Validation of piezoelectric measurement system for weapon firing pin percussion energy

Functional reliability of a service firearm is essential. A failure to fire at a critical moment could lead to disastrous consequences. The firing pin of a weapon must hit the primer hard enough to ascertain reliable detonation of the primer which then ignites the powder. Depths of firing pin created indent on an inert primer and on a copper cylinder are the two methods conventionally used to estimate this percussion energy. In this study the copper cylinder method was compared with piezoelectric measurement. It was found out that both systems give reliable readings. Eight pistols of calibre 9 mm were measured. Although the majority of the measured weapons seemed to provide sufficient percussion energy, there were some surprisingly low readings with seemingly perfect weapons. This discrepancy shows the necessity of an industrial standard and of using a reliable percussion energy measurement system for monitoring the condition of service weapons. Further research on firearm and ammunition primer compatibility is required.