Baseline Specifications for Law Enforcement Service Pistols With Security Technology

• NCJ Number: 250377
• Date Published: November 2016
• Length: 25 pages
• Agencies: NIJ
• Publication Type: Test/Measurement; Standard

Annotation

This report on baseline specifications is intended to inform research and development efforts that focus on incorporating gun safety technology into service pistols used by law enforcement officers.

Abstract

The rationale for developing these baseline specifications is the importance of integrating gun safety technology into a firearm's design without compromising the reliability, durability, and accuracy that officers require of their service pistols. These baseline specifications were developed by a working group of experts in firearms technology that was assembled by the U.S. Departments of Justice and Homeland Security. This working group identified operational needs and prepared a draft document that defines generic baseline specifications for law enforcement service pistols with additional technology that improves the security of these pistols. The information provided in this report is informed partly by specifications included in recent handgun solicitations by the FBI and ICE, which are publicly available. The pistols defined by this report are semi-automatic, recoil-operated, magazine-fed, striker-fired, and fire 9 mm Luger or .40 S & W ammunition. Class I and Class II pistols shall have the same operating system and control mechanisms, with the only difference being the slide, barrel, frame, and grip dimensions. Performance and testing requirements are defined in addition to the baseline specifications. .