Forensic Firearm Identification Lab Exercise #1
Case Synopsis:
Police responded to a shoot out involving multiple shots fired. By the time
the police arrived, all the suspects had fled the scene. Eight fired bullets were
recovered from cars and trees in the area of the shooting. The bullets were
marked #1 - #8. Nine cartridge cases were also found at the scene. These were
marked “A” – “I”.
Detectives interviewed several people who were in the neighborhood at
the time of the shooting. A few witnesses reported seeing Sammy Madison
running from the scene.
The police got a search warrant for Mr. Madison’s residence and went to
look for evidence. When they arrived, they did not find any firearms, however,
they did find an area in Mr. Madison’s backyard an area he used for target
shooting. The police recovered a fired bullet from a tree stump (marked #9).
Mr. Madison was taken to police headquarters for questioning. When
asked about the night of the shooting, Mr. Madison stated that he was not in the
area at the time of the shooting and his gun could not have been used.
Crime Lab Request:
The police have relayed Mr. Madison story to the crime lab and want to
know if it’s possible if his firearm was used in the shooting.
Procedure:
1) Measure the base of the bullets and record the diameter
2) Examine the lands and grooves and determine if the rifling is cut or
polygonal
3) Count and record the number of lands
4) Determine the direction of twist and record
5) Using the calipers, measure the lands and grooves. The most
accurate measurements will be at the base of the bullet.
6) Weigh the bullet in grams and record
7) Convert the weight from grams to grains and record
8) Determine the bullet type using the Bullet Reference Chart
9) Measure the class characteristics of the recovered bullet (9).
Determine if any of these bullets from the scene have the same class
characteristics. Explain your answer.
1 gram = 15.43 grains
1 mm = 0.0394 inches
Fired Bullet Worksheet
Name_________________________ Date_________________
Item Number_______________________
Diameter__________________________
Rifling Type________________________
Number of Lands____________________
Direction of Rifling Twist_______________
Bullet Groove Width__________________
Bullet Land Width____________________
Grams_____________________________
Grains_____________________________
Bullet Type_________________________
Item Number________________________
Diameter___________________________
Rifling Type_________________________
Number of Lands_____________________
Direction of Rifling Twist_______________
Bullet Groove Width__________________
Bullet Land Width____________________
Grams_____________________________
Grains_____________________________
Bullet Type_________________________
Item Number_______________________
Diameter__________________________
Rifling Type________________________
Number of Lands____________________
Direction of Rifling Twist_______________
Bullet Groove Width__________________
Bullet Land Width____________________
Grams_____________________________
Grains_____________________________
Bullet Type_________________________
Item Number_______________________
Diameter__________________________
Rifling Type________________________
Number of Lands____________________
Direction of Rifling Twist_______________
Bullet Groove Width__________________
Bullet Land Width____________________
Grams_____________________________
Grains_____________________________
Bullet Type_________________________
Fired Bullet Worksheet
Name_________________________ Date_________________
Item Number_______________________
Diameter__________________________
Rifling Type________________________
Number of Lands____________________
Direction of Rifling Twist_______________
Bullet Groove Width__________________
Bullet Land Width____________________
Grams_____________________________
Grains_____________________________
Bullet Type_________________________
Item Number_______________________
Diameter__________________________
Rifling Type________________________
Number of Lands____________________
Direction of Rifling Twist_______________
Bullet Groove Width__________________
Bullet Land Width____________________
Grams_____________________________
Grains_____________________________
Bullet Type_________________________
Item Number_______________________
Diameter__________________________
Rifling Type________________________
Number of Lands____________________
Direction of Rifling Twist_______________
Bullet Groove Width__________________
Bullet Land Width____________________
Grams_____________________________
Grains_____________________________
Bullet Type_________________________
Item Number_______________________
Diameter__________________________
Rifling Type________________________
Number of Lands____________________
Direction of Rifling Twist_______________
Bullet Groove Width__________________
Bullet Land Width____________________
Grams_____________________________
Grains_____________________________
Bullet Type_________________________
Fired Bullet Worksheet
Name_________________________ Date_________________
Item Number_______________________
Diameter__________________________
Rifling Type________________________
Number of Lands____________________
Direction of Rifling Twist_______________
Bullet Groove Width__________________
Bullet Land Width____________________
Grams_____________________________
Grains_____________________________
Bullet Type_________________________
Did any of the bullets recovered from the crime scene have the same class
characteristics as Item #9 (recovered from the Mr. Madison’s tree stump)?
Explain your answer._______________________________________________
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Forensic Firearm Identification Lab Exercise #1
Case Synopsis:
Police responded to a shoot out involving multiple shots fired. By the time
the police arrived, all the suspects had fled the scene. Eight fired bullets were
recovered from cars and trees in the area of the shooting. The bullets were
marked #1 - #8. Nine cartridge cases were also found at the scene. These were
marked “A” – “I”.
Detectives interviewed several people who were in the neighborhood at
the time of the shooting. A few witnesses reported seeing Sammy Madison
running from the scene.
