Abstract: Based on the split Hopkinson pressure bar testing, a testing system to measure impact toughness in high loading rate is proposed on which the impact toughness of a pressure vessel steel 16MnR and the welds is investigated in different loading rates with pre cracked Charpy impact specimens. The effects of loading rate, matching property of the welds and testing temperature on the impact toughness of the testing materials are analyzed. The results indicate that the weld metal is the most sensitive to the loading rate, the HAZ is the second before base metal and matching property of the welds has effect on the impact toughness of the welds in a certain degree.