What is the BIN Number?

For the purpose of this provisional patent and for any discussion of the ballistic identification number or ballistic identification number system in the future; the character string 3^W%b7! is the prototype ballistic identification number and is trademarked. It may never be used for any purpose other than for this patent, discussion of this patent, or for any discussion of the ballistic identification number or Ballistic Identification Systems.

In Figure 5, 101 is the bullet, 501 is the casing, The propellant, usually but not always gunpowder is 502. The rim of the cartridge 503 aids in extraction. 

The primer 504 ignites when struck, causing the propellant to explode. Figure 5a shows a side view​ of the bullet removed from the casing. 

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​A Giant Step Forward In Forensic Science

ballistic ​identification number​ 401, on the lead core 403, on the base 106, of said bullet 101, deep enough to withstand the momentary heat, pressure, and violence of detonation, and the forces of rapid deceleration on impact.​

While the ballistic identification number can be placed on any surface of the bullet, placing it on an exposed surface would be of small value.

To be of commercial or forensic value the ballistic identification number would need to be able to withstand the violence of detonation, the creation of lands and grooves as the bullet transits the barrel, and the deceleration forces of impact. To avoid alteration or erasure of the ballistic identification number, necessity would have it placed below the cannelure, Fig 1. 103, if the bullet has one, or in any case, below the neck of the casing.

Once a bullet marked with a ballistic identification number is mated with the rest of the cartridge and made ready for use, the ballistic identification number is sealed within the cartridge and protected from alteration. Fig 5 shows a cutaway view of a typical handgun cartridge and where the ballistic identification number 401 is located in this embodiment.​

In the case of the prototype bullet marked with the ballistic identification number 3^W%b7!  Fig 4 is a color photograph showing 401, the ballistic identification number 3^W%b7! laser engraved on the base 106 of a .45 caliber full metal jacket bullet.

In this embodiment a .45 caliber full metal jacket bullet was first protected from unwanted scratches by use of a laser mask 402. The bullet was then held in a stable position   and,  a  CO2  laser  was  used  to  engrave  the 

The invention is the Ballistic Identification Number; a character or character string permanently marked on a bullet with the intent to make that bullet, or set of bullets identifiable from all others; not the method of making the mark on the bullet.

The bearing surface of the bullet is shown as 102. The base of the bullet shown as 106. Figure 5b is the end view of the same bullet. The base 106 is where the ballistic identification number 3^%Wb7! is shown as 401.

Most but not all rifle bullets have what is called a boat-tail. The boat-tail, Fig 6 was designed to give the bullet greater accuracy over distance. Because of its design, the boat-tail is not part of the bearing surface of the bullet and does not  make contact with the barrel of the gun as it transits.

The boat-tail, being immune from lands and grooves, and in an area of the bullet likely to survive the impact is one area where the ballistic identification number could be placed as in the embodiment in Fig 6. ​

The BIN number is as unique as DNA.

Because the BIN number 3^W%b7! is the number used to identify the prototype .45 caliber bullet from the ten billion ​other bullets produced last year, it can never be used again.

There are many ways to permanently mark a bullet for identification, ranging from using a sharp object to manually scratch the surface to using lasers to physically mark the bullet, or with emerging ceramic technology, placing a ceramic disk with the ballistic identification number etched or magnetically coded in the base of the bullet, or a radio frequency identification, RFID, device. The technology that amazes us today will be out of date and seen as antique in five years.