Sheilla Mae N.

Bajan
PSU-CCJE Instructor
 Percentage Number of
Weight Items
TOPICS & &
Distribution Distribution

PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION TECHNIQUES 2.70 18

FORENSIC PHOTOGRAPHY 2.55 17

FORENSIC CHEMISTRY & TOXICOLOGY 1.80 12
QUESTIONED DOCUMENTS 2.55 17

LIE DETECTION TECHNIQUES 2.55 17

FORENSIC BALLISTICS 2.85 19

TOTAL 15% 100

 6.1 Recognize the scientific foundation and
principles of firearms identification in support to
the admissibility of ballistic related evidence;
TABLE OF SPECIFICATION
6.2 Identify the types of firearms according to
(TOS) CONTENTS design, mechanism, action and make as basis in
the handling and examination of these kind of
evidences;
6.3 Classify the types ammunitions according to
design, component parts, mechanism, and
purpose to assist the examiner in the specific type
of ballistic examination to be conducted;
6.4 Distinguish class and individual
characteristics of firearms as basis for firearms
identification; and
6.5 Utilize the laboratory equipment and tools
used in the examination of ballistic exhibits in aid
to report writing and case presentation in court.
Were
these
Bullets
and these

Shells
fired
from
these?
Guns
Ballistics
can tell…

Questioned Standard

Questioned Standard
 What can BALLISTICS determine?
✓ Which type of gun is used by the criminal?
✓ Whether the gun is associated with any other crime?
✓ The amount of damage a bullet can inflict.
✓ Estimate the position of the shooter by analyzing the bullet marks.
✓ From which angle was the gun fired?
✓ When do they get fired?
✓ The type of impact made by the bullet.
✓ To reveal the shooter’s identity.
✓ Comparison of different firearms, bullets, and cartridge cases.
Ballistic - science of the
motion of projectiles.
• Science - refers to the systematized
body of knowledge
• Motion – refers to movements or
mobility of the projectiles
• Projectiles – refers to metallic or
non-metallic objects
propelled from a firearm
Ballistic is not an exact science, for it
is subject to changes and
improvement depending upon the
demands of modern civilization.
Ballistics is rather an applied
science.
Three Types of Motion
DIRECT MOTION - it is the FORWARD
motion of the bullet
or shots out of the
shell by the action of
the expansive force
of gases from a
burning gun powder.
ROTATORY MOTION - is the action
of the bullet passing through a
rifled bore barrel firearm, which is
either twisted to the left or to the
right.
TRANSLATIONAL
- it is the action
of a bullet once
it hits a target
and subsequently
bounces back.
Yaw - the trembling or unstable rotating
motion of a bullet at the start of its flight
 FORENSIC
This deals with the application of scientific
knowledge to legal problems.
It is an adjective belonging to, or suitable to courts of
judicature or refers to a proper court discussion and
debate. On a broader sense, the word "forensic" has
become practically synonymous with "legal”.
The term is derived from the Latin word "forum"
meaning a "public place" were people gathered for public
disputation or public discussion.
 BALLISTICS
This also refers to the study
of natural laws relating to the
performance of gunpowder
and projectiles in firearms
and the means of predicting
such performance.
 Origin
Ballistic itself was derived from Greek
word " ballo" or "ballein" which literally
means to throw. It is also derived from the
name of an early Roman war machine
called the Ballista.
Ballista - is a gigantic bow or catapult
used to fire missiles or other
large objects like stones.
FORENSIC BALLISTICS
It is a branch of forensic science which
deals with the investigation and examination of
the firearm and related evidences encountered
at the scene of crime in a shooting incident, and
their linkage to the firearm, and identification of
the shooter.
Also refined as TOOL MARK IDENTIFICATION.
BRANCHES OF BALLISTICS
1. Interior (Internal) Ballistics
2. Exterior (External) Ballistics
3. Terminal Ballistics
4. Forensic Ballistics
INTERIOR BALLISTICS
INTERIOR BALLISTICS
refers to the properties and
attributes of the Projectiles (Bullet) while
still inside the gun. It involves all
reactions that take place while the bullet
is still inside the barrel of the gun.
These include the following:
INTERIOR BALLISTICS
❑ Firing Pin hitting the primer
❑ Ignition of the priming mixture
❑ Combustion of the gunpowder
❑ Expansion of the heated gas
❑ Pressure developed
❑ Energy generated
❑ Recoil of gun
❑ Velocity of the bullet in the barrel
❑ Rotation of the bullet in the barrel
❑ Engravings of the cylindrical
surface of bullet
INTERIOR BALLISTICS
✓ Firing Pin hitting the primer
INTERIOR BALLISTICS
✓ Ignition of the priming mixture
INTERIOR BALLISTICS
✓ Combustion of the gunpowder
INTERIOR BALLISTICS
✓ Expansion of the heated gas
INTERIOR BALLISTICS
✓ Pressure developed
✓ Energy generated
INTERIOR BALLISTICS
✓ Recoil of gun
 INTERIOR BALLISTICS
✓ Velocity of the bullet in the barrel
 INTERIOR BALLISTICS
✓ Rotation of the bullet in the barrel
 INTERIOR BALLISTICS
✓ Engravings of the cylindrical surface of bullet
EXTERIOR BALLISTICS
EXTERIOR BALLISTICS
refers to the attributes
and movements of the bullet
after it has left the gun
muzzle, this branch involves
the following:
EXTERIOR BALLISTICS
❑Muzzle blast
❑Muzzle energy
❑Trajectory
❑Range
❑Velocity
❑Air resistance
❑Pull of gravity
EXTERIOR BALLISTICS
✓ Muzzle blast
✓ Muzzle energy
EXTERIOR BALLISTICS
✓ Trajectory
EXTERIOR BALLISTICS
✓ Trajectory
✓ Range
EXTERIOR BALLISTICS
✓ Velocity
EXTERIOR BALLISTICS
✓ Air resistance
EXTERIOR BALLISTICS
✓ Pull of gravity
TERMINAL BALLISTICS
TERMINAL BALLISTICS
Refers to the effects of
the impact of the projectile
on the target. This involves
the following:
TERMINAL BALLISTICS

