Firearms Examinations

Firearms

Firearms examinations can determine the general condition of a firearm and whether the firearm is mechanically functional. Trigger-pull examinations can determine the amount of pressure necessary to release the hammer or firing pin of a firearm. Examinations can determine whether a firearm was altered to fire in the full-automatic mode. Obliterated and/or altered firearm serial numbers can sometimes be restored. Firearms can be test fired to obtain known specimens for comparison to evidence ammunition components such as bullets, cartridge cases, and shotshell casings.

 

Bullets Fired bullets can be examined to determine the general rifling characteristics such as caliber and physical features of the rifling impressions and the manufacturer of the bullets. The microscopic characteristics on evidence bullets can be compared to test-fired bullets from a suspect firearm to determine whether the evidence bullet was fired from that firearm.

Rifling characteristics on fired bullets.

Cartridge Cases or Shotshell Casings

Cartridge cases or shotshell casings examinations can determine the caliber or gauge, the manufacturer, and whether there are marks of value for comparison. The images of questioned cartridge cases and shotshell casings can be scanned into DRUGFIRE to compare with evidence from other shooting incidents. The microscopic characteristics of evidence cartridge cases and shotshell casings can be examined to determine whether they were fired in a specific firearm.

Shot Pellets, Buckshot, or Slugs

Examinations of shot pellets, buckshot, or slugs can determine the size of the shot, the gauge of the slug, and the manufacturer.

Wadding

Examinations of wadding components can determine the gauge and the manufacturer.

Unfired Cartridges or Shotshells

Examinations of unfired cartridges or shotshells can determine the caliber or gauge and whether there are marks of value for comparison. Examinations can also determine whether the ammunition was loaded into and extracted from a specific firearm. Unfired and fired cartridges or shotshells can be associated through manufacturing marks.

 

Gunshot Residue The deposition of gunshot residue on evidence such as clothing varies with the distance from the muzzle of the firearm to the target. Patterns of gunshot residue can be duplicated using a questioned firearm and ammunition combination fired into test materials at known distances. These patterns serve as a basis for estimating muzzle-to-garment distances	Gunshot residue patterns.
Shot Pattern Shot pattern examinations can determine the approximate distance at which a shotgun was fired by testing a specific firearm and ammunition combination at known distances.

Silencers

Muzzle attachments can reduce the noise of a firearm by suppressing sound during firing. Testing can determine whether a muzzle attachment can be classified as a silencer based upon a measurable sound-reduction capability.

Gun Parts

Gun parts examinations can determine the caliber and model of gun from which the parts originated.

Submitting Firearms Evidence

Questions concerning firearms evidence should be directed to 03-9702366. Follow the Evidence Submission directions including Requesting Evidence Examinations and Packaging and Shipping Evidence.

• Firearms must be packaged and shipped separately from live ammunition. All firearms must be unloaded.
  
  

• The firearm should be submitted. If the firearm cannot be submitted, call 03-9702366 for instructions.
  
  

• The firearm should be minimally handled to avoid loss or destruction of evidence. Do not allow objects to enter or contact the firearm's barrel, chamber, or other operating surface.
  
  

• Firearms and ammunition components such as bullets, cartridge cases, and shotshell casings can be sent via registered mail through the Pos Malaysia. Evidence must be packaged separately and identified by date, time, location, collector's name, case number, and evidence number.
  
  

• Live ammunition must be shipped via Pos Malaysia. The following guidelines must be followed to comply with the Department of Transportation regulations. Pack ammunition in a cardboard container. Label invoices POS MALAYSIA. The shipper's certification for restricted articles must be included. The outside of the container must be labeled ORM-D AIR, CARTRIDGES SMALL ARMS. The shipping papers must also include the weight in grams.
  
  

• Do not mark the firearm. Firearms should be identified with a tag containing the caliber, make, model, and serial number. The date, time, owner(s)' name(s), location, collector's name, case number, and evidence number should be on the container.
  
  

• Do not mark bullets, cartridges and cartridge cases, shotshells and shotshell casings, and other firearms-related evidence. The date, time, location, collector's name, case number, and evidence number should be on the container.
  
  

• Clothing submitted for gunshot residue examination should be carefully handled, air dried, and wrapped separately in paper. Clothing with blood must be air dried and labeled BIOHAZARD on the inner and outer containers. The date, time, location, collector's name, case number, and evidence number should be on the container.

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