PRELIMS Flashcards
Refers to the “Science of firearms identification” which involves the scientific examination of ballistic exhibits – fired bullet, fired shells, firearms, and
allied matters – used in crimes.
FORENSIC BALLISTICS
Is the science of the motion of the projectile and the condition that affects their motion
BALLISTICS
The word “Ballistics” was originated from the Greek word
“Ballo” or “Ballein”
“Ballo” or “Ballein” means
to throw or to propel
a gigantic bow or catapult used throw
missiles and large objects such as stones at a particular distance to deter animal or enemy forces. From those words the term Ballistics was derived to indicate the science of moving projectile.
Ballista
Is any metallic or non-metallic ball which is
propelled from a firearm. An object that can be fired or launched
PROJECTILE
The mobility or movement of the projectile from the time it leaves the shell empty; it leaves the gun muzzle and until it reach its target or fall in the ground
MOTION
• Known as “The Father of Modern Ballistics”
• He was able to establish a comparison
microscope used to determine whether or
not a bullet or shell was fired on a particular firearm
COL. CALVIN GODDARD
The maker of the breech-loading rifles and
revolvers
HORACE SMITH & DANIEL WESSON
Smith and Wesson
The maker of the breech-loading rifles and
revolvers
HORACE SMITH & DANIEL WESSON
Smith and Wesson
• The “Wizard of Modern Firearm”
• Pioneered the breech-loading single
shot rifled which was adopted by
Winchester
JOHN BROWNING
Pioneered the making of Thompson sub-
machine gun
JOHN THOMPSON
• The Thompson was also informally known
as:
o Tommy Gun
o Trench Broom
o Trench Sweeper
o Chicago Typewriter
o Chicago Piano
o Chopper
• Creator of the First-known Carbine
DAVID WILLIAMS
• Create the first practical revolver.
SAMUEL COLT
• He invented a sub-machine gun in the
1950’s which was used by the Israeli Army
during its Sinai campaign in 1956
UZIEL GAL
• He is the “FATHER OF THE PERCUSSION
IGNITION”
ALEXANDER JOHN FORSYTH
• He is the manufacturer of the Pocket Pistol
HENRY DERRINGER
• Designed and invented the Semi Automatic U.S Rifle Cal. 30. M1 Garand.
JOHN GARAND
• A well-known expert in the field of SMG
developed in 1941.
GEORGE HYDE
• Designed the AK (Automat Kalashnikova)
47 adopted by the Russian Army in 1951
MIKHAIL KALSHNIKOV
Designed the U.S M16 Armalite under
license by Colt Company from July 1959
EUGENE STONER
• One of the earliest rifle and pistol maker
OLIVE WINCHESTER
A gunpowder weapon that is considered to be a proto-gun, the predecessor of the hand
cannon and the ancestor of all firearms
Fire lance
Earliest known written formula for gunpowder, from China
FIre Lance
Roger Bacon published the “De Mirabili
Potestate Artis et Naturae” (On the Marvelous Power of Arts and Nature), which noted
Black Powder Formula
The earliest known type of handgun was simply a small cannon that is called
Hand Cannons.
was introduce, the 1st major advance in pistols that can be fired using one hand.
Matchlock
The gun experienced its first major evolution with the discovery of
rifling
credited the creation to Johann Kiefuss of Nuremberg, Germany. A type of FA that has a serrated wheel.
Wheel lock
early form of flintlock
Snaphaunce
A weapon with a mainspring inside the lock plate and a priming pan cover which had to be manually pushed back before firing
Snaphaunce
Ball and powder charged were wrapped in chemically treated paper to allow the carrying of numerous pre-measured charges or pre-loaded rounds
Paper Cartridge
the same with the wheel lock but replaced the iron pyrite with a flint
Flintlock
like the snaphaunce, it is also a type of flintlock where the mainspring will be automatically pushed back before firing
Miquelet
British Army officer, developed the Ferguson rifle, a breech-loading flintlock a firearm
Patrick Ferguson
a breech-loading flintlock a firearm
Ferguson rifle
developed by the French which used a Pin-Fire Cartridge, the first self-expanding cartridge;
Le Faucheux
patented the first revolver and marketed in 1872, a breech loading revolver
Samuel Colt
a six-barreled weapon capable of firing a phenomenal 200 rounds per minute, considering its usefulness. It is considered the precursor to the modern machine gun;
Gatling Gun
It was used in shotguns first in the year 1864 by Capt.Eschultze of the Prussian Army and in Rifle by the year 1884 by Paul M. Vieille France
Smokeless powder
The most famous revolver in history and legend was manufactured
Colt Peacemaker
OR
model 1873
OR
.45 cal
Hiram Maxim developed the first fully automatic gun;
Automatic Machine Gun.
