Analysis of rifle and pistol primer gunshot residue using SEM-EDX

Primer gunsot residues (GSR) obtained from K1A and K2 rifles, and K5 pistol were analysed with scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (SEM-EDX) as basic data in firearm accidents. Ammunition of 5.56 mm is employed for K1A and K2 rifles and 9.0 mm for a K5 pistol. The analyses of morphology, size, particle number, elemental ratio were performed for primer GSR prepared after shooting 3 times. The detected content was Ba>Pb>Sb in most GSR particles but Sb>Pb>Ba or Pb>Sb>Ba in some particles. In the statistical result of composition ratio of elements, the particles with more Sb than Ba were detected in most primer GSR from a K5 pistol, 3 similar to 8 times more than K1A and K2 rifles. This results can be employed to discriminate gun type between rifles and pistols. Furthermore, the size and the number of particles can be applied to access the type of guns.