Ballistic Evidence can play a crucial role in a forensic investigation. It can help lead the scientist to the trajectory of the bullet as well as the firearm that shot the bullet. Famous cases where ballistic evidence was crucial in the investigation have been the John F. Kennedy assassination and Son of Sam murders. Recently the Federal Bureau of Investigation has come under scrutiny because of their technique used to match a bullet used at the scene of the crime with a suspect’s firearm and unused cases of ammunition.

     The matches were hard to make because the bullets used at the scene of a crime were often produced in the millions and for many different guns. Due to this large quantity of ammunition, the FBI is now looking for new and improved ways of matching bullets. Until the statistical issue is resolved, the FBI will cease to use the lead analysis technique to match the bullets from a crime to unused bullets on new cases.