Forensic Ballistics Flashcards
the science of the motion of the porjectile and the condition that affects their motion.
ballitstics
refers to the mobility or movement of the projectile from the time it leaves the shell empty
motion
any metallic or non-metallic ball which is propelled from a firearm
projectile
three (3) general types of motion
direct motion
rotatory motion
translation motion
the forward motion of the bullet or shots out of the shell by the action of the expansive force of gases from a burning gunpowder
direct motion
the action of the bullet passing through a rifled bore barrel firearm which is either twisted to the left or to the right
rotatory motion
the action of bullet once it hits a target and subsequently ricocheted
translational motion
origin of the word ballistics
the word ballistitcs was derived from two (2) greek words. the word “ballo” and the word “ballein” which literally means “to throw” the term also said to have been derived from Roman war machine called “ballista”
three (3) divisions of ballistics
internal ballistics
external ballistics
terminal ballistics
it treats of the motion of the projectile while it still inside the firearm (chamber/barrel) which extends from the breech to the muzzle
interior (internal) ballistics
the priming mixture is composed of ________
KCLO3, sulfur and carbon located at either at the cavity rim or at the center of the primer upon the striking effect of the firing pin
striking effect of the firing pin will ignite and such action is called
percussion action
the equal and opposite reaction of the gun against the forward movement of the bullet opin explosion
recoil
the backward or rearward movement of the gun in relation to the forward movement of the bullet
recoil
another portion of the recoil action characterized as the backward and upward movement of that takes place before the bullet leaves the muzzle
jump
the relative speed of the bullet per unit of time while it is still inside the barrel expressed in feet per second
velocity of the bullet insde the barrel
the whole internal ballistics
firing pin hitting the primer ignition of the priming mixture combustion of the gunpowder or propellant expansion of the heated gas pressure developed energy generated recoil of the gun velocity of the bullet inside the barrel rotation of the bullet inside the barrel engraving of the cylindrical surface of the bullet
treats of the attributes or movement of the porjectile after leaving the gun muzzle
exterior (external) ballistics
the noise created at the muzzle point of the gun
muzzle blast
energy generated at the muzzle point measured in foot pound
muzzle energy
refers to the parabola-like flight of the projectile from the time it leaves the muzzled until it hits the target
trajectory
also described as the actual curve path taken by the bullet
trajectory
it refers to the imaginary straight distance between the muzzle of the gun and the target
range
3 types of range
accurate range
effective range
maximum range
the distance within which the shooter or gunner has control of his shots
accurate range
the distance within which when the bullet was fired it is still capable of inflicting fatal injury
effective range
the distance that a projectile can be propelled from a firearm
maximum range
the farthest distance the bullet could travel
maximum range
refers to the rate of speed of the bullet (during its flight) per unit of time usually express is feet per second
velocity
it is the downward reaction of the bullet towards the earth surface due to its weight
pull of gravity
refers to the force of the air encounter by the bullet in its flight
air resistance
the whole external ballistics
muzzle blast muzzle energy trajectory range velocity pull of gravity air resistance
branch of ballistics which deals with the effects of the impact of the projectile on the target
terminal ballistics
it refers to the size of the bullet grouping on the target
terminal accuracy
the energy or force of the projectile when it strikes the target same as stiking energy
terminal energy
the speed of the bullet upin striking the target
terminal velocity
the depth of entry of the bullet in the target
terminal penetration
the whole teminal ballitics
terminal accuracy
terminal energy
terminal velocity
terminal penetration
the branch of ballistics is the product of the application of the ballistics to law
forensic ballistics
the study of the motion of the projectile as applied to law or simply the science of firearm identification by means of the ammunition fired through them
forensic ballistics
