AFTE Journal -- Volume 45 Number 3 -- Summer 2013 273

Breechface Recess Marks Recorded on Cartridge Cases Expended from

Beretta Px4 Storm Subcompact 9mm Pistols

By: Nurul Izwani Mohamad Ghani1, Mohd Fazli Abd Malek1, Rasyidi Harun2, R. Kuppuswamy 1
1
Forensic Science Programme, School of Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kampus Kesihatan, 16150 Kubang
Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia
2
Armourment Division, Logistics Department, Royal Malaysia Police, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Keywords: Beretta Px4 Storm Subcompact 9mm pistols, Breechface Recess Marks, Firearms Identification

ABSTRACT

The breechface recess marks noticed on expended cartridge cases fired from Beretta Px4 Storm Subcompact 9mm pistols
are presented. The cartridge cases discharged from twenty numbers of the above pistol were examined under a comparison
microscope (Leica FS C, x60) for the characteristics of the marks. The marks appeared across the rim of the cartridge
cases and possessed identifiable characteristics in some of the guns; while in others they were less reproducible leading to
inconclusive results. The marks generated between cartridge cases have been generally distorted and hence needed a careful
examination and evaluation.

1. Introduction Pistols and their usefulness in firearm identification.

In firearm identification, cartridge cases are examined for 2. Materials and methods
breech face marks, extractor marks, ejector marks, firing pin
impressions, chamber impressions and ejection port marks in 2.1 Firearms
order to identify the weapons that fired them [1-4].
Twenty Beretta Px4 Storm Subcompact 9mm semi-automatic
Recently, Clow [5] noticed some striated marks on the rims of pistols were used in this study. Their serial numbers are given
the cartridge cases produced by Glock, and Smith & Wesson in Table 1. They were close/consecutively serial numbered
Sigma Series Pistols. The marks were caused by the breech except the gun PZ14889.
face recess part of the breech face block. These marks could
be found on cycled cartridges and fired cartridges. Clow 2.2 Ammunition
reported that all of the pistols he used in his study produced
these marks and possessed individual characteristics sufficient The ammunition used was 9x19mm, brass full-metal
for identification. jacketed (batch 1-08) manufactured by Syarikat Malaysia
Explosive (SME) Ordnance Sdn. Bhd.
More recently, Azahiri et al. [6] found the occurrence of
similar marks on Walther P99 pistols. Very interestingly, these 2.3 Discharged cartridge cases and their examination
authors were able to match and find reproducibility of these
marks after firing several hundred rounds from the same gun. Five expended cartridge cases fired from each gun were
These were the only marks they used for identification of one collected, individually labeled and packaged in labeled
particular Walther QA pistol, as the other traditional marks
were lacking characteristics . This has stressed the importance PZ14117 PZ14121 PZ14173 PZ14311 PZ14316
of the marks in firearms identification. Therefore, it was
thought worthwhile that they were studied in more detail and PZ14118 PZ14122 PZ14176 PZ14312 PZ14317
also on different types of firearms.
PZ14119 PZ14123 PZ14180 PZ14314 PZ14377
The current report describes the characteristics of the above
marks produced by Beretta Px4 Storm Subcompact 9mm PZ14120 PZ14889 PZ14181 PZ14315 PZ14379

Date Received: January 28, 2013 Table 1: Serial number of the Beretta Px4 Storm
Peer Review Completed: May 8, 2013 Subcompact 9mm pistols
 274 Ghani et al. -- Breechface Recess Marks from Beretta PX4 Storm Subcompact Pistols

envelopes. The breechface recess marks recorded by every

one of the five cartridge cases fired from a single weapon were
compared and recorded under the comparison microscope
Leica FS C (4x-60x) equipped with LAS software and Leica
DFC 290 digital camera. Fibre optic illuminators –Cold Light
Source KL2500 LCD—provided the needed illumination of
the marks.

3. Results and Discussion

The breechface recess marks were located on the rim of the

cartridge cases close to the ejector marks. If ejector marks
were set at 10-11 o’clock position, the breechface recess
marks were found at 11-12 o’clock position (Figure 1). There
were two breechface recess marks that were present nearer to
each other (one above and one below) (Figure 2). However, Figure 2: Breechface recess marks found on the rim
of the two, only the upper marks were examined. The lower of a cartridge case discharged from a Beretta Px4
marks were fine and indistinct and hence could not be used Storm Subcompact 9mm Pistol, x20.
for comparison.

The breechface recess marks were present in 95% of all

cartridge cases fired by the Beretta pistols. The remaining 5%
cartridge cases contained only a few lines or indented marks.
The marks were caused by the left underside corner of the
breechface recess of the pistol. This was verified by smearing
some paint on the rim of the cartridge [5] and firing through
the pistol. The paint was transferred to the two regions as
shown in Figure 3.

