Forensic Ballistic Flashcards
- What is ammunition and its parts?
○ A loaded cartridge
○ Consists of a primed cartridge case, propellant and with or without one or more projectiles.
- What are the three types of ammunition?
○ Centerfire
○ Rimfire
○ Shot shell
- What is a cartridge case?
○ Container for all other components that contains all the components of a bullet:
i. Cartridge
ii. Bullet
iii. Propellant
iv. Primer
- What material is a cartridge case made of?
○ Brass
○ Steel
○ Aluminum
○ Plastic
- What is a primer?
○ It starts the explosion for propellant to burn
i. Rimfire: Priming mixture in the rim cavity of the case
ii. Centerfire: Separate self contained primer assembled centrally in the head of the cartridge case
- What is a propellant
○ The chemical composition that fills the cartridge case.
○ When ignited by the primer, large volumes of gas are produced, propelling the bullet from the firearm.
- What is shotgun ammunition?
○ Differs from rifle and handgun
○ Designed to propel multiple pellets from a smooth bore firearm
- Define Calibre
○ Term designated for the specific cartridge which a firearm is chambered
○ There is no limit or rules on how calibres are named
- What is the gauge of a firearm and how is it determined?
○ Not a unit of length but a division of Weight
- How is ammunition identified?
○ Headstamp: Stamped on the head of the cartridge case or shotshell to identify the manufacturer.
○ Measurements: Measuring the case length, rim, shoulder, neck, bullet and cross referencing with manufacturing standards.
- What is a wildcat cartridge?
Altered existing cartridges to suit their own needs and are not mass produced
Any cartridge not standardized domestically within the SAAMI.
- What are the types of firearms?
○ Rifle ○ Handgun ○ Shotgun ○ Homemade/modified ○ Black powder: Rifles, pistols (muzzleloaders), revolvers
What is the specific actions of a Rifle?
i. Bolt action
ii. Single shot or repeater firearm
iii. Lever action
iv. Self loading
v. Pump action
What is the specific actions of a Handgun?
i. Pistol (Self loading)
ii. Revolver
iii. Double or single action
What is the specific actions of a shotgun?
i. Single or double barrel
ii. side/side
iii. under/over
iv. Self loading
v. Break action
vi. Pump action