By: Joe Mari U Madali, RCrim, CCS
PRC BOR TOS FOR NEW CURRICULUM
INTRODUCTION
Firearms was studied for the purpose of protecting the tribes from
possible invaders or colonizers.
Cartridge has been existence during the 14th century.
France and England explored the manufacture of more powerful and
sophisticated f/a.
“Firearm is not a gun, it’s the ammunition”.
The study of ballistics was divided to three divisions: Interior, Exterior
and Terminal.
20th century when f/a evidence became the subject of investigational
interest in the form of fired bullets, cartridge cases, and gunshot
wounds.
BRIEF HISTORY OF BALLISTICS
Before, barrels and bullet molds were handmade by
gunsmiths. Thus, the exclusivity of each firearm was
unavoidable. This meant that the bullet fired always
bore some exclusive impressions which were unique to
a specific firearm.
The first case of firearm examination to be
documented was in 1835. That was when Henry
Goddard applied ballistics fingerprinting to link a bullet
recovered from the victim to the actual culprit.
ORIGIN OF THE WORD BALLISTICS
The word Ballistics was
derived from two greek words: the
word “ballo” and word “ballien”.
Both of these Greek etymological
roots literally mean “to throw”.
The term was also said to
have been derived from the
Roman war machine called
“ballista”, a gigantic catapult that
was used to hurl missiles or large
objects like stones, dead animals
or even dead persons at a
distance.
CHAPTER 1 BALLISTICS AND ITS BRANCHES
Ballistics
Refers to the science of the motion
of the projectile and the condition
that affects its motion.
Forensic Ballistics
The study of the motion of the projectile as
applied to law.
A branch of science which deals with the
examination of the F/A evidences
encountered at the scene of crime, its
linkage to the F/A, and Identification of the
shooter.
Note:
It is a science in itself for it is an orderly arrange
knowledge, which is a product of a series of
experimentation, observation and testing.
It is not an exact science rather an applied
physics for it studies the motion of the projectile
such as its velocity, trajectory, approximate
range, power, resistance to air and other
circumstanced that affects its travel.
Projectile
is a generic term which refers to any metallic or
non-metallic ball that is propelled from a firearm.
Technically, all projectile propels from a small
arm is called bullets with the exemption of a
shotgun projectile which is referred to a shots or
pellets.
Slugs
-the term for bullets commonly used by
policemen.
Artillery firearms
- projectiles that are too big and even
designs for explosions are aptly called
missiles.
Motion
-refers to the mobility or movement of
the projectile from the time it leaves the
empty shell; it leaves the gun muzzle and
until it reaches its target or falls on the
ground.
The three (3) Types of motion
in Projectile
1. 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.
2. Translational – is the
action of bullet once it is
hits an object or the
target and subsequently
ricocheted (changes in
motion).
3. 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.
Branches of Ballistics
❖Interior Ballistics
❖Exterior Ballistics
❖Terminal Ballistics
❖Forensic Ballistics
[Link] (Internal) Ballistics
-is that branch of ballistics which
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 condition
attributed to internal ballistics are as
follows.
The explosion of the bullet is .0002 sec
The bullets occupies the muzzle of the firearm for
only 0.01 sec
a. Firing pin hitting the primer
-Upon the squeeze of the trigger, the
hammer will be released which causes the
firing pin to be pushed and hit the base
portion of the cartridge where the primer is
located.
b. Ignition of the priming mixture
(percussion action)
-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”
c. Combustion of the gun
powder/powder charge or propellant.
-After the ignition of the priming
mixture, the ignition is imparted to the
gun powder by passing through the vent
or flash hole, thus burning the gun
powder and converts it into an
expanded hot gas.
e. Expansion of heated gas.
Once burned, the charge powder
is converted into a heated gas and
due to a more elastic property of
gases its particles will spread and fill
the entire container (cartridge
case/shell)
f. Pressure developed
The outward push of the gases to the
burned powder pressure is developed
due to the great amount of gas that is
expanding within the shell causing the
withdrawal of the bullet from the shell.
g. Energy generated
Energy is the capacity to do work.
