SHELTON, Conn. — At its recent annual board and committee meetings in Springfield, Mass., the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute^® (SAAMI^®) auctioned many generously donated products from the industry to raise $28,000 in support of USA Shooting, the National Governing Body for international shooting sports in the United States. The U.S. Olympic Shooting Team earned five total medals while competing at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. Team USA will return to Olympic competition at Los Angeles 2028.

SAAMI commemorated its 100th anniversary in 2026, recognizing a century of promoting firearm safety by creating standards that ensure safety, reliability and interchangeability of firearms, ammunition, suppressors and components.

“We had amazing support from our industry in support of this fundraising effort. Because we are celebrating the 100-year anniversary of the founding of SAAMI this year, we were especially trying to exceed last year’s donation to USA Shooting, which — I am happy to report — we did. We are proud that our members not only donated great auction items, but they were also engaged in showing their support for USA Shooting by actively participating in the fundraising auction,” said SAAMI President and CEO Joe Bartozzi. Several one-of-a-kind special edition firearms specifically commemorating this major milestone for SAAMI were provided by member companies.

“USA Shooting’s athletes are outstanding standard-bearers for the shooting sports and firearm safety,” added Bartozzi. “Our members are very proud to support the amazing American athletes that showcase the shooting sports at world-class levels.”

USA Shooting supports the training and competition of world-class athletes that participate in the Olympic Games, World Cups, National Championships and National Junior OIympic Championships, among other competitions.

Industry sponsors of the SAAMI auction were Bachstein Consulting, Benelli USA, Beretta USA, Braztech International, Browning, Colt, CZ, Dan Martin – Art & Photo, Fiocchi of America, GLOCK, Henry Repeating Arms, Heritage Manufacturing, Hodgdon Powder Company, Hornady, Kahr, Liberty Ammunition, Norma Precision, North American Arms, Q, RCBS, Ruger Firearms, Savage Arms, SIG SAUER, Smith & Wesson, Supply Energetics, Taurus, The Kinetic Group, True Velocity and Winchester.

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About SAAMI
The Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute, founded in 1926 at the request of the federal government, is dedicated to creating and promulgating technical, performance and safety standards for firearms, ammunition, suppressors, and their components, and is committed to being the preeminent global resource for the safe and responsible transportation, storage and use of these products.

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SHELTON, Conn. – The Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute^®, Inc. (SAAMI^®), is pleased to announce that it has recently expanded eligibility for Voting Membership to U.S. suppressor manufacturers and designers.

With this expansion, eligible suppressor manufacturers will have the opportunity to join the SAAMI Board of Directors, in addition to rights currently available under Associate Membership. The benefits of Voting and Associate levels include membership on the SAAMI standing committees, full access to SAAMI firearm, suppressor, and ammunition technical standards, participation in the development of those standards, and unlimited access to SAAMI reference ammunition program assessments.

SAAMI recently published SAAMI Z299.6-2025, Voluntary Industry Performance Standards Criteria for Firearm Sound Suppressors for the Use of Commercial Manufacturers, a new voluntary standard providing a reliable reference that industry can use in both the evaluation of sound reduction performance, and in the manufacture of muzzle and socket threads to ensure interchangeability. This standard was developed with invaluable input from suppressor, firearm, and ammunition manufacturers alike.

SAAMI encourages any suppressor manufacturers interested in applying for membership at either the Voting or Associate level to complete a Membership Information Request on the SAAMI website (www.saami.org). The SAAMI team looks forward to answering prospective member questions about eligibility and member benefits.

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About SAAMI
The Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute, founded in 1926 at the request of the federal government, is dedicated to creating and promulgating technical, performance and safety standards for firearms, ammunition, suppressors, and their components, and is committed to being the preeminent global resource for the safe and responsible transportation, storage and use of these products.

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SHELTON, Conn. — The Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute^® (SAAMI^®) is aware of the recent commercial introduction of the 6.5 Creedmoor +Peak cartridge by Federal Premium.

