Contact: Michael E. Newman
michael.newman@nist.gov
301-975-3025
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

Ballistic Markings on a Cartridge Case

Caption: A cartridge case showing the three distinct marks, or 'signatures,' impressed on its surface when it was fired by a gun: the firing pin impression, the breech face impression and the ejector mark. NIST's new standard casing ensures that forensic labs can accurately match signatures on shells found at crime scenes with images in a national database.

Credit: National Institute of Standards and Technology

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Related news release: Shelling out evidence: NIST ballistic standard helps tie guns to criminals