RUCKER, J.
The state presented the testimony of Michael Putzek, a firearms and tool mark examiner employed by the Indianapolis Marion County Forensic Services Agency (the “Crime Lab”). Through Putzek, the State introduced evidence that a tool mark3 [3 A tool mark results “when a hard object (tool) comes into contact with a relatively softer object.” Nat’l Research Council, Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States: A Path Forward 150 (2009). Any number of tools can leave marks when they come into contact with another surface. For instance, a pair of bolt cutters leaves a mark when cutting through a piece of metal, much as a metal die leaves a mark on a surface it stamps. Forensic examiners apply this concept to firearms. As the metal surface inside a firearm comes into contact with the metal surface of a bullet, the firearm surface marks the bullet.] on an unfired 7.62×39 mm cartridge found in Michelle Clifton’s house matched tool marks found on four 7.62×39 mm discharged cartridge casings found at the crime scene and that the marks were made by the “same tool” of “unknown origin.” Tr. at 4078. Turner contends this testimony should not have been admitted. . . . .
Firearms tool mark identification involves visual comparison of tool marks with the aid of a microscope. Firearms tool mark examiners inspect a specimen (e.g., a bullet) for striations – or scratches – containing a pattern that can be visually matched to striations on another specimen or to a particular tool (e.g., the chamber of a particular gun). These patterns are analyzed according to standards promulgated by the Association of Firearms and Tool Mark Examiners (“AFTE”), an association of specialists in this type of forensics. Tool mark examiners may reach one of three conclusions under AFTE standards: “identification,” meaning the tool marks were made by the same tool; “elimination,” meaning the tool marks were not made by the same tool; or “inconclusive,” meaning that the tool marks may or may not have been made by the same tool. See Tr. at 737-38. The AFTE standard for “identification” requires that “the unique surface contours of two tool marks” show “sufficient agreement” through a visual comparison of the “relative height or depth, width, curvature and spatial relationship of the individual peaks, ridges and furrows” of each tool mark. AFTE Theory of Identification, 30 AFTE J. 86 (1998) (as quoted in Br. of Appellant at 25-26). An acceptable level of agreement is that which “exceeds the best agreement demonstrated between tool marks known to have been produced by different tools and is consistent with agreement demonstrated by tool marks known to have been produced by the same tool. The statement that ‘sufficient agreement’ exists between tool marks means that the likelihood that another tool could have made the mark is so remote as to be considered a practical impossibility.” Id. In essence, identification is made when a person trained and experienced in the field makes a visual determination that two tool marks are similar enough to have been made by the same tool. This is a subjective determination, and all identifications are verified by a second examiner. See Tr. at 736, 738.
At the hearing on Turner’s motion in limine, Putzek described how the Crime Lab analyzed the firearms evidence in this case. Examiner David Brundage, supervisor of the Crime Lab’s firearms section, initially examined the evidence in May and June of 2007. See Tr. at 741; Defendant’s Ex. K-M, Exhibit Volume I at 97-103. Brundage examined the unfired 7.62×39 mm cartridge found at Michelle Clifton’s house as well as the spent 7.62×39 mm cartridge casings found at the crime scene. Among Brundage’s conclusions was that Item 565 – the live unfired cartridge found in Michelle Clifton’s house – exhibited a “TM [tool mark] on case and base, but does not appear to have been chambered in a gun.” Defendant’s Ex. L, Exhibit Volume I at 99; Tr. at 828. Brundage retired from the Crime Lab soon after performing this examination. See Tr. at 741; Br. of Appellant at 29. As part of a quality assurance review of Brundage’s work and because additional evidence had been collected in this case, Putzek, who had succeeded Brundage as supervisor of the firearms section, began examining evidence in the case. See Tr. at 716, 747-48. In July of 2007, Putzek examined a newly discovered unfired cartridge from the crime scene (Item 178), and compared it with, among other things, Item 56. See Tr. at 746, 756-57; Defendant’s Ex. A, Exhibit Volume I at 36-38. At that time Putzek, per lab policy, scribed his initials on the cartridge casing of Item 56. To do this he used a microscope so as not to scribe over any tool marks. Tr. at 805. Putzek did not notice any previously unrecorded tool marks on Item 56 either during the comparison with Item 178 or during the scribing process.
