NCJ Number
206119
Date Published
January 2000
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This report describes the tests performed by the National Institute of Justice's, National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center on autoloading pistols in accordance with the requirements of the revised Autoloading Pistols for Police Officers, NIJ Standard-0112.03, Revision A.
Abstract
Voluntary minimum performance standards for revolvers, autoloading pistols, and shotguns have been developed for police use by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ). However, it has been recognized that the vast majority of law enforcement agencies today use autoloading pistols as their issued duty weapon. Through its National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center (NLECTC) system, NIJ has recently performed a series of tests for autoloading pistols. The tests were performed in accordance with the requirements of the recently revised version of Autoloading Pistols for Police Officers (NIJ Standard-0112.03, Revision A). NIJ Standard-0112.03, Revision A was issued in July 1999 and replaces the 10mm with the .357 SIG caliber. To satisfy the requirements of NIJ Standard-0112.03, Revision A both sample pistols of the same manufacturer and model must pass all seven requirements and tests: user information, visual inspection, dimensional requirements, functional requirements, model qualification firing requirement, drop safety requirement, and drop function requirement. The requirements are very stringent because they represent the level of performance required for a pistol that is fully capable of service use under the conditions and environment in which law enforcement officers work. NIJ Standard-0112.03, Revision A addresses four calibers of weapons: 9mm Luger, .357 SIG, .40 S&W, and .45 ACP. These are commonly chosen by law enforcement as a primary duty weapon. Testing was performed between August and October of 1999. The results showed that 17 of the 23 pistol models complied with the standard.