Forensic Ballistics

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Forensic Ballistics

• Introductory Notes

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What is Forensic ballistics?

• Forensic ballistics attempts to establish the
  true facts in a shooting crime
• Ballistic evidence includes
• Firearms
• Bullets
• Cartridge cases

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Ballisticsthe study of projectiles,
trajectories, and the effect on the target

• Internal ballistics
• What happens in the weapon
• External ballistics
• What happens after the bullet leaves the barrel
• Terminal ballistics (wound ballistics)
• What happens when the bullet hits the target

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Components of typical round
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5.56 round (from M16/M4)
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Primer indentation
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Major Types of Ballistic Evidence

• Bullet holes
• Bullet damage
• Bullet trajectories
• Gunshot wounds

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Internal Ballistics

• Internal Ballistics studies all of the processes
  inside a firearm.
• Most common responsibilities are
• Examining firearms in case of accidental
  discharge
• Examining homemade devices called zip guns
• The microscopic examination of fired bullets and
  cartridge cases

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External Ballistics

• External ballistics studies the projectile of the
  bullet from the gun to target.
• Two common types of external ballistics are
• Calculation and reconstruction of bullet
  trajectories
• Establishing the maximum range of a given bullet

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http//www.glenbrook.k12.il.us/
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Terminal Ballistics

• Terminal ballistics is the study of the
  projectiles effect on the target.
• The target can be any solid or living object
• When the target is human or animal this is often
  referred to as wound ballistics

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Types of Terminal Ballistics

• Determination of distance between firing and
  target
• Establishing whether a particular wound was
  caused by a fired bullet
• Determining the caliber and type of projectile
  that caused the wound
• Identifying exit/entrance by examining holes in
  targets or wounds
• Examination of ricochet possibilities on targets
  and fired projectiles

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Mechanics of projectile wounding

• Location
• Penetration
• Temporary wound cavity
• Permanent wound cavity
• Projectile deformation/fragmentation

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Entrance wound searing
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Soot on clothing
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Shored contact wound