AFTE Store - Land and Groove Count from Bullet Cores

A case study in which a bullet core was received along with a Smith & Wesson 38 Special caliber revolver, rifled 5R. Lands and grooves counted on the bullet core were 6R, and thus an opinion was formed that the core had not been fired in the revolver. Later, a 5R copper bullet jacket was received from the victim. This bullet jacket was identified to the revolver. Ensuing testing and evaluation of unfired lead bullet cores revealed that some Remington cores had quasi-rifling marks present prior to firing due to expansion ribs on the inside surface of the bullet jacket. Care should be taken in forming an opinion about the origin of a bullet core in cases involving Remington ammunition.