Federal is a founding member of SAAMI and is and has been an active participant in the SAAMI standards development process for many years. At Federal’s request, SAAMI has established a working group to evaluate new performance, pressure, testing, and interchangeability standards specific to this cartridge case technology.

SAAMI, through its technical committee, works continuously to ensure that its standards development procedures and considerations adequately support innovation within the ammunition, firearms, and suppressor industries, and ensure the ability to provide clear guidance on the compatibility and interchangeability of firearms, ammunition, and suppressors. The technology utilized in the 6.5 Creedmoor +Peak cartridge introduces engineering considerations that have not yet been evaluated by SAAMI’s technical committee to determine whether new or additional testing methodologies, validation procedures, or other considerations may be required to adequately assess the compatibility and interchangeability of ammunition manufactured employing such technologies.

Accordingly, SAAMI is initiating discussions among its member companies to evaluate the technical issues and opportunities presented by advanced cartridge case technologies and their interaction with existing firearms and suppressors manufactured and tested in accordance with existing SAAMI standards. Any future consideration of industry standards related to these technologies will follow established consensus-based processes and will require thorough technical review, testing, and member participation.

As pressures generated by this new cartridge case technology fall outside of existing SAAMI standards applicable to 6.5 Creedmoor, SAAMI takes no position at this time regarding the interchangeability, compatibility, or safety of the 6.5 Creedmoor +Peak cartridge in firearms chambered for 6.5 Creedmoor, or for the acceptability of use with legacy suppressors.

Further, it is the understanding of SAAMI that the cartridge cases of the 6.5 Creedmoor +Peak will bear the same headstamp (6.5 CM) as conventional 6.5 Creedmoor ammunition products, with the addition of two Peak logos. A comparison of this headstamp with a standard 6.5 Creedmoor headstamp is shown below.

6.5 Creedmoor                 6.5 Creedmoor
Typical Headstamp          Peak Headstamp

Firearm and suppressor manufacturers remain the best source of information regarding the suitability of ammunition for use in their products, and consumers are encouraged to follow the ammunition recommendations provided by these manufacturers.

SAAMI remains fully committed to its mission of developing voluntary technical standards that promote safety, reliability, interchangeability, and consumer confidence throughout the sporting arms and ammunition industry. As new technologies emerge, SAAMI will continue working collaboratively with its member companies and industry stakeholders to evaluate those technologies and, where appropriate, develop standards that support their safe and responsible implementation.

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About SAAMI
The Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute, founded in 1926 at the request of the federal government, is dedicated to creating and promulgating technical, performance and safety standards for firearms, ammunition, suppressors, and their components, and is committed to being the preeminent global resource for the safe and responsible transportation, storage and use of these products.

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Media contact:

SAAMI 2026 Ballistics Conference Registration Opens

Save the Date: Sept. 15–17

SHELTON, Conn. — The Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute^® (SAAMI^®) has opened registration for its 2026 Ballistics Conference being held September 15–17 in Baltimore. The registration page can be reached through the SAAMI website, or via this link.

The final planned agenda is also posted to the Ballistics Conference page of the SAAMI website and will be helpful for those making their plans to attend.

This will be the sixth biennial SAAMI Ballistics Conference, and this year’s event coincides with a major milestone for SAAMI — the celebration of the organization’s 100^th anniversary.

The conference is designed to serve as a training workshop and discussion forum addressing a range of topics relevant to small arms ammunition and firearms design, ballistic laboratory/test facility operations, methods and related equipment and materials.

A two-day technical seminar and training course anchor the agenda, which also will feature a day for product demonstrations and a facility tour of the testing laboratories at Element U.S. Space & Defense.

Who should attend? The conference will be of special interest to small arms ballistic laboratory technicians, ammunition and firearm designers and test engineers, test facility managers and civilians, law enforcement and military who utilize the SAAMI standards in the manufacture or qualification of ammunition and firearms.

The SAAMI Ballistics Conference will run September 15–16 at the Royal Sonesta Harbor Court located in Baltimore’s scenic inner harbor. An optional site visit is scheduled for September 17 to demonstrate ballistic test equipment, followed by a visit to the testing laboratories of U.S. Element Space & Defense in Belcamp, Md.

