- 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
Composition
Home > Characterization and Evaluation of Fired Projectiles > Physical Features > Composition
Bullet composition refers to the materials used in the fabrication of a bullet.
Basic types of compositions include the following:
- Solid Bullets.
- Swaged and cast lead.
- Single metal (e.g., steel, aluminum, zinc, copper alloys, and brass).
- Bullet Jackets.
- Jacketing metals (e.g., copper alloys, brass, aluminum, nickel, and steel).
- Bullet Cores.
- Heavier metals (e.g., lead and steel).
- Bullet Coatings.
- Sabots.
- Plastic sleeve or adaptor surrounding a subcaliber bullet that allows it to be fired in a larger caliber firearm. The projectile never directly touches the barrel, and the sabot typically falls away after firing. Because the bullet never directly engages the barrel, rifling impressions will not be impressed on the bullet but rather the sabot.
Click the images below for a larger version:
)
Core and jacket)
Bullet coatings)
Federal nyclad)
Teflon coated)
Sabots