AFTE Store - An Empirical and Validation Study of Breechface Marks on .380 ACP Caliber Cartridge Cases Fired from Ten Consecutively Finished Hi-Point Model C9 Pistols

An empirical study was conducted using ten (10) consecutively finished Hi-Point model C9 slides and one frame acquired from the Hi-Point Manufacturing Company in Mansfield, Ohio. The ten (10) slides were mounted on the frame and test fired to obtain cartridge cases for comparison. The test fired cartridge cases were microscopically examined, evaluated and compared for class and individual characteristics that resulted from the manufacturing process. Prominent striations were evident on each test-fired cartridge case. These resulted from sanding of the breech face. The variations that occur during the manufacturing process of sanding result in unique, identifiable, individual breech face marks devoid of subclass influence. A limited validation study was conducted after the empirical study. Correct associations were made during this limited study.