A new method for the characterization of shock accelerometers is proposed. The reflection of the elastic wave propagating in a metal bar is used to generate input acceleration to an accelerometer. The elastic wave is produced by the collision of a projectile against the end of the bar and is detected with the strain gauges. The input acceleration is estimated using the one-dimensional theory of elastic wave propagation. The dispersion of the elastic wavefront due to the lateral inertia of the bar is corrected by using Skalak's analysis. The acceleration under which this method is carried out is higher than that of the conventional shaking method. The bandwidth of this method is wider than that of the conventional method because the input acceleration is of pulse shape.