NCJ Number
11709
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 18 Issue: 2 Dated: (APRIL 1973) Pages: 87-92
Date Published
1973
Length
6 pages
Annotation
CHARACTERIZATION OF BULLETS AND BULLET JACKET MATERIAL THROUGH AN ANALYSIS OF THEIR TRACE ELEMENT CONTENT BY MEANS OF NEUTRON ACTIVATION ANALYSIS.
Abstract
THE TECHNIQUE USED IN THIS STUDY PERMITTED THE DETERMINATION OF THE CONCENTRATIONS OF EIGHT ELEMENTS IN BULLET LEAD MATERIAL AND FOUR ELEMENTS IN BULLET JACKET MATERIAL. DUPLICATE SAMPLES FROM THE SAME BULLET GAVE RESULTS SHOWING QUITE GOOD AGREEMENT IN EACH CASE. IT WAS SHOWN, HOWEVER, THAT FOR THE SEVERAL KINDS OF AMMUNITION SAMPLES STUDIED, THERE WAS A SUBSTANTIAL VARIATION IN THE TRACE ELEMENT CONTENT BETWEEN SAMPLES OF DIFFERENT MANUFACTURE. THE RESEARCHERS STATED THAT THE DIFFERENT AMMUNITION VARIETIES COULD HAVE BEEN CLEARLY DISTINGUISHED FROM EACH OTHER. THE NUMBER OF SAMPLES EXAMINED WAS TOO SMALL TO PERMIT THE DRAWING OF ANY CONCLUSIONS REGARDING THE FEASIBILITY OF BULLET CHARACTERIZATION, BUT FURTHER RESEARCH USING A WIDER SELECTION OF AMMUNITION SAMPLES APPEARS TO BE WARRANTED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)