- 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
Centerfire Ammunition
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Rifle and handgun ammunition differ primarily in cartridge length. Other than selecting a machine with an appropriate stroke length, the loading operations are nearly identical.
Example of case mouth sealant (red)
Case Mouth Sealant
If the cartridge is to be sealed to prevent moisture infiltration around the bullet, a sealant must be applied to the inside of the case mouth before beginning other loading operations. Traditionally, the preferred sealant was a black asphaltic tar. It was applied wet and set aside for drying and curing. Once the sealant dried, the frictional heat of bullet seating partially remelted the tar, ensuring a good seal.
Today, manufacturers are using newer synthetic materials that can be applied and flash dried before loading.