The first automatic pistol was created by
Joseph Laumann
THREE TYPES OF MOTION
- DIRECT
- ROTARY
- TRANSLATIONAL
Is the forward motion of the bullet or shots out of the shell by the action of the expansive force of gasses from a burning gun powder.
DIRECT
Is the action of the bullet passing through a rifled bore barrel firearm which is either twisted to the left or to the right.
ROTARY
The straight line movement where every part of the projectile follows a parallel path and no rotation takes place
TRANSLATIONAL
BRANCHES OF BALLISTICS
Interior Ballistics
Transitional/Intermediate Ballistics
External Ballistics
Terminal Ballistics
Forensic Ballistics
SUB-BRANCHES
Shot Ballistics
Wound Ballistics
The branch of ballistics which is concerned with the properties of the projectile or bullet while still inside the barrel of the gun and this extends from the breech to the muzzle.
INTERIOR/INTERNAL BALLISTICS
The explosion of the bullet is .0002 sec The bullets occupies the muzzle of the firearm for only
0.01 sec.
Failure of the cartridge to explode after the firing pin strikes the primer
MISFIRE
Delayed of explosion of the cartridge after the firing pin strikes the primer
HANGFIRE
is a mechanism that actuates the firing sequence of a firearm.
Trigger
is a part of a firearm that is used to strike the percussion cap/primer,or separate firing pin, to ignite the propellant and fire the projectile.
hammer
is a lightweight part, which serves to transfer energy from a spring-loaded hammer to the primer.
firing pin
is the ignition system of the cartridge used in a center fire type, containing a highly sensitive chemical compound that would easily ignite or burst into flame when struck by the firing pin.
Primer/Cap
another portion of the recoil action characterized as the backward and upward movement that takes place before the bullet leaves the muzzle.
Jump
It is the projectile’s behaviour from the time it leaves the muzzle until the pressure behind the projectile is equalized.
TRANSITIONAL/INTERMEDIATE BALLISTICS
Rotation of the bullet from its front side
TUMBLE
The unsteady and uneven spin or rotation of a bullet; usually caused by insufficient twist in the riffle barrel on its back side
WOBBLE
Refers to the study of the bullets or missiles flight after it leaves the gun muzzle and before it strikes the target.
EXTERNAL/EXTERIOR BALLISTICS
The noise created at the muzzle point.
MUZZLE BLAST
The energy generated at the muzzle point.
MUZZLE ENERGY
Conditions of the bullet in flight
o YAW
o PRECESSION
o NUTATION
The trembling or unstable rotating motion of bullet at the start of its flight
YAW
It is the rotating movement of the bullet
PRECESSION
The unsteady movement of the bullet or wobbling movement of the bullet
NUTATION
Refers to the steady-flight or parabola-like flight of the bullet
TRAJECTORY
the distance between the muzzle and the target
RANGE
the distance in which the shooter has the control of his shots.
Accurate Range-
farthest distance the projectile can be propelled.
Maximum Range
distance where the projectile can inflict damage
Effective Range (Wounding Capability)
the farthest distance the projectile is effective against the intended target
Maximum Effective Range
rate of speed of the bullet in flight. It is expressed in Feet per Second (F/S).
VELOCITY
resistance encountered by the bullet in flight.
AIR RESISTENCE/AERODYNAMIC DRAG
the downward reaction of the bullet due to its weight
PULL OF GRAVITY
the depth to which the bullet has entered its target or object hit
PENETRATION
Refers to the impact or effect of the bullet on the target.
TERMINAL BALLISTICS
capability of the bullet to penetrate various materials
PENETRATION POTENTIAL
effect of the bullet on the living tissue
WOUND BALLISTICS
refers to the size of the bullet groupings on the target
Terminal Accuracy
energy of the projectile when it hits the target
Terminal Energy
speed of the bullet once it hits the target
Terminal Velocity
depth of the bullet to the target
Terminal Penetration
the depth to which a projectile sinks
Penetration
It is a discipline that refers to the investigation and identification of the cartridge and what firearm it is specifically fired at. The branch of science which the police used as their guide in their investigation.
