Chapter 16 - Firearms, Ballistics, & Impression Evidence

Question 1

Action

Answer 1

The part of a firearm that loads, fires, and ejects the cartridge

Question 2

Barrel

Answer 2

Metal pipe that guides the initial flight of the bullet

Question 3

Breech

Answer 3

End of the gun barrel nearest to the action

Question 4

Bullet

Answer 4

Projectile fired from a weapon

Question 5

Caliber

Answer 5

Diameter of the gun barrel in 1/100th of an inch

Question 6

Cartridge

Answer 6

Unit of ammunition made up of casing, primer, powder, wadding and bullet

Question 7

Chamber

Answer 7

Enclosure that contains the cartridge when ready to fire

Question 8

Gauge

Answer 8

Measure of the diameter of the barrel of a shotgun

Question 9

Hammer

Answer 9

The part of a firearm that is used to strike the primer to ignite the propellant and fire the projectile

Question 10

Lands and Grooves

Answer 10

The spiral groves and raised positions inside a gun barrel resulting from rifling

Question 11

Magazine

Answer 11

Device for holding and delivering cartridges

Question 12

Magnum

Answer 12

Type of cartridge containing more than the standard amount of powder (results in greater power)

Question 13

Muzzle

Answer 13

Very end of the gun barrel where the bullet exits the weapon

Question 14

Powder

Answer 14

Solid explosive used to propel the bullet

Question 15

Rifling

Answer 15

The act or process of making spiral grooves inside the barrel

Question 16

Sight

Answer 16

Device on top of a gun that improves aim and accuracy

Question 17

Silencer

Answer 17

Device placed over the muzzle that reduces the noise emitted upon firing

Question 18

Casting

Answer 18

• Physical replica of an impression
• Is formed by a moldable material
• Sets into a permanent replica of the OG impression

Question 19

Drag

Answer 19

Force that opposes the forward motion of the bullet created by air resistance

Question 20

Firearm

Answer 20

An assembly of a barrel and action from which a projectiles are discharged by means of a rapidly burning propellant

Question 21

Firearm Identification

Answer 21

The process of determining…
“if a bullet, cartridge case, or other ammunition component was fired by a particular firearm”

Question 22

Fully Automatic Weapon

Answer 22

Firearm that reloads automatically (filled rounds) and continues to fire multiple shots when the trigger is held down

Question 23

Gravity

Answer 23

Force that constantly pulls objects downward with a constant force

F = MG or force = mass * gravitational constant

Question 24

Impression Evidence

Answer 24

Items of evidence that carry lasting and observable marks from contact with another object

Question 25

Plastic

Answer 25

A moldable material

Question 26

Plastic Impressions

Answer 26

Impression evidence that was formed when an object was imprinted into a soft, moldable material

Question 27

Serial Number Registration

Answer 27

• Process of making visible serial #s stamped into a gun that have been bought
• Serves as a unique identifier assigned to a singular firearm

Question 28

Visible Impressions

Answer 28

Impression evidence that is readily observable without visualization aids