The Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers' Institute (SAAMI, pronounced "Sammy") is an association of American manufacturers of firearms, ammunition, and components. SAAMI is an accredited standards developer that publishes several American National Standards that provide safety, reliability, and interchangeability standards for commercial manufacturers of firearms, ammunition, and components. In addition, SAAMI publishes information on the safe and responsible transportation, storage, and use of those products.
History
The origins of SAAMI date back to World War I and the Society of American Manufacturers of Small Arms and Ammunition (SAMSAA). In 1913, the US War Department encouraged the firearms and ammunition industry to establish an organization to share new technology and establish common standards for small arms and ammunition. SAMSAA was officially formed in 1918, however became inactive by the early 1920s.
By the mid-1920s, the United States was still suffering the shortage of World War I strategic materials including brass, copper, and lead. By 1925, the U.S. Department of Commerce recognized the need for a revival of an organization like SAMSAA and at the same time was encouraging ammunition makers to participate in a product simplification program. This was intended to reduce waste of capital, material shortages, storage and transportation needs. In 1926, at the time of official founding of the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturer's Institute, over 4,000 different shotshell loads were on the market. The government sanctioned program- conducted by SAAMI- eliminated more than 95% of them. In metallic cartridges the nearly 350 available loads offered were reduced 70%, often accomplished by reconciling cartridges with multiple names for essentially the same design. This book became the foundation for modern wildlife management. In addition, SAAMI financially supported the Game Conservation Institute in Clinton, New Jersey, which was the first school providing wildlife management education for state and federal regulators.
In 1961, SAAMI established the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) as an independent organization to promote, protect, and preserve hunting and shooting in the United States. By establishing the NSSF as a separate organization, SAAMI was able to focus on its mission of publishing technical standards for firearm and ammunition safety, interchangeability, reliability and quality. and turned its technical standards for firearms and ammunition into five American National Standards. Also, during this time SAAMI started the transition from using a copper crusher chamber pressure measurement system for ammunition to piezoelectric transducer chamber pressure measurement systems. Also, around this time period, SAAMI launched a partnership with the Commission Internationale Permanente pour l’Epreuve des Armes à Feu Portatives (“Permanent International Commission for the Proof of Small Arms,” C.I.P.) to harmonize the standards between the two organizations.
International Affairs Committee
SAAMI's International Affairs Committee is responsible for tracking international developments that would impact firearm, ammunition, and component manufactures. SAAMI is an accredited Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) with Consultative Status at the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
SAAMI vs. C.I.P. Standards
There are two internationally recognized sporting arms and ammunition standard setting organizations, SAAMI and Commission Internationale Permanente pour l'Epreuve des Armes à Feu Portatives (French for "Permanent international commission for testing portable firearms") commonly abbreviated and referred to simply as “C.I.P.”
SAAMI and C.I.P. have had a long-term working relationship to harmonize standards between the two organizations. Prior to the establishment of this relationship, standards were developed independently which, in some cases, resulted in minor differences between the organizations’ standards.