FORENSIC BALLISTICS
divided into (3) three Divisions: Internal
Ballistics is the science of the motion of
the projectile and the condition that
affects their motion.
It is a science in itself for it is an orderly
arranged knowledge, which is a product
of series of experimentation, observation
and testing.
Ballistics is not an exact science rather it
is applied physics or applied science,
which is subject to changes and
improvement depending upon the
demands of the modern civilization.
o Motion refers to the mobility or
movement of the projectile from
the time it leaves the shell empty;
it leaves the gun muzzle and until
it reaches its target or fall in the
ground.
o A projectile is any metallic on
non-metallic ball which is
propelled from a firearm. Its
motion can be categories into
three general types: Direct
motion, Rotatory motion and
Translation motion.
o 3 Types of Motion (DR.T)
Direct Motion = is the
forward motion of the
bullet or shots out of the
shell by the action of the
expansive force of gases
from a burning
gunpowder.
Rotatory motion = is the
action of the bullet
passing through a rifled
bore barrel firearm which
is either twisted to the left
or to the right.
Translational = is the
action of bullet once it
hits a target and
subsequently ricocheted.
Origin of the Word Ballistics
The word Ballistics was derived from two
Greek words. The word ballo and the
word ballein which literally mean, to
throw.
The term also said to have been derived
from the Roman war machine called
Ballista, a gigantic catapult that was
used to furl missiles or large object at a
distance like stone, dead animal or even
dead person.
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The study of Ballistics in the early age is
Ballistics, Exterior or External Ballistics and
Terminal Ballistics. From the time the guns
was fired until it reaches the target and
have its maximum effect. At present
ballistics is branches into four (4) and this
is due to its subsequent used in solving
problems in connection with the
administration of justice particularly
cases involving firearms and ammunition
which is termed as Forensic Ballistics.
Branches of Ballistics
1. Interior (Internal) Ballistics = it treats of
the motion of the projectile while it is still
inside the firearm (chamber /barrel)
which extends from the breech to the
muzzle. The conditions attributed to
internal ballistics are as follows:
Firing pin hitting the primer
Ignition of the priming mixture -
The priming mixture (composing
of the KCLO3, sulfur and carbon)
located either at the cavity rim
or at the center of the primer
upon the striking effect of the
firing pin will ignite and such
action is known as Percussion
action.
Combustion of the gun
powder/powder charge or
propellant.
Expansion of heated gas.
Pressure developed
Energy generated
Recoil of the gun - Is the equal
and opposite reaction of the gun
against the forward movement
of the bullet upon explosion. The
backward or rearward
movement of the gun in relation
to the forward movement of the
bullet.
Jump is another portion
of the recoil action
characterized as the
backward and upward
movement of that takes
place before the bullet
leaves the muzzle.
Velocity of the bullet inside the
barrel - It is the relative speed of
the bullet per unit of time while it
is still inside the barrel expressed
in feet per second.
Rotation of the bullet inside the
barrel
 Engraving of the cylindrical
surface of the bullet
2. Exterior (external) Ballistics = treats of
the attributes or movement of the
projectile after leaving the gun muzzle.
Muzzle Blast - Is the noise
created at the muzzle point of
the gun?
Muzzle energy - Energy
generated at the muzzle point
measured in foot-pound.
Trajectory - Refers to the
parabola-like flight of the
projectile from the time it leaves
the muzzle until it hits the target.
It is also described as the actual
curve path taken by a bullet
during its.
Range - It refers to the imaginary
straight distance between the
muzzle of the gun and the
target.
Accurate Range= the
distance within which the
shooter or gunner has
control of his shots.
Effective Range = the
distance within which
when the bullet was fired
it is still capable of
inflicting fatal injury.
Maximum Range= the
distance that a projectile
can be propelled from a
firearm. The farthest
distance the bullet could
travel.
Maximum Effective
Range the farthest
distance of the bullet can
travel and still lethal.
Velocity - Refers to the rate of
speed of the bullet (during its
flight) per unit of time usually
express is feet per second
(ft/sec.)
Pull of Gravity - It is the
downward reaction of the bullet
towards the earth surface due to
its weight.
Air Resistance - Refers to the
force of the air encounter by the
bullet in its flight.
