NCJ Number
105573
Date Published
1987
Length
82 pages
Annotation
This report presents the results of testing 22 models of .38-caliber and .357-caliber revolvers against the minimum performance requirements of National Institute of Justice Standard-0109.00, which sets parameters critical to weapon safety and reliability.
Abstract
None of the 22 models complied with every requirement of the standard. Several models, however, did comply with the more critical requirements such as drop safety, hammer safety, and firing. All revolvers failed to comply with the functional requirement. In no case did the manufacturer provide a certificate of compliance with the standard as required, and the user information for the majority of the models did not identify acceptable ammunition for the revolver. The report does not rank revolvers according to their test results. The report recommends that police agencies base their purchase decisions on the extent to which weapon noncompliance with a specific requirement limits the revolver's ability to meet particular agency needs. Purchasers interested in obtaining a combat-ready revolver should stipulate in their purchase order that the weapon must comply with Standard-0109.00 of July 1983. Each revolver sent by the manufacturer should be examined by a qualified armorer and judged to be combat/ready before it is issued to an officer. 2 tables and appended supplementary information. (Author summary modified)