ASTM F590-22

Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Non-Powder Gun Projectiles and Propellants

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 This consumer safety specification establishes the dimensions and tolerances and supporting test methods for non-powder gun projectiles and propellants to ensure compatibility between the projectiles and propellants and the non-powder guns for which they are designed.  
5.2 This consumer safety specification identifies non-powder gun projectiles and propellants and establishes product identification requirements. The product identification requirements are intended to guide users of non-powder guns in selecting the correct projectile or propellant for use in various guns, and attempts to prevent hazards associated with incorrect use of projectiles and propellants.
SCOPE
1.1 This consumer safety specification covers projectiles and propellants manufactured for use with non-powder guns intended for target shooting, educational, and recreational purposes and is to be used in conjunction with Consumer Safety Specification F589. Non-powder guns are commonly identified as BB guns, air guns, or pellet guns.  
1.2 The projectiles and propellants covered by this consumer safety specification are BB cal, .177 cal (4.5 mm), .22 cal (5.5 mm), and .25 cal (6.4 mm) air gun shot of various materials; .177 cal (4.5 mm), 5 mm, .22 cal (5.5 mm), .25 cal (6.4 mm) pellets and .177 cal (4.5 mm), 5 mm, .22 cal (5.5 mm), and .25 cal (6.4 mm) darts and propellants identified as 8 and 12-g type CO2 cylinders with both small and standard-sized necks as well as refillable CO2 or compressed air cylinders and reservoirs.  
1.3 This consumer safety specification does not cover propellants such as dichlorodifluoromethane or projectiles that are propelled by a combustible release of energy; non-powder gun projectiles used with products identified as blow guns, sling shots, cork guns, toy guns, or archery cross bows and other such devices; projectiles designed for adult use in obsolete non-powder guns, custom-made non-powder guns, and non-powder guns designed for and used by law enforcement, scientific, veterinary or military use; paint ball markers, ammunition for airsoft/softair guns and shot used with shotguns in the firearm classification. Test methods for refilling cylinders do not purport to address all of the safety issues, if any, associated with the safe handling and transfilling of small cylinders. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations, such as but not limited to DOT, CGA and OSHA, prior to use.  
1.4 The following precautionary caveat pertains only to the test method portion, Section 7, of this specification:  This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.5 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 30-Nov-2022
• ICS: 95.060 - Weapons
• Technical Committee: F15 - Consumer Products
• Drafting Committee: F15.06 - Safety Standards for Non-Powder Gun Products

