AFTE Store - Trace Bullet Metal Testing for Copper and Lead at Suspected Projectile Impacts

Shooting reconstruction may fall under the responsibility of scene investigators or firearm examiners. For any shooting scene investigator, this article describes a very useful set of tests for detecting both copper and lead, the two most common bullet metals, at suspected bullet impact sites. This test is not only useful in determining whether such a site is indeed bullet related, the tests can also yield valuable information with regard to direction of travel, and general bullet type. For copper, two reagents are used: 2-nitroso-1-naphthol, and dithiooxamide. Lead is detected using a variant of the common sodium rhodizonate test that many are familiar with in gunshot residue analysis.

Full Journal: AFTE Journal Vol 38 No 4 (2006)