FORENSIC BALLISTICS
it is all the investigative activities done in the field involving the use of firearms and ammunition
FIELD INVESTIGATION
a task done at the laboratory.
TECHNICAL EXAMINATION
the presentation of evidence and technical reports to the trial court.
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
, also known as ballistic trauma or bullet wound, is a form of physical trauma sustained from the discharge of arms or munitions
GUN SHOT WOUND
bullet has been lodged and has
remained in the body
SOUVENIR BULLET
bullet that is not lodged in place
where it was previously located
BULLET MIGRATION
special form of bullet migration
when the bullet loses its momentum while inside thenchamber of the heart or inside the big blood vessels and
carried out by the circulating blood to some parts of the body where it may lodged
BULLET EMBOLISM
If the number of gunshot wounds of entrance and exit found in the body of the victim is even, the presumption is
that no bullet is lodged in the body, but if the number of thegunshot wounds of entrance and exit is odd, the presumption is that one or more bullets might have been lodged in the body
The “Odd and Even Rule” in
Gunshot Wounds
Deals with the attributes and properties of shots and pellets Focused with the study of shots/pellets from smoothbore firearms like shotguns and muskets
SHOTS BALLISTICS
It is an open wound produced by the penetration of pellets or shots within the tissues of the body In shotgun fire, the
pellets penetrate and usually lodged inside the body and a tendency for a wider dispersion of pellets at a certain
distance except in contact and near contact fires
SHOTGUN WOUND
Expressed in hundredths of an inch such as Cal 45 38 25 30
American System
Expressed in thousandths of an inch such as Cal 357
380 223
English System (3 digits)
Expressed in millimeters such as Cal 9 mm, 5 56 mm, 7 62 mm
Continental/ European System
9 PROBLEMS IN FORENSIC BALLISTICS
- Given an Evidence Bullet the FA Examiner will determine its Caliber and the FA that was used
- Given an Evidence Cartridge Case Shell the FA Examiner determine its Caliber and the FA that was used
- Given Two or more Evidence Bullets the FA Examiner determine if the evidence bullets were fired from one and
the same firearm, or two different firearms - Given Two or more Evidence Cartridge Cases /Shells the FA Examiner determine if the evidence cartridge cases were fired from one and the same firearm or two
different firearms - Given an Evidence Bullet and an Evidence Firearm the FA Examiner determine if the evidence bullet was
fired from the evidence firearm - Given an Evidence Cartridge Case and an Evidence Firearm the FA Examiner determine whether the evidence cartridge case/shell was fired from the evidence firearm
- Given an Evidence Firearm the FA Examiner determine if it is serviceable by test firing
- Given an ammunition unfire d) determine its serviceability
- Given pellets/shots, determine the size of shots
refers to any handheld or portable weapon, whether a small arm or light weapon, that expels or is designed to expel a bullet, shot, slug, missile or any
projectile, which is discharged by means of expansive force of gases from burning gunpowder or other form of combustion or any similar instrument or implement For purposes of this Act, the barrel, frame or receiver is considered a firearm
FIREARM
herein used includes rifles,
muskets, carbines, shotguns, revolvers, pistols and all other deadly weapons from which a bullet, ball, shot, shell or other missile may discharge off by means of gunpowder or other explosives The term also includes air rifles EXCEPT such as being of small caliber and limited range used as toys The BARREL of any firearm shall be considered a COMPLETE
FIREARM for all purposes hereof (Sec 877 Revised Administrative Code see also Sec 290 National Internal
Revenue Code)
FIREARMS OR ARMS
used in the commission of a crime shall be considered a real firearm as defined in this Act and the person who committed the crime shall be punished in accordance with this Act
Provided, That injuries caused on the occasion of the conduct of competitions, sports, games, or any recreation activities involving imitation firearms shall not be punishable under this Act ..(RA 10591
Imitation Firearm
Is the tube, usually made of metal, through which a controlled explosion or
rapid expansion of gases are released in order to propel a projectile out of the end at a high velocity
Gun Barrel
is an instrument used for the propulsion of projectiles by means of the expansive
forces of gases coming from
burning gunpowder
firearm
designed to be fired from the shoulder.