❑ Terminal Accuracy
❑ Terminal Energy
❑ Terminal Velocity
❑ Terminal Penetration
FORENSIC BALLISTICS
FORENSIC BALLISTICS
Refers to the investigation
and identification of firearms
by means of ammunitions
fired through them.
 FORENSIC BALLISTICS

Includes the following:

❑ Field investigations
❑ Technical examination
of the ballistics exhibit
❑ Legal/ Court proceedings
FIREARMS
 FIREARMS
According to its legal definition, Sec. 3. Par. (l) R. A. No. 10591
Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.
Firearm 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.
 FIREARMS
Technical Definition
Firearm is an instrument
used for the propulsion of
projectile by means of the
expansive force gases coming
from burning gunpowder.
 FIREARMS
Firearms or arms as herein used, includes
rifles, muskets, carbines, shotgun, pistol, revolvers,
and all other deadly weapons, to which a bullet,
ball, shot, shell, or other missiles maybe discharge
by means of gun powder or other explosives. This
term also includes air rifles, except such 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.
FIREARMS
1. LEGAL Definition - (RAC) Sec. 877 – Firearm or Arms as herein used includes:

Rifle Muskets Carbine

Shotgun
Pistols Revolvers
Other Deadly Weapon from which a
and other
bullet missiles may
balls be
shot discharged by
shells means of :
and other missiles may be
discharged by means of :

gun
powders
Other
explosives
- The TERM also includes
AIR RIFLES except made of small
caliber and limited range and are used
as TOYS.

- The BARREL of any firearm shall be

considered a complete firearm for all
purposes hereof.
 History of
Firearms
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ksc7yAiXUE
Hand canons
The first known
portable type of
handgun, known as
hand bombard or
hand cannon, was
probably developed
in the second quarter
of the 14th century.
 Matchlocks
The matchlock was the
earliest known lock
mechanism and can be
actuated by applying a
lighted match, which at
that time, was simply a
cord that was manually
dipped in saltpeter.
 Wheel lock
It had a wheel known as
"arquebus," a serrated steel
wheel, which was fitted on
the side of the weapon near
the breech of the barrel. The
wheel was spring-propelled
with a chain around its axles.
When the wheel was turned
with a spanner, the chain
actuated the axle, and the
spring tensioned
Snaphaunce
or snaphance
The Snaphaunce or
Snaphance was invented in
the second half of the 16th
century. It can be fired by
means of sparks from iron
pyrites or flint. It had a
sliding flash pan cover
similar to that of a wheel
lock.
 Miquelet lock
The Miquelet lock was invented before
1600 and continued to be in use for
several years. The name "Miquelet"
derives from the body of men
organized all over Spain as
government escorts, called "Miquelites"
from Miguel de Prats, an armed
follower of Cesare Borgia (1476-1507).
The Miquelet Lock is characteristically
Spanish, and is different from the
snaphaunce and the ordinary flintlock
both in its exterior and in its
mechanism.
 Flint lock
Its ignition system
replaced the matchlock.
It had a simple
mechanism that
produced spark by
striking a piece of flint
against the steel. The
flint was held in a small
vice on a pivoted arm.
Percussion system
In this system, a very
sensitive compound in metal cup
containing priming compound is
used in percussion firearms,
which exploded upon being
struck to ignite the gunpowder. It
was introduced by the Scottish
minister Alexander John Forsyth.
When struck by a hammer, this
compound (i.e., mercury
fulminate) produced a flash
strong enough to ignite the
gunpowder.
 Pinfire system
The first cartridge of a
self-exploding type which
enjoyed any real general
used was the type called
the pin-fire commonly
attributed to Lefaucheux of
Paris, around 1836. Pin fire
cartridges were made for all
types of small arms and in
two or three types of case
combination.
 Rimfire system
The rimfire system was
likewise exhibited at the Great
Exhibition in 1851 The rimfire
cartridge has a thin hollow
flanged rim, into which a small
quantity of priming compound
was spun Crushing the rim
with the firing pin caused the
priming compound to explode,
thus igniting the propellant
inside the case.
Dreyse needle fire rifle
This was a military breech-
loading rifle, which became
famous as the main infantry
weapon of the Prussians, who
adopted it for service in 1848
as the Dreyse Prussian Model
1848. It was invented by the
gunsmith Johann Nikolaus
von Dreyse between 1787
thru 1867, and was widely
considered as the first fully
working rifle in 1836.
 Center Fire System
The Center Fire System
represents a significant
breakthrough in weapon and
ammunition development. In
center fire ammunition, the
primer cup had to be soft
enough to be crushed by the
firing pin. The exact date for
the invention of the first
center fire weapon remains
unknown.
 Types of Firearms According to
R.A 10591

