U.S. Department of Justice

Office of Justice Programs

National Institute of Justice

National Institute of Justice

Development of NIST Standard Bullets

and Casings Status Report

NIJ Report 603–00

Law Enforcement and Corrections Standards and Testing Program
ABOUT THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CORRECTIONS

STANDARDS AND TESTING PROGRAM

The Law Enforcement and Corrections Standards and Testing Program is sponsored by the Office of Science and

Technology of the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), U.S. Department of Justice. The program responds to the

mandate of the Justice System Improvement Act of 1979, which directed NIJ to encourage research and development

to improve the criminal justice system and to disseminate the results to Federal, State, and local agencies.

The Law Enforcement and Corrections Standards and Testing Program is an applied research effort that

determines the technological needs of justice system agencies, sets minimum performance standards for specific

devices, tests commercially available equipment against those standards, and disseminates the standards and the test

results to criminal justice agencies nationally and internationally.

The program operates through:

The Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Advisory Council (LECTAC), consisting of nationally

recognized criminal justice practitioners from Federal, State, and local agencies, which assesses technological needs

and sets priorities for research programs and items to be evaluated and tested.

The Office of Law Enforcement Standards (OLES) at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, which

develops voluntary national performance standards for compliance testing to ensure that individual items of equipment

are suitable for use by criminal justice agencies. The standards are based upon laboratory testing and evaluation of

representative samples of each item of equipment to determine the key attributes, develop test methods, and establish

minimum performance requirements for each essential attribute. In addition to the highly technical standards, OLES

also produces technical reports and user guidelines that explain in nontechnical terms the capabilities of available

equipment.

The National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center (NLECTC), operated by a grantee, which

supervises a national compliance testing program conducted by independent laboratories. The standards developed by

OLES serve as performance benchmarks against which commercial equipment is measured. The facilities, personnel,

and testing capabilities of the independent laboratories are evaluated by OLES prior to testing each item of equipment,

and OLES helps the NLECTC staff review and analyze data. Test results are published in Equipment Performance

Reports designed to help justice system procurement officials make informed purchasing decisions.

Publications are available at no charge through the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology

Center. Some documents are also available online through the Internet/World Wide Web. To request a document or

additional information, call 800–248–2742 or 301–519–5060, or write:

National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center

P.O. Box 1160

Rockville, MD 20849–1160

E-Mail: asknlectc@nlectc.org

World Wide Web address: http://www.nlectc.org

The National Institute of Justice is a component of the Office

of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice

Assistance, the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the Office of

Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, and the Office for

Victims of Crime.
U.S. Department of Justice

Office of Justice Programs

National Institute of Justice

Development of NIST Standard Bullets and Casings

Status Report

NIJ Report 603–00

J. Song, and T.V. Vorburger

Manufacturing Engineering Laboratory

National Institute of Standards and Technology

Gaithersburg, MD 20899–8212

Coordination by:

Office of Law Enforcement Standards

National Institute of Standards and Technology

Gaithersburg, MD 20899–8102

Prepared for:

National Institute of Justice

Office of Science and Technology

Washington, DC 20531

November 2000

NCJ 184434
National Institute of Justice

Julie E. Samuels

Acting Director

The technical effort to develop this report was conducted

under Interagency Agreement 94–IJ–R–004,

Project No. 96–019IA/CTT.

This report was prepared by the Office of Law Enforcement

Standards (OLES) of the National Institute of Standards

and Technology (NIST) under the direction of

Alim A. Fatah, Program Manager

for Chemical Systems and Materials, and

Kathleen M. Higgins, Director of OLES.

The work resulting from this report was sponsored by the

National Institute of Justice (NIJ), Dr. David G. Boyd, Director,

Office of Science and Technology.
FOREWORD

The Office of Law Enforcement Standards (OLES) of the National Institute of Standards and

Technology (NIST) furnishes technical support to the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) program to

strengthen law enforcement and criminal justice in the United States. OLES’s function is to

conduct research that will assist law enforcement and criminal justice agencies in the selection and

procurement of quality equipment.

OLES is: (1) Subjecting existing equipment to laboratory testing and evaluation, and (2) conducting

research leading to the development of several series of documents, including national standards,

user guides, and technical reports.

This document covers research conducted by OLES under the sponsorship of the National Institute

of Justice. Additional reports as well as other documents are being issued under the OLES program

in the areas of protective clothing and equipment, communications systems, emergency equipment,

investigative aids, security systems, vehicles, weapons, and analytical techniques and standard

reference materials used by the forensic community.

