Rimfire$20.00

Item #209 Z.299.2 1992ANSI/SAAMI Shotshell$25.00

Item #207 Z.299.5 1996ANSI/SAAMI Abusive MishandlingThis book lists recommendations for test procedures to evaluatenew designs of rifles, shotguns and handguns. Test parameterssimulate conditions where the firearm is subjected to abusive

mishandling to demonstrate the ability of the firearm to withstandthis abuse without discharging.$5.00


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Membership

The Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers Instituteis an association of the nations leading manufacturers of

sporting firearms, ammunition and components. Founded in1926 at the request of the federal government, SAAMI hasbeen actively involved in the publication of industry stan-dards, coordination of technical data, and the promotion ofsafe and responsible firearms use. SAAMI currently publishesmore than 700 standards related to firearm and ammunitionquality and safety. For a listing of SAAMI members, pleasewrite to:

11 Mile Hill RoadNewtown, CT 06470

For more information about ANSI, please write to:ANSI11 West 42nd St., 13th FloorNew York, NY 10036212/642-4900

SPORTING ARMS AND AMMUNITION MANUFACTURERS' INSTITUTE, INC.

#241 TH 10M 2/98

SAAMI ITEM 241-Setting the Standard Safety and Technical Standards for Firearms and Ammunition

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