Forensic Ballistics Flashcards
is a loaded shell for any firearm such as revolver, pistol and rifles.
ammunition
a complete unfired ammo consisting of bullet, shell, gunpowder and primer. Ammunition and cartridge can be used interchangeably.
cartridge
He invented the 1st cartridge in 1635.
king gustavus adolphus
He invented another cartridge in 1846.
benjamin hollier
A French gunsmith. He invented the 1st pin fire cartridge and 1st pin fire gun.
- He was born in Bonnétable and died in Paris.
cassimir lefaucheux
developed one of the earliest cartridges known as Flobert Cartridges, this became the forerunner of American Rim Fire Ammo.
Louis Nicolas A. Flobert
external pin is used near the head of the cartridge.
pin-fire cartridge
priming mixture is place around the rim.
rim-fire cartridge
priming mixture is placed in the center of the head of cartridge.
center-fire cartridge
needs mechanical blow against the percussion cap.
percussion
cartridge is giving a muzzle velocity of less than 1850 ft/sec
low powder
1925 to 2500 ft/sec
high powder
Over 2500 ft/sec
high intensity
Shotgun cartridge contains multiple rounded projectiles called
pellets/shots/balls
A shotgun cartridge containing a single projectile of a shotgun ammo is called
sabot slug
Needle-like projectiles inside a shotgun cartridge are called
flechette
a plastic cap that holds the shots.
shot cup
being bent inward to hold the shot in place
crimp
comparable to shell/casing of ammunition of long/short arms. Prior to 1960, paper is used as casing for shotgun ammo
tube
the thing that is being ignited that causes the tremendous pushing of bullet
gunpowder
collective term for chemical priming compound, primer cup, anvil, and battery cup that is being struck to ignite the powder
primer
a disk made of paper, used to hold the powder or shot
wad
pure lead
drop/soft shot
hardened by antimony
chilled/ hard shot
coated with cupronickel or 70% copper and 30% nickel or steel shot
plated shot
consists of lead balls
buckshot
single slug with angled grooves cut into its side to spin it. This refers to Sabot slug
slug
a cluster of sturdy steel needles with tiny fins at their base to stabilize them in flight
flechette
formed from powdered tungsten and iron, blended together and pressed into a pellet
tungsten-iron shot
This is the shelf life of a new cartridge. If components or parts used are commercially virgins. The life of an ammunition depends on the manner of storage.
20-40 years
the process of military storage of ammunition or arms. Done by making a concrete bunker with walls about a foot thick and then covered. Ammo may reach 40 years with no degradation
igloo
refers to the tubular casing or shell of an ammunition that holds the bullet and contains the gunpowder
cartridge case
the edge of shell’s opening
mouth
part of mouth that is turned in upon the bullet
crimp
are the serrated groves around the neck
shell cannelures
occupied by the bullet
neck
supports the neck
shoulder
contains gunpowder
body
the circular groove near the base of the shell designed for the automatic withdrawal of the case after firing
extracting groove
limits the forward travel of cartridges into the chamber
rim
located at central base that contains the priming mixture
primer
the base portion that contains the head stamp
shell head
is used secure the bullet in the shell to avoid being moved or loosened from its gripped
crimp
used in the cartridge with headspace on the cartridge case mouth with lead bullets.
taper crimp
used only on jacketed ammo that consists of dimples or grooves pressed into the mouth.
stab/ ring crimp
located at the neck that is rolled into the groove of the bullet
roll crimp
rim diameter is greater than the body (Cal .38 and Cal .22)
rimmed
rim diameter is SLIGHTLY greater than the body (Cal .25, Cal .32 auto, Cal .38 Super)
semi-rimmed
rim is equal with the body (Cal 5.56mm, Cal .30, 9mm, Cal .45)
rimless
rim is smaller than the body (Cal 8mm x 59)
rebated
a protruding metal is belted around the shell (Cal .338 magnum, 13.9 x 99
belted
found on the primer (particularly on the primer cup). Note: Glock Pistols have rectangular firing pin marks.
firing pin marks
found on the base of shell. Caused by the breech face.
breech face mark
found on the extracting groove
extractor marks
found on the body of shell. Caused by the magazine lips during loading
magazine marks
located at the rim at the base of shell fired from automatic FAs
ejector marks
found on the body of the shell. Caused by the irregularities inside the chamber
chamber marks
found on the side of the rim. Caused by the contact between the shell and ejection port of the FA (Pistol).
