Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock (
) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
Firearms & Toolmarks Subcommittee
The Firearms & Toolmarks Subcommittee focuses on standards and guidelines related to the examination of firearm and toolmark evidence. This includes the comparison of microscopic toolmarks on bullets, cartridge cases, and other ammunition components and may also include firearm function testing, serial number restoration, muzzle-to-object distance determination, tools, and toolmarks.
Officers | Members | Standards | Other Work Products
Officers
Todd Weller, Subcommittee Chair, Weller Forensics LLC
Vacant, Subcommittee Vice Chair
Justine Kreso, Subcommittee Executive Secretary, Onondaga County Center for Forensic Sciences
Members
Michael Beddow, Phoenix Police Department Crime Laboratory
James Carroll, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Crime Laboratory
Bridget Chambers, Hamilton County Coroner & Crime Laboratory
Jonathan Charron, Sacramento District Attorney's Crime Laboratory
Eric Collins, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
Kyle Felix, U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Laboratory
Kirk Garrison, San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department
Stacey Hartman, Indiana State Police
Ryan Lilien, Cadre Research Labs
Max Morris, Iowa State University
Aimee Qulia, Federal Bureau of Investigation
Kevin Rippman, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
Richard Rotella, Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences - Dallas County
Andy Smith, San Francisco Police Department Crime Laboratory
Raymond Valerio, Queens District Attorney's Office
Eric Warren, SEP Forensic Consultants
Jessica Winn, CA DOJ BFS Fresno Crime Laboratory
Alan Zheng, National Institute of Standards and Technology
Firearms & Toolmarks Subcommittee Affiliates
Proposed Standards by OSAC that are at an SDO for Further Development & Publication
All proposed standards listed below are completed work products of the OSAC Firearms & Toolmarks Subcommittee and have passed a rigorous technical and quality review by the subcommittee. The subcommittee encourages the forensic science community to implement these proposed standards. These proposed standards were developed by the Subcommittee, prior to October 1, 2020, when the OSAC Proposed Standards for the OSAC Registry approval procedures went into effect.
Standards
On the OSAC Registry
- ANSI/ASB Best Practice Recommendation 060-21 Guidelines for Barrel and Overall Length Measurements of Firearms, 2021, 1st Ed. (added May 2, 2023)
- ANSI/ASB Best Practice Recommendation 068-20 Safe Handling of Firearms and Ammunition, 2020, 1st Ed. (added April 6, 2021)
- ANSI/ASB Best Practice Recommendation 107-22 Best Practice Recommendation for Measuring Trigger Pull of a Firearm and Estimating Its Uncertainty, 2022, 1st Ed. (added September 5, 2023)
- ANSI/ASB Standard 061-21 Firearms and Toolmarks 3D Measurement Systems and Measurement Quality Control, 2021, 1st Ed. (added March 1, 2022)
- ANSI/ASB Standard 062-21 Standard for Topography Comparison Software for Toolmark Analysis, 2021, 1st Ed. (added August 2, 2022)
- ANSI/ASB Standard 063-21 Implementation of 3D Technologies in Forensic Firearm and Toolmark Comparison Laboratories, 2021, 1st Ed. (added August 2, 2022)
- ANSI/ASB Standard 093-20 Standard Test Method for the Forensic Examination and Testing of Firearms, 2020, 1st Ed. (added November 2, 2021)
- ANSI/ASB Standard 096-22 Standard Method for the Examination and Documentation of Ammunition and Ammunition Components, 2022, 1st. Ed. (added October 3, 2023)
- ANSI/ASB Standard 162-24 Standard Method for the Forensic Examination and Documentation of Non-Firearm Tools and Toolmarks, 2024, 1st Ed. (added July 2, 2024)
- OSAC 2021-N-0012 Requirements and Recommendations for a Firearm and Toolmark Examiner Training Program (added October 4, 2022)
- OSAC 2023-S-0018 Standard Test Method for the Restoration of Obliterated Serial Numbers and Other Markings (added December 3, 2024)
- OSAC 2023-S-0028 Best Practice Recommendations for the Resolution of Conflicts in Toolmark Value Determinations and Source Conclusions (added January 13, 2025)
- OSAC 2024-N-0010 Requirements and Recommendations for Competency Testing in Forensic Firearm and Toolmark Laboratories (added December 3, 2024)
- OSAC 2024-S-0002 Standard Test Method for the Examination and Comparison of Toolmarks for Source Attribution (added January 13, 2025)
Published by a Standards Developing Organization (SDO); [Pending Evaluation & OSAC Acceptance for Registry]
Published by a Standards Developing Organization (SDO); [Evaluated but Not Accepted for Registry]
At an SDO for Further Development & Publication
- ASB Best Practice Recommendation 103 Guidelines for Reporting of Source Conclusions in Toolmark Examinations
- ASB Best Practice Recommendation 161 Best Practice Recommendation for Creating Known Distance Witness Panels and Estimating the Associated Measurement Uncertainty
