police nordic rifle ammunition test methods

26 Pages·2012·0.29 MB·English

Police Nordic Technical Specification

PNTS-MD-A-0002.8

For Official Use Only

Appendix 2

POLICE NORDIC RIFLE AMMUNITION

TEST METHODS

1.10.2012
Police Nordic Technical PNTS-MD-A-0002.8 For Official Use Only
Specification

POLICE NORDIC AMMUNITION TEST METHODS
PNTS-MD-A-0002.8

The following persons and organizations have participated in preparing this document:
Jorma Jussila, National Bureau of Investigation, Finland
Terje Egge, National Police Computing and Material Service, Norway
Andreas Hahnquist, National Police Board, Sweden
Graham Dean, Home Office Centre for Applied Science and Technology, UK

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CONTENTS

1 INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................................................5
2 MECHANICAL AND DIMENSIONAL TESTS..........................................................................................6
2.1 External dimensions.........................................................................................................................6
2.2 Bullet seating tightness....................................................................................................................6
2.3 Frangible bullet test..........................................................................................................................7
2.4 Primer sensitivity..............................................................................................................................9
2.5 Waterproofing...................................................................................................................................9
2.5.1 Condition 1: Land operations test............................................................................................................10
3 INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL BALLISTIC TESTS................................................................................12
3.1 Chamber pressure and bullet velocity............................................................................................12
3.1.1 Chamber pressure measurement...............................................................................................................12
3.1.2 thermal shock and accelerated ageing test...............................................................................................12
3.1.3 Transport durability..................................................................................................................................13
3.2 Function and casualty test..............................................................................................................14
3.3 Velocity and kinetic energy.............................................................................................................16
3.4 Precision.........................................................................................................................................16
4 TERMINAL BALLISTIC TESTS.............................................................................................................18
4.1 Bare gelatine..................................................................................................................................18
4.2 Heavy clothing................................................................................................................................19
4.3 Domestic window penetration........................................................................................................20
4.4 Body armour penetration................................................................................................................23
5 SUMMARY OF EXCEL-SPREADSHEETS............................................................................................25

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Specification

1 INTRODUCTION

This document describes the test methods used for year 2012 Police Nordic rifle ammunition tender
competition in order to evaluate the compliance with minimum mandatory requirements for 5.56 x
45 mm (.223 Rem) and 7.62 x 51 mm (.308 Win and .308 NATO) ammunition described in
document PNTS-RS-A-0002. When the method used is described in a publicly available standard
referred to by the requirements document, the method is not repeated here.

Every test refers to en excel-spreadsheet used for reporting the test results and analyzing them. A
separate folder containing a set of these spreadsheets is created for every ammunition type to be
tested. Any photographs are also saved in this folder.

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2 MECHANICAL AND DIMENSIONAL TESTS

2.1 External dimensions

Scope
This test verifies that the ammunition fits in a CIP defined minimum chamber.

Materials and tools
- CIP minimum chamber gauge
- Material tester assembly

Sampling and test specimen preparation
Random sampling. Sample size n=200. Ammunition at least 2 hours in room
temperature.

Method
A cartridge is inserted approximately half way into a vertically positioned CIP
minimum chamber gauge allowing the cartridge to fall in on its own weight. The case
head must be flush with the gauge head. If the case head remains higher, 25 N force is
applied on the case head. If case head is still higher than the gauge head, it constitutes
a failure.

Reporting
Number of high and no-fit cartridges are recorded on excel spreadsheet (extdim.xls).
No-fit cartridge is saved in a plastic bag marked with an incident number,
ammunition-id and text “extdim”.

Measurement uncertainty
± 0,01 mm

2.2 Bullet seating tightness

Scope
This test verifies that the bullet is seated tight enough in the cartridge case to prevent it
from becoming loose due to repeated chambering, recoil or rough handling.

Materials and tools
- Material tester assembly
- Case head adapter
- Self tightening jaw grip

Sampling and test specimen preparation
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Random sampling. Sample size n=20. Ammunition at least 2 hours in room
temperature.

Method
Bullet seating tightness test is carried out by pulling the bullets using a material tester
with approximate crosshead velocity of 50 mm/min. Powder is optionally weighed.
Cases are transferred to primer sensitivity test.

Reporting
Seating tightnesses are recorded on excel spreadsheet (seating.xls). If tightness
requirement is not met the bullet and the cartridge case are saved in a plastic bag
marked with an incident number, ammunition-id and text “seating”.

