Initial tests show high performance of NIST RM 8240 standard bullets. (News Briefs).

The fabrication of 20 standard bullets (Reference Material 8240) was completed on Jan. 7, 2002, by a team composed of NIST researchers. Based on comments received from bullet examiners on prototype standard bullets developed at NIST in 1998, these reference material bullets were designed with six signatures from six master bullets of the ATF and FBI national laboratories, and with material, color, and shape similar to real bullets. In February, NIST researchers visited a private company in Canada, the principal manufacturer of optical instruments used to link suspect weapons to bullets and casings recovered from crime scenes. The purpose of the visit was to test the reproducibility of the NIST bullets and to discuss procedures for their use and opportunities for dissemination.

The instrument manufactured by the private company is the Integrated Ballistics Identification System (IBIS). Six NIST bullets were tested there using one of their IBIS systems. The initial test results showed that the reproducibility of the manufactured bullet signatures on the different bullets is close to the measurement reproducibility of the IBIS system itself. That suggests that when these bullets are distributed nationwide for IBIS calibrations, they can virtually play the same function as a single standard bullet.

Scientists and engineers at the company also agreed to investigate the use of a NIST developed parameter based on autocorrelation functions, combined with the use of NIST standard bullets, for establishment of traceability and quality control for ballistics measurements. A NIST workshop is planned for bullet examiners before the delivery of these bullets to government and law enforcement agencies. The NIST RM 8240/8250 standard bullets and casings project will support the ATF and FBI, as well as homeland security.

CONTACT: John Song, [phone]; [e-mail].