AFTE Store - An Examination of Five Consecutively Rifled Hi-Point 9mm Pistol Barrels with Three Lands and Grooves Left Twist Rifling to Assess Identifiability and the Presence of Subclass Characteristics

Consecutively manufactured tools are the most likely to share characteristics and features associated with the forensic comparison process, and therefore present a worst case scenario for the firearm and tool mark examiner. Similar to previous studies on consecutively manufactured tools, this research examines the individuality of marks present on a bullet fired from one of five consecutively rifled barrels and the ability to use those marks to identify a fired bullet to the specific barrel from which it was fired. In addition, the potential for subclass characteristic carryover created during various processes associated with the manufacture of Hi-Point 9mm pistol barrels with three lands and grooves left twist rifling was assessed by observing key steps in the manufacturing process, and examining and comparing the barrels and bullets fired from them.