AFTE Store - Modification of Bullet Jackets, By Annealing, to Allow Forensic Comparison

Bullets are often recovered in a deformed state. The jackets of such bullets may cover the characteristic striations preventing forensic comparison. Conventionally, the jacket is bent away using pullers which may result in fracturing or damage. This project investigated annealing to soften and aid in manipulation of the jacket. It was found that with rapid heating to a red heat in a butane flame, followed by immediate quenching in water the class and individual characteristics of a jacket were almost unaffected, whilst the jackets were more malleable. Blind trials showed that identification of annealed test bullets was possible. Therefore annealing can be used to aid in the manipulation of copper jackets with a minimal loss of identifying characteristics.