scope of forensic ballistics
field investigation
ballistics technical examination of the exhibits
legal proceedings
wizard of the modern firearms and pioneered the breech loading single shot rifled which was adopted at winchester
john f. browning
oatenter the first practical revolver and maker of the colt peace maker, a famous revolver in the history
samuel colt
father of the percussion powder
alexander john forsyth
an israeli army who designed UZI (israel) in the year 1950
major uziel gal
father of modern ballistics
col. calvin h. goddard
designed and invented the semi automatic U.S. rifle cal. 30 m1 garand
john c. garand
a well-known expert int he field of smg (also known as grease gun) developed in 1941 m3a1 (USA)
george hyde
designed the AK 47 (soviet union) adopted by the russian army int eh year 1951
michael kalashnikov
AK 47 means
automat kalashnikova 47
founded the great firm of smith and wesson and pioneered in making breech loading rifles
horace smith
designed the U.S. m16 armalite under licensed by colt company from juy 1959 onwards
eugene stoner
depeloved shotgun bearing his name now the ithaca gun company
L.C. smith
developed in the course of WW1 the thompson m1a1 adn model of 1928 a1 (usa) pioneered the making of thompson sub machine gun
john t. thompson
associates of horace smith in the making of revolver
daniel b. wesson
maker of the known carbine
david marshall “carbine” williams
on of the best rifle and pistol maker
oliver winchester
the marvelous power of arts and nature
de mirabili poteste artis et naturae
a flintlock repeating rifle operated on a revolving principle
collier rifle
1st breeach loader adopted by the U.S. army made by col. john hall in 1811
hall rifle
pin fire cartridge was developed by
le faucheux
a much real pin fire cartridge was also developed by
houiller
smokeless was used in shotgun first in 1864 by
capt. eschultze of prussian army
smokeless was used in rifle by the year 1884 by
M. vielle of france
the most famous revolver in history and legend was manufactured
1873 (colt peace maker) model 1873, 45 cal.
developed the dirst fully automatic machine gun
hiram maxim (1884)
legal definition of firearms
firearms or arms as herein used, includes rifles, muskets, carbines, shotguns, pistol, revlover, and all other deadly weapons, to which a bullet, ball, shot, shell or other missiles maybe discharge
technical definition of firearms
firearms is an instrument used for the prepulsion of projectile by means of the expansive force gases coming from burning gunpowder (fbi manual of firearms identification)
2 general classification of firearms (according to interior barrel construction)
smooth bore firearms
rifled bore firearms
firearms that have no rifling (lands and grooves) inside their gun barrel
smooth bore firearms
examples of smooth bore firearms
shotgun and carbine
firearms that have rifling inside their gun barrel
rifled bore firearms
examples of rifled bore firearms
pistols, revolvers and other modern weapons
refers to those type of firearms that propels projectile with more than one inch diameter
artillery
examples of artillery
canon, mortars and bazookas
firearms that propels projectile with less thatn one inch diameter and it can be handled, moved and operated by one man
small arms
examples of small arms
machine gun, shoulder arms and handguns
firearms that is primarily designed for military use
machine gun
a light, portable form of machine gun, utilizing a pistol size ammunition, having a shoulder stock that may or may not be folded and designed to be fired with both hands
sub machine gun
types of firearms that were normally fired from the shoulder
shoulder arms
a shoulder weapon designed to fire a projectile with more accuracy through a long rifled bore barrel, usually more than 22 inches
rifles
a short barrel rifle, with its barrel rifle, measuring not longer thatn 22 inches. it fires a single projectile through a rifle-bore either semi-automatic or fully automatic, for every press of the triger
carbine
an ancient smoothbore and muzzle loading military shoulder arms designed to fire a shots or single round lead ball.
muskets
a smooth bore and a breeach loading shoulder arms designed to fire a number of lead pellets or shots in once charge
shotgun
different bore construction of shotgun
cylinder bore type
choke bored gun
paradox gun
the bore size is the same through out the barrel
cylinder bore tyoe
designed with a diminishing or reducing bore diamter type towards the muzzle. this type is designed to cause an effect to the travel of shots.
