Ballistic Analysis Equipment

Forensic firearm examination is a process in forensic science in which specialists attempt to link bullets and weapons to individuals through fingerprint recovery, serial number recovery, and physical examination of weapon components such as bullets and cartridges found at the scene. This work falls under ballistic analysis, which studies the characteristics and behavior of firearms and ammunition, including the examination of striations and other marks left on bullets as they exit the barrel and the microscopic striations within the barrel itself using a form of toolmark analysis. While ballistic analysis examines the behavior and characteristics of projectiles, forensic investigators who need to link bullets or casings to a specific firearm perform firearms identification using techniques such as comparison microscopes, which allow side-by-side comparisons with test-fired bullets.