3. Terminal Ballistics= is that branch of
Ballistics which deals with the effects of
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the impact of the projectile on the
target.
a. Terminal Accuracy - It refers to
the size of the bullet grouping on
the target.
b. Terminal Energy - Is the energy or
force of the projectile when it
strikes the target same as striking
energy.
c. Terminal Velocity - Is the speed
of the bullet upon striking the
target.
d. Terminal Penetration - Is the
depth of entry of the bullet in the
target.
4. Forensic Ballistics - This branch of
ballistics is the product of the
application of the ballistics to law. The
idea comes with the used of the word
forensic. The word Forensic was derived
from the Latin word forum meaning a
market place where people gathered
for public disputation or public
discussion. When used in connection
with the word ballistics or other natural
science, it suggests a relationship to the
courts of justice or legal proceedings.
Forensic Ballistics is defined as
the study of the motion of the
projectile as applied to law or
simply the science of firearm
identification by means of the
ammunition fired through them.
Scope of Forensic Ballistics
1. Field Investigation
2. Ballistics Technical Examination of the
Exhibits
3. Legal Proceeding
The Evolution of Firearms
MAN BEHIND FIREARMS
1. John M. Browning - Wizard of the
modern firearms and pioneered the
breech loading single shot rifled which
was adopted by Winchester.
2. Samuel Colt - Patented the first practical
revolver and maker of the Colt Peace
Maker, a famous revolver in the history.
3. Alexander John Forsyth - Father of the
percussion powder.
4. Major Uziel Gal - An Israeli army who
designed UZI (Israel) in the year 1950.
5. Col. Calvin H. Goddard - Father of
modern Ballistics.
 6. John C. Garand - Designed and
invented the Semi-automatic U.S. Rifle
Cal. 30. M1 garand.
7. George Hyde - A well-known expert in
the field of SMG, (also known as grease
gun) developed in 1941. M3A1 (USA).
8. Michael Kalashnikov - Designed the AK
(Automat Kalashnikova) 47 (Soviet
Union) adopted by the Russian Army in
the year 1951.
9. Horace Smith - Founded the great firm of
Smith and Wesson and pioneered in
making breech loading rifles.
10. Eugene Stoner - Designed the U.S. M16
Armalite under licensed by Colt
Company from July 1959 onwards.
11. L.C. Smith - Developed shotgun bearing
his name now the Ithaca gun Company.
12. John T. Thompson - Developed in the
course of WW1 the Thompson M1A1 and
model of 1928 A1 (USA). Pioneered the
making of Thompson sub-machine gun.
13. Daniel B. Wesson - Associates of Horace
Smith in the making of Revolver.
14. David Carbine Williams - Maker of the
first had known Carbine.
15. Oliver Winchester - One of the earliest
rifle and pistol makers.
IMPORTANT DATES IN THE EVOLUTION OF
FIREARMS
1242 A.D. Roger Bacon published the De
Mirabili Potestate Artis et Naturae
(On the Marvelous Power of Arts and
Nature), which noted Black powder
formula.
1498 Introduction of the rifling and sights
became better and breech loaders
were attempted although never
succeeded yet even multi shots arms
due to lack of good ignition system.
1500s The development of the Wheel Lock,
operates in the same principle as the
modern day cigarette lighter. At mid
of 1500s snaphaunce was Firearms (Legal Definition of Firearm)
developed.
1575 Paper Cartridge was developed. Ball
and powder charged were
wrapped in chemically treated
paper to allow the carrying of
numerous pre-measured charges or
pre-loaded rounds.
1750 The development of Breech-loading
firearms leading to the making of
FERGUSON Rifle of Major Patrick
Ferguson, COLLIER Rifle, which is a
flint lock repeating rifle operated on
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a revolving principle and, the HALL
Rifle patented in 1811 by Col. John
Hall and was the 1st breechloader
adopted by the U.S. Army.
1805 The Percussion System. Alexander
John Forsyth discovered a
compound that would ignite upon
blow that would ignite the powder
charge. In 1840, it replaces the
flintlock ignition and was adopted in
1838 by the British and in 1842 by the
American.
1835 The first real cartridge was
developed The Flobert Cap same
as the BB and was considered the
forerunner of .22 short cartridge.