Technical comments and suggestions concerning this report are invited from all interested parties.

They may be addressed to the Office of Law Enforcement Standards, National Institute of Standards

and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8102, Gaithersburg, MD 20899–8102.

Dr. David G. Boyd, Director

Office of Science and Technology

National Institute of Justice

iii
CONTENTS

FOREWORD...............................................................................................................................iii

COMMONLY USED SYMBOLS AND ABBREVIATIONS....................................................vi

1. PROJECT OVERVIEW...........................................................................................................3

2. WORK ACCOMPLISHED......................................................................................................5

 2.1 Design of the Prototype NIST Standard Bullets...............................................................5

 2.2 Manufacturing...................................................................................................................6

 2.3 Testing and Results...........................................................................................................7

 2.4 Prototype NIST Standard Casings...................................................................................11

3. PLANNED ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR YEAR 2000.......................................................13

 3.1 Second Version of NIST Standard Bullet Prototypes.....................................................13

 3.2 NIST Standard Casing Prototypes...................................................................................13

4. PLANS FOR FUTURE WORK.............................................................................................15

5. SUMMARY...........................................................................................................................17

6. SUGGESTED READINGS ...................................................................................................19

FIGURES

Figure 1. Design for the NIST prototype standard bullets..........................................................6

Figure 2. ATF master bullet No. 1 obtained by a standardized shooting procedure (left)

 and NIST prototype standard bullets No. 1 and 2 made by NC diamond

 turning process (middle and right)...............................................................................7

Figure 3. Bullet signature comparison between the master bullet No. 1, land 1 (fig. 3a)

 and the standard bullet No. 2, land 3 (fig. 3b)..............................................................8

Figure 4. Bullet signature comparison on the same standard bullet No. 2, between

 land 4 and land 3, both in the top section (fig. 4a and 4b), and land 3, bottom

 section (fig. 4c).............................................................................................................8

Figure 5. Bullet signature comparison between the standard bullet No. 1 and No. 2,

 both on the central section of land 4 ............................................................................9

Figure 6. Bullet signature comparison between land 1 and land 2 of the standard

 bullet No. 2. The same bullet signature was machined in the counter-clockwise

 direction at land 1 and 2...............................................................................................9

Figure 7. Measurement repeatability tests of standard bullet No. 2, land 6 using the IBIS

 System at FTI, Canada. The maximum IBIS score is 472 (fig. 7a), the minimum

 IBIS score is 384 (fig. 7b)...........................................................................................10

Figure 8. Measurement comparison between lands 3 and 4 of standard bullet No. 2. Where

 bullet signatures have the same pattern, there is a high IBIS score of 452 (fig. 8a).

 Figure 8b shows a comparison between lands 1 and 6, where the same bullet

 signature was manufactured in different directions, yielding a low IBIS score

 of 54.............................................................................................................................11

v
 COMMONLY USED SYMBOLS AND ABBREVIATIONS

A ampere H henry nm nanometer

ac alternating current h hour No. number

AM amplitude modulation hf high frequency o.d. outside diameter

cd candela Hz hertz Ω ohm

cm centimeter i.d. inside diameter p. page

CP chemically pure in inch Pa pascal

c/s cycle per second IR infrared pe probable error

d day J joule pp. pages

dB decibel L lambert ppm parts per million

dc direct current L liter qt quart

°C degree Celsius lb pound rad radian

°F degree Fahrenheit lbf pound-force rf radio frequency

dia diameter lbf⋅in pound-force inch rh relative humidity

emf electromotive force lm lumen s second

eq equation ln logarithm (base e) SD standard deviation

F farad log logarithm (base 10) sec. section

fc footcandle M molar SWR standing wave ratio

fig. figure m meter uhf ultrahigh frequency

FM frequency modulation min minute UV ultraviolet

ft foot mm millimeter V volt

ft/s foot per second mph miles per hour vhf very high frequency

g acceleration m/s meter per second W watt

g gram N newton λ wavelength

gr grain N⋅m newton meter wt weight

area=unit2 (e.g., ft2, in2, etc.); volume=unit3 (e.g., ft3, m

3

, etc.)

