While we concede that sleuthing is not the realm of a surgeon, we believe that there is a clear need for better communication among all concerned with shooting injuries. Along with good medical management we make a plea for more accurate case documentation and better preservation of evidence. Not only will better records greatly aid police investigations, but more understanding of the medical aspects of these wounds will also doubtless ensue. We recommend the use of photography whenever possible, and careful preservation of all physical evidence. Finally, to facilitate documentation in gunshot cases we suggest the routine use of a standardized checklist.