- 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
Procedure
Home > Bullet Comparison and Identification > Casting > Procedure
Microscopic comparison of
two casts of fired bullet surfaces
There are several recognized brands of appropriate casting material for toolmarks, including Mikrosil™, Coe-Flex™, and Dip-Pak™, among others.
These can accurately replicate the microscopic detail on the surfaces of fired bullets. These products are available in a number of colors.
The procedure for casting the surface of a bullet is as follows:
- Mix the components of the casting material until the mixture begins to harden.
- Apply the mixture to the surface of the fired bullet and allowed to completely harden.
- Remove the cast when it has hardened.
Click here to watch a casting demonstration
