At the request of the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), staff of the
Office of Law Enforcement Standards (OLES), located at the National
Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), has conducted a limited
series of tests evaluating the performance of frangible ammunition against
body armor. This preliminary study was designed to attempt to establish
the validity of claims that these types of rounds pose a potential safety
threat to personal body armor. Limited calibers, manufacturers, and types
of frangible bullets were selected and tested against randomly available
models and designs of body armor.

Two types of frangible bullets were tested: a jacketed hot pressed
powdered metal and a non-jacketed sintered/hot pressed powdered metal
bullet. Both bullets were 9 mm RNFP designs, weighing 100 grains. The
armors were of hybrid construction, employing combinations of aramid and
polyethylene ballistic fiber materials and layers. NIJ compliant Type II
and IIIA protection armors were tested using both types of frangible
bullets. The tests were conducted using NIJ Standard-0101.04 backing
material conditioned to meet the standard's drop test criteria. The test
methods used were NIJ Standard-0101.04 Penetration and Backface Signature
(P-BFS) tests and Ballistic Limit evaluations. P-BFS test velocities were
varied to include NIJ reference velocities and recommended manufacturer
service velocities (approximately 1150 - 1250 ft/s).

The results of these preliminary, limited tests indicate that frangible
bullets may represent an unconventional threat to personal body armor,
when contrasted with traditional lead based bullets. The true scope and
relevance of this threat are not yet known, and additional research is
being done by NIST/OLES to fully evaluate and quantify this concern. In
support of these efforts, NIJ requests that all agencies and parties who
have conducted their own testing of frangible ammunition against body
armor contact its Compliance Testing Program Office at NLECTC-National,
located in Rockville, MD. Contact may be made by e-mail through
asknlectc@nlectc.org, or by phone at 800-248-2742. All information
provided by agencies will be considered proprietary and confidential.

Additionally, NIST/OLES staff would like to determine the extent that
frangible ammunition is currently in use by law enforcement agencies, in
order to properly assess the need for further/more extensive review of
this issue. A brief survey has been prepared in support of this effort.
Agencies interested in participating in this survey can obtain a copy by
contacting the Compliance Testing Office at NLECTC-National at the
telephone number or e-mail address listed above.