Firearms & Tool Marks

Question 1

What is a handgun?

Answer 1

• Two types: revolvers and pistols

- Designed to be fired with one hand

Question 2

What is a shoulder firearm?

Answer 2

• Includes rifles, automatic rifles, machine guns and shotguns
• Designed to be fired from the shoulder with two hands

Question 3

What is a land?

Answer 3

A ridge within the barrel of a firearm

Question 4

What is a groove?

Answer 4

A valley within the barrel of a firearm

Question 5

What is a caliber?

Answer 5

Refers mostly to the size of a particular ammunition cartridge

Question 6

What is the bore?

Answer 6

The bore of a firearm is the diameter of a barrel

Question 7

What is the gauge?

Answer 7

The diameter of a shotgun barrel defined as the number of lead balls with the same diameter that would weigh one pound

Question 8

What is the wadding?

Answer 8

Used to separate shot from power in a shotgun shell

Question 9

What is the propellant?

Answer 9

The fuel that propels the projectile down and out of the firearm’s barrel

Question 10

What is the primer?

Answer 10

What ignites the propellant, consists of small metal cup containing a percussion-sensitive material (explodes on impact) that when struck creates enough heat to ignite the propellant

Question 11

What is gunpowder residue?

Answer 11

• A cloud of molten metals, partially burned gunpowder flakes, smoke and other microscopic debris
• May be found on the person who discharged the firearm, an entrance wound of victim or on other surfaces
• May be used to make determinations about the location of the discharged firearm in relation to its surroundings and its target

Question 12

What is a bullet wipe?

Answer 12

A residue of lead, primer materials, carbon and other materials the are transferred “wiped” onto the outermost surface of the target by the bullet as it passes through