RIFLE
smoothbore FA designed to shoot single pellet.
MUSKET
smoothbore FA designed to shoot several pellets.
SHOTGUN
a handgun with rotating cylinder.
REVOLVER
a handgun that could be semi auto or auto/full auto.
PISTOL
–(Cal 2.7mm, 5 shots)
- is the smallest pistol in the World, made in 1914.
Kolibri Auto pistol
now, considered the most powerful handgun in the world. It replaced Magnum .44.
Caliber .50
Came from the French “carabine This is a Cal 30 FA invented by David “Carbine” William having a barrel of not more than 22 inches as shortened versions of full length rifles
CARBINE
a mechanism of FA that requires
manually cocking the hammer before squeezing trigger when firing
SINGLE ACTION FIREARM
a mechanism of a FA wherein squeezing the trigger automatically releases the hammer
DOUBLE ACTION FIREARM
Firearms that have no rifling (lands and
grooves) inside their gun barrel
SMOOTH BORE FIREARMS
Firearms that have rifling inside
their gun barrel
RIFLED BORE FIREARMS
that portion of the bore remaining after the rifling of grooves have been cut
LANDS
spiral cuts in a bore which cause the bullet to spin as it travels down the barrel
GROOVES
Refers to those type of firearms that propels projectilewith more than one inch diameter
ARTILLERY
Are firearms that propels projectile with less than one inch diameter and it can be handled, moved and operated
by one man
SMALLARMS
a type of firearm that is primarily designed for military use Is a weapon which shoots, or is designed to shoot,
automatically more than one shot without manual reloading, by a single press of the trigger
MACHINE GUNS
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
are those types of firearm 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
These are firearms designs that were set even before the manufacture of FAs These are the factory specifications
CLASS CHARACTERISTICS
determined with a bullet, shell, or bore of the gun
Caliber or Bore Diameter
always the same in number
No .of Lands and Grooves
how wide the lands and grooves NOT always the same
Width of Lands and Grooves
either RIGHT or LEFT
Twist of Rifling
one complete turn of bullet inside the
barrel
Pitch of Rifling
how deep the groove or the height of
every land
Depth of Grooves
refers to spiral grooves cut into the ore of a barrel which impart a stabilizing spin to the bullet
RIFLING
are indentations created when the firing pin of a firearm strikes the primer of centerfire cartridge case or the rim of a rim fire cartridge case.
FIRING PIN IMPRESSIONS
– impression marks developed when the projectile recoils rearwards under impact of high pressure of gases produced by ignition of charge and strikes with the breech face of the firearm.
BREECH FACE MARKS
the striation marks which are produced from the rough walls of the chamber during loading and removing of the cartridge case.
CHAMBER MARKS
the striation marks formed by the extractor of most auto-loading or repeating firearms.
EXTRACTOR MARKS
the striation marks developed from ejector present as an opposing edge on the rear end during ejection/ removal of the cartridge case from the chamber.
EJECTOR MARKS
are determined after the manufacture of FA.
INDIVIDUAL CHARACTERISTICS
the random marks or imperfections produced incidentally during the manufacturing of a firearm by tools and machinery.
MANUFACTURING IRREGULARITIES
the irregularities in the surface of the interior of the barrel produced due to wear and tear with use, corrosion, or damage.
STRIATION MARKS
- type of rifling having four (4) lands and grooves, right twist and the width of the lands grooves
STEYER TYPE
- rifling having (4) lands and grooves, right twist, the width of the grooves is two (2) times the width of the lands (4RG2X)
CARBINE TYPE
rifling having (5) lands and grooves, right hand twist the width of the land and grooves are equal (5RG=L)
SMITH AND WESSON
type of rifling having six (6) lands and grooves, left twist, the width of the grooves is twice (2) the width of the lands (6LG2X)
COLT
- type of rifling having (6) lands and grooves, right hand twist, the width of the grooves is twice the width of the lands (6RG2X)
BROWNING
- Rifling having seven (7) lands and grooves, right hand twist, the width of the groove is three time larger than the boarder of the lands.
