Influence of Inhomogeneities of the Surface of Caps on Variability of Static Firing Pin Traces

Introduction. One of the reasons for the variability of the firing pin traces is the gross inhomogeneity present on the surface of the capsules. The main types of not uniformity characteristic of a cap surface, and also their display in static traces are quickly investigated in this work. Experimental part. The surfaces of capsules of various cartridges of domestic and foreign production, as well as capsules “Zhevello” for hunting cartridges, were examined. The main types of inhomogeneities of the capsule surface are analyzed and classified. During the research it was shown that some roughness of the capsule surface does not smooth out when the striker firing pins and can introduce distortions into the static firing pin traces. Conclusions. The carried out researches have shown that the mismatched strongly pronounced features in pair traces can be explained by the presence of similar inhomogeneities on the surface of the capsule outside of the firing pin trace. This fact should be taken into account when comparing static traces of strikers. The work is of interest to firearm examiner specializing in the identification of weapons.