choke bored gun
it make the shots travel longer before it spreads
choke bored gun
a type of shotgun that has rifling only a few inch from its muzzle points
paradox gun
those type of firearms that are designed or inteded to be fired using one hand
handguns
examples of handguns
pistols and revolvers
three classes of pistols
single shot pistol semi automatic pistol revolving pistol (revolver)
a type of firearms designed to position cartridge into position for firing with the aid of a rotating cylinder serving as ts chamber
revolver
2 types of revolver (according to its mechanical firing action)
single action revolver
double action revolver
a type of revolver that need a manual cocking of the hammer before squeezing the trigger
single action revolver
a type of revolver that does not need manual cocking. just press the trigger and it both cocked and released the hammer causing a much faster firing
double action revolver
types of firearms (according to the mechanical construction)
single shot firearms repeating arms automatic firearms slide action type bolt action type lever type (break type)
types of firearms designed to fire only one shot every loading. examples: single shot pistols revolvers rifles and shotguns
single shot firearms
a type of firearms designed to fire several loads (shots) in one loading. examples: automatic pistols revolvers rifles and shotguns
repeating arms
type of firearms that constitutes a continuous firing in a single press of the trigger and while the trigger is press. examples: machine guns and rifles
automatic firearms
types of firearms in which loading take place by back and forth manipulation of the under/over forearms of the gun. examples: riflis, shotgun and pistols
slide action type
type of firearms in which reloading takes place by manipulating the both back and forth. examples: rifles, shotguns and machine guns
bolt action type
type of firearms which loading takes place by lever action on the firearms. examples: rifles and shotguns
lever type (break type)
miscellaneous types of gun
cane gun knife pistol cellphone gun flare gun freakish gun gas gun harpoon gun liberator multi barreled gun paradox gun tools traps zip gun
refers to all home made gun
zip gun or improvised firearm
refers to loaded shell for rifles, muskets, carbine, shotgun, revolvers and pistols from which a ball, shot shell or other missiles maybe fired by means of gun powder or other explosive.
legal definition of ammunition
refers to a group of cartridge or to a single cartrige.
technical definition of ammunition
a complete unfired unit consisting of bullet (ball), primer (cap), cartridge case (shell) and gunpowder (propellant)
cartridge
origin of the word cartridge
cartridge is derived from the latin word “charta” meaning paper and also from the french word “cartouche” meaning rolled paper this only indicate that the first type of cartridge was made up of rolled paper
what century the term cartridge was used
16th century
general types of ammunition
dummy (used as model) drill ammunition (without gun powder) black ammunition (without bullet) live ammunition
classification of cartridge
According to the location of primer
pin-fire
rim-fire
center-fire
According to the rim diameter rimmed case type semi-rimmed type rimless type rebated type belted type
According to caliber cal. 22 cal. 25 cal. 30 (mauser) cal. 20 (luger) cal. 32 cal. 380 cal. 357 cal. 45 cal 50
type of cartridge in which the ignition cap (primer) is concealed inside the cartridge case and has a pin resting upon it
pin-fire cartridge
type of cartridge in which the priming mixture is located at the hallow rim of the case can be fired if the cartridge is tuck by the firing pin on the rim of the case (cavity rim)
rim-fire cartridge
refers to a cartridge in which the primer cup (ignition cap) is centrally placed in the base of the cartridge case and the priming mixture is exploded by the impact of the firing pin and with the support of the anvil
center-fire cartridge
refers to the cartridge with rimless pattern, but which has a rim diameter smaller than the body of the case
rebated type
a cartridge with a prominent raise belt around its body just in front of the extraction groove
belted type
cal. 22
5.59 mm - used in revolver, pistol and rifles
cal. 25
6.35 mm - used in pistols and rifles
cal. 30 (mauser)
7.63 mm - used for carbines and other rifles
cal. 30 (luger)
7.63 mm
cal. 32
7.65 mm - used for automatic pistols and revolvers
cal. 380
9 mm - used for pistols
cal. 357
used in magnum 357 revolvers
cal. 45
11 mm - used in automatic pistols
cal. 50
used in 50 cal. machine gun
refers to a complete unit of unfired cartridge consisting of the pellets, primer, case, wads and gunpowder
shotgun cartridge
the unit measurement used in shotgun is expressed in?
gauge
this is determined by the number of solid lead balls of pure lead, each with diameter of the barrel that can be prepared from one pound of lead
gauge of shotgun
considered the biggest diameter gauge of a shotgun
10 - gauge
considered the smalles diamter gauge of a shotgun
410 - gauge
10 gauge
775 inch
12 gauge
729 inch
16 gauge
670 inch
20 gauge
615 inch
28 gauge
550 inch
410 gauge
410 inch
types of shots
soft or drop shots
chilled or hard shots
coated or plated shots
buck shots
made by pure or nearly pure lead, to which a small amount of arsenic has been added to make it take on the form of spherical drop as it fall down the shot tower.
