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BALLISTICS
- the science of the motion of projectiles and the condition that affects their motion
- science of firearms identification
FORENSIC BALLISTICS
- branch of science which actually involves the investigation and identification of firearms by
means of ammunition fired through them
- study of the motion of projectiles as applied to law
PROJECTILE
- refers to metallic or non-metallic objects propelled from a firearm
BRANCHES OF BALLISTICS
1) INTERIOR OR INTERNAL BALLISTICS
o treats of the motion of the projectile while it is still inside the firearm which extends from
the breach to the muzzle
3) TERMINAL BALLISTICS
- that branch of ballistics which deals with the effects of the impact of the projectile on the
target
a) terminal accuracy – the size of the bullet grouping on the target
b) terminal energy – the energy or force of the projectile when it strikes the target; same as
striking energy
c) terminal velocity – the speed of the bullet upon striking the target
d) terminal penetration – the depth of entry of the bullet on the target
4) FORENSIC BALLISTICS
- the product of the application of ballistics to law
3) LEGAL PROCEEDING
- the most critical part in the field of firearm identification
- the firearm examiner goes to court to testify as an expert witness
CLASSIFICATION OF FIREARMS
1) according to interior barrel construction:
a) smooth-bore firearm – those that do not have rifling inside their gun barrel
b) rifled-bore firearm – those that have rifling inside their gun barrel
LOW-POWERED FIREARM
- firearms using cartridges giving a muzzle velocity of less than 1850 ft/sec
HIGH-POWERED FIREARM
- firearms using cartridges giving a muzzle velocity between 1925 and 2500 ft/sec
HIGH-INTENSITY FIREARM
- firearms using cartridges giving a muzzle velocity of over 2500 ft/sec
AUTOMATIC
- when the mechanism is so arranged that it will fire continuously while the trigger is depressed
SEMI-AUTOMATIC (SELF-LOADING)
- when the mechanism ejects the fired shell and put on new one in the chamber and prepares the
gun to be fired
PARTS OF A CARTRIDGE
1) BULLET
- the projectile propelled through the barrel of a firearm by means of the expansive force of
gases coming from burning gunpowder
2) CARTRIDGE CASE
- the tubular metallic container for the gunpowder
- also called shell or casing
3) GUNPOWDER
- the powder charge which when ignited by the primer flash is converted into heated gas under
high pressure and propels the bullet or shots charge through the barrel and to the target
- also called propellant or powder charge
4) PRIMER
- the metal cup containing the highly sensitive priming mixture of chemical compound which
when hit or struck by the firing pin would ignite
CLASSIFICATION OF CARTRIDGES
1) according to location of primer:
a) PIN FIRE – the ignition cap is concealed inside the cartridge case and has a pin resting
upon it; the pin protrudes radially through the side and the gun chamber has a notch for
the pin to stand when loaded and it will be struck by a falling hammer; no longer in use
b) RIM FIRE – the priming mixture is located at the rim of the case; this can be fired only if
the cartridge is struck by the hammer or firing pin on the rim of the case
c) CENTER FIRE – the primer cup 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
a) RIMMED CASE TYPE – the case has a well-defined upstanding rim around the base or
simply a cartridge with a rim diameter greater than the body diameter of the shell
b) SEMI-RIMMED TYPE – the rim diameter is slightly greater than the body diameter of the
case
c) RIMLESS TYPE – the rim diameter is equal to the body diameter of the case
d) REBATED TYPE – has a rimless pattern but which has rim diameter smaller than the
body diameter of the case
e) BELTED TYPE – with prominent raise belt around its body just in front of the extraction
groove
3) according to caliber:
CALIBER
- the bore diameter measured between two opposite lands
BULLET
- metallic or non-metallic cylindrical ball propelled from a firearm
- also called projectile, slugs
- derived from the French word, BOULETTE, which means small ball
2) JACKETED TYPE
- consist of the regular lead core, coated with a copper alloy in order to prevent lead fouling of
the barrel
2) ARMOUR PIERCING
- designed to penetrate light steel armour
3) EXPLOSIVE
- small arms bullet containing a charge of explosive which will detonate on impact
4) INCENDIARY
- used to cause fire in a target
5) TRACER 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
- the metallic or non-metallic tubular container which holds together the bullet, gunpowder and
primer
- the portion of the cartridge that is automatically ejected from the automatic firearm during
