Abstract: Digital data, each piece of data corresponding to a different criterion associated with an impression on a projectile, is stored in a database. A number of images of a target projectile are processed to extract the data, where each datum corresponds to one of a different criterion. The different criteria include such features as shape, position, texture, and striation, center and shape of the percussion zone, caliber of the projectile, impressions of the stop, ejector, loading indicator, and feed mechanism et alia. The data from the target projectile is then compared to the data from the reference projectile for a possible match.