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Gunshot Residue

Home > Evidence Handling Procedures > Firearm and Toolmark Examination Considerations > Gunshot Residue
Fabric sample with bullet hole, gunpowder burns, and gunshot residue.

Close-up of gunshot residue pattern on
white cotton cloth, chemically
treated to appear pink

Gunshot residues are usually within the purview of the firearm examiner. This type of minute residue may be visually apparent; it is most often arrayed as a pattern around a suspected bullet hole. Low power microscopy and chemically specific color-producing tests may be required for detection.

Residue patterns can be reconstructed by firing a series of shots from the suspect firearm and ammunition at varying known distances per laboratory protocol.

Gunshot residue analyses and muzzle-to-target distance determinations are the subject of Module 12.

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