Standards Content (Sample)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation:F590 −22
Standard Consumer Safety Specification for
1
Non-Powder Gun Projectiles and Propellants
ThisstandardisissuedunderthefixeddesignationF590;thenumberimmediatelyfollowingthedesignationindicatestheyearoforiginal
adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript
epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user
of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and
1.1 This consumer safety specification covers projectiles
environmental practices and determine the applicability of
and propellants manufactured for use with non-powder guns
regulatory limitations prior to use.
intended for target shooting, educational, and recreational
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor-
purposes and is to be used in conjunction with Consumer
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
Safety Specification F589. Non-powder guns are commonly
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
identified as BB guns, air guns, or pellet guns.
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
1.2 The projectiles and propellants covered by this con-
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
sumer safety specification are BB cal, .177 cal (4.5 mm),
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
.22 cal (5.5 mm), and .25 cal (6.4 mm) air gun shot of various
materials; .177 cal (4.5 mm), 5 mm, .22 cal (5.5 mm), .25 cal
2. Referenced Documents
(6.4 mm) pellets and .177 cal (4.5 mm), 5 mm, .22 cal
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
(5.5 mm), and .25 cal (6.4 mm) darts and propellants identified
F589 Consumer Safety Specification for Non-Powder Guns
as 8 and 12-g type CO cylinders with both small and
2
F2030 Specification for Paintball Cylinder Burst Disk As-
standard-sized necks as well as refillable CO or compressed
2
semblies
air cylinders and reservoirs.
1.3 This consumer safety specification does not cover pro- 3. Terminology
pellants such as dichlorodifluoromethane or projectiles that are
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
propelled by a combustible release of energy; non-powder gun
projectiles used with products identified as blow guns, sling
Projectiles
shots, cork guns, toy guns, or archery cross bows and other 3.1.1 air-gun dart—a .177 cal, 5 mm, .22 cal, or .25 cal
such devices; projectiles designed for adult use in obsolete
non-powder gun projectile having a pointed configuration on
non-powder guns, custom-made non-powder guns, and non-
one end and tufts on the other (see Fig. 1).
powder guns designed for and used by law enforcement,
3.1.1.1 tuft—the material that is added to the body of a dart.
scientific, veterinary or military use; paint ball markers, am-
3.1.2 air-gun shot—a BB, .177, .22 cal, or .25 cal ball-
munitionforairsoft/softairgunsandshotusedwithshotgunsin
shaped,non-powdergunprojectilemadeprimarilyoflead,lead
the firearm classification. Test methods for refilling cylinders
alloy, or steel (see Fig. 2).
do not purport to address all of the safety issues, if any,
3.1.2.1 air-gun shot, lead—a shot made of lead or lead alloy
associated with the safe handling and transfilling of small
which may or may not have a protective finish.
cylinders. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to
3.1.2.2 air-gun shot, lead-coated—a shot made of steel that
establish appropriate safety practices and determine the appli-
has a thin, uniform coating of lead or lead alloy. It may or may
cability of regulatory limitations, such as but not limited to
not have a protective finish.
DOT, CGA and OSHA, prior to use.
3.1.2.3 air-gun shot, steel—a shot made of steel that is
coated with a protective finish.
1.4 The following precautionary caveat pertains only to the
3.1.2.4 dimension across flats—the diameter of an air-gun
test method portion, Section 7, of this specification: This
shot, as measured across the flats.
standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns,
3.1.2.5 maximum spherical diameter—the largest diameter
of an air-gun shot, as measured with a ring gauge.
1
This consumer safety specification is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Commit-
tee F15 on Consumer Products and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
2
F15.06 on Safety Standards for Non-Powder Gun Products. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Current edition approved Dec. 1, 2022. Published January 2023. Originally contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
approved in 1978. Last previous edition approved in 2018
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: F590 − 12 (Reapproved 2018) F590 − 22
Standard Consumer Safety Specification for
1
Non-Powder Gun Projectiles and Propellants
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F590; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of original
adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A superscript
epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1 This consumer safety specification covers projectiles and propellants manufactured for use with non-powder guns intended for
target shooting, educational, and recreational purposes and is to be used in conjunction with Consumer Safety Specification F589.
Non-powder guns are commonly identified as BB guns, air guns, or pellet guns.
1.2 The projectiles and propellants covered by this consumer safety specification are BB cal, .177 cal (4.5 mm), .22 cal .22 cal
(5.5 mm), and .25 cal (6.4 mm) air gun shot of various materials; .177 cal (4.5 mm), (4.5 mm), 5 mm, .22 cal (5.5 mm), (5.5 mm),
.25 cal (6.4 mm) pellets and .177 cal (4.5 mm), 5 mm, .22 cal (5.5 mm), (5.5 mm), and .25 cal (6.4 mm) darts and propellants
identified as 8 and 12-g type CO cylinders with both small and standard-sized necks as well as refillable CO or compressed air
2 2
cylinders and reservoirs.
1.3 This consumer safety specification does not cover propellants such as dichlorodifluoromethane or projectiles that are propelled
by a combustible release of energy; non-powder gun projectiles used with products identified as blow guns, sling shots, cork guns,
toy guns, or archery cross bows and other such devices; projectiles designed for adult use in obsolete non-powder guns,
custom-made non-powder guns, and non-powder guns designed for and used by law enforcement, scientific, veterinary or military
use; paint ball markers, ammunition for airsoft/softair guns and shot used with shotguns in the firearm classification. Test methods
for refilling cylinders do not purport to address all of the safety issues, if any, associated with the safe handling and transfilling
of small cylinders. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety practices and determine the
applicability of regulatory limitations, such as but not limited to DOT, CGA and OSHA, prior to use.
1.4 The following precautionary caveat pertains only to the test method portion, Section 7, of this specification: This standard
does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this
standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
limitations prior to use.
1.5 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
F589 Consumer Safety Specification for Non-Powder Guns
F2030 Specification for Paintball Cylinder Burst Disk Assemblies
1
This consumer safety specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F15 on Consumer Products and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F15.06
on Safety Standards for Non-Powder Gun Products.
Current edition approved April 1, 2018Dec. 1, 2022. Published April 2018January 2023. Originally approved in 1978. Last previous edition approved in 20122018 as
F590 – 12.F590 – 12 (2018). DOI: 10.1520/F0590-12R18.10.1520/F0590-22.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

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F590 − 22
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
Projectiles
3.1.1 air-gun dart—a .177 cal, 5 mm, .22 cal, or .25 cal non-powder gun projectile having a pointed configuration on one end and
tufts on the other (see Fig. 1).
3.1.1.1 tuft—the material that is added to the body of a dart.
3.1.2 air-gun shot—a BB, .177, .22-cal,.22 cal, or .25 cal ball-shaped, non-powder gun projectile made
...