AFTE Store - GLOCK’s Signature Barrel Durability of the EBIS Markings

GLOCK pistols have always presented difficulty in regards to differentiating bullets fired from different GLOCK barrels. The Enhanced Bullet Identification System (EBIS) was GLOCK’s most recent attempt in response to resolving this conflict. This method creates a signature in the barrel which imparts gross lines down the length of the barrel on the lands of the rifling. These gross lines vary in width, depth, and spatial relationship, much in appearance as a barcode would look. Small imperfections in the depths of these gross lines are also noted and appear to have been intended to have an impact on the appearance of the finer lines on the land engravings of the fired bullets. Durability testing was conducted to see the reproducibility of the signature markings after enduring 250-10,000 rounds of ammunition being fired through the barrels. Results showed that the gross lines endured, but there was a disparity with the finer lines. This disparity reduces the chances of identifying GLOCK bullets by a sufficient correspondence of individual characteristics; however, the manufacturing method lends itself to imparting class characteristics which may aid in differentiating one GLOCK bullet from another in a limited universe situation.