ejector port marks
found on the primer near the firing pin mark. It is just a rebound or duplication of firing pin mark
shearing marks
found on the base of rimmed type shell. Caused by Break Type Revolver during loading.
pivotal marks
study of the motion of the projectiles
ballistics
means “to throw
ballien/ballo
refers to the bullet/slug/ball/pellet/flechette that passes through the barrel of FA
projectile
is the science of firearms identification by means of the ammunition fired through them
forensic ballistics
as applied to ballistics or to any other subjects suggests a relationship to a court of justice and legal proceedings. Derived from the Latin word Forensis which means “Forum,” that means “a public/market place, wherein people gathered for discussion of a subject in issue
forensic
movement of projectile inside and outside barrel.
motion
– the forward movement of projectile with the action of expansive force of gases.
direct motion
the turning of bullet inside and outside barrel with the action of the rifling
rotary motion
the movement of projectile after hitting the target
translational
failure of cartridge to explode
misfire
- From Breech to the Muzzle of barrel
interior ballistics
is the delay of explosion
hangfire
created during manufacture such as spiral cutting of the grooves
irregularities
– not polished well
roughness
caused by tools used in the manufacture of the chamber
scratches
caused by the drill blade and is beyond the control of a man
imperfection
occurs when shell is separated from the bullet, the shell will be push back to the breech face leaving such marks
breech face marks
- that cause the target person to be thrown on the ground or falls down
knocking effect
refers to the fatal equivalent of a bullet
energy
is the rearward movement of the gun caused by equal and opposite reaction of the gun against the forward movement of the bullet after the explosion
recoil
in every action, there is corresponding opposite reaction
kinetic energy principle
gadget that is attached to the muzzle of the gun to reduce recoil
compensator/muzzle brake
is used to load the proper amount of gunpowder in every ammunition
ballistics data
the stability of the bullet within the effective range due to the twist of the rifling
gyroscopic stability
a lubricant substance used to prevent the adherence of Metal fowl
graphite
refers to the metal strips left by bullet inside. These could be removed with the use of steel brush
metal fowl
the energy generated at the muzzle
muzzle energy
from after leaving the muzzle to before immediately hitting the target
exterior ballistics
noise or sound created at the muzzle
muzzle blast
the actual curve path of the bullet
trajectory
distance at which the bullet is expected to be lethal
effective/ accurate range
between muzzle and target
range
maximum distance a projectile can reach
maximum range
rate of the speed of the bullet (feet per second)
velocity
the capacity of the bullet to resist air during its flight from the muzzle of the gun
air resistance
the dragging of the bullet downward due to air resistance
aerodynamic drag
the deceleration of bullet on flight due to gravityballistics
ballistic pendulum
allows a body at rest to remain at rest or body in motion to remain in motion
inertia
caused by yawing of bullet resulting to hitting of target sideways resulting to oval-like entry of bullet
keyhole shot
the unstable movement of bullet on flight such as wobbling (Tail wag) or tumbling of bullet before hitting target
yawing
the downward movement of the bullet after reaching its maximum range
pull of gravity
– the entry of the bullet in the target
penetration
the bouncing of a projectile after hitting a surface
ricochet
the study of effects/impact of projectile to the target
terminal ballistics
size of the bullet grouping on the target
terminal accuracy
energy of the projectile upon striking the target.
terminal energy
depth of the bullet penetration on the target
terminal penetration
speed of the bullet inside the target.
terminal velocity
science of FA identification by means of the ammunition fired through them
forensic ballistics
the presentation of the “Ballistics Report” on firearms, bullet, shells and allied exhibits in court
legal proceedings
discharge single but usually multiple shots/pellets in single fire
shotgun
focused with the study of shots/pellets from smoothbore firearms like shotguns and muskets
shot ballistics
appears with smudges of gunpowder with cherry-red discoloration
muzzle imprint
is another smoothbore firearm that discharges single ball in one firing
musket
can be found at a distance of 5-8 yards
shot wads
with the use of shotgun appear externally with a circular defect approximating the bore of the weapon used
contact wounds
the actual curve path of the bullet
trajectory