Measurement uncertainty
± 1 N

2.3 Frangible bullet test

Scope
This test verifies that the bullet will not produce dangerous fragments or possess
excessive penetration ability.

Materials and tools
- Defined service weapons
- 500 mm x 500 x 500 wooden test frame for mounting the steel plate and witness
sheets. The frame (F) shall be made of approximately 40 mm x 40 soft wood
- 5 mm x 500 x 500 steel plate of ordinary rolled steel
- 500 mm x 500 witness sheets of cartridge paper (approximately 270g/m2 )

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Fig. 2-1 Test frame for frangibility test as seen from above showing 45 and 0 impact angles.

Sampling and test specimen preparation
Random sampling. Sample size n=6+6. Ammunition at least 2 hours in room
temperature.

Method
witness sheets are stapled or otherwise attached to 5 sides of the test frame. A shot is
fired at the steel plate (S) at prescribed angle to surface normal through the witness
sheet (W). Shooting distance is 5 m. Penetration of the steel plate or any perforation of
the witness sheets constitutes a failure. Test is carried out 6 times for each defined
angle, ammunition type and weapon type. The impact angles are 0 and 45° to surface
normal of the steel plate.

Reporting
Results are recorded on excel spreadsheet (fragmentation.xls). If fragmentation
requirement is not met the bullet remains and the cartridge case are saved in a plastic
bag marked with an incident number, ammunition-id and text “fragmentation”. The
perforated witness sheet is similarly marked and saved. Any penetration of the steel
plate is photographed.

Measurement uncertainty
Not applicable

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2.4 Primer sensitivity

Scope
This test verifies that the percussion primer sensitivity is within acceptable range to
prevent inadvertent detonation and to ensure reliable functioning.

Materials and tools
- drop tester

Sampling and test specimen preparation
Random sampling. Sample size n=20. Ammunition at least 2 hours in room
temperature. Bullets are pulled out and powder is removed. Cases from bullet seating
tightness test can be used for primer sensitivity measurement.

Method
A 55 g ± 0.5 weight dropped on firing pin with a spherical tip of 1.27 mm radius, 1 ±
0.2 mm protrusion and ≤ 0.2 mm deviation of concentricity with the primer shall
cause:
100% fire when dropped from a height of 305 mm on a 9 mm x 19 primer (Percussion
-
energy 0.16 J)
100% fire when dropped from a height of 457 mm (Percussion energy 0.25 J) on a .223
-
and 635 mm on a .308 primer (Percussion energy 0.34 J)
100% misfire when dropped from a height of 76 mm (Percussion energy 0.04 J).
-

The test may be done with any alternative method producing the prescribed percussion
energies.

Reporting
Fire / no-fire results are recorded on excel spreadsheet (primer.xls). If a primer fails to
fire at the maximum drop height the cartridge case is saved in a plastic bag marked
with an incident number, ammunition-id and text “primer”.

Measurement uncertainty
not applicable

2.5 Waterproofing

The general categories of waterproofing ase as follows:

Condition 1: Land operations
Adverse climatic conditions with ammunition protected from
submersion or rain.
Condition 2: Surface diving
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Depth 1 m, duration 12 hours, water pressure 1 bar
Condition 3: Diving with oxygen
Depth 10 m, duration 2 hours, water pressure 2 bar
Condition 4: Diving with Nitrox
Depth 20 m, duration 1 hour, water pressure 3 bar

2.5.1 Condition 1: Land operations test

Scope
This test simulates repeated exposure to adverse weather conditions

Materials and tools
climate chamber
-
velocity and pressure measurement equipment (EPVAT)
-

Sampling and test specimen preparation

Random sampling. Sample size n=20. cartridges are placed in a climate chamber
which is set to vary air temperature and relative humidity as follows:
+20 ± 2 oC Rh% 90 ± 10 for 1 hour
+4 ± 2 oC, and Rh% 90 ± 10 for 1 hour
+20 ± 2 oC Rh% 90 ± 10 for 1 hour
+4 ± 2 oC, and Rh% 90 ± 10 for 1 hour

In case the climate chamber cannot control humidity, the following conditioning
method is acceptable. The ammunition is placed inside a closed container containing
approximately 1-2 cm water and on a platform which is above the water surface. The
container lid is closed and the container is then placed inside the climate chamber and
temperature varied as described above. Alternatively a refrigerator set at +4 ± 2 oC
may be used with the container taken out to room temperature for +20 ± 2 oC
conditioning phase.

After removing from the climate chamber the ammunition is allowed to reach the
room temperature before running measurements.
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