What is the definition of "ballistic fingerprinting"?

Ballistic fingerprinting refers to a method employed to identify a specific firearm by analyzing the unique markings left on bullets and cartridge casings when a gun is fired. Each firearm produces distinctive impressions and scratches on the projectiles and cases due to its manufacturing characteristics and wear patterns. This unique set of markings acts much like a fingerprint, allowing forensic experts to match recovered bullets and casings from crime scenes to specific firearms used in those incidents. This investigative technique can help solve crimes by linking a firearm to its use in a particular event or by demonstrating a connection between different crime scenes if the same weapon is involved.

The other options do not accurately describe ballistic fingerprinting; one focuses on maintenance, another on shooting performance, and the last pertains to tracking stolen firearms, none of which involve the forensic analysis of ammunition markings.