PREFIXES

d deci (10-1) da deka (10)

c centi (10-2) h hecto (102)

m milli (10-3) k kilo (103)

μ micro (10-6) M mega (106)

n nano (10-9) G giga (109)

p pico (10-12) T tera (1012)

COMMON CONVERSIONS

(See ASTM E380)

0.30480 m =1ft 4.448222 N = 1 lbf

2.54 cm = 1 in 1.355818 J =1 ft†lbf

0.4535924 kg = 1 lb 0.1129848 N m = 1 lbf†in

0.06479891g = 1gr 14.59390 N/m =1 lbf/ft

0.9463529 L = 1 qt 6894.757 Pa = 1 lbf/in2

3600000 J = 1 kW⋅hr 1.609344 km/h = 1 mph

Temperature: TqC = (TqF -32)×5/9

Temperature: TqF = (TqC ×9/5)+32

vi
1

NIJ Report 603–00

Development of NIST Standard Bullets

and Casings Status Report

J.F. Song and T.V. Vorburger, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Precision Engineering Division,

Manufacturing Engineering Laboratory (MEL), Gaithersburg, MD 20899.

In April 1998, two prototype standard bullets were developed at the National Institute of

Standards and Technology (NIST). In October 1999, prototype standard casings were also

developed at NIST. The standard bullets and casings are intended for use in Federal, State, local,

and international crime laboratories as reference standards. The implementation of standard

bullets and casings will help verify that the computerized optical-imaging equipment used in

those laboratories is operating properly. These standard bullets and casings are being developed

to enable nationwide and worldwide ballistics measurement traceability and unification. Test

results at NIST indicate that the prototype standard bullets have essentially identical signature

marks and minimal geometrical nonuniformity. Additional testing performed at the Bureau of

Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) National Laboratory Center and at Forensic Technology

Inc. (FTI, Canada) has also shown that these prototype bullets have unique properties,

specifically repeatable and reproducible signature marks. The digitized bullet signature is stored

in a computer and can be used for reproducing the same bullet signature anytime. This project

report addresses the prototype design, manufacturing technique, testing results, potential

enforcement impact and continued development of the standard bullet.

The Authors gratefully acknowledge R. Clary, M. McGlauflin, E. Whitenton,

C. Evans, and T.B. Renegar of NIST for their contributions in the manufacturing and measurement of the NIST prototype standard bullets; and to

M. Ols of the ATF and R. Belanger and M. McLean of the FTI for their

measurements with the IBIS system and many enlightening discussions. We

are also grateful to Prof. R. Baldur, University of Waterloo of Ontario, Canada,

and Dr. A. Fatah of the Office of Law Enforcement Standards (OLES) for key

consultations.
2
3

1. PROJECT OVERVIEW

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) standard bullets and casings are

being developed as reference standards for crime laboratories. The standard bullets and casings

will help verify that the computerized optical-imaging equipment in those laboratories is

operating properly; i.e., for ballistics measurement quality control. They will also provide a

foundation for establishment of nationwide ballistics measurement traceability and unification.

As with fingerprints, each firearm has unique mechanical characteristics that leave unique

signatures on the bullets and casings fired by it. By analyzing these ballistics signatures,

examiners can connect a firearm to criminal acts. In the early 1990’s, the Federal Bureau of

Investigation (FBI) established the DRUGFIRE1 program, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco

and Firearms (ATF) established the CEASEFIRE2 program. Both agencies established these

programs to develop a national integrated ballistics information network [1,2].3 Both systems

are based on optical image capture, image analyses and electronic database techniques. In the

DRUGFIRE program, the image capture system itself is also called DRUGFIRE. In the

CEASEFIRE program, the image capture system is the Integrated Ballistics Identification

System (IBIS4). Unfortunately, these systems are incompatible. The measurements are made

with different instrumentation under different testing conditions. The respective data files have

different digital formats. In 1997, the ATF and the FBI signed a concept paper to establish the

National Integrated Ballistics Information Network (NIBIN) [1,2]. The foundation of NIBIN

consists of establishment of ballistics measurement traceability, unification of ballistics

measurements, and information sharing between these two types of systems.

In December 1995, an ATF Firearms Examiner wrote to the Director of the Office of Law

Enforcement Standards at NIST. In the letter, the Firearms Examiner outlined the concept of

mass-producing “quality assurance standard bullets and casings.” The proposed standard bullets

and casings would bear reproducible and recognizable patterns of striae, which could be entered

at different IBIS locations and produce signatures that would be essentially identical.

To fulfill this request, the NIST Precision Engineering Division (PED) began in 1997 a new

project––NIST Standard Bullets and Casings. Four designs and manufacturing techniques were

proposed for producing the standard bullet prototypes. After comparing these designs and

manufacturing plans, the numerical control (NC) diamond turning process was selected for

manufacturing the prototype NIST standard bullets. The NC diamond turning process had been

previously used at NIST [3,4] and elsewhere [5] for producing prototype roughness standards.