1835 Samuel Colt patented the first
revolver and marketed in 1872, a
breech loading revolver.
1836 Pin fire Cartridge, was developed by
Le Faucheux. A much real pin fire
cartridge was also developed in the
same year by Houiller.
1845 Rim fire cartridge, Flobert developed
the BB (bullet breech) cap, which
was considered the forerunner of the
.22 cal cartridge.
In the same year, New Havens Arms
Company owned by Oliver F.
Winchester, through the effort of
Tyler Henry developed a .44 cal rim
fire cartridge for Henry Rifle.
1846 Smokeless powder was discovered.
It was used in shotgun first in the year
1864 by Capt. Eschultze of Prussian
Army and in Rifle by the year 1884 by
M. Vieille of France.
1873 Colt Peace Maker, model 1873, .45
cal. The most famous revolver in
history and legend was
manufactured.
1884 Automatic Machine Gun. Hiram
Maxim developed the first fully
automatic gun.
Firearms or arms as herein used,
includes rifles, muskets, carbines,
shotgun, pistol, revolvers, and all other
deadly weapons, to which a bullet, ball,
shot, shell, or other missiles maybe
discharge by means of gun powder or
other explosives. This term also includes
air rifle, except such of being of small
caliber and limited range used as toys.
The barrel of any firearm shall be
considered a complete firearm for all
purposes hereof. (Sec 877 Revised
 Administrative Code/ Sec. 290 national
Internal Revenue Code).
Technical Definition
Firearm is an instrument used for the
propulsion of projectile by means of the
expansive force gases coming from
burning gunpowder. (FBI manual of
Firearms Identification).
Classification of Firearms
Two General Classifications of Firearms
(According to Interior Barrel Construction)
1. Smooth Bore Firearms = Firearms that
have no rifling (lands and grooves)
inside their gun barrel.
a. Examples: Shotguns and
Musket
2. Rifled Bore Firearms = Firearms that
have rifling inside their gun barrel.
a. Examples: Pistols, Revolvers,
and other modern weapons.
Main Types of Firearms (According to the
Caliber of the projectile propelled)
1. Artillery = Refers to those type of firearms
that propels projectile with more than
one inch diameter.
a. Examples: Cannons, Mortars and
Bazookas:
2. Small Arms = Are firearms that propels
projectile with less than one inch
diameter and it can be handled, moved
and operated by one man. (Examples:
Machine gun, shoulder arms and
handguns.)
a. Machine guns - Machine gun is a
type of firearm that is primarily
designed for military use. Even in
investigation of shooting cases
done in the city, it is not usual or
common to encounter this type
of firearm having been used. It
can be grouped in three general
types:
b. Sub Machine Gun - Is a light,
portable form of machine gun,
utilizing a pistol size ammunition,
having a shoulder stock that may
or may not be folded and
designed to be fired with both
hands.
Shoulder Arms - are those types of firearm that
were normally fired from the shoulder.
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1. Rifles= A shoulder weapon designed to
fire a projectile with more accuracy
through a long rifled bore barrel, usually
more than 22 inches.
2. Carbine = A short barrel rifle, with its
barrel rifle, measuring not longer than 22
inches. It fires a single projectile though
a rifle-bore either semi-automatic or fully
automatic, for every press of the trigger.
3. Muskets = is an ancient smoothbore and
muzzle loading military shoulder arms
designed to fire a shots or a single round
lead ball. A more detailed discussion of
musketeers can be found on chapter 8
in the discussion of ignition system.
4. Shotgun = A smooth bore and a breech
loading shoulder arms designed to fire a
number of lead pellets or a shots in one
charge (FBA Manual)
The barrel construction of
shotgun may also be found in
different bore construction.
o cylinder bore type = which the
bore size is the same
throughout the barrel
o Choke bored gun = designed
with a diminishing or reducing
bore diameter type towards
the muzzle. This type is
designed to cause an effect to
the travel of the shots. It makes
the shots travel longer before it
spreads.
o paradox gun.= still in a very
rear occasions another type of
shotgun can be observed to
be having rifling only a few
inch from its muzzle points.
