Analysis of Ammunition

Over the past 23 years it has been necessary to examine numerous components of ammunition as a consequence of the requirement of the particular case. Table 21.3 was compiled from casework records and illustrates the variation in, and complexity of, ammunition. It should be noted that coating means either a plating or wash and that some cartridge cases and bullet jackets are coated both externally and internally, whereas others are only coated externally. Table 21.3 details the results. 

Brass is the most popular material for cartridge cases and primer cups, with steel the second most widely used material for cartridge case manufacture. Soft copper primer cups encountered were all from old ammunition containing black powder propellant. 

Copper alloy bullet jackets are by far the most common and coated iron jackets are also frequently employed. Lead is by far the most common bullet core material and is often hardened with antimony, but not as often as originally presumed, with antimony occurring in only 25% of the lead bullets examined. Only one of the bullets examined was hardened by tin. Some 

The review suggests that diphenylamine (DPA) is the most common stabilizer in single-based propellants, whereas ethylcentralite (EC) is the most common in double based. In fact, Table 21.1 and Table 21.2 show that DPA 

BATON ROUND 1.5738 mm BLACK POWDER 25L5A3 SPRA 7-75 

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M. Jauhari, T. Sing, and S. M. Chatterji, Primer Residue Analysis of Ammunition of Indian Origin by Neutron Activation Analysis, Forensic Science International 19 (1982) 253. 

A.B. Wenzel et al, An Economic Analysis of the Use of Suppressive Structures in the Army Lone Star Ammunition Plant, 105mm, High-Explosive Melt-Pour Facility ,... 

Swearengen, Thomas F. Tear Gas Munitions An Analysis of Commercial Riot Gas Guns, Tear Gas Projectiles, Grenades, Small Arms Ammunition, and Related Tear Gas Devices. Springfield, IL Charles C Thomas Publisher, 1966. 

F. T., "Hazard Evaluation and Risk Analysis of the NC Thermal Dehy Facility - Bldg. 3507," Report No. HA-79-R-2, Hercules Aerospace Division, Radford Army Ammunition Plant, Radford,... 

For onsite analysis, the examination of the vast number of samples necessitates the use of quick, reliable, field portable equipment that can rapidly, quantitatively verify the many chemically different types of ammunition, explosives, and pyrotechnics. The most common suite of analytes to detect is large, consisting of very chemically different compounds and usually occurs at trace levels in complex environmental matrices. This suite encompasses smokeless powders, black powders, and numerous propellant and energetic formulations. Detection should also be sought for common decomposition products of these explosives such as the methylanalines, aminonitrotoluenes, nitrotoluenes, mono- and dinitoroglycerines, and the nitrobenzenes under on-site conditions. 

Suter, Edgar A. Assault Weapons Revisited— An Analysis of the AMA Report. Joarw / of the Medical Association of Georgia, vol. 85, May 1994, n.p. Criticizes the American Medical Association report Assault Weapons as a Public Health Hazard in the United States. Suter argues that the high ammunition capacity of such weapons is usually irrelevant because only a few shots are fired in most incidents other than well-publicized mass shootings. Suter also accuses the report for relying only on unsubstantiated anecdotal data. 

A site-specific, cost-benefit analysis is required to determine if an active remediation system or MNA would be the most effective remediation option (D11322U, p. 8). In 1999, the U.S. Army prepared an analysis of the cost of MNA, in situ bioremediation, and pump-and-treat systems for the treatment of explosives-contaminated groundwater at the Louisiana Army Ammunition Plant in Min den, Louisiana (D22026Y). This comparison is summarized in Table 1. 

The use of activation analysis in criminal investigations (forensic activation analysis) is also well established. The basic idea here is to match the trace-element distributions found in bullets, paint, oil, and so on found at the scene of a crime with the trace-element distributions in objects found with criminal suspects. Such identification is rapid and nondestructive (allowing the actual evidence to be presented in court). Moreover, the probability of its correctness can be ascertained quantitatively. Other prominent examples of the use of forensic activation analysis involve confirmation of the notion that Napoleon was poisoned (by finding significant amounts of arsenic in hair from his head) and the finding that the activation analysis of the wipe samples taken from a suspect s hand can reveal not only if he or she has fired a gun recently but also the type of gun and ammunition used. 

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