On April 15, 1998, five master bullets and casings were fired into a water tank and recovered at

the ATF National Laboratory Center in Rockville, MD. One digitized bullet signature was used

 

1

Certain commercial equipment, instruments, or materials are identified in this paper to specify adequately the experimental procedure. Such

identification does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, nor does it imply that the

materials or equipment identified are necessarily the best available for the purpose.

2

Ibid.

3Numbers in brackets refer to Suggested Readings in section 6.

4

See footnote 1.
4

for producing two bullet prototypes by means of the NC diamond turning process of the

Precision Manufacturing and Research Facility (PMRF) at NIST. Test results at NIST, ATF and

Forensic Technology Inc. (FTI, Canada) confirmed that these two prototype bullets have unique

properties, specifically their identical, repeatable and reproducible signature marks. The

digitized bullet signature is stored in a computer and can be used anytime for reproducing

standard bullets with the same bullet signature by means of the NC diamond turning technique.

These unique properties make the prototype standard bullets potentially powerful tools for

measurement quality control and nationwide measurement unification in ballistics

measurements. In October 1999, several of the prototype casings were also delivered.

Fiscal year (FY) 1998 and FY 1999 accomplishments are reported in the following sections.

Topics include discussions of the design, manufacturing procedure and test results of the

prototype NIST standard bullets, and the status of the prototype NIST standard casings. We also

discussed our working plan for FY 2000 and beyond.
5

2. WORK ACCOMPLISHED

2.1 Design of the Prototype NIST Standard Bullets

2.1.1 Technical Requirements

Based on discussions with ATF and FBI bullet examiners, and the instrument manufacturers for

both the IBIS and DRUGFIRE systems, basic requirements for the NIST standard bullets were

defined:

• Size, shape, color and material: The size, shape, color and material of the NIST standard

bullets should be as close as possible to conventional bullets. A hard coating can be used on

the bullet surface for protection from rust and long life. However, this coating should not

change the geometry of the bullet signatures.

• Bullet signature: Bullet signature patterns on the standard bullets must come from

conventional bullets. However, these bullet signatures must be identical in different axial

sections of the same standard bullet. Furthermore, identical bullet signatures must also be

found in a group of standard bullets. Geometric nonuniformity, including pits and damage

on the surfaces of the standard bullets, should be minimized.

• Repeatability and reproducibility: Bullet signatures on the standard bullets should show

high repeatability and reproducibility. Repeatability here means that the bullet signatures are

highly repeatable at different axial sections on the same standard bullets. Reproducibility

means that the bullet signatures on different standard bullets are essentially identical. For

these reasons it is highly desirable to use information technology for production of the NIST

standard bullets. That means the standardized bullet signatures are stored in a computer and

can be produced and reproduced essentially anytime anywhere.

2.1.2 Technical Design

The prototype NIST standard bullet was designed as shown in figure 1. The bullet signature AB

was measured from one of five master bullets fired at the ATF National Laboratory Center in

Rockville, MD, in April 1998. The digitized bullet signature was stored in a computer and

reproduced on a NC diamond turning machine generating six lands numbered from 1 to 6, as

shown in figure 1. The purpose of making two prototype bullets with six lands, all having the

same bullet signature, is to test the repeatability and reproducibility of the manufacturing

technique. In the future production of NIST standard bullets, all six lands will have different

signatures.

For the prototype bullet shown in figure 1, the signature was machined on a radius of

approximately 4.5 mm for lands 1, 2, 5, and 6, and was machined flat for lands 3 and 4. In

addition, the bullet signatures on lands 3, 4, 5, and 6 were machined in the clockwise direction,

while the bullet signatures on lands 1 and 2 were machined in the counter-clockwise direction

(fig. 1). The purpose of designing the bullet signatures of the prototype standard bullets in this

way was to test the repeatability and reproducibility of the NC manufacturing process and to test

the capability of different bullet-measuring instruments for measuring and quantifying the same

bullet signature pattern but with different directions.
6

Figure 1. Design for the NIST prototype standard bullets

2.2 Manufacturing

The five master bullets and casings were generated using a standardized shooting procedure at

the ATF National Laboratory Center. Master bullet No. 1 is shown in figure 2, on the left. The

mechanical signature of figure 1 was measured on land No. 1 using a stylus instrument at NIST.

