- 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
National Institute of Justice
The Research, Development, and Evaluation
Agency of the U.S. Department of Justice
Evidentiary Value
Home > Cartridge and Shotshell Examination > Identification > Evidentiary Value
Glock pistol firing pin hole
Based on the unique reproducible striations and/or impressions produced during the normal functioning of a firearm, it is possible to identify
- cartridge cases and shotshell cases as having been fired in a particular firearm, based on firing pin impressions, breech face marks, and chamber marks,
- fired and unfired cartridge cases and shotshell cases as having been cycled through the action of a particular firearm, based on extractor and ejector marks as well as other mechanism marks.
Primer shearing marks from a
Glock pistol firing pin hole
Although the identification of a cartridge case or shotshell case as having been fired in a particular firearm carries more weight as evidence, the identification of these items as having been at least cycled through the action of a firearm is still significant and may have probative value.