- ASB Best Practice Recommendation 230 Best Practice Recommendation for the Resolution of Conflicts in Toolmark Value Determinations and Source Conclusions
- ASB Standard 100 Standard Scale and Criteria for Source Conclusions in Toolmark Examinations
- ASB Standard 101 Supporting Documentation of Source Conclusions in Toolmark Examinations
- ASB Standard 104 Standard for 3D Virtual Comparison Microscopy for Firearm and Toolmark Analysis
- ASB Standard 163 Standard for the Restoration of Obliterated Serial Numbers and Manufacturer Applied Markings
- ASB Standard 164 Standard Test Method for Muzzle to Target Distance Determinations
- ASB Standard 228 Standard for Competency Testing in Forensic Firearm and Toolmark Laboratories
- ASB Standard 229 Standard for the Examination and Comparison of Toolmarks for Source Attribution
- OSAC 2021-N-0012 Requirements and Recommendations for a Firearm and Toolmark Examiner Training Program (OSAC Proposed Standard on the Registry)
- OSAC 2023-S-0018 Standard Test Method for the Restoration of Obliterated Serial Numbers and Other Markings (OSAC Proposed Standard on the Registry)
- OSAC 2023-S-0028 Best Practice Recommendations for the Resolution of Conflicts in Toolmark Value Determinations and Source Conclusions (OSAC Proposed Standard on the Registry)
- OSAC 2024-N-0010 Requirements and Recommendations for Competency Testing in Forensic Firearm and Toolmark Laboratories (OSAC Proposed Standard on the Registry)
- OSAC 2024-S-0002 Standard Test Method for the Examination and Comparison of Toolmarks for Source Attribution (OSAC Proposed Standard on the Registry)
- Standard Scale of Source Conclusions and Criteria for Toolmark Examinations
Under Development
- OSAC 2024-S-0014 Best Practice Recommendation for Muzzle-to Witness-Panel Distance Measurement and Estimation of Uncertainty
- OSAC 2025-S-0005 Standard Test Method for Distance Determination (Gunshot Residue Distance and Shot Pellet Pattern Distance)
- OSAC 2025-S-0020 Standard for the Review of Case Records in the Firearms and Toolmarks Discipline
Other Work Products
Process Maps
- Firearms Process Map, January 19, 2021.
Research & Development Needs
- See the research and development needs identified by the Firearms & Toolmarks Subcommittee.
Reference Documents
Note: Subcommittee position statements or responses to data collections by the subcommittee do not necessarily represent the position of OSAC or NIST.
- OSAC Firearms and Toolmarks Subcommittee's Response to the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology's (PCAST) Request for Additional References - Submitted December 14, 2016.
- OSAC Firearms & Toolmarks Subcommittee's Response to the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology's (PCAST) Request for Information – Submitted December 23, 2015.
Webinars, Presentations & Training Videos
- OSAC Firearms & Toolmarks Update, Association of Firearm and Toolmark Examiners (AFTE) Meeting, August 2021.
- NIST OSAC Firearms & Toolmarks Overview & Update, AFTE 49th Annual Training Seminar, June 2018.
Discipline-Specific Bibliographies and Bibliographic References
These documents may contain information to help forensic scientists, judges, lawyers, researchers, and other readers better understand the nature, scope, and foundations of the individual disciplines as currently practiced. The identification of these documents does not represent an endorsement by OSAC or NIST. Only standards that are posted on the OSAC Registry and Technical Guidance documents, are endorsed by OSAC. The referenced documents may be subject to copyright. Note: Subcommittee position statements or responses to data collections by the subcommittee do not necessarily represent the position of OSAC or NIST.
- SWGGUN Guidelines for Barrel and Overall Length Measurements for Firearms
- SWGGUN Guidelines for Criteria for Identification
- SWGGUN Guidelines for Developing a Training Manual
- SWGGUN Guidelines for Documentation of the Examination of Tools and Toolmarks
- SWGGUN Guidelines for Documentation of the Examination of Ammo and Ammo Components
- SWGGUN Guidelines for Elimination Factors Related to FA-TM Examinations
- SWGGUN Guidelines for Forensic Examination Guidelines for Silencers
- SWGGUN Guidelines for Gunshot Residue Distance Determinations
- SWGGUN Guidelines for Projectile Path Reconstruction-Essential Elements
- SWGGUN Guidelines for the Documentation of Firearm Examinations
- SWGGUN Guidelines for the Standardization of Comparison Documentation
- SWGGUN Guidelines for Trigger Pull Analysis
- SWGGUN Minimum Qualifications for Experienced Firearm and Toolmark Examiners
- SWGGUN Minimum Qualifications for Firearm and Toolmark Examiner Trainees
- SWGGUN Code of Ethics
- SWGGUN Foundational Report
- SWGGUN Quality Assurance Guidelines
- SWGGUN Response to RDT&E
- SWGGUN Systemic Report
- SWGGUN Transition from ASCLD-LAB Legacy to ISO-IEC 17025