Do shotgun shells have ballistic fingerprints?

[Augustus]

Strange question, I guess, & I'm not sure I'm phrasing it right. Just curious, I always hear how you can trace a bullet back to a specific firearm? Is the same true for shotgun shells & shotguns?

[TTSkipper]

I am speculating, but, the shells can probably be matched by the firing pin impression on the primer and possibly the chamber impression on the brass portion of the shell, less likely the chamber impression on the plastic of the shell unless there is a major defect/anomaly in the chamber that would make a noticeable impression in the plastic. I doubt that the projectile could be identified for two reasons, rifle/handgun projectiles are identified using the match to the marks the lands and grooves of the barrel make on the projectile. Most shotguns are smooth bore and even with a rifled barrel for slugs, the slug sits in a plastic wad cup, at least I think it does but I could be wrong about the wad cup.

[Russian]

Bullet that leaves the barrel has specific marks from the grooves, they are unique due to micro differences of the each barrel, same goes for the spent case, it has the specific marks from the specific weapon during loading and extraction. Casings generally has less useful marks then bullet. Best way for police to identify the casing or bullet is to have it in catalog, some countries require for police to collect the "control round" from the firearm before owner can take a possession of it.

Shotguns are more difficult to identify because modern day shot shells are made of soft material (plastic, paper, etc.) and if used with shot rather then slug, leaves very few marks. TTSkipper is right, primer, possibly, is the most useful way. Problem with the primer imprint in some cases is: striker in firearm is a interchangeable and pron to changes part of firearm.

[Karpteach]

It depends if it is shot or slug. Anything from a smooth ore will no leave any barrel makings. If you shoot a slug out of a rifled barrel, it will have barrel markings. If you patrol your brass your never gonna be worried about primer and firing pin markings.

[Shamuscull]

It's not worth it......why give up your freedom over anger or greed...it will pass. No except slugs in a rifled barrel.....shells yes extractor and firing pin marking and fingerprints on casing

[Macrosill]

I would think you could trace a spent shell to a specific shotgun via the firing pin impression on the primer and the extractor marks on the spent shell if it has en extractor. Just like tool marks can be id'ed back to a specific tool. If the shorgun has a rifled barrel and you shot a slug then I would think standard bullet id techniques would work. On smooth bore and/or shot I would think no id is possible.

[Augustus]

It's not worth it......why give up your freedom over anger or greed...it will pass. No except slugs in a rifled barrel.....shells yes extractor and firing pin marking and fingerprints on casing

- Honestly, it was just one of those passing thoughts - Why aren't more shotguns used in crimes if they're untraceable? I get the concealment aspect. It's just one of those questions I never thought to ask before.

[Shamuscull]

mainly concealment

[Barnslayer]

- Honestly, it was just one of those passing thoughts - Why aren't more shotguns used in crimes if they're untraceable? I get the concealment aspect. It's just one of those questions I never thought to ask before.

I'm guessing most criminals don't plan on that far ahead. The thugs don't think or don't care if they get arrested. The professional hit men are probably the only ones who bother with such details.
Plus, most crimes are committed with handguns, not long arms.

[Augustus]

I guess the sound would attract more attention too

[Happy Camper]

Matching bullets and cases to a specific firearm is more witchcraft than actual science.

[viper720]

In short: Possible, but most likely improbable.
To my knowledge, there is no such thing as a firearm that does not leave SOME form of marking on at least one component of a cartridge. Shotguns are definitely harder to match because plastic shells and (excluding slugs) fragmented projectiles.
If the shooter has any brains, they'd take the shells with them. From there, as far as I know, there's no fool-proof way to match shot to a specific gun.
With circumstantial evidence there may be a way to point to an individual shooter. I would assume that every ammunition manufacturer makes their rounds slightly different from one another. One could try matching the chemical make-up of the shot itself, the presence of different powders, ball weight/diameter, etc, to a control ammunition. If a match could indeed be made, in areas that log ammunition transactions, records could be cross examined to see who purchased that specific ammunition and when, which could then be cross-checked with potential suspects.
With that in mind, there's a lot of what-ifs, and I'm not involved with ballistic forensics, but hey, anything's possible. I'd have to agree with Happy Camper; witchcraft. That and dumb luck.

[viper720]

mainly concealment

And weight. And noise. And mess.

[Destro]

OP, when you're done stay away from the dunes of Gilgo, that's my territory.

Head upstate, chum the water, feed the pork, or a 55 gal drum with sulfuric acid.

[LI Ammo]

- Honestly, it was just one of those passing thoughts - Why aren't more shotguns used in crimes if they're untraceable? I get the concealment aspect. It's just one of those questions I never thought to ask before.

That's the reason sawed off shotguns are illegal to own. Perfect scary weapon of intimidation.
Here's the funniest stupiest-criminal scene in movies ever, with a sawed off shotgun so short it barely covers the entire shell length. I'd imagine the shot would be lethal to about 5 yards. The whole movie is brilliant by the way.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbd1pcdHRVE

[viper720]

OP, when you're done stay away from the dunes of Gilgo, that's my territory.

Head upstate, chum the water, feed the pork, or a 55 gal drum with sulfuric acid.

So Heisenberg is the Gilgo Beach killer after all....I had my suspicions.