The characteristics possessed by the marks are summed up

below.
1. The marks caused by the breechface recess were
found at the same location of the rim.
2. The marks were produced with differing intensity
and slight variations were noticed among cartridge
case groups fired from the same firearm.
3. unambiguously back to the firearm that
a. Even with these challenges, it was possible
Figure 3: The paint is visible on the left lower corner
of breechface recess of the pistol where the rim of the
cartridge contacts during cycling.
in some instances to link cartridge cases
fired them (Figure 4).
b. For some groups (five cartridge cases fired
from a single firearm), the marks did not
reproduce reliably leading to inconclusive
results (Figure 5). The differences were due
to the rim of the cartridge case contacting
different portions of the breechface recess
each time a cartridge was cycled.

The marks from the Beretta Subcompact guns appeared either

Figure 1: A schematic diagram showing the location
of the breechface recess marks on a cartridge case of
a Beretta Px4 Storm Subcompact 9mm Pistol.
as coarse or fine lines that were similar to those observed
in Walther P99, Glock, and Smith & Wesson Sigma Series
pistols. However, the former appeared across the rim of
cartridge cases (Figure 2). In Glock, Smith & Wesson and
Walther P99 pistols the breechface recess marks were running
along the circumference of the rim of cartridge cases [5, 6].

AFTE Journal -- Volume 45 Number 3 -- Summer 2013

Ghani et al. -- Breechface Recess Marks from Beretta PX4 Storm Subcompact Pistols 275

a) PZ14119 (1-2) d) PZ14176 (1-5)

b) PZ14120 (2-3) e) PZ14314 (3-4)

c) PZ14123 (1-2) f) PZ14317 (1-2)

Figure 4: Note the good reproducibility of the breechface recess marks, 60x. The serial number of the pistol
is given in each figure. The cartridge case numbers compared are also given therein.

This feature could possibly be used to differentiate cartridge no conclusion would be possible. The weapon’s identity,
cases fired by the Beretta pistol from those of Glock, Smith & however, should be based on the characteristics of the other
Wesson or Walther P99. marks.

4. Conclusion Acknowledgements

Breechface recess marks studied here have demonstrated
excellent to poor reproducibility. It should be remembered
that these marks are greatly influenced by the spring force
and also the likelihood of different portions of the breechface
contacting the cartridge case during cycling. When breechface
recess marks do not match between two cartridge cases,
The authors gratefully acknowledge ACP Syed Mustafa Raja
Syed Nordin, Assistant Director of Logistic Department,
Royal Malaysia Police, Malaysia for the permission to
conduct tests on Beretta Px4 Storm Subcompact 9mm pistols.
The authors are much thankful to Mr. N. Hithaya Jeevan for
his advice. Thanks are due to Kpl Johari Rahidin, Kpl Hashim

AFTE Journal -- Volume 45 Number 3 -- Summer 2013

 276 Ghani et al. -- Breechface Recess Marks from Beretta PX4 Storm Subcompact Pistols

Kadir, Kpl Mohd Razlan Omar, L/Kpl Fadzli Abu Bakar, L/ b) PZ14122 (1-2)
Kpl Sofiamamri Shahidan, Konst. Mohd Sharman Razaki
and other staff from Firearm Workshop Center, Bukit Aman,
Kuala Lumpur for their immense help. The authors also thank
all forensic science laboratory staff of USM for their kind
assistance. The authors wish to thank the reviewers for useful
suggestions.

References

[1] Arney, T., “Use of A Breechface Toolmark to Identify Fired

Cartridge Cases to A S&W Sigma SW40V”, AFTE Journal,
Spring 1999, Vol. 31 No. 2, pp.131-132.
[2] McCombs, Nancy, “Ejection Port Marks: A Signature of c) PZ14181 (1-2)
Beretta”, AFTE Journal, Summer 2001, Vol. 33, No. 3, pp.
251-252.
[3] Uchiyama, T., “Toolmark Reproducibility on Fired Bullets
and Expended Cartridge Cases”, AFTE Journal, Winter 2008,
Vol. 40, No. 1, pp. 3-46.
[4] Koffman, Avi, Hocherman, Gil, “FN 1910/1922 7.65mm—
Chamber Impressions on Cartridge Cases”, AFTE Journal,
Spring 2010, Vol. 42, No. 2, pp. 191-195.
[5] Clow, Charles, “Breechface Recess Marks Produced by
Glock and Smith & Wesson Sigma Series Pistol”, AFTE
Journal, Winter 2012, Vol. 44, No. 1, pp.61-66.
[6] Azahiri, A., Rasyidi, H., Kuppuswamy, R., “Breechface
Recess Marks on Cartridge Cases Discharged from 9mm d) PZ14315 (1-4)
Walther P99 Series Pistols and Their Persistence”, AFTE
Journal, Summer 2012, Vol. 44, No. 3, pp. 244-247.
[7] Ghani, Nurul Izwani Binti Mohamad, A Study of
Breechface Recess Marks on Cartridge Cases Produced by
PX4 Storm Subcompact 9mm Pistols and their Usefulness in
Firearm Identification, Undergraduate dissertation, School of
Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Malaysia, May
2012.

a) PZ14121 (1-3) e) PZ14889 (1-2)

Figure 5: The breechface recess marks (60x) did not reproduce reliably in some pistols leading to inconclusive
results. The serial number of the pistol is given in each figure. The cartridge case numbers compared are also
given therein.

AFTE Journal -- Volume 45 Number 3 -- Summer 2013