Firearms and Toolmarks

Types of Firearms
12 gauge
shotgun
cartridge

rifle cartridge
7.62 mm
handgun
cartridge
44 MAG

Shotguns
Rifles
Handguns

Cartridge Components
cartridge case

gunpowder
(nitrocellulose)
igniter
Projectile
(bullet)

Four Major Classes of Bullets

Plain lead
Partially jacketed lead
Fully jacketed lead
non lead (bronze, plastics, wax)

Shotgun Cartridge Components

cartridge

powder
charge

00 buckshot foam buffer

projectiles
base wad

filler card

Firing Sequence 1
Firing pin strikes primer, primer ignites

Firing Sequence 2
Powder is ignited by primer flame

Firing Sequence 3
Burning

powder forms gases, as gases

expand, projectile is launched

6 Land-and-Groove Barrel

A firearm barrel is a tool that leaves

striated toolmarks on a fired bullet

Internal Ballistics
Grooves in the barrel of the firearm
called rifling cause the bullet to spin
as it moves through the barrel

External Ballistics
Barrel spin reduces drag and increases the
stability of the projectile through air
Projectiles without barrel spin will tumble
end over end

What can you determine from a fired bullet?

General rifling characteristics (GRC) - The number, width, and direction
of twist of the rifling grooves in a barrel of a given caliber firearm.

Class Characteristics
1. Direction of twist
2. Number of grooves
3. Caliber or gauge
4. Width of lands and
grooves of barrel
5. Possibly gun
manufacturer(s)

cannelure

A firearm barrel also leaves land and

groove impressions on bullets

Recovery of Test fired Specimens.

Water recovery tank

Test firing a suspect

firearm in the water
recovery tank

Comparison Microscope
Identification using a breech face

Striated marks left on fired bullet

(Individual characteristics = identification)

Microscopic marks inside a gun barrel

GROOVE
LAND

Bullets fired from different barrels

Bullets fired from same barrel

Comparison Microscope

40X

Close-up / Land Impression

Land Impressions

Comparison Microscope
The most valuable
equipment used by the
examiner in order to
perform comparative
analysis
Two stages in the
same view

Comparison Microscope

Firing Pin Impression

Comparison Microscope
10X

The evidence casing

located at the scene
placed on the left
The test fired casing
from suspect firearm
placed on the right

Comparison Microscope
15X

By placing the
casings next to
each other
Side by side the
similarities are
observed

Comparison Microscope

shearing

20X

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Comparison Microscope

40X

Comparison Microscope

FBI Firearms Collection

5,700 Specimens in the firearms collection

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Ammunition collection

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Gunshot Residue
Visual inspection
Microscopic inspection
Chemical testing
Determine presence or absence of primer,
gunpowder or lead residue on victims clothing
Determine approximate distance from firearm
muzzle to victims clothing

Variation in bullet and

powder types are
important variables in
residue deposition

PISTOL CARTRIDGE
RIMFIRE CARTRIDGE
RIFLE CARTRIDGE

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Gunshot Residue Analysis on Victim Clothing

The Modified Griess Test is a test to
detect the presence of nitrite
residues.
Test fired pattern

Sodium Rhodizonate Test is

designed to determine if lead
residues are present on the exhibit.

Chemical Processing for Gunshot Residues

Test fired reproduction from a suspects firearm

When a cartridge is
discharged in a firearm,
unburned or partially burned
gunpowder, as well as other
residues associated with a
gunshot escape from the
firearm. These residues can
be deposited on garments at
reasonably close ranges.

Reaction on test material fired at 9 inches

Greater distance = Greater spread

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Chemical test result from contact shot:

Notice heavy concentration of vaporous lead
Gunpowder blasted through hole (wound)

Primer Residue Analysis on Suspects Hands

Barium, antimony and lead by SEM and X-ray analyzer

Cartridge primer contains barium nitrate, antimony
trisulfide and lead styphnate
Sample collection within four hours

Primer Residue

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Obliterated Serial Numbers

Acid Etching Restoration

Magnetic Number Restoration

Large magnet
Magnaflux

Remington shotgun receiver with serial

number obliterated

Number restored using Magnaflux

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Thermal Restoration

Used on cast iron engine

blocks and some
firearms
Apply heat in a circular
motion

Restoration of obliterated numbers

SA7 painted to
obliterate
identifying
numbers

IR photograph
of the same
SA7 missile
tube

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Class characteristics spacing of the teeth

Marks created by same drill bit

Marks produced by consecutively

made drill bits

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Bullet Trajectory Reconstruction

Bullet path reconstruction

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Trajectory analysis

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