Autoloading Pistols

Resources Autoloading Pistols, Consumer Product List The current list of models of autoloading pistols found to be in compliance with NIJ Standard 0112.03 (Revision A). This list updates the NLECTC bulletin, NLECTC Tests Autoloading Pistols for Law Enforcement Use, published in January 2000. Equipment Performance Report: 1999 Autoloading Pistols, May 2000 This NLECTC report contains the complete results of the 1999 NIJ-sponsored tests for autoloading pistols. These tests were performed in accordance with the requirements of Autoloading Pistols for Police Officers Adobe Acrobat File ASCII Test File NLECTC Tests Autoloading Pistols for Law Enforcement Use, January 2000 This NLECTC bulletin contains a summary of results from the 1999 NIJ-sponsored tests for autoloading pistols. The tests were performed in accordance with the requirements of Autoloading Pistols for Police Officers (NIJ Standard-0112.03, Revision A). Adobe Acrobat File ASCII Text File NIJ Standard 0112.03, Revision A, Autoloading Pistols for Police Officers, November 1998 This standard establishes performance requirements and test methods for pistols to be used by law enforcement officers. This standard is a general revision of and supersedes NIJ Standard-0112.02 dated January 1995. Adobe Acrobat File Revision A Changes to NIJ Standard 0112.03, July 1999 These revisions have been issued to update and clarify the requirements of NIJ Standard-0112.03, Autoloading Pistols for Police Officers, dated November 1998. Users who already have the November 1998 standard may download this file to have the complete NIJ Standard-0112.03 with revisions, dated July 1999. Adobe Acrobat File

Updated: October 4, 2002

An officer's sidearm is arguably the single most important item of equipment that they carry. A firearm that does not work reliably when needed will most likely result in serious injury or death to the officer.

The National Institute of Justice (NIJ), through its Office of Law Enforcement Standards (OLES), has developed voluntary minimum performance standards for revolvers, autoloading pistols, and shotguns for police use. For several years during the mid-1980s, NIJ sponsored a series of tests in each of these three categories of firearms, publishing Equipment Performance Reports for each, detailing the test results.

Recognizing that the vast majority of law enforcement agencies today use autoloading pistols as their issued duty weapon, NIJ is performing another series of tests for autoloading pistols in conjunction with the recently revised version of the NIJ Standard for Autoloading Pistols (NIJ Standard-0112.03, Revision A).

NLECTC awarded subcontracts to two independent testing laboratories (H.P. White Laboratory, Inc., Street, Maryland; and United States Test Laboratory, LLC, Wichita, Kansas) to perform this testing. Both laboratories submitted proposals that were evaluated by NIJ, OLES, and NLECTC staff, and successfully demonstrated their capabilities to perform testing in accordance with NIJ Standard- 0112.03 by conducting preliminary tests on two pistols of the same model, which were provided by NLECTC.

The major manufacturers of autoloading pistols for police use were contacted and asked to provide pistols for testing. Eight manufacturers (Colt, Glock, Kahr Arms, Kimber, Ruger, Sigarms, Smith & Wesson, and Taurus) agreed to submit a total of 23 pistol models for testing. Several manufacturers declined NLECTC's invitation to participate in this testing. Testing was performed between August and October 1999. Both the bulletin, NLECTC Tests Autoloading Pistols for Law Enforcement Use, containing a summary of results, and the Equipment Performance Report (EPR): 1999 Autoloading Pistols, detailing the complete results of testing may be downloaded from this web site or requested from NLECTC.

Autoloading Pistol manufacturers interested in submitting firearms for testing should also contact NLECTC for further information on submission guidelines.

Contact:

NLECTC
Alex Sundstrom, Testing Coordinator
Tel: (800) 248-2742
rsundstrom@nlectc.org