- 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
Recovered Bullets and Projectiles
Home > Characterization and Evaluation of Fired Projectiles > Recovered Bullets and Projectiles
Differing land and groove impressions
(class characteristics)
In an optimum situation, a recovered bullet is relatively intact. It bears physical characteristics due to manufacturing processes and class characteristics produced by the barrel of the firearm from which it was fired.
The examiner’s report on the fired bullet may include
- descriptive information (e.g., caliber, construction, possible cartridge types, and possible manufacturer),
- general rifling characteristics,
- listing of possible firearms that may have produced the general rifling characteristics,
- evidentiary potential based on individual characteristics present.
However, bullets may be deformed, fragmented, distorted, and possibly unrecognizable. In any form, fired bullets usually produce some useful information that may ultimately contribute to the case.
Fired wadding, pellets, buckshot, slugs, or buffer are not usually identifiable with a particular firearm. However, their class characteristics may provide information about the proprietary design characteristics and dimensional data of the ammunition provided by the manufacturer and/or marketer).
