NCJ Number
184337
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 45 Issue: 4 Dated: July 2000 Pages: 865-871
Date Published
July 2000
Length
7 pages
Annotation
Results of shooting experiments revealed that the use of an x-ray color imaging system on primer particles and fired bullets from different .22 rimfire ammunition was useful and allowed a ready, concomitant analysis of the morphology or primer particles and their elemental composition.
Abstract
The shooting experiments used Eley, RWS, Federal, Winchester, Fiocchi, Orbea, and Remington ammunition. The research used wooden toothpicks to collect samples from cartridge cases, transferred the cases to double-sided adhesive-tape-coated stubs, and carbon-coated the stubs. The bullets were washed in distilled water and then dried and attached on stubs that were not carbon coated. The research used a Cambridge 110 scanning electron microscope with a Link ISIS 300 microanalysis system equipped with the Cameo program for x-ray color to examine and analyze each sample. The analysis of the bottom of fired bullets revealed that antimony present in the bullet alloy is not evenly distributed. Instead, it is organized in plates composed of almost pure antimony. Moreover, it is easy to detect particles and other traces adherent to lead-bottomed bullets containing elements different from lead and thus useful to the understanding or primer composition. Figures and 12 references (Author abstract modified)