Conference presentations will include:

• PCB Ballistic Pressure Sensor User’s Training and Practical Workshop
• Propellants — the science, selection and use considerations
• Legal considerations of test recordkeeping to mitigate product liability risk
• The FBI Terminal Ballistics Method
• Measuring pressures in next generation cartridge designs
• Advanced video analysis software

See the full agenda here.

SAAMI strives to keep its ballistics conferences pertinent to the sporting arms and ammunition and firearm manufacturing community. If there are specific topics you would like to see covered at this conference or future events, or if you are interested in presenting, please include that information with your RSVP or to provide those ideas directly to Alan Serven, SAAMI Senior Director of Technical Affairs, at [email protected].

Interested in being a sponsor of the SAAMI Ballistics Conference and having access to the highly targeted audience of attendees? Reach out to [email protected].

RSVP to [email protected] if you wish to receive further communications on this important industry conference.

Any other questions can be addressed to [email protected].

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About SAAMI
The Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute, founded in 1926 at the request of the federal government, is dedicated to creating and promulgating technical, performance and safety standards for firearms, ammunition, suppressors, and their components, and is committed to being the preeminent global resource for the safe and responsible transportation, storage and use of these products.

________________________

Media contact:

The 2026 SAAMI Ballistics Conference

September 15-17, 2026

A 2-Day Technical Seminar and Training Course plus a range day at the testing laboratories of U.S. Element Space & Defense for product demonstrations and a tour of their facilities.

Presented by the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute, Inc.

OVERVIEW:  2026 will be the sixth biennial SAAMI Ballistics Conference. The purpose of the Conference is to serve as a training workshop and discussion forum addressing a broad range of topics relevant to small arms ammunition design, ballistic laboratory/test facility operations, methods, and related equipment and materials.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?:  The SAAMI Ballistics Conference will be of special interest to small arms ballistic laboratory technicians, ammunition and firearm designers and test engineers, test facility managers, and civilians, law enforcement, and military who utilize the SAAMI standards in the manufacture or qualification of ammunition and firearms.  International attendees:  see the note below under ‘Registration’.

ABOUT THE WORKSHOP: The SAAMI Ballistics Conference will be held Tuesday, September 15 and Wednesday, September 16 in Baltimore, MD at the Royal Sonesta Harbor Court located on the scenic inner harbor. There will be an optional site visit on Thursday, September 17 to U.S. Element Space & Defense in Belcamp, MD to demonstrate ballistic test equipment and to tour their facilities.

The agenda for this year’s event includes presentations on:

• PCB Ballistic Pressure Sensor User’s Training and Practical Workshop.
• Building a Defensible Lead Testing Program.
• Propellants – the science, selection, and use considerations.
• Legal considerations of test recordkeeping to mitigate product liability risk.
• The US FBI Terminal Ballistics Method.
• Integrated Measurement for Ballistics & Firearms Dynamics.
• Challenges to Measuring Next Generation Ammunition Designs.
• OSHA Is Coming.  Now what?
• Ballistic DAQ System Overview.
• Ballistic Pressure Sensor Calibration.
• Practical Measurements – Ballistics & Firearm Dynamics.
• The final agenda can be viewed here.

RSVP:  Please RSVP to [email protected] if you have any questions or wish to receive additional information on this important industry conference.

REGISTRATION:  To Register for the SAAMI 2026 Ballistics Conference, please click HERE.  Please note:  All non-US citizens need to provide a copy of their passport and a completed copy of the U.S. Element Space & Defense Visitor Request Form (available HERE) to [email protected] NO LATER THAN August 24, 2026 (please note the earlier submission date!).

ADDITIONAL TOPICS:  We are always looking to keep the Ballistics conference pertinent and valuable to the sporting arms and ammunition and firearms manufacturing community. If there are specific relevant topics you would like to see covered at this conference, or if you are interested in presenting, please include that information with your RSVP or to provide those ideas directly to Alan Serven, Senior Director of Technical Affairs at [email protected].

Any other questions can be addressed to [email protected].