ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Published Online: 1 March 1998
Page Count: 5

Identification of Ammunition from Gunshot Residues and Other Cartridge Related Materials—A Preliminary Model Using .22 Caliber Rimfire Ammunition
Wrobel, HA
Victoria Forensic Science Center, Victoria Police,

Millar, JJ
Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology,

Kijek, M
Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology,

(Received 23 September 1996; accepted 2 July 1997)

Abstract

The identification of the type of ammunition used during the commission of a crime is very often a critical aid to the investigation: for instance, matching a cartridge used in a crime to that found on a suspect, or the determination of which of two possible shooters fired the fatal shot. The physical differences of the cartridges and the chemical composition of the components should make it possible to differentiate ammunition using a number of unique factors.

A prototype database of both chemical and physical factors has been designed and established that can be searched easily to identify a cartridge. The composition of the gunshot residue, the projectile and the cartridge case indicators were analyzed and recorded. Because of its common use, .22 caliber ammunition has been investigated, however, the parameters and the principles of the database can be applied equally to other calibers.

Keywords:
forensic science, firearms identification, .22 caliber ammunition, gunshot residue, database, ammunition identification

Paper ID: JFS16141J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS16141J
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