AFTE Store - Degradation of Fired Bullets and Cartridge Cases in Different Environmental Mediums

Environmental exposure, depending on the medium and the length of deposition, can complicate or preclude microscopic laboratory comparisons of fired bullets and cartridge cases. To evaluate the effect of environment and time in situ, fired bullets and cartridge cases were deposited in soil, water, open air, and a dog carcass. Representative samples were recovered and microscopically compared to control items every six months for a period of two years. The fired bullets and cartridge cases deteriorated more rapidly in the water and the carcass, and required careful restoration. Most bullets and cartridge cases from the four environmental mediums were identifiable with the controls in the first year, but then began to deteriorate rapidly in the water and carcass environments. Effective restoration and identification was possible, but difficult to achieve in those environments after eighteen months.