Abstract: Identification of firearms by illuminating a base of a fired cartridge from a firearm using axially homogenized light from various illumination angles using a holographic imaging system integrated into either a mono-chromatic or multi-chromatic light, obtaining a microscope image of an encoded hologram or encoded alphanumeric code or barcodes or indicia that form unique impressions on a primer of the cartridge or bullet; and utilizing specialized analysis software to read the encoded codes and provide the serial number or tracking number unique to the firearm that fired the bullet or cartridge.