1. Small Arms
2. Light Weapons
3. Antique
4. Imitation
5. Demilitarized
 LIGHT WEAPONS
Types of
firearms

● Class A Light ● Class B light

Weapons weapons
These refer to self These refers to
loading firearms that do not weapons designed for use by
exceed caliber 7.62mm and two or more individuals
have a fully automatic mode. serving as a crew members
or to guns exceeds 7.62mm.
R.A 10591 (RA 8294 & PD 1866)
 ANTIQUE FIREARMS Types of
firearms

These refer to any of the following:

✓ a firearm that was manufactured at least 75 years prior to the
current date but not including replicas;
✓ a firearm that has been certified by the National Museum of
the Philippines to be curio or relic and is of museum interest;
and;
✓ any other firearm that derives a substantial part of its
monetary value from the fact that it is novel, rare and bizarre,
or because of its association with some historical figure,
period, or event R.A 10591 (RA 8294 & PD 1866)
 IMITATION FIREARMS Types of
firearms

This type of firearm refers to a replica of

a firearm or another device, which is
substantially similar in coloration and
overall appearance to an existing firearm
as to lead anyone to believe that this
imitation firearm is a real one.R.A 10591 (RA 8294 & PD 1866)
DEMILITARIZED FIREARMS Types of
firearms

These refer to a firearm that has

been deliberately made
incapable of performing its main
purpose of firing a projectile.
R.A 10591 (RA 8294 & PD 1866)
LEVEL OF HARM THEY PRODUCE

✓ Lethal
✓ Non-Lethal R.A 10591 (RA 8294 & PD 1866)
 Classification of Firearms
TWO General Classification of Firearms
(According to Interior Barrel Construction)

1. Smooth Bore Firearms = Firearms that

have NO rifling (lands and grooves) inside their
gun barrel.
Examples: Shotguns, Musket and Improvised Barrels

2. Rifled Bore Firearms = Firearms that

have rifling inside their gun barrel.
Examples: Pistols, Revolvers, and Rifles
 Types of Firearms
According to
Projectile
Propelled

1.Artillery
2.Small Arms
 Main Types of Firearms
(According to the Caliber of the projectile propelled)

1. Artillery = Refers to those type of firearms that

propels projectile with more than one inch diameter
Examples: Cannons, Mortars and Bazookas

2. Small Arms = Are firearms that propels

projectile with less than one inch diameter, and it can
be handled, moved, and operated by one man.
Examples: Machine gun, shoulder arms and handguns
 SMALL ARMS Types of
firearms

1. Shoulder Arm/ Long Arm 2. Handgun/ Short Arm

a. Rifle a. Pistol
b. Musket b. Revolver
c. Shotgun
d. Carbine
Machine Gun
Machine gun is a type of firearm that is primarily designed for military use.
Even in investigations of shooting cases done in the city, it is not usual or common
to encounter this type of firearm having been used.
Sub Machine Gun
is 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.
Shoulder Arms
These are the types of firearms that were normally fired from the shoulder.

