- 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
Conclusions
Home > Characterization and Evaluation of Fired Projectiles > Conclusions
Conclusions expressed in reports relating to a fired bullet in “no gun” cases will contain a number of categories of information based on the remaining observable physical characteristics:
- A description of the fired bullet in terms of its caliber, construction, and the cartridge types possibly represented and its manufacturer
- The general rifling characteristics observed
- A list of the brands and types of firearms that could have produced the general rifling characteristics observed in its surface
- The evidentiary potential of the fired bullet in terms of whether or not it bears sufficient microscopic marks for later comparison if a suspect firearm is recovered
It is essential to express the conclusions reached in examinations in a formal report in terms meaningful to investigators, prosecutors, jurors, and all members of the court. This generally means the use of layman’s terms to the extent possible without sacrificing technical accuracy.