firing and this remains at the scene of the crime
- also called shell, casing
PARTS OF THE CARTRIDGE CASE
1) BASE
- the bottom portion of the cartridge case which contains the head stamp containing the
caliber, manufacturer, and in some cases, the date, trade name and batch number
2) RIM
- the part of the cartridge designed to limit the forward movement of the cartridge to chamber
3) EXTRACTING GROOVES
- the circular groove near the rim of the shell designed for automatic withdrawal of the case
from the chamber
4) PRIMER POCKET
- the part which provides the means for the primer to be put in the central position
5) BODY
- the cylindrical part of the shell which houses the gunpowder
6) SHOULDER
- supports the neck of the cartridge
7) CANNELURE
- the cylindrical groove formed in the outer surface of the cartridge case designed to secure the
shell to the chamber as well as prevent the bullet from being pushed down to the powder
charge
8) NECK
- the part actually occupied by the bullet
9) CRIMP
- the cylindrical groove on the mouth of the shell designed to hold the bullet and prevent it from
being pulled out from the shell
PRIMER
- the ignition system of the cartridge used in a center fire type, containing a highly sensitive
chemical compound that would easily ignite or burst into flames when struck by the firing pin
- also known as the percussion cup
PARTS OF THE PRIMER
1) PRIMER CUP
o the brass gilding metal cup which contains the priming mixture, the disc and the anvil
2) PRIMING MIXTURE
o the highly sensitive chemical compound which ignites by the mechanical blow of the firing
pin
3) ANVIL
o that portion of the primer which provides solid support and absorbs the blow of the firing
pin causing friction that would initiate ignition
4) DISC
o a thin paper or foil which is pressed over the priming mixture in order to protect it from
moisture attack
GUN POWDER
- that mixture of chemicals of various compositions designed to propel the projectile by means
of the expansive force of gas when burned
- also called propellant or powder charge
2) SMOKELESS POWDER
- the most powerful of propellants
FIREARMS CHARACTERISTICS
1) CLASS CHARACTERISTICS
- those properties or attributes of firearms which can be determined even before the
manufacture of the gun
- these are factory specifications
- these serve as basis for identifying a certain group or class of firearms
- examples of which are bore diameter or caliber, number of lands or grooves, width of lands,
width of grooves, direction of twist, pitch of riflings and depth of grooves
2) INDIVIDUAL CHARACTERISTICS
- those characteristic markings peculiar and not found in all other firearms
- these serve as basis in identifying a particular firearm
- these are determinable only after the manufacture
DIRECTION OF TWIST
- the rifling inside the gun barrel may twist either to the right or to the left
- the twist of the rifling cause the bullet to “rotate” as it passes through the bore, for the bullet to
have gyroscopic stability during its flight from muzzle to target
PITCH OF RIFLINGS
- the measure of the twisting of the lands and grooves
- the distance advanced by the riflings in one complete turn
RIFLINGS
- consist of a number of helical grooves cut in the interior surface of the bore
- the purpose is to impart a motion of rotation to a bullet during its passage inside the barrel in
order to ensure gyroscopic stability in its flight and so that it will travel nose-on towards the
target
5) SHAVING MARKS
- marks found on bullets fired from a revolver
6) SLIPPAGE MARKS
- marks found on fired bullets passing through either an oily or oversized barrel
HANDLING OF EVIDENCE
DON’T M-A-C THE EVIDENCE:
MARKING OF EVIDENCE
A. FIRED BULLETS
- marked by the recovering officer with his initials and the date of recovery
- marks should be made at its nose or ogive or at the base, with the use of any pointed
instrument
- never use the letter “X”
B. FIRED SHELLS
- marked by the recovering officer with his initials and the date of recovery
- marks may be made in any of the following parts:
1. inside, near the open mouth
2. outside, near the open mouth
3. on the body of the shell
- never place the marks at the base
- never use the letter “X”
C. SUSPECTED FIREARM
- marked by the recovering officer with his initials
- markings should be made on all of the three main and inseparable parts:
1. barrel
2. cylinder ( if revolver) or slide ( in pistol)
3. frame
- a tag should be made with the following information:
1. type of firearm
2. make or model
3. caliber
4. serial number ( very important)
5. date of recovery
6. name of victim (if known)
7. name of suspect (if known)
8. other features of value
- always put your markings on the parts that can never be replaced
- never use the letter “X”