soft or drop shots
this type is easy to deformed or flattened, loose their velocity quicker, low penetrating power and string out more
soft or drop shots
type of shot with a small amount of antimony mixed with lead to increase hardness. it does not deform easily, better patterns, less string and more uniform velocity and penetration
chilled or hard shots
also called as “lubaloy” shot.
coated or plated shots
a chilled shot coated with thin copper through electroplating design for greater strength and elasticity, great resistance to deformation and leading and better pattern
coated or plated shots
a large size lead shot for used in shotgun
buck shots
origin of the word bullet
the word bullet was derived from the french word “boullete” which means a small ball. this term is generally used when we are referring to projectile fired from any small arms.
general types of bullet
lead type
jacketed type
types of bullet (according to their maximum effect to their targets)
ball type armor piercing explosive bullet incendiary bullet tracer bullet
type of a bullet that is basically composed of lead metal. its used was due to its density having a good weight is a small size and easy for casting
lead type
tpye of bullet consisting of the regular lead core, coated with a copper alloy in order to prevent lead
jacketed type
type of bullet which is intended for anty-personnel and general use
ball type
type of military bullet designed to penetrate light steel armor. its mechanical construction makes it capable of penetrating through some light vehicle
armor piercing
a small bullet containing a charge of explosive, which will detonate on impact
explosive bullet
type of military bullet used to cause fire in a target, gengerally designed to use by aircraft armament in order for the fuel tanks to ignite
incendiary bullet
type of military buller capable of leaving visible marks or traces while in flight giving the gunner a chance to observe the strike of the shot or make adjustments in the event of a miss
tracer bullet
a metallic or non-metallic tabular container usually of brass (70% copper and 30%zinc) designed to unite bullet, primer and the gunpowder into one unit.
cartridge case
it is also known as shell or casing
cartridge case
functions of the cartridge case
- it locates the bullet properly relative to the bore of the firearm.
- it is used to carry the means of ignition
- it provides gas seals at the breech against an unwanted escape of propellant gas upon firing
- serves as waterproof container for the propellant or powder charge
- acts as the insulator between the propellant and the hot walls of the chamber in a rapid firing of firearms
parts of the cartridge case
base rim extracting grooves primer pocket body shoulder cannelure neck crimp vent or flash hole
the bottom portion of the cartridge case whoch contains the head stamp marking on the base of the shell containing the caliber, manufacturer and in some cases including the date, trade name, and batch number
base
the part of the cartridge designed to limit the formward movement of the cartridge chamber
rim
the cicular groove near the rim of the shell designed for automatic withrawal of the case from the chamber
extracting grooves
that part of the shell which provides the means for the primer to be put in the central position.
primer pocket
functions of primer pocket
hold the primer in place
to provide means to prevent escape of gas
to provide solid support for primer anvil
the cylindrical part of the shell which house the gunpowder
body
part of the cartridge case which support the neck of the cartridge which is evident in a bottleneck type
shoulder
the cylindrical groove in the outer surface of the cartidge case designed to secure the shell to the chamber as well as prevent bullet from being push down to the powder charhe. in some instance it is even being utilized for identification
cannelure
part of the shell whoch is actually occupied by the bullet. this is abvious ina a bottleneck type of shell but noy with a straight type
neck
the cylindrical groove on the mouth of the shell
crimp
two (2) puroposes of crimp
- to hold the bullet and prevent it from being pull out form it shell
- offers resistance to the bullet out of the neck to ensure burning of the gun powder
the hole at the bottomg of the primer pocket as the passage way for the priming mixture to impart an ignition to the propellant charge
vent or flash hole
the ignition system of the cartridge used ina center fire type, containing a higly sensitive chemical compound that woud easily ignite or bursts into flame when struck by the firing pin.
primer
it may either be berdan or boxer type it is also known as percussion cup
primer
a type of primer construction which was designed in 1860’s by col. Hiram S. Berdan of the U.S. army ordinance dept.
