Forensic Ballistics

1. Internal = before leaving the muzzle, while inside the barrel, from breech to muzzle.

2. External = before reaching the target, upon leaving the muzzle, while in flight, from muzzle to target.

3. Terminal = upon reaching the target.

4. Forensic Ballistics = science of Firearms Identification. Identification & Investigation of ammunition &
firearms.

Col. Calvin H. Goddard = Father of Ballistics

Trigger hammer firing pin primer gunpowder.

Percussion action = ignition of priming mixture.

Alexander John Forsyth

Firearms = (Sec. 877,RAC)

P.D. 1866

R.A. 8294.

1. Artillery = more than 1 Inch

2. Small Arms = Less than 1 inch

Machine Gun = automatic/ continuous firing.

Sub-machine gun (grease gun)

Shoulder Arm

Smooth bore = musket (ancient/muzzle loading)

= Shotgun (breech loading/ a number of lead pellets.

Cylinder type = equal diameter

Choke = reducing diameter

Paradox = with rifling a few inch from the muzzle point.

Rifles Bore = Rifle (with rifling)

Carbine = short barrel rifle, less than 22 inches.

Hand gun = Pistol ; Revolver (cylinder)

Single action = manual cocking

Double Action = both cock and release the hammer.

Barrel of any firearm is a ______?complete firearm.

Kolibre = smallest pistol

Zip gun = home made gun

Freakish gun = a tool to which a firearm mechanism is attached.

Tool gun= looks like a firearm.

Single shot= one firing for every loading; chamber feed.

Repeating arms = several shot for very press of the trigger.

Automatic = continuous firing in a single press.

(cartridge is found at the scene of firing).

Ammunition = loaded shell

Dummy = fake

Blank = without bullet.

Drill = without gun powder.

Live = complete unfired unit (Cartridge)

Shotgun Cartridge = consists of pellet, wads, shell, gunpowder and primer.

Cartridge = consists of bullet, shell, gun powder and primer.

Cartridge (Latin= charta paper; French Cartouche = rolled paper.)

Four classes of cartridge according to type of firearms: (revolver, pistol, rifle & shotgun)
Parts of the Cartridge

1. Bullet = French Boulette = a small ball.

metallic or non-metallic ball propel from a firearm.

3. Cartridge case =tabular container.

4. Gun powder or propellant or powder charge.

Black powder=75% KNO3, 15%Charcoal,10%Sulfur.

Smokeless= Nitrocellulose, nitroglycerine

5. Primer = ignition system.

Priming mixture = KCLO3, Charcoal & Sulfur.

Classes:

Rim-fire =powder is located at the cavity rim.

Center-fire = powder is located at the center cap.

Pin-fire = with built-in pin. (obsolete already)

1. Rimmed type = the rim diameter is greater than the body diameter.

2. Semi-rimmed = slightly greater

3. Rimless = Rim D. is equal to the Body D.

4. Rebated = Rim. D. is smaller than the Body D.

5. Belted = with metal belt around the body of the shell used in high power gun such as shotgun.

Bullet = metallic or non-metallic ball propel from a firearm. (usually fired from small arms).

Shot = other name for bullet.

Slugs = police term for bullet.

Pellets = used in shotgun.

Missile = usually used in artillery firearm.

1. Ball type = for personnel

Lead (revolver) jacketed ( outer covering is jacket)

2. Armour Piercing = for metallic target.

3. Incendiary = used to set fire. (Blue tip)

4. Tracer = emits a bright flame, used at night. (red-tip)

5. Explosives = designed for explosion.

Expanding Bullet = hallow point and the Soft-point. Also called mushroom bullet.

Dum-Dum = made in India for greater damage.

Baton Round = anti-riot bullet. Also called rubber bullet.

Discarding Sabot (Accelarator bullet)= designed for greater velocity.

Frangible = paint bullet.

Explosives

1. Low Explosives = those which function but burning producing gases. (Gunpowders)

2. High Explosives =

a. Primary High = those which ignites upon friction or shock (priming mixture).

b. Secondary High = those which explodes (TNT Dynamite, DRX, C-4 and Nitrogylcerine liquid bomb)

Caliber = measured with the used of a caliper or micrometer.

Firearms = Bore diameter (distance from two opposite lands).

Bullet = base diameter

Shell = body diameter

Torsion balance = use to measure caliber of bullet based on weight.

Pitch of Rifling = distance in one complete turn of the bullet. (measured by Helixometer)

Velocity = speed by unit of time (ft/sec) . Measured by Chronograph.

Class Characteristics = determined even before the manufacture.

Individual Char. = determined after the manufacture .

Rifling = helical groove inside the barrel.

Steyer = 4RG=L

Smith and Wesson = 5RG=L

Colt = 6LG2X

Browing = 6RG2X

Striation marks = minutes scratches.

Shaving marks = due to poor alignment.

Skid mark = due to forward movement before it rotates.

Stripping = due to worn-out barrel (corrosion/Erosion)

Slippage = due to oily or oversized barrel.

Class characteristics = common or found in others.

Individual char. = peculiar or not found in other f/a.

Ballistics Engineer/ Firearms Examiner/ Ballistician = concerns with weapons and projectile.

Bullet recovery box = used to obtain test bullet/test shell (at least 3 cartridges)

Bullet Comparison Microscope = used for simultaneous comparison of bullets/shells.

Juxtaposition = same image, magnification etc.

Pseudo Match different image

Stylus = used for marking

Bullet = marks at BASE, OGIVE or NOSE

Shell = Body or Side, Near outside or near Inside open mouth.