Microstamping Technology Deemed Viable in California DOJ Report, Mandated for New Pistols by 2028

AI response (sorry)

To calculate the number of permutations for an 8-digit numeric and alphanumeric code that includes only numbers and uppercase letters, we need to consider the total number of possible characters. There are 10 digits (0-9) and 26 uppercase letters (A-Z), giving us a total of 36 possible characters.

The number of permutations for an 8-character code is calculated as follows:
368
This results in: 36 to the 8th power r= 2,821,109,907,456

That 35 million is easily covered, but in the data of one of the linked reports, on Page 9 test data shows that only 6 legible numbers are needed of 8 (if that’s what they settle on) to make a positive ID but things like laquer sealant and quality of metal could make some marks marks illegible after only 100 firings and legibility drops considerably. So basically, a couple weekends at a gun range the firing pin stamps are already toast. Attorneys will make their next million in salaries in defending on “Is it a C or a <? Can’t tell, must acquit)

From the link:

Both examiners found that across 1,000 test-fires, all six alphanumeric characters were successfully transferred and legible under the stereomicroscope on a large majority of cartridge cases fired by all three semiautomatic pistol models. Both examiners found some variation in performance depending on the type of firearm and ammunition used, and observed a relationship between the price point of the firearm and microstamp transfer; the higher-priced pistol models more frequently imprinted all six characters in a manner that was clearly legible under a stereomicroscope.32

One ammunition brand using a heavy lacquer sealant covering the primer prevented clear observation of the microstamp characters for cartridge casings ejected from the Taurus and Hi-Point pistols.33 However, across 900 test fires for each firearm model involving nine other ammunition brands, all six alphanumeric characters were rated as successfully transferred and clearly visible under a stereomicroscope by both examiners on 98.1% of cartridge cases fired by the Sig Sauer pistol model, 94.2% fired by the Taurus pistol model, and 73.7% fired by the Hi-Point pistol model.34 Five of the six alphanumeric characters were rated as successfully transferred and clearly visible by both examiners on 99.4% of the 900 cartridge cases fired by the Sig Sauer, 98.8% fired by the Taurus, and 88.6% fired by the Hi-Point.35 Four of the six alphanumeric characters were rated successfully transferred and clearly visible by both examiners on 99.4% of the 900 cartridge cases fired by the Sig Sauer, 99.3% fired by the Taurus, and 94.3% fired by the Hi-Point.36

The lacquer sealant covering the primer on one type of ammunition cartridge prevented clear observation of the characters for cartridge casings ejected from the Taurus and Hi-Point pistols. Across 100 test fires from the Sig Sauer model using this lacquered ammunition, the examiner found all six characters were clearly visible on 61% of cartridge cases and at least five out of six characters were clearly visible on 83%.37 After the lacquer was removed, for this ammunition type, all six alphanumeric characters were rated as clearly legible on 56% of the Taurus and 49% of the Hi-Point fires, and at least five out of six characters were rated as clearly legible on 82% of the Taurus and 64% of the Hi-Point fires.38

These findings do not indicate that 100% of the microstamped characters were clearly decipherable on 100% of fired cartridge cases under stereoscopic examination. As the study authors noted, “the interaction of any particular brand of ammunition with any given firearm is stochastic in nature.