Handguns = those type of firearms that are
designed or intended to be fired using one
hand. (Pistols and Revolvers)
Pistol - In early firearm history, all
handguns are generally called as pistols.
There were three classes of pistols in the
period. The single shot pistol, the semi-
automatic and the revolving pistols now
known as the revolver.
Revolver - Revolver is a type of firearm
designed to position cartridge into
position for firing with the aid of a
rotating cylinder serving as its chamber.
There are two types of revolvers
according to its mechanical firing
action. T
o Single action, a type of revolver
that needs a manual cocking of
 the hammer before squeezing
the trigger and:
o Double action, a type of revolver
that does not need manual
cocking. Just press the trigger
and it both cocked and released
the hammer causing a much
faster firing.
Types of Firearms (According of Mechanical
Construction)
1. Single shot firearms = types of firearms
designed to fire only one shot every
loading. (Examples: Single shot pistols,
Revolvers and shotguns.)
2. Repeating Arms = A type of firearms
designed to fire several loads (shot) in
one loading. (Examples: Automatic
pistols revolvers rifles and shotguns.)
3. Automatic F/A = type of firearms that
constitutes a continuous firing in a single
press of the trigger and while the trigger
is press. (Examples: Machine guns and
rifles)
4. Slide Action type = types of firearms in
which loading take place by back and
forth manipulation of the under/over
forearms of the gun. (Examples: Shotgun
and pistols)
5. Bolt Action Type = Type of firearms in
which reloading takes place by
manipulating the both back and forth.
(Examples: Rifles, shotguns and machine
guns.)
6. Lever type (Break type) = loading takes
place by lever action on the firearms.
(Examples: Rifles and shotguns.)
Miscellaneous Types of Gun
1. Cane gun, knife pistols, cellphone gun,
etc. = devices principally designed for
other purpose to which a gun
mechanism is incorporated also called
as Freakish gun.
2. Flare gun = designed for tracing or
sending signals or locating enemy
troops.
3. Freakish gun = a tool in which firearm
mechanism is attached to prevent easy
identification.
4. Gas gun = generally referring to all gun
designed from firing tear gas.
5. Harpoon guns = refers to a barbed spear
in hunting large fish.
6. Liberator = U.S. government made
smooth bore gun used in Europe during
war designed to fire an automatic colt
pistol cartridge caliber .45.
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7. Multi Barreled gun = refers to all types of
gun containing a number of barrels.
8. Paradox gun = a type of gun which
contains lands and grooves a few inch
from the muzzle point.
9. Tools = are those devices which
resembles a gun designed but are
generally used for construction of
furniture.
10. Traps = refers to gun used for trapping
animals that are fired to woods.
11. Zip Gun = refers to all type of
homemade gun.
Ammunition (Legal Definition)
Refers to loaded shell for rifles, muskets,
carbine, shotgun, revolvers and pistols
from which a ball, shot shell or other
missiles maybe fired by means of gun
powder or other explosive. The term also
includes ammunition for air rifles as
mentioned elsewhere in the code.
(Chapter VII, Sec.290 of NIRC as well as
Sec 877 RAC)
Ammunition (Technical Definition)
Refers to a group of cartridge or to a
single cartridge. Cartridge is a complete
unfired unit consisting of bullet (ball),
primer (cap), cartridge case (shell) and
gunpowder (propellant).
Origin
The word cartridge was derived from the
Latin word Charta meaning a
paper
The French word Cartouche meaning
a rolled paper. This only indicates that
the first type of cartridge was made up
of a rolled paper. It was about the turn
of the 16th century that the term
cartridge comes to use.
General types of Ammunition
1. Dummy ( used as a model)
2. Drill Ammunition (without gun
powder)
3. Black Ammunition (without bullet)
4. Live Ammunition
Classification of Cartridge
1. According to the Location of the Primer
a. Pin-Fire = is a type of cartridge in
which the ignition cap (primer) is
concealed inside the cartridge
case and has a pin resting upon
it.
 b. Rim fire = is a type of cartridge in
which the priming mixture is
located at the hallow rim of the
case can be fired if the cartridge
is tuck by the firing pin on the rim
of the case (cavity rim).
c. Center fire = t refers to a
cartridge in which primer cup
(ignition cap) is centrally placed
in the base of the cartridge case
and the priming mixture is
exploded by the impact of the
firing pin and with the support of
the anvil.