berdan type primer
developed by col. Edward M. Boxer of the royal laboratory at woolwich arsenal in the 1866
boxer type primer
parts of the primer
primer cup
priming mixture
anvil
disc
the highly sensitive chemical compound which ignites by the mechanical blow of the firing pin. it is also called as percussion powder
priming mixture
the brass gilding metal cup which contains the priming mixture the disc and the anvil
primer cup
that portion of the primer which provides solid support and absorbs the blow of the firing piin causing friction that would initiates ignition
anvil
a thin paper or foil which is pressed over the priming mixture in order to protect it from the moisture attack
disc
also called as propellant and power charge
gunpowder
the mixture of chemicals of carious compositions designed to prepel projectile by means of its expansive force of gas when burned
gunpowder
two (2) of the most popular individuals whose name is always attached to gunpowder discovery
roger bacon and berthold schwartz
a franciscan monk, who wrote the “de mirabili poteste artis et naturae” (the marvelous power of art and nature) including an anagram (nag a ram)
roger bacon (1242 A.D.)
a mysterious monk of freburg, who according to legend that is supported by an engraving dated 1643, while experimenting on some powder in a cast iron vessel, he ignited a charge and this blew off the lid, and from this deduced the principle of containing a charge in a tube and propelling a shot
berthold schwartz
berthold schartz real name
constantin anklitzen
the oldest known explosive, was iniatlly made from saltpeter (75%) charcoal (15%) and sulfur (10%)
black powder
the basic ingredient used for smokeless powder
nitrocellulose
how nitrocellulose is produced
by adding nitric acid into cellulose fiber
who made the first succesful use of smokeless powder in shot gun
captain e. schultze (1864)
french developed the first smokless powder for riffle in the 1884
later m. vieille
later m. vieille named smokeless powder after gen. boulanger
puodre B
invented a smokeless powder with a nitroglycerine (40%) and nitrocellulose (60%) as the main composition and called it “ballistite”
alfred Nobel
nire powerful thatn picric acid but much difficult to detonate
tri-nitrololeune (TNT)
picric acid in addition to cellulose powder is called
lyddite
a smokeless powder with same composition as nobel in the form of cords or sticks
cordite
what year the smokeless powder had replaced the black powder
early 1890’s
smokeless powder was uniformly used worldwide in the year
1900’s
stages of manifacture of barrel
drilling
reaming
riffling
lapped
this process neccessary for the making of the helical groves inside the barrel
riffling
methods performed in riffling
hook - cutter system (cutter)
scrape - cutter system (scraper)
broaching system - (broach)
button - (button)
types of characteristics of firearms
class characteristics individual characteristics
those properties or attributes of a firearms which can be determined even before the manifacture of the gun. this is true for such characteristics are considered to be a manufacture’s designs or specifications and security
class characteristics
class characteristics of a firearm
bore diameter number of lands and grooves width of the lands width of the grooves direction of twist pitch of rifiling depth of the grooves
the groove’s depth if measured on a radius of the bore. igrooves are usually few thousandths of an inch deep, which equal to the height of the lands
depth of the grooves
it is the measure of the twisting of the lands and grooves.
pitch of riffling
refers to the measure of the distance advance by the riffling in order to make a complete turn inside the barrel
pitch of riffling
the number of lands and grooves inside the barrel of a given firearm are always the same or equal.
number of lands and grooves
it may run from 3 to 8, but the most in the modern firearm are 5 and 6
number of lands and grooves
the elevated portion of the bore of the firearm
lands
the depressed postion of the bore between the lands
grooves
measured as the shortest distance between the two dies or edge or grooves
width of the grooves
riffling inside the barrel of the gun is either twisted to the left or to the right which cause bullet to rotate as it passes through the bore, in order to ensure gyroscopic stability in its flight
direction of twist
the diameter to which the bore was reamed.
bore diameter
the distance measured between two opposite lands inside the bore in a hundredths or thousandths of an inch. in most express in either caliver in inch or in millimeters
bore diameter
meant for those characteristics which are being determined only after the firearm was already been manufactured.
individual characteristics
they are the product of machine imperfections and some later due to the used of the firearms
individual characteristics
