What Tests Were Done Before Deciding On The SIG P229?

So far I know there are tons of mixed reviews with the SIG. Some like it, some love it, and lots of you flat out hate it. Next week I’m going to steal a article from PO1 Null and post it on here about the weapon itself, but did any of you ever wonder what the requirements were for the test phases while DHS was taking bids on what PDW to use? Well if you were, here is a list of tests that the gun manufacturer had to pass before beginning cost negotiations.

The test standards used for the DHS contract contain all the familiar drop tests, accuracy tests, and durability tests that have long been standard parts of law-enforcement and military procurement procedures, the raw stress and abuse the government today expects modern duty pistols to endure is, well, beyond extreme. Here are just a couple of excerpts from the Department of Homeland Security’s Performance Description for a Service Pistol Procurement.

Plugged Barrel Test: “An appropriate caliber bullet for the chambered caliber will be pressed into barrel from the breech to a depth of 1.16 inches as measured from the breech. The barrel will be re-installed and the pistol fired using one round of service ammunition. Any barrel deformation or damage will be noted. The test will be repeated, with a second pistol, with a bullet lodged 0.5 inch from the end of the muzzle. Any barrel deformation or damage will be noted.”

Sand and Dust Test: “Five (5) fully loaded holstered pistols will be placed in a 43 inch x 21 inch x 25 inch wooden dust test chamber, with the barrel vertical and muzzle down. A 1/10 horsepower motor driving a 500 cubic feet per minute squire cage blower attached to one end of the test chamber will be used to disperse two pounds of Quickrete Play Sand.  The sand will be sifted through an 18 x 14 threads screen to remove the larger particulate. The sand will be gravity fed into the blower intake at a rate not to exceed two (2) pounds per minute, and will be allowed to run for three (3) minutes totaling six (6) pounds of sand. After three (3) minutes, the chamber will be opened and the pistols removed from the holsters. Any loose dust will be shaken from the pistols. The pistol will then be fired. Any malfunctions will be noted.”

Salt Water Immersion Test: “Five (5) fully loaded pistols with one (1) extra, fully loaded magazine per pistol will be submerged in a salt-water solution of 5% sodium chloride and 95% distilled water by weight for sixty (60) seconds. The pistols will be removed and held muzzle down to drain the bore and then placed in a climatic chamber at 70F and 70% RH for 24 hours. The fully loaded pistols shall then be fired, re-loaded with the extra magazine and fired again. Results will be noted.”

Temperature Tests: “Five (5) fully loaded pistols with one (1) extra loaded magazine per pistol will be placed in a climatic chamber, at 200F for eight (8) hours. Each pistol and extra magazine will be removed from the climatic chamber and all fired within one (1) minute. Results will be noted. Five (5) fully loaded pistols with one (1) extra, fully loaded magazine per pistol will be placed in a climatic chamber and conditioned to minus 30F for eight (8) hours. Each pistol and extra magazine will be removed from the climatic chamber and fired within one (1) minute. Results will be noted.”