Firearms Identification Lab
Mrs. Ashley
Name ______________________________________________
For this lab you will be doing firearms analysis using an on-line virtual
microscope. You are to complete four tests for bullet identification and
four tests for casing identification.
You will be using the Virtual Microscope doing progressively harder
tests. Once you completed all the matches, a diploma will pop up.
You then click on the diploma to get your score. You must score at
least an 85% before moving on to the next test. To receive credit for
this lab, you must show your score to me on each test, so that I can
record your score.
First you must register. Go to the following website:
http://www.firearmsid.com/classroom/class_login.htm
Where it says log-in key put the following: C49787Law Enforcement 2
(copy uppercase and spaces for your log-in key)
Then log in using your first and last name.
Make sure pop-up blocker is off for this site
Read the tutorial below to learn how to make the site work. Please be
sure to use the comparison microscope to rotate the images to line
them up and increase the magnification on the microscopes to help you
in your identification.
Lab Results
Firearm Identification
Mrs. Ashley
Name _________________________________________
Do four tests for bullet ID, record your results for each test in the table
provided below. You will be looking at striations.
Test
number
TEST
TEST
TEST
TEST
Percentage
score for
trial 1
Percentage
score for
trial 2
Percentage
score for
trial 3
Percentage
score for
trial 4
1
2
3
4
Average score for final of all four tests: ________________________
Then do four of the five tests for cartridge case comparisons.
Test
number
TEST
TEST
TEST
TEST
Percentage
score for
trial 1
Percentage
score for
trial 2
Percentage
score for
trial 3
Percentage
score for
trial 4
1
2
3
4
Average score for final of all four tests: ________________________
When you are complete with the firearms identification, read the
background information on firearms identification to prepare for the
unit test. Be sure to learn all the vocabulary for the test.
Tutorial (VCM Test 1)
When the application loads you will see the screen below (only much bigger!)
The CCID VCM has several sections that you will need to get familiar with before you
will be able to effectively complete the exercise. For a breakdown of how each
element within the application functions consult the help file by clicking here , or at
anytime from within the application by clicking the HELP button, or pressing the " h
" key. Most buttons have keyboard equivalents that can be found in the white wire
frames.
Follow the steps below to take the VCM exercise.
Step 1
On the left hand side of the application you will see eight "Unknown"
cartridge case holders like the image on the right. Clicking on one of
these will load the breech mark/firing pin impression image in the right
hand side of the scope (in the center of the screen).
Step 2
On the right hand side of the application you
will see eight white boxes like the one on the
right. These represent the eight possible
"Standards". Clicking on one of these will
load the breech mark/firing pin impression
image in the left hand side of the scope (in the center of the screen).
You will now see the scope look something like the image below.
Step 3
When the images load in the scope window they will be slightly out of focus (just like
the real thing!). Use the focusing sliders on each side of the scope window to focus
the images. Left-click the slider and drag up or down to focus the image.
Step 4
When the images load in the scope window they will be rotated randomly in the scope
window. You will need to rotate the separate images to align the breech marks in a
way to allow their direct comparison. Use the rotation knob as seen below to rotate
the images within the scope window. Left-click on the knob and drag your mouse
either to the right or left. This will rotate the image.
Tip: For parallel breech marks you should always align the marks running from left to
right as seen in the image below.
Step 5
Move the images within the scope window by using the joysticks (seen below) or the
equivalent keyboard shortcuts (see the Help file for a list of available keyboard
shortcuts).
Step 6
Compare the patterns noted in the images to each other and
attempt to find a "match" between the standards and the
unknowns. You can use the magnification buttons seen at right
to increase the size of the images.
Try to find a pattern in each image by doing a direct side-byside comparison. If you feel you have an area of agreement
lined up you can lock the image by clicking the blue button between the joysticks to
allow for their movement with a single joystick. This will allow you to see other areas
in the images that may show agreement.
Step 7
When you have established a match between an unknown and a standard click the
"M" key logo (seen below) to record your selection. Repeat this step for each
unknown until all have been matched to a standard.
Step 8
Clicking the "Match" key will record your match in
the results window (seen at right). The results
window will be recorded in and the status button
will change from green to red for that entry.
Clicking the red button will clear your match for
that unknown. Clicking the "Recall Match 2" button
will reload the images for this match in the position
recorded.
All unknowns must be matched before you can
submit your answers for scoring.
To clear all matches and start over click the "Clear
All" icon seen below.
Caution: Clicking this button will erase all recorded matches!
Step 9
Once you have matched all of the unknowns click the "Diploma" button (seen below)
to submit your answers.
Clicking this button will then open a window that will ask some general survey
questions.
If you correctly match the eight unknowns to the correct standards you will receive a
printable certificate (suitable for framing).
Good luck!
The Application
Ready? One last thing, the CCID-VCM is a Flash application that requires the
Macromedia Shockwave plug-in for Internet Explorer. If you saw the page title
animation when this page loaded then you already have the plug-in. If you didn't see
animation at the top of the page hopefully you were redirected to the Macromedia
website automatically. Follow the instructions on the Macromedia website to install
the required plug-in (normally no action is required and the plug-in is installed
automatically, but in some cases administrative permissions may be required to
install the plug-in. Contact your system administrator for help if you can't install the
Shockwave plug-in).
This application has been tested successfully using Microsoft's Internet
Explorer and the Mozilla "Firefox" browsers. It has not been tested using
Apple OS based browsers. If you use Apple OS computers and have
problems or are successful in using the application please contact us with
your comments.
Your computer's screen resolution should be set to at least 800x600 or higher. The
application will open full-screen in a separate window. If you have software installed
that blocks pop-up windows you will need to disable the block or the application will
not open.