Conclusion
As this study has shown, factors previously listed including firearm design, firearm
condition, ammunition type, position firearm is held when fired, movement of the firearm and
person during firing, and grip factors such as how, where and how tightly the firearm is held
during firing can affect the locations of spent cartridge casings (Hueske, 2006). This study
illustrated that even when accounting for the above factors, significant variability occurred in the
landing locations of spent cartridge casings. This variability must be considered before efforts
are made to establish the location of a shooter based solely on the location of even an
undisturbed spent cartridge casing or a group of cartridge casings.