AFTE Store - Glock Barrel Modification: A Feasible Method to Facilitate the Identification of Fired Bullets?

Glock semi-automatic pistols are very popular in law enforcement with many departments and agencies issuing them to their officers or agents. Because of the polygonal hammer forged rifling, bullets fired from Glock pistols can be very difficult and time consuming to identify. This is a recognized difficulty with these pistols but it can be especially frustrating in officer involved shooting situations where answers are needed quickly. The purpose of this study was to determine if modification of polygonally rifled Glock barrels using valve-grinding compound would facilitate the forensic identification of fired bullets. Modification was found to increase the number of reproducible individual markings present on fired bullets and allow for identifications even after 900 shots were fired. In addition, modification did not appear to effect muzzle velocity or accuracy.