2. According to Rim Diameter
a. Rimmed Case type.
b. Semi-Rimmed type
c. Rimless type
d. Rebated type = refers to the
cartridge with rimless pattern, but
which has a rim diameter smaller
than the body of the case
e. Belted type = a cartridge with a
prominent raise belt around its
body just in front of the
extraction groove.
3. According Caliber - Calibers in
cartridges in inches and their
approximate equivalent in mm and use:
Inches MM.
Cal. .22 about 5.59 mm- used in revolver, pistol and rifles
Cal. .25 about 6.35 mm- used in pistols and rifles.
Cal. .30 about 7.63 mm- (mauser) for carbines and other
rifles
Cal. .30 about 7.63 mm (luger)
Cal. .32 about 7.65 mm for automatic pistols and revolvers
Cal. .380 about 9 mm- used for pistols
Cal. .357 used in magnum .357 revolvers
Cal. .45 about 11 mm used in automatic pistols
Cal. .50 used in .50 cal. Machine gun
Shotgun Cartridge
It refers to a complete unit of unfired
cartridge consisting of the pellets,
primer, case, wads and gunpowder.
Gauge of Shotgun
Compared with other types of firearms,
shotgun has very unique characteristics
in terms of its diameter designation both
for its firearm and cartridge use. The unit
of measurement used in shotgun is
expressed in Gauge. This is determined
by the number of solid lead balls of pure
lead, each with diameter of the barrel
that can be prepared from one pound
of lead. At present the 10-gauge
shotgun is considered with the biggest
diameter while the .410 as the smallest
one. Listed below are the equivalents of
diameter in gauge to inch.
Gauge Inch
10 .775 inch
12 .729 inch
16 .670 inch
20 .615 inch
28 .550 inch
.410 .410 inch
Types of Shots
1. Soft or Drop Shots = made by pure or
nearly pure lead, to which a small
amount of arsenic has been added to
make it take on the form of a spherical
drop as it falls down the shot tower. This
type is easy to deformed or flattened,
loose their velocity quicker, low
penetrating power and string out more.
2. Chilled or Hard Shot = is a type of shot
with a small amount of antimony mixed
with lead to increase hardness. It does
no deform easily, better patterns, less
string and more uniform velocity and
penetration.
3. Coated or Plated Shot = also called as
lubaloy shot. A chilled shot coated
with thin copper through electroplating
design for greater strength and
elasticity, great resistance to
deformation and leading and better
pattern.
a. Buck Shot = a large size lead
shot for used in shotgun
Bullets
The word Bullet was derived from
French word Boullette which means a
small ball. This term is generally used
when we are referring to projectile fired
from any small arms, which has a variety
of form, especially during the earlier
history. In a more technical sense, bullet
refers to a metallic or non-metallic
cylindrical ball propelled from a firearm
it is sometimes called as shots or slugs.
Bullets have various types depending
upon their specific nature and purpose.
In general bullet can be classified as
either Lead or Jacketed.
o General Types of Bullets
1. Lead Type is a type of a
bullet that is basically
composed of lead metal.
Its used was due to its

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 density; having a good
weight is a small size and
easy for casting.
2. Jacketed Type Is a type
of bullet consisting of the
regular lead core, coated
with a copper alloy in
order to prevent lead
fouling of the barrel and is
generally used in pistols
and other high power
guns.
According to their Maximum Effect to their
targets
1. Ball Type Is a type of bullet, which is
intended for anti-personnel and general
use.
2. Armor piercing is a type of military
bullet designed to penetrate light steel
armor. Its mechanical construction
makes it capable of penetrating
through some light vehicles.
3. Explosive Bullet - Is a small bullet
containing a charge of explosive, which
will detonate on impact.
4. Incendiary Bullet Type of military bullet
used to cause fire in a target, generally
designed to use by aircraft armament in
order for the fuel tanks to ignite.