The potential energy serves as the
propellant of the expanded gases,
inasmuch as the pressure that is
developed has the degree of energy to
force the projectile out of the shell. It is the
measure of force in foot-pound necessary
for an action.
h. Recoil of the Gun
The equal and opposite reaction of the
gun against the forward movement of the
bullet upon explosion. The backward and
rearward movement of the gun in relation
to the forward movement may be divided
into two divisions:
1. Occurs when the bullet is still inside the
barrel and which is relatively small in
intensity.
2. Occurs just after the bullet leaves the
muzzle of the gun and this is a more violent
backward impulse when the hot gasses
rush up and out of the muzzle and set
against the gun.
Jump – is another portion of the recoil
action that is characterized as the
backward and upward movement
takes place before the bullet leaves
the muzzle.
h. 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 or at which it leaves the gun
muzzle.
Q. In which rifle is the acceleration of the bullet
larger ?
The muzzle velocity of one rifle with a short
barrel is greater than the muzzle velocity of the
another rifle that has an longer barrel . The one with
the higher velocity has the greater acceleration. This is
because it reaches a higher velocity in a shorter
distance. To reach the higher velocity it has to
accelerate to that velocity. It also has to get to that
velocity in a shorter distance.
Answer: Short Barrel Firearm
i. Rotation of the bullet inside the barrel
This pertains to the made of the
firearm if it is left twisted or right twisted.
g. Engraving of the cylindrical surface of the bullet
Once the bullet has passed through the barrel
of any firearm be it rifled (with cylindrical groove
cut) or a smooth bore whatever imperfections or
scratches the interior barrel of the gun has will be
impressed and left on the cylindrical surface of the
bullet serving as its thumbprint. This becomes one of
the most valuable marks that would serve as its
individuality.
MISFIRE
Failure of the cartridge to explode after the firing pin strikes
the primer .
Defects:
1) Broken Firing Pin
2) Loose Firing Pin
3) Lacking length in Firing Pin (specially homemade gun)
HANGFIRE
Delayed of explosion of the cartridge after the firing pin
strikes the primer.
Defects:
1. Wet Priming Mixture
2. The Anvil is not properly fixed (slanting position)
3. No vent or flash hole (Factory defect) 4.
4. No priming mixture at all (Factory defect
2. Exterior (external) Ballistics
Treats of the attributes or movement of the projectile
after leaving the gun muzzle. It is extended from the muzzle of
the gun to the target or any attributes to the motion of the
projectile while it is in flight and before reaching the target.
a. Muzzle Blast
It refers to the noise created at the muzzle point of
the gun brought by chemical reaction between the
expanded gases and the air outside. Given that most
propellant is composed of compounds of nitrates, it produces
the accompanying loud once theses are burned and mixed
with the air where oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, and other
gaseous maters are present.
b. Muzzle Energy
Energy generated at the
muzzle point measured in foot-pound. This
is attributed to the hot gas liberating at
the muzzle point.
c. Trajectory
This refers to the parabola-like
flight of the projectile from the time it
leaves the muzzle until it hits the target.
Stages of trajectory:
A. Straight horizontal line
B. Parabola like flight
C. Vertical drop (Reason: Pull of Gravity)
d. 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 a bullet was fired it is
still capable of inflicting fatal injury (Lethal Range).
Maximum Range – the distance that the projectile can be
propelled from a firearm. The farthest distance the bullet could
travel.
Maximum Effective Range – farthest distance that the bullet can
inflict fatal injury .
Point Blank Range - A shot fired so closed to the target that no
sighting is necessary for effective aiming.
