AFTE Store - The Significance of Chamber Throat Marks on Fired Bullets

Unusual marks were observed on the bearing surfaces of fired bullets. The striated marks were parallel to the axis of the bullets and not with the rifling, and were observed in various locations on the bullet’s bearing surface. Upon further examination, the marks were determined to be caused by the chamber throats of various types of firearms. When subclass characteristic influence could be eliminated, the reproducible chamber throat marks were quite valuable in obtaining identifications when rifling marks were not of sufficient quality.