Journal Published Online: 01 July 1974
Volume 19, Issue 3

Evaluation of SEM Potential in the Examination of Shotgun and Rifle Firing Pin Impressions

CODEN: JFSCAS

Abstract

Recently the scanning electron microscope (SEM) was successfully used for an indepth study of firing pin impressions of semiautomatic pistols [1]. The SEM's great depth of field was shown to reveal detail in the impression (far superior to optical microscopy) which could be successfully used for comparison purposes. It was thus the intent of this investigation to extend the work on pistols to shotguns and rifles, in order to see if their firing pin impressions possessed similar class characteristics and identifying features with repeated firings. In addition to this, the effect of preexisting primer marks on the resulting firing pin impression was also studied.

Author Information

Grove, CA
Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory, Schenectady, N.Y.
Judd, G
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, N.Y.
Horn, R
New York State Police Scientific Laboratory, Albany, N.Y.
Pages: 7
Price: $25.00
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Stock #: JFS10200J
ISSN: 0022-1198
DOI: 10.1520/JFS10200J