Energetic materials are damaged when subjected to extreme strain (case burst, nozzle loss) or high-velocity impact against a hard object. Damaged energetics are more susceptible to initiation and may transition to a more severe reaction, including detonation.

Safety Management Services, Inc. (SMS) manufactures a series of impingement guns used to study the effects of high velocity impact of propellants and explosives against various target materials. The impingement guns can be made for any bore size, including the following standard sizes:

Barrel length can be selected for optimum performance or may be adapted for limited space requirements (interchangeable barrels on some models).

SMS's impingement guns are designed to be fired remotely and are equipped with a safety interlock on the firing mechanism. The guns may be used in UN Test 7(c)(i) "Susan Impact test" and UN Test 7(c)(ii) / 7(d)(ii) "Friability test" prescribed in the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria and TB 700-2.

18mm Impingement Gun

25mm Impingement Gun

70mm Impingement Gun