The police got a search warrant for Mr. Madison’s residence and went to
look for evidence. When they arrived, they did not find any firearms, however,
they did find an area in Mr. Madison’s backyard an area he used for target
shooting. The police recovered a fired bullet from a tree stump (marked #9).
Mr. Madison was taken to police headquarters for questioning. When
asked about the night of the shooting, Mr. Madison stated that he was not in the
area at the time of the shooting and his gun could not have been used.
Crime Lab Request:
The police have relayed Mr. Madison story to the crime lab and want to
know if it’s possible if his firearm was used in the shooting.
Procedure:
1) Measure the base of the bullets and record the diameter
2) Examine the lands and grooves and determine if the rifling is cut or
polygonal
3) Count and record the number of lands
4) Determine the direction of twist and record
5) Using the calipers, measure the lands and grooves. The most
accurate measurements will be at the base of the bullet.
6) Weigh the bullet in grams and record
7) Convert the weight from grams to grains and record
8) Determine the bullet type using the Bullet Reference Chart
9) Measure the class characteristics of the recovered bullet (9).
Determine if any of these bullets from the scene have the same class
characteristics. Explain your answer.
1 gram = 15.43 grains
1 mm = 0.0394 inches
The bullet weights and diameters provided in the spaces below are
approximations within a few grains and thousandths of an inch. Please
measure each of your samples to verify the actual weight and diameter.
The land and grooves were measured using a comparison microscope with
a measuring reticle.
Fired Bullet Worksheet
Name_________________________ Date_________________
Item Number: 1
Diameter: .400 inches
Rifling Type: Cut
Number of Lands: 6 Have Student
Direction of Rifling Twist: Right Sketch Bullet
Bullet Groove Width: .080 - .095 inches
Bullet Land Width: .115 - .130 inches
Weight in grams: 11.67 grams
Weight in grains: 180 grains
Bullet Type: Full metal jacket
Item Number: 2
Diameter: .355 inches
Rifling Type: Cut
Number of Lands: 5 Have Student
Direction of Rifling Twist: Right Sketch Bullet
Bullet Groove Width: .091 - .101 inches
Bullet Land Width: .105 - .115 inches
Weight in grams: 7.45 grams
Weight in grains: 115 grains
Bullet Type: Full metal jacket
Item Number: 3
Diameter: .355 inches
Rifling Type: Polygonal
Number of Lands: 6 Have Student
Direction of Rifling Twist: Right Sketch Bullet
Bullet Groove Width: N/A
Bullet Land Width: N/A
Weight in grams: 7.45 grams
Weight in grains: 115 grains
Bullet Type: Full metal jacket
Item Number: 4
Diameter: .355 inches
Rifling Type: Cut
Number of Lands: 6 Have Student
Direction of Rifling Twist: Right Sketch Bullet
Bullet Groove Width: .059 - .069 inches
Bullet Land Width: .126 - .136 inches
Weight in grams: 6.16 grams
Weight in grains: 95 grams
Bullet Type: Full metal jacket
Fired Bullet Worksheet
Name_________________________ Date_________________
Item Number: 5
Diameter: .355 Inches
Rifling Type: Cut
Number of Lands: 6 Have Student
Direction of Rifling Twist: Right Sketch Bullet
Bullet Groove Width: .060 - .070 inches
Bullet Land Width: .118 - .127 inches
Weight in grams: 7.45 grams
Weight in grains: 115 grains
Bullet Type: Full metal jacket
Item Number: 6
Diameter: .450 inches
Rifling Type: Cut
Number of Lands: 6 Have Student
Direction of Rifling Twist: Left Sketch Bullet
Bullet Groove Width: .069 - .079 inches
Bullet Land Width: .165 - .175 inches
Weight in grams: 14.87 grams
Weight in grains: 230 grains
Bullet Type: Full metal jacket
Item Number: 7
Diameter: .355 inches
Rifling Type: Cut
Number of Lands: 5 Have Student
Direction of Rifling Twist: Right Sketch Bullet
Bullet Groove Width: .104 - .114 inches
Bullet Land Width: .120 - .130 inches
Weight in grams: 10.22 grams
Weight in grains: 158 grains
Bullet Type: Jacketed Soft Point
Item Number: 8
Diameter: .355 Inches
Rifling Type: Cut
Number of Lands: 9 Have Student
Direction of Rifling Twist: Left Sketch Bullet
Bullet Groove Width: .051 - .061 inches
Bullet Land Width: .063 - .073 inches
Weight in grams: 7.45 grams
Weight in grains: 115 grains
Bullet Type: Full metal jacket
Fired Bullet Worksheet
Name_________________________ Date_________________
Item Number: 9
Diameter: .355 inches
Rifling Type: Cut
Number of Lands: 5 Have Student
Direction of Rifling Twist: Right Sketch Bullet
Bullet Groove Width: .091 - .101 inches
Bullet Land Width: .105 - .115 inches
Weight in grams: 7.45 grams
Weight in grains: 115 grains
Bullet Type: Full metal jacket
Did any of the bullets recovered from the crime scene have the same class
characteristics as Item #9 (recovered from the Mr. Madison’s tree stump)?
Explain your answer.
Bullets #2 and #9 both have class characteristics which fall within the same
measurements.
