NCJ Number
187170
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 46 Issue: 1 Dated: January 2001 Pages: 57-62
Date Published
January 2001
Length
6 pages
Annotation
The problem of contamination resulting from organic additives in gunshot residue (OGSR) from previous weapon use has been considered in two previous studies; the current study evaluated the OGSR contamination issue by using a quantitative additive determination of residues obtained from known gunpowders fired in sequence.
Abstract
The measurement of the organic additives in smokeless gunpowder is an attractive approach for the detection of handgun use, because it provides compositional information that can help associate residues and unfired gunpowder. This study investigated several factors that will be required to advance the characterization of OGSR as a useful forensic tool, including evaluating residue contamination from previously fired ammunition, particle-to-particle compositional variability, and compositional features that result from the type of firing primer used. Using ammunition loaded with known smokeless powders containing different stabilizers, a sequence of shots was fired from a .357 magnum revolver, and the muzzle exit residues were collected. Compositional analysis of the residues, both in bulk and as single particles, showed only a trace of the previously fired powder in the first shot and none in subsequent shots. In an additional experiment that tested conventional leaded and the new lead-free firing primers, the OGSR composition was found not to depend on the primer type. 3 tables, 1 figure, and 15 references