Chapter 16 - Firearms, Ballistics, & Impression Evidence Flashcards
Action
The part of a firearm that loads, fires, and ejects the cartridge
Barrel
Metal pipe that guides the initial flight of the bullet
Breech
End of the gun barrel nearest to the action
Bullet
Projectile fired from a weapon
Caliber
Diameter of the gun barrel in 1/100th of an inch
Cartridge
Unit of ammunition made up of casing, primer, powder, wadding and bullet
Chamber
Enclosure that contains the cartridge when ready to fire
Gauge
Measure of the diameter of the barrel of a shotgun
Hammer
The part of a firearm that is used to strike the primer to ignite the propellant and fire the projectile
Lands and Grooves
The spiral groves and raised positions inside a gun barrel resulting from rifling
Magazine
Device for holding and delivering cartridges
Magnum
Type of cartridge containing more than the standard amount of powder (results in greater power)
Muzzle
Very end of the gun barrel where the bullet exits the weapon
Powder
Solid explosive used to propel the bullet
Rifling
The act or process of making spiral grooves inside the barrel
Sight
Device on top of a gun that improves aim and accuracy
Silencer
Device placed over the muzzle that reduces the noise emitted upon firing
Casting
- Physical replica of an impression
- Is formed by a moldable material
- Sets into a permanent replica of the OG impression
Drag
Force that opposes the forward motion of the bullet created by air resistance
Firearm
An assembly of a barrel and action from which a projectiles are discharged by means of a rapidly burning propellant
Firearm Identification
The process of determining…
“if a bullet, cartridge case, or other ammunition component was fired by a particular firearm”
Fully Automatic Weapon
Firearm that reloads automatically (filled rounds) and continues to fire multiple shots when the trigger is held down
Gravity
Force that constantly pulls objects downward with a constant force
F = MG or force = mass * gravitational constant
Impression Evidence
Items of evidence that carry lasting and observable marks from contact with another object
Plastic
A moldable material
Plastic Impressions
Impression evidence that was formed when an object was imprinted into a soft, moldable material
Serial Number Registration
- Process of making visible serial #s stamped into a gun that have been bought
- Serves as a unique identifier assigned to a singular firearm
Visible Impressions
Impression evidence that is readily observable without visualization aids
