The Effects of Over-Lubrication of a Firearm on Discharged Cartridge Cases
THE MICROSCOPE
2025, Volume 72:2, pp. 64–70
DOI
https://doi.org/10.59082/WYHP5984
AUTHOR
Olsmael Merisier and Peter Diaczuk
ABSTRACT
Forensic firearm examination can be used in forensic investigations to determine if a recovered bullet or cartridge case was fired from a specific firearm. While the use of ballistics evidence has been widely accepted in criminal courts, there are still limitations to the process, starting with how the condition of the firearm before or after the crime could change the marks left behind on the projectiles and cartridge cases. For example, some firearm modification can alter markings, preventing the association between a firearm and fired ammunition components received as evidence. This project aims to explore how the modification of firearm lubrication affects the striations left on a recovered cartridge case. This is done by analyzing recovered cartridge cases fired in dry and lubricated firearm conditions under the comparison microscope. The overall goal is to examine the cartridge cases fired from the same firearm with the same level of lubrication to determine if and how lubrication conditions impact the stria left on those cartridge cases. It was concluded that over-lubricating the firearm leads to inconsistencies in the striation pattern of the cartridge cases. The results from this project could address one of the potential factors that affect limitations in firearm examination and provide firearm examiners with information helpful during the examination process, and hence the conclusion-making process.
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