On April 23, 1998, two prototype NIST standard bullets were made at the PMRF at NIST using a

NC diamond turning machine. The prototype standard bullets, numbered No. 1 and 2, are also

shown in figure 2, in the middle and on the right. A separate detailed manufacturing process

report was published as NIJ Report 0601-00 [4].
7

Figure 2. ATF master bullet No.1 obtained by a standardized shooting procedure (left) and

NIST prototype standard bullets No.1 and 2 made by NC diamond

turning process (middle and right)

2.3 Testing and Results

2.3.1 Geometrical Measurement Results

Figure 3 shows profiling signature comparisons between the master bullet and one of the

prototype standard bullets. These profiling signatures were measured using a stylus instrument

at NIST. In the vertical direction, the digital resolution is 10 nm, and the expanded measurement

uncertainty is about 1 % (k = 2). In the horizontal direction, the digital resolution is 0.25 μm,

and the expanded measurement uncertainty is about 1 % (k = 2). Figure 3a shows the profiling

signature from land 1 of master bullet No. 1. This profiling signature was used to produce the

standard bullets. Figure 3b shows a profiling signature from land 3 of the standard bullet No. 2.

Figure 3 illustrates that the profiling signature on the standard bullet has high fidelity with

respect to the master bullet.

The profiling signatures of the standard bullet No. 2 were also tested in different lands and

different axial sections. For example, figures 4a and 4b show profiling signatures of land 4 and

3, respectively, both measured at the top section. Figure 4c shows a profiling signature from the

bottom section of land 3. From figure 4, the profiling signature tests indicate that the NC

diamond turning process can produce the bullet signature with precision and repeatability on the

same standard bullet.
8

Figure 3. Bullet signature comparison between the master bullet No. 1, land 1 (fig. 3a)

and the standard bullet No. 2, land 3 (fig. 3b)

Figure 4. Bullet signature comparison on the same standard bullet No. 2, between land 4

and land 3, both in the top section (fig. 4a and 4b), and land 3, bottom section (fig. 4c)
9

Figure 5 shows a profiling signature comparison between the standard bullets No. 1 and No. 2,

both measured at the No. 4 land, central section. It can be seen that the standard bullets can be

manufactured with high reproducibility.

Figure 6 shows a profiling signature comparison between land 1 and land 2 of the standard bullet

No. 2. The same bullet signature was machined in the counter-clockwise direction at land 1 and

land 2 (see fig. 1).

Figure 5. Bullet signature comparison between the standard bullet No. 1 and

No. 2, both on the central section of land 4

Figure 6. Bullet signature comparison between land 1 and land 2 of the standard bullet No. 2.

The same bullet signature was machined in the counter-clockwise direction at land 1 and 2
10

2.3.2 IBIS Testing Results

The two prototype NIST standard bullets were tested with the IBIS system at FTI in Canada.

First, the measurement repeatability of the IBIS was tested by repeatedly measuring land 6 on

standard bullet No. 2 and matching these images with each other. The 36 measurement results

showed uniformly high IBIS scores with a variation range of 384–472. The score is a

proprietary estimator of the degree of matching between pairs of optical images. The score may

be calculated between a single pair of land images or between two sets of images containing, say,

six lands each. Figure 7 shows two matching images from these tests. The image that yields the

maximum IBIS score of 472 is shown in figure 7a; that yielding the minimum IBIS score of 384

is shown in figure 7b.

The second comparison was made between different lands of the standard bullet. The

comparison results showed that, when the IBIS optical signatures have the same pattern, there is

a very high IBIS score. For example, figure 8a shows a comparison between lands 3 and 4 on

the No. 2 standard bullet. The IBIS score is 452. These high IBIS scores are also found in the

36 measurement repeatability tests mentioned above, with the maximum and the minimum

scores shown in figure 7. Figure 8b shows a comparison between lands 1 and 6 on the No. 2

standard bullet. There is a low IBIS score of 54 because the same bullet signature was

manufactured in opposite directions (see fig. 1 and fig. 6).

Figure 7. Measurement repeatability tests of standard bullet No. 2, land 6 using the IBIS

system at FTI, Canada. The maximum IBIS score is 472 (fig. 7a), the

minimum IBIS score is 384 (fig. 7b)
11

Figure 8. Measurement comparison between lands 3 and 4 of standard bullet No. 2. Where

bullet signatures have the same pattern, there is a high IBIS score of 452 (fig. 8a).

