Application of true color X-ray vision for electron microscopy in fired bullets and gunshot residue investigation

An X-ray color imaging system was used to study primer particles and fired bullets from different .22 rimfire ammunition. The technique proved to be very useful, allowing a ready, concomitant analysis of the morphology of primer particles and their elemental composition. The investigation of the bottom of fired bullets showed that antimony present in the bullet alloy is not evenly distributed, but organized in plates made up of almost pure antimony. Moreover, particles and other traces adherent to lead bottomed bullets containing elements different from lead, therefore, useful to the understanding of primer composition are readily and easily detected.