(7RG3X)
WEBLEY
Rifling having six (6) lands and grooves, right hand twist, the width of the grooves is three time larger the width of the lands (6RG3X
WINCHESTER
types of firearms designed to fire only one shot every loading
- Examples: Single shot pistols, Revolvers 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 in which reloading takes place by manipulating the bolt back and forth.
BOLT ACTION TYPE
the breech mechanism is cycled by an external lever below the receiver.
LEVER ACTION TYPE
types of firearms in which loading take place by back and forth manipulation of the under/over forearms of the gun.
- Examples Shotgun and pistols
SLIDE/PUMP ACTION TYPE
requires a separate pull of trigger for each shot fired.
SEMI-AUTOMATIC TYPE
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 F/A
- a type of firearm that designed to shoot, automatically more than one shot without manual reloading, by a single press of the trigger.
MACHINE GUNS
- Loads, closes, fires and reloads single cartridge.
SINGLE BARRELED SHOTGUN
Side by side barrel or over and under.
DOUBLE BARRELED SHOTGUN
– the operated by means of sliding lever under the barrel
PUMP ACTION TYPE SHOTGUN/ SLIDE ACTION
the same as auto loading rifles, the recoil action reloads the gun from the magazine.
AUTO-LOADING SHOTGUNS
which the bore size is the
same through out the barrel.
CYLINDER BORE TYPE
designed with a diminishing or reducing bore diameter type towards the muzzle.
CHOKE BORE GUN
devices principally designed for other purpose to which a gun mechanism is incorporated also called as Freakish gun
Cane gun, knife pistols, cellphone gun, etc
a tool in which firearm mechanism is attached to prevent easy identification.
FREAKISH GUN
designed for tracing or sending signals or locating enemy troops
FLARE GUN
generally referring to all gun designed from firing tear gas.
GAS GUN
are those devices which resembles a gun designed but are generally used for construction of furniture.
TOOLS
refers to gun used for trapping animals that are fired to woods.
TRAPS
refers to all type of homemade gun.
ZIP GUN
are used in hunting large fish.
HARPOON GUNS
gives direction to the bullet; the part of the gun that initiates the path of the bullet.
BARREL
– the part of the barrel at the opposite end of the muzzle.
BREECH
also known as the bolt it is the steel block that closes the breech against the force of the charge during firing.
BREECHBLOCK
the part of the stock which is held against the shoulder to stabilize the gun during firing
BUTT
the part of the bore into which a cartridge is placed the enlarged space at the breech of the barrel where the cartridge is fed.
CHAMBER
the part of the revolver that serves as the magazine as well as chamber for cartridges.
CYLINDER
the mechanism that pulls the empty shell from the chamber.
EXTRACTOR
also called receiver the part of the gun that houses the internal parts the body of a firearm to which the barrel, stock, pistol grip, sights, etc are fixed and within which lies the firing and breech mechanism.
FRAME
the smaller part of the stock behind the trigger guard (for rifles and shotguns) the part of the gun firmly held by the shooter thus stabilizing the aim while squeezing the trigger.
GRIP
the part of the firing mechanism in revolvers and some pistol that is released by the sear or the main spring once the trigger is pressed it strikes the firing pin causing the pin to move forward and hit the primer.
HAMMER
a device for storing cartridges in a repeating firearm for loading into the chamber.
MAGAZINE
the end of the front end of the barrel where the bullet or pellet exits.
MUZZLE
the fixed sight on top of the barrel near the muzzle used to aim the gun at the target.
FRONT SIGHT
the sight found at the top of the breech area
-this sight can be moved to change where the bullet will hit
REAR SIGHT
the spring in automatic or selfloading
weapons which returns the bolt or breech block after
- sometimes known as the return spring.
RECOIL SPRING
the part of the gun that initiates the action when the shooter is ready to fire his weapon.
TRIGGER
the safety device designed to protect the trigger from accidental bumping or pressing that may result to accidental firing.
TRIGGER GUARD
making of hole of barrel with the use of barrel blank.
- DRILLING
with the drilled hole, it is being reamed from breech end to muzzle to remove imperfections, scratches and irregularities.
This operation undergoes
1) Roughing, 2)Finishing 3) Burnishing
REAMING
the construction of rifling inside the barrel.
RIFLING
smoothening/polishing of the inner surface of the barrel.
LAPPING
