- 01: Introduction
- 02: History
- 03: Propellants, Firearms, and Ammunition Development
- 04: Modern Firearms Manufacture
- 05: Small Arms Ammunition
- 06: Evidence Handling Procedures
- 07: Equipment and Instrumentation
- 08: Examination of Firearms
- 09: Cartridge and Shotshell Examination
- 10: Characterization and Evaluation of Fired Projectiles
- 11: Bullet Comparison and Identification
- 12: Gunshot Residue and Distance Determination
- 13: Toolmark Identification
- 14: Communicating Results
- Resources
Mushrooming
Home > Characterization and Evaluation of Fired Projectiles > Microscopic Marks > Impact Damage > Mushrooming
Mushroomed bullet
Mushrooming is the controlled expansion of a bullet upon impact with a target. The bullet is designed to significantly increase in diameter upon impact.
This controlled expansion is advantageous to police operations in
- minimizing the danger to innocent bystanders,
- ensuring the delivery of all bullet energy to the intended target.
Mushrooming presents challenges to the forensic examiner because the significant surfaces carrying GRC information are folded back on each other rendering them unreadable. In order to observe the GRCs and measure caliber, it is necessary to alter the bullet from its received condition. Care should be exercised to avoid damage to microscopic detail that might be present. Any resulting changes to the received condition of the bullet must be documented.