Maximum Point Blank Range – Farthest distance the bullet will
path stays within critical zone. In other words the maximum range
at which you don't have to adjust your point of aim to hit the
target's vital zone
e. 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.)
a. Revolver 600 ft/sec
b. Pistol 1,200 ft/sec
c. Rifle 2,500 ft/sec
d. Shotgun 3,300 ft/sec
f. Pull of Gravity
It is the downward reaction of the bullet towards the earth
surface due to its weight.
g. Air Resistance
Refers to the force of the air encounter by the bullet in its
flight.
h. Penetration
the entry of the bullet in the target.
i. Ricochet
the bouncing of a projectile after hitting a surface.
NOTE ON THE FOLLOWING TERMS IN EXTERIOR BALLISTICS:
BALLISTIC COEFFICIENT – This describes the ability of a bullet to
maintain its velocity against air resistance.
DRIFT - is the curve taken by the bullet while in flight. A right hand
rifling curves to the right while that of the left and rifling curves to
the left.
GYROSCOPIC ACTION - refers to the stillness of its rotating motion
and attained its highest momentum or stability in flight and
penetrating power
YAW
the unstable rotating motion of a bullet.
TUMBLE
rotation of the bullet around the center
WOBBLE
The unsteady and uneven spin or rotation of a bullet;
usually caused by insufficient twist in the rifle barrel
KEYHOLE SHOT
the tumbling of the bullet in its flight and hitting the target
sideways as a result of not spinning on its axis.
TANDEM BULLET
two or more bullet leaving the barrel one after another
3. Terminal Ballistics
Is that branch of Ballistics which deals with the effects of the
impact of the projectile on the target.
The science of terminal ballistics is most important to the
surgeon and is the most common source of controversy when
discussing ballistic wounding.
Terminal ballisticians are involved in studying these phenomena:
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.
Shocking Power – the power of the bullet that results in the
instantaneous death of the victim.
Stopping Power – the power of the bullet that put the victim
out of action instantly
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. Wound Ballistics
It refers to the study of projectile penetration on tissues.
Gunshot Shot Wound (GSW)
It is an open wound produced by the penetration of
bullet slug within the tissues of the body. The bullet which was
propelled from the gun as well as the flame from the heated
expanded gases in short range fire is the one that produces
injury.
1. Contact – gun muzzle pressed against, or within an inch or
two, of the body.
2. Close discharge – 6 inches to 2 ft.
3. Distance Discharge – over 2 ft. or 3 ft
DIFFERENTIATION BETWEEN GUNSHOT WOUND OF ENTRANCE AND
WOUND OF EXIT
DIFFERENTIAL POINTS WOUND OF ENTRANCE WOUND OF EXIT
Size of the Wound Smaller than the missile Bigger than the missile
everted
Edge of the wound Inverted No definite shape
Shape of the wound Round or Oval absent
Contusion Collar Present in contact absent
Gunpowder tattooing And near contact fire absent
Protrusion of tissue absent Maybe present
Paraffin test Positive in contact and negative
near fire
SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS ON BULLETS
SOUVENIR BULLET
bullet has been lodged and has remained in the body
BULLET MIGRATION
bullet that is not lodged in place where it was previously
located
BULLET EMBOLISM
special form of bullet migration when the bullet loses its
momentum while inside the chamber of the heart or inside the
big blood vessels and carried out by the circulating blood to
some parts of the body where it may lodged
The "Odd and Even Rule" in Gunshot Wounds
If the number of gunshot wounds of entrance and exit
found in the body of the victim is even, the presumption is that
no bullet is lodged in the body, but if the number of the gunshot
wounds of entrance and exit is odd, the presumption is that one
or more bullets might have been lodged in the body.
5. Shots Ballistics
Deals with the attributes and properties of shots and pellets.
Focused with the study of shots/pellets from smoothbore firearms
like shotguns and muskets.
SHOTGUN WOUND
It is an open wound produced by the penetration of pellets
or shots within the tissues of the body. In shotgun fire, the pellets
penetrate and usually lodged inside the body and a tendency
for a wider dispersion of pellets at a certain distance except in
contact and near contact fires
FORENSIC BALLISTICS
This branch of ballistics is the product of the application of
the ballistics to law.
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
