Forensic investigation of self-loaded cartridges for rifled firearms

Cartridges for rifled firearms including self-loaded ones are very often objects of forensic ballistics examination. In connection with legalization of reloading self-equipped cartridges for the rifled firearms the matter of their forensic examination is growing more urgent. Reloading is defined as the act of reloading or initial loading of rifled short-barrel or long-barrel firearms cartridges from cartridge components. The success of a forensic investigation of reloaded cartridges depends to a large extent on the expert's knowledge of all the technological details of the reloading process. From an expert point of view, it is important to know the properties and signs of the reloading equipment in order to identify characteristic relief features on the surface of the cartridges under examination, indicating possible reloading, and competently interpret the features found. This article describes experiments in which self-filled cartridges of the respective calibre were fired from various rifled firearms. As a result of the examination of these cartridges, traces indicating the fact of reloading of the cartridges were found on their surfaces. Recognition of reloaded ammunition as objects of examination is an integral part of forensic ballistic examination. The evidentiary value of such examinations is high, because crimes committed with the use of firearms have a public resonance and are always under special scrutiny. Therefore, law enforcement activities imply the use of all possible options to identify the perpetrators and to clarify the circumstances of the criminal act.