SAAMI stands for Small Arms Ammunition Manufacturer's Institute. It is an organization in which member companies establish standards for the production of all types of commercial ammunition. This includes the actual dimensions of a given round—width, length, case wall thickness, etc—as well as the pressure level to which it is loaded. When the SAAMI member companies agree to these yardsticks, gunmakers may proceed with building guns that can comfortably accept SAAMI-standard ammunition. Although handloading is an active and widely practiced adjunct to the shooting sports, no gunmaker will ever warrantee his gun when it is used with handloads. That's because they cannot exert any control over the way the ammo was loaded or what components were used. With virtually all commercial ammunition sold in America loaded by SAAMI members, the shooting public can proceed with their sport in relative safety. It is an excellent example of an industry regulating itself.
September 22, 2011
