Pistols of 9mm were used in a New Zealand research project in blood spatter analysis to shoot animals at point blank range. The project was conducted in 2009. During the project, researchers used both slaughtered and live pigs for taking the measurement of back spatter of blood and bone matter from gunshot wounds to the head.

The experiment details come to light recently when the study findings were published in the International Journal of Legal Medicine.

Researchers from the University of Otago, the University of Auckland and the Crown-funded Institute of Environmental Science and Research collaborated to carry out the project.

Forensic scientists hoped that that the findings will help them in understanding and interpreting backs patter from gunshot fatalities.

Synthetic models of pig heads and the heads of 14 slaughtered pigs, a mixture of wild animals, supermarket butchery animals and domestic farm animals, were used by the researchers. In addition to that, a local Otago piggery supplied them five live pigs, all mature females.

Before shooting, the live pigs were sedated, anaesthetized and then strapped to a surgical table. The researchers then shaved the skin above and between the eyes of the pigs using electric clippers and then used hair removal cream to remove the remaining hair, causing rashes.

In both of the cases, the live pigs started spasm after they were shot, which invalidated a major portion of the data researchers provided.

Animal activist groups, including PETA criticized the experiment. Executive director of New Zealand animal welfare group SAFE, Hans Kriek said that the experiment was completely unjustified and 'wrongfully approved'. Kriek said that the basis of the research approval was in the findings benefiting society, a benchmark that the experiment didn't reach.

Kriek added, "Pigs have a different skull structure to humans. I would question whether there is scientific validity in this specific experience be able to compare anything of use".