Figure 8b shows a comparison between lands 1 and 6, where the same bullet signature

was manufactured in different directions, yielding a low IBIS score of 54

2.4 Prototype NIST Standard Casings

On April 5, 1998, five master casings QA1 – QA5 were also received with the five master bullets

obtained from the standardized shooting procedure at the ATF National Laboratory Center in

Rockville, MD. The electroforming technique is being used to fabricate the NIST prototype

standard casings. Two companies, GAR Electroforming Division in the United States and

Rubert Ltd., in the United Kingdom, were contracted for this work. The master casings were

first measured at ATF and FTI using their IBIS system. The digitized casing images were stored

so they can be compared with those to be taken from the replica casings.

On July 27 and August 2, 1999, the master casings, QA1 and QA2 were sent to GAR and Rubert,

respectively, for manufacture of the replica casings. The set from Rubert was completed in

October 1999. Delivery from GAR is expected soon. Following delivery of the replica casings,

NIST will test these standard casings by comparing their IBIS images with those of the master

casings stored at ATF and FTI.
12
13

3. PLANNED ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR YEAR 2000

3.1 Second Version of NIST Standard Bullet Prototypes

Based on the testing results, as well as discussions with bullet examiners and instrument

manufacturers, we are improving the design for the second version of NIST standard bullet

prototypes, which are planned to be delivered in 2000. The major improvements for the second

version of standard bullets are:

• Reduce the length from 25 mm to (15 – 18) mm.

• Make all six bullet signatures different on the six lands.

• Make all six bullet signatures on the bullet radius, no flat bullet signatures.

• Make all six bullet signatures on the same center of the curvature.

• Increase the cutting diameter to improve the straightness of the bullet signatures.

• Increase the minimum spacing between the bullet signatures and make all the spacings equal.

• Make the prototypes of standard bullets the same shape as the master bullets.

• Possibly provide nose cones or pieces to fit different instruments.

3.2 NIST Standard Casing Prototypes

Ten prototype casings are to be delivered to NIST. The first seven were delivered in October

1999. The prototype standard casings will be tested by using the IBIS systems at ATF and FTI.
14
15

4. PLANS FOR FUTURE WORK

Plans for future development include the following:

• Develop 10 second-version NIST standard bullets in 2000, distribute them for testing at both

ATF and FBI laboratories, collect comments for the production of NIST Standard Reference

Materials (SRM) 2081 Standard Bullets.

• Develop 10 NIST prototype standard casings in 1999 and finish evaluation testing in 2000,

distribute them for testing at ATF and FBI laboratories, collect comments for the production

of NIST SRM standard casings.

• Produce NIST SRM standard bullets and casings.

• Develop parameters and algorithms for 2D and 3D bullet signature comparisons.
16
17

5. SUMMARY

The standard bullets and casings development process has achieved the following results:

• The NC diamond turning process can produce standard bullets and meet essentially all

technical requirements.

• Geometric measurements show highly uniform and reproducible profiling signatures.

• IBIS tests also show repeatable matching scores consistent with the profiling signatures.

• NIST standard bullets can be used as a powerful tool for the quality control and unification of

ballistics measurements.
18
19

6. SUGGESTED READINGS

[1] Office of Firearms, Explosives and Arson, ATF: ATF’s NIBIN Program, 98 AFTE

(Association of Firearm and Tool Mark Examiners), July 12–17, 1998, Tampa, FL.

[2] Casey, W. (Deputy Superintendent, BPD), J. Wooten (Assistant Director, ATF), and

R. Murch (Deputy Assistant Director, FBI), National Integrated Ballistics Information

Network, 98 AFTE, July 12–17, 1998, Tampa, FL.

[3] Song, J., C. Evans, M. McGlauflin, E. Whitenton, T. Vorburger, and Y. Yuan, "NIST

Virtual/Physical Random Profile Roughness Calibration Standards," Proc. SPIE, Vol. 3426,

1998, p. 213.

[4] NIJ Report 601–00, NIST Random Profile Roughness Specimens and Standard Bullets, U.S.

Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice, July 2000, NCJ 183256.

[5] Kruger, R. and M. Krystek, "Diamond-Turned Surface-Roughness Standards for the

Calibration of Interference Microscopes,” Proc. 7th Int. Conf. on Metrology and Properties of

Engineering Surfaces, edited by B.G. Rosen and R.J. Crafoord (Chalmers University of

Technology, Göteborg, Sweden, 1997).
20