: The National Integrated Ballistic Information Network is a federal database used to share digital images of ballistic evidence.
As a bullet travels through a gun barrel, it is gripped by —spiral grooves machined into the metal to make the projectile spin for stability. bullet fingerprinting
Despite its usefulness, "bullet fingerprinting" is not always a definitive proof of guilt. Several factors can complicate or even invalidate a match. 1. Barrel Evolution : The National Integrated Ballistic Information Network is
: The Integrated Ballistic Identification System (IBIS) is the hardware and software used to capture these high-resolution 3D images. Several factors can complicate or even invalidate a match
: The raised parts of the rifling (lands) and the cut-out parts (grooves) leave parallel scratches on the bullet.
: Microscopic flaws in the manufacturing process or wear and tear from use create a "signature" unique to that specific barrel. 2. Impression Marks (on the casing)
: When the gun fires, the casing is forced backward against the breech face, transferring its texture to the metal.