5. Tracer Bullet a type of military bullet
capable of leaving visible marks or
traces while in flight giving the gunner
the chance to observe the strike of the
shot or make adjustments in the event of
a miss
Cartridge Case
Is the metallic or non-metallic tabular
container usually of brass (70% copper
and 30% zinc) designed to unite the
bullet, primer and the gunpowder into
one unit. It is also known as shell or
casing.
o Functions of the Cartridge Case
It locates the bullet
properly relative to the
bore of the firearm.
It is used to carry the
means of ignition.
It provides gas seals at
the breech against an
unwanted escape of
propellant gas upon
firing.
Serves as waterproof
container for the
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propellant or powder
charge.
Acts as the insulator
between the propellant
and the hot walls of the
chamber in a rapid firing
of firearms.
Parts of the Cartridge Case
1. Base= the bottom portion of the
cartridge case which contains the head
stamp marking on the base of the shell
containing the caliber, manufacturer
and in some cases including the date,
trade name, and batch number.
2. Rim= is the part of the cartridge
designed to limit the forward movement
of the cartridge to chamber.
3. Extracting grooves= is the circular
groove near the rim of the shell
designed for automatic withdrawal of
the case from the chamber.
4. Primer Pocket=is that part of the shell
which provides the means for the primer
to be put in the central position. Its
function is extended to: (a) hold the
primer in place; (b) to provide means to
prevent the escape of gas; (c) to
provide solid support for primer anvil.
5. Body= is the cylindrical part of the shell
which house the gunpowder.
6. Shoulder= that part of the cartridge
case which support the neck of the
cartridge which is evident in a
bottleneck type.
7. Cannelure= is the cylindrical groove in
the outer surface of the cartridge case
designed to secure the shell to the
chamber as well as prevent bullet from
being push down to the powder charge.
In some instance it is even being utilized
for identification.
8. Neck= is that part of the shell which is
actually occupied by the bullet. This is
obvious in a bottleneck type of shell but
not with the straight type.
9. Crimp= is the cylindrical groove on the
mouth of the shell designed for two
purposes: One (1) is to hold the bullet
and prevent it from being pull out from
the shell and Two (2) to offers resistance
to the bullet out of the neck to ensure
burning of the gun powder.
10. Vent or Flash hole= is the hole at the
bottom of the primer pocket as the
passage way for the priming mixture to
impart an ignition to the propellant
charge.
Primer (Also called CAP)
Is the ignition system of the cartridge
used in a center fire type, containing a
highly sensitive chemical compound
that would easily ignite or bursts into
flame when struck by the firing pin? It
may either be Berdan or Boxer type. It is
also known as the percussion cup.
The Berdan is a type of primer
construction, which was designed in
1860s by Colonel Hiram S. Berdan of the
U.S Army Ordinance Department.
The Boxer on the other hand, was
developed by Col. Edward M. Boxer of
the Royal Laboratory at Woolwich
Arsenal in the year 1866
o Parts of the Primer
1. Primer Cup= Is the brass gilding
metal cup which contains the
priming mixture, the disc and
the anvil.
2. Priming Mixture= Is the highly
sensitive chemical compound
which ignites by the
mechanical blow of the firing
pin. It is also called as
percussion powder.
3. Anvil= Is that portion of the
primer which provides solid
support and absorbs the blow of
the firing pin causing friction
that would initiates ignition.
4. Disc= Is a thin paper or foil
which is pressed over the
priming mixture in order to
protect it from moisture attack.
Gun Powder (also called as propellant or Power
Charge)
Is that mixture of chemicals of various
compositions designed to propel the
projectile by means of its expansive
force of gas when burned?
Two of the most popular individual
whose name is always attached to
gunpowder discovery were Roger
Bacon and Berthold Schwartz. Lets take
a short description of how their names
are always mentioned in the history.
o Roger Bacon, (1242 A.D.) a
Franciscan monk, who wrote the
---De Mirabili Potestate Artis et
Naturae (On the Marvelous
Power of Art and Nature),
including an anagram.
o Berthold Schwartz (whose real
name was Constantin Anklitzen),
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a mysterious monk of Freiburg,
who according to legend that is
supported by an engraving
dated 1643, while experimenting
on some powder in a cast iron
vessel, he ignited a charge and
thus blew off the lid, and from
this deduced the principle of
containing a charge in a tube
and propelling a shot
(Encyclopedia of ammunition).