The following year, Putzek conducted a complete reexamination of all the evidence, issuing a report in July of 2008. Tr. at 760-61. It was during this examination that Putzek noticed a previously undocumented tool mark on the casing sidewall of Item 56. He then chose the most suitable discharged crime scene cartridge casing with a similar tool mark (Item 6), and compared it to Item 56. Based on his observation of the pattern of furrows, ridges, and valleys within the stria of the two marks, Putzek made an “identification”: He concluded that the mark on Item 56 and the mark on the discharged casing were made by the same tool. See Tr. at 761-65. This conclusion, in essence, “connected the crime scene to this cartridge found at [Michelle Clifton’s house].” Tr. at 764. At the request of prosecutors, Putzek then compared Item 56 to all the discharged cartridge casings from the scene, and made an “identification” of the tool mark on Item 56 to marks on three additional discharged casings – Items 19, 34, and 40. Tr. at 765-66; 4081-82. Putzek’s testimony indicated he saw similar tool marks in the “same general area” on all of the discharged cartridge casings from the scene, but he did not render an “identification” on the other casings because the tool marks were not in the exact same location. See Tr. at 4082-83.
Putzek opined this tool mark was “of unknown origin” though he suspected the mark could be related to the magazine through which the cartridges were chambered in a weapon. Putzek’s report stated, “Further tests to determine the origin of this tool mark will be conducted pending the submission of a suspect firearm.” Defendant’s Ex. C, Exhibit Volume I at 45. Putzek opined that the lack of a suspect weapon “does not mitigate that the mark was there and has a common origin” but said “I need to have the gun . . . [to] allow me to associate where that tool mark came from and determine if it has more probative value in the case.” Tr. at 767. In response to a question from the trial court, Putzek acknowledged that the tool mark in question could have originated during the manufacturing process, rather than during chambering in the same firearm. Tr. at 854.
Turner contends Putzek’s opinion that the tool marks on Items 56, 6, 19, 34, and 40 were made by a common tool was improper because it did not meet Indiana Evidence Rule 702(b)’s threshold for scientific reliability. . . . [A]lthough he does not contest the reliability of firearms tool mark identification as a discipline, Turner argues that the subjective nature of identification, combined with the type of mark at issue here and the lack of a subject weapon for comparison, renders Putzek’s opinions inadmissible. . . . .
The proponent of expert testimony bears the burden of establishing the reliability of the scientific principles upon which the expert’s testimony is based. See Kubsch, 784 N.E.2d at 921. As with admission of other evidence, “the trial court’s determination regarding the admissibility of expert testimony under Rule 702 is a matter within its broad discretion, and will be reversed only for abuse of that discretion.” Carter v. State, 766 N.E.2d 377, 380 (Ind. 2002). Accord Gen. Elec. Co. v. Joiner, 522 U.S. 136, 139 (1997).
We first provide some background on Indiana Evidence Rule 702 [footnote omitted] and Daubert. Daubert concerns the application of Federal Rule of Evidence 702 which, like Indiana Evidence Rule 702, permits qualified expert opinion testimony related to “scientific, technical, or other specialized knowledge” where such testimony “will assist the trier of fact to understand the evidence or to determine a fact in issue.” Fed. R. Evid. 702; Ind. Evid. R. 702(a). The Indiana rule further requires that “expert scientific testimony is admissible only if the court is satisfied that the scientific principles upon which the expert testimony rests are reliable.” Ind. Evid. R. 702(b) (emphasis added); see Malinski v. State, 794 N.E.2d 1071, 1084 (Ind. 2003). The federal rule is somewhat different, allowing expert testimony based on “scientific, technical, or other specialized knowledge” only if “(1) the testimony is based upon sufficient facts or data, (2) the testimony is the product of reliable principles and methods, and (3) the witness has applied the principles and methods reliably to the facts of the case.” Fed. R. Evid. 702; see Kumho Tire Co. v. Carmichael, 526 U.S. 137, 147 (1999) (extending the Daubert reliability analysis beyond “scientific” testimony to testimony based on “technical” or “other specialized” knowledge).
Although Indiana courts are not bound by Daubert, we have previously noted that “’[t]he concerns driving Daubert coincide with the express requirement of Indiana Rule of Evidence 702(b) that the trial court be satisfied of the reliability of the scientific principles involved.’” Malinski, 794 N.E.2d at 1084 (quoting McGrew v. State, 682 N.E.2d 1289, 1290 (Ind. 1997)). Though we may consider the Daubert factors in determining reliability, see Kubsch, 784 N.E.2d at 921, “there is no specific „test‟ or set of „prongs‟ which must be considered in order to satisfy Indiana Evidence Rule 702(b).” Carter, 766 N.E.2d at 380 (quoting McGrew, 682 N.E.2d at 1292) (emphasis added). We therefore find Daubert helpful, but not controlling, when analyzing testimony under Indiana Evidence Rule 702(b). See Malinski, 794 N.E.2d at 1084. Further, in light of the differences between Indiana Rule 702 and Federal Rule 702, we have previously declined to follow Kumho Tire in applying the Daubert reliability analysis to non-scientific expert testimony. See Malinski, 794 N.E.2d at 1084-85; cf. Carter, 766 N.E.2d at 381 (recognizing that embracing the rationale of Kumho Tire would require “replac[ing] the language of our Evidence Rule 702 with the different language of its federal counterpart”).
