Forensic ballistics

Forensic ballistics examines firearms, ammunition, and projectile evidence to investigate shootings and assess whether particular weapons or ammunition are connected to recovered evidence.

Firearm examination: The inspection and testing of firearms to determine their characteristics, condition, and relation to ammunition or recovered evidence. Examiners document a weapon’s features and test-fire it to create comparison samples.
Shooting reconstruction: The analysis of physical evidence to determine how a shooting occurred, including positions, trajectories, and sequence. Ballistic findings can constrain possible shooter and victim positions.
Class characteristics: Features shared by a group of objects because they were made to the same design or specifications. They can narrow possible firearm types but usually cannot identify one individual weapon.
National Research Council report on forensic science: A 2009 U.S. National Research Council report evaluating the scientific foundations of forensic disciplines. It highlighted the need for stronger research and clearer limits in firearm and toolmark examination.
Firearm identification: The comparison of marks on fired bullets or cartridge cases to assess whether they came from a particular firearm. Microscopic comparisons can associate recovered ammunition components with a test-fired firearm.
Bullet trajectory analysis: The study of a projectile’s path using impact sites, recovered bullets, and scene geometry. Trajectory evidence helps assess possible lines of fire at a shooting scene.
Individual characteristics: Features attributed to irregularities or changes that distinguish one manufactured object from others. Firearm identification uses microscopic marks interpreted as potentially individualizing features.
President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology report: A 2016 U.S. report assessing the validity of selected forensic feature-comparison methods. It scrutinized the empirical support for firearm and toolmark source conclusions.
Toolmarks: Surface marks produced when a harder object contacts or moves across a softer material. Firearm identification treats marks left by firearm parts as a specialized form of toolmark evidence.
Serial number restoration: The recovery of identifying marks that have been removed or altered on metal objects such as firearms. Restored firearm identifiers can connect a weapon to its history or lawful owner.

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