The Black Powder
Black powder, the oldest known
explosive, was initially made from
saltpeter (75%), charcoal (15%) and
sulfur (10%).
These problems in the used of black
powder was later remedied with the
introduction of the smokeless powder.
According to Harrison,
Captain E. Schultze of the Prussian Army,
made the 1st successful used of
smokeless powder in shotgun in the year
1864.
(Although historically nitroglycerine
compound was first discovered in 1846).
The basic ingredient used for smokeless
powder is a nitrocellulose that was first
produced by adding a nitric acid to
cellulose fiber.
Later, M. Vieille of French developed the
first smokeless powder for riffle in the
year 1884 and named it poudre B
taken after Gen. Boulangers name.
In 1887, Alfred Nobel invented a
smokeless powder with nitroglycerine
(40%0 and nitrocellulose (60%) as the
main composition and called it
Ballistite.
In Great Britain, they utilized picrid acid
in addition to cellulose powder which
they called Lyddite and in germany
TNT (Tri-nitrololeune ) was the one used,
more powerful than picric acid but
much difficult to detonate.
Also In the year 1889, Prof. Abel, a British
War dept. Chemist developed Cordite
a smokeless powder with same
composition as Nobel in the form of
cords or sticks. And in early 1890s
smokeless powder had replaced black
powder and became uniformly used
worldwide by the year 1900.
Firearms Characteristics
Stages in the manufacture of barrel
(DR.RL)
o Drilling
o Reaming
o Rifling - This process necessary for
the making of the helical groves
inside the barrel and such can
be performed in any of the
following methods:
Hook cutter system
(cutter)
Scrape cutter system
(scraper)
Broaching system
(broach)
Button system (button)
o Lapped
The Breech face
Just like any barrel of every firearm, the
breech face also bears with it the same
important.
Types of Characteristics in Firearms
Class Characteristics = are those properties or
attributes of a firearms which can be
determined even before the manufacture of
the gun. This is true for such characteristics are
considered to be a manufactures designs or
specifications and security.
Class Characteristics of Firearms
1. Bore diameter (caliber or gauge) it is
diameter to which the bore was
reamed. The distance measured
between two opposite lands inside the
bore in a hundredths or thousandths of
an inch. In most express in either caliber
in inch or in millimeters.
2. Number of lands and grooves = the
number of lands an grooves inside the
barrel of a given firearm are always the
same or equal. It may run from 3 to 8,
but the most in the modern firearm are
five and six.
o Lands = are the elevated portion
of the bore of the firearm.
o Grooves = are the depressed
portion of the bore between the
lands.
3. Width of the lands = is dependent upon
the bore diameter of the gun, grooves,
width and number. The lands are the
remainders of the circumference after
subtracting all the grooves width.
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4. Width of the Grooves = is measured as
the shortest distance between the two
dies or edge of a grooves.
5. Direction of Twist = rifling inside the barrel
of the gun is either twisted to the left or
to the right which cause bullet to rotate
as it passes through the bore, in order to
ensure gyroscopic stability in its flight.
6. Pitch of Rifling = it is the measure of the
twisting of the lands and grooves. It
refers to the measure of the distance
advance by the rifling in order to make
a complete turn inside the barrel.
7. Depth of the Grooves = the grooves
depth if measured on a radius of the
bore. Grooves are usually few
thousandths of an inch deep, which
equal to the height of the lands.
Individual Characteristics = are meant for those
characteristics which are being determined
only after the firearm was already been
manufactured. They are the product of
machine imperfections and some later due to
the used of the firearms.
Types of Rifling (S4, C42x, S5, C62xL, B62x, W73x,
W73x)
1. Steyer Type= is the type of rifling having
four (4) lands and grooves, right twist
and the width of the lands grooves. (4
RG=L)
2. Carbine Type = rifling having (4) lands
and grooves, right twist, the width of the
grooves is two (2) times the width of the
lands (4RG2X).