Indiana’s Rule 702 is not intended “to interpose an unnecessarily burdensome procedure or methodology for trial courts.” Sears Roebuck & Co. v. Manuilov, 742 N.E.2d 453, 460 (Ind. 2001). “[T]he adoption of Rule 702 reflected an intent to liberalize, rather than to constrict, the admission of reliable scientific evidence.” Id. As the Supreme Court instructed in Daubert, “[v]igorous cross-examination, presentation of contrary evidence, and careful instruction on the burden of proof are the traditional and appropriate means of attacking shaky but admissible evidence.” 509 U.S. at 596. Evidence need not be conclusive to be admissible. “The weakness of the connection of the item [of evidence] to the defendant goes toward its weight and not its admissibility.” Owensby v. State, 467 N.E.2d 702, 708 (Ind. 1984). Cross-examination permits the opposing party to expose dissimilarities between the actual evidence and the scientific theory. The dissimilarities go to the weight rather than to the admissibility of the evidence. See Lytle v. Ford Motor Co., 696 N.E.2d 465, 476 (Ind. Ct. App. 1998), trans. denied.
Turner first posits that Putzek’s conclusion in this case is flawed because there is no record of accomplishment within the tool mark examination field of applying its principles to make an “identification” based solely on chambering tool marks on a cartridge sidewall where there is no suspect weapon available for comparison purposes. See Br. of Appellant at 32-34. This is, in essence, a “fit” argument. See Daubert, 509 U.S. at 591 (noting “scientific validity for one purpose is not necessarily scientific validity for other, unrelated, purposes”). See also Steward v. State, 652 N.E.2d 490, 499 (Ind. 1995) (excluding expert “child abuse syndrome” testimony offered for the purpose of demonstrating a child suffered abuse because “the reliability of such evidence for the purpose of proving abuse is at present extremely doubtful and the subject of substantial and widespread repudiation by courts and scientists”). Turner argues that Putzek’s conclusions were inadmissible because Putzek applied the discipline of tool mark identification beyond its realm of demonstrated applicability – specifically, to magazine marks where there was no known weapon. This application, Turner contends, failed to satisfy the requirements of Daubert. See Br. of Appellant at 32-33.
As noted above, Daubert is merely instructive in Indiana, and we do not apply its factors as a litmus test for admitting evidence under Indiana Evidence Rule 702(b). Therefore, it is not dispositive for our purposes whether Putzek’s theory or technique can be and has been tested, whether the theory has been subjected to peer review and publication, whether there is a known or potential error rate, and whether the theory has been generally accepted within the relevant field of study. Putzek’s conclusion that the matching tool marks possibly resulted from chambering in the same firearm was equivocal. Tr. at 4077 (“However, I cannot conclusively say that . . . those tool marks are the result of chambering. So there’s still a tool mark of unknown origin.”). Turner thoroughly cross-examined Putzek on the pitfalls of making an identification without a “known tool.” See Tr. at 4090-92. And when pressed during the pretrial hearing Putzek could not cite any article, study, or anecdotal report in which an examiner was able to make the linkage Putzek made – that is, identifying unfired to fired cartridges based on sidewall tool marks on the casing with no suspect weapon available. See Tr. at 847-48. On direct examination at trial, Putzek described his additional “testing” in very informal terms. Tr. at 4079 (“Basically, I went back and grabbed a whole bunch of 7.62 by 39 millimeter rifles . . . . [And] I found that they were leaving similar marks in a similar area . . . .”). Also, Putzek could not recall specifics of the study he claimed to have read supporting his finding. See Tr. at 4081. The uncertainty of Putzek’s opinion, as well as the lack of formal testing and his inability to pinpoint other research, all inform the fact finder’s judgment on weighing this evidence, but does not render the evidence inadmissible.
. . . .
In sum, we are not persuaded by Turner’s argument that because there was no known suspect firearm in this case, expert testimony identifying fired cartridge casings to unfired cartridges based on tool marks on the case sidewall is inadmissible.
Shepard, C.J., and Dickson, Sullivan and David, JJ., concur.