3. Smith and Wesson = rifling having (5)
lands and grooves, right hand twist, the
width of the land and grooves are
equal. (5RG=L)
4. Colt = type of rifling having six (6) lands
and grooves, left twist, the width of the
grooves is twice (2) the width of the
lands. (6LG2X)
5. Browning = type of rifling having (6)
lands and grooves, right hand twist, the
width of the grooves is twice the width
of the lands. (6RG2X)
6. Webley = Rifling having seven (7) lands
and grooves, right hand twist, the width
of the groove is three time larger than
the boarder of the lands. (7RG3X)
7. Winchester = Rifling having six (6) lands
and grooves, right hand twist, the width
of the grooves is three time larger the
width of the lands.
Individual Characteristics in Firearms
Individual Characteristics in firearms are
usually determined by the test firing
which will give us both the test bullet
and the test shell that will show the
individuality of its property based on the
left marks on every bullet and shell fired
from it. Such marks are so minute that
the use of the lens with high
magnification is necessary to discover
individuality.
Marks found of Fired Bullets
1. Land Marks = marks left on a fired bullet
caused by its contact to the elevated
portion (lands) of the bore of the firearm.
It appears as slight depressions or
scratches the cylindrical surface of the
fired bullet.
2. Groove Marks = marks found on a fired
bullet caused by the grooves of the
barrel which is the same number as that
of the landmarks.
3. Skid Marks = Marks that are generally
found on fired bullet from a revolver. It is
more or less located at the anterior
portion of the fired bullet due to its
forward movement from the chamber to
the barrel of the gun before it initially
rotates.
4. Stripping Marks = marks found on those
bullet fired from a loose-fit barrel
wherein the rifling are already been
badly worn-out.
a. Worn-out in the rifling of the
firearms can be cause by either
chemical reaction brought
about by rust (corrosion) or
through excessive use (erosion)
5. Shaving Marks = marks commonly found
on bullet fired from a revolver cause by
its forward movement to the barrel that
is poorly aligned to the cylinder.
6. Slippage Marks = marks found on fired
bullets passing through either on oily or
oversize barrel.
Marks found on Fired Shells
1. Firing Pin Mark = mark generally found at
the base portion of the cartridge case
more specifically near center of the
primer cup in a center fire cartridge or
at the rim cavity of a rim-fire cartridge.
Considered as one of the most
important marks for identification of
firearms using fired shell.
2. Breech Face Mark = mark found at the
base portion of the shell cause by
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backward movement to the breech
face of the block of the firearm.
3. Extractor Mark = mark mostly found at
the extracting groove of the fired
cartridge case. Cause by its withdrawal
from the chamber.
4. Ejector mark = mark generally found on
cartridge case fired from an automatic
firearms. It is located near the rim of the
case cause by the throwing of shell from
the firearm to the area of shooting.
5. Shearing Mark = sometimes called
Secondary Firing Pin mark found in the
primer near the firing pin mark.
6. Magazine Lip Mark = marking found at
the two sides of the rim cause by the
magazine lips during the loading of the
cartridge into the magazine for firing.
7. Chamber Mark = mark mostly found
around the body of the fired cartridge
case cause by the irregularities of nips
inside the walls of the chamber.
In fired cartridge case either of the Firing pin
mark and the Breech face marks can be used
as basis for identification, in the absence or
none use of these two, both the ejector and
extractor marks can be utilized as secondary
choice.
Problems in Forensic Ballistics
1. Given a fired bullet to determine the
caliber, type; make of firearm from
which it was fired.
2. Given a fired shell to determine the
caliber, type, and make of firearm from
which it was fired.
3. Given a fired bullet and a suspected
firearm, to determine whether or not the
fired bullet was fired from the suspected
firearm.
4. Given a fired shell and a suspected
firearm, to determine whether or not the
fired bullet was fired from the suspected
firearm.
5. Given two or more fired bullets, to
determine whether or not they were
fired from one and the same firearm.
6. Given two or more fired shell/cartridge
case, to determine whether or not they
were fired from one and the same
firearm.
Scientific Instrument Used in Firearms
Identification
1. Analytical or Torsion Balance
2. Bullet Comparison Microscope
3. Bullet Recovery box
 4. Chronograph
5. Caliper
6. CP-6 Comparison Projector
7. Electronic Gun maker
8. Helixometer
9. Micrometer
10. Onoscope
11. Shadowgraph
12. Stereoscopic Microscope
13. Taper Gauge
14. Torsion Balance

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