Rifles
A shoulder weapon designed to fire a projectile with more
accuracy through a long rifled bore barrel, usually more than 22 inches.
Carbine
A short barrel rifle, with its barrel rifle, measuring not longer than
22 inches. It fires a single projectile though a rifle-bore, either semi-
automatic or fully automatic, for every press of the trigger.
Muskets
is an ancient smoothbore and muzzle-loading military shoulder
arm designed to fire a shot or a single-round lead ball.
Shotgun
A smooth bore and a breech-loading shoulder arms designed to
fire a number of lead pellets or shots in one charge.
The barrel construction of shotgun may also
be found in different bore construction.
A. Cylinder bore type which the bore
size is the same throughout the barrel
B. Choke bored gun designed with a
diminishing or reducing bore diameter type
towards the muzzle. This type is designed to
cause an effect to the travel of the shots. It
makes the shots travel longer before it
spreads.
C. “Paradox Gun” still in a very rear
occasions another type of shotgun can be
observed to be having rifling only a few inch
from its muzzle points.
Handguns are those types of firearms that are designed
or intended to be fired using one hand.
Ex. Pistols and Revolvers
Pistol refers to a
handgun having one
chamber integral with the
barrel or it is a magazine
fed type of handgun
designed to fire a single
projectile through a rifled
bore for every press of the
trigger.

Kolibri– smallest pistol in

the world
 Three Early Classes of Pistols

• Single Shot Pistols - are operated by pressing a

lever to unlatch the breech where the cartridge can be
placed and then latched again to be ready for firing.

• Semi Automatic Pistols - Semi-automatic pistols in

use today are derived from the Colt Model 1911A, the
45 caliber government issued firearm, and the
Browning Hi-Power 9 mm. John Browning, the
Wizard of Modern Firearms is credited for many
developments in semi-automatic weapons.
 Revolver is a type of firearm designed to
position cartridge into position for firing with
the aid of a rotating cylinder serving as its
chamber.
 Three Early Classes of Pistols
• Revolvers - have a rotating cylinder where the bullets can be
inserted to align to the barrel for firing. Samuel Colt of Hatford
made the first model of revolvers in 1835- the Colt 1837
revolver model.
There are three types of revolvers:
• Ejection Rod Type - it is the oldest type. It can be loaded by
pulling a rod, exposing the chamber for loading at the left side.
• Swing Out Type - works by pressing the ejector that unlocks
the cylinder from the frame and swinging the frame to the left.
• Break Top Type - a revolver that is loaded by swinging down
the barrel to expose the chambers.
 Three Types of Revolvers
• Ejection Rod Type - it is the oldest type. It can be loaded by
pulling a rod, exposing the chamber for loading at the left side.
 Three Types of Revolvers
• Swing Out Type - works by pressing the ejector that unlocks
the cylinder from the frame and swinging the frame to the left.
 Three Types of Revolvers
• Break Top Type - a revolver that is loaded by swinging down
the barrel to expose the chambers.
There are two types of revolvers
according to its mechanical firing action.

1. Single action, a type of revolver

that needs a manual cocking of the
hammer before squeezing the
trigger.

2. Double action, 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.
 Types of Firearms
(According to Mechanical Construction)

1. Single shot firearms types of firearms

designed to fire only one shot every loading.
Examples:
Single shot pistols,
Revolvers,
and Shotguns.
 Types of Firearms
(According to Mechanical Construction)
2. Repeating Arm -A type of firearms
designed to fire several loads (shot) in one
loading
Examples:
Automatic pistols,
Revolver
Rifles,
and Shotguns.
3. Automatic Firearm 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.
4. Slide 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
5. Bolt Action Type Type of firearms
in which reloading takes place by
manipulating the both back and forth.
Examples: Rifles, shotguns and machine guns.
6. Lever type (Break type) loading
takes place by lever action on the
firearms.
Examples: Rifles and shotguns.
 Miscellaneous Types of Gun

1. Flare gun designed for tracing or sending

signals or locating enemy troops.

2. Freakish gun a tool in which firearm

mechanism is attached to prevent easy identification.

3. Gas gun generally referring to all gun designed

from firing tear gas.
4. Harpoon guns refers to a barbed spear in
hunting large fish.

5. Multi –Barreled gun refers to all types of

gun containing a number of barrels.

6. Paradox gun a type of gun which contains

lands and grooves a few inch from the muzzle point.

7. Zip Gun refers to all type of homemade gun.

AMMUNITIONS
 AMMUNITION
According to its legal definition, Sec. 3. Par. (b) R. A.
No. 10591 Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition
Regulation Act.
Ammunition refers to a complete
unfired unit consisting of a bullet,
gunpowder, cartridge case and primer
or loaded shell for use in any firearm.
 AMMUNITIONS
Technical Definition
Ammunition refers to a group of
cartridge or to a single cartridge.
Cartridge is a complete unfired unit
consisting of bullet (ball), primer (cap),
cartridge case (shell) and gunpowder
(propellant).
 AMMUNITIONS
Ammunition 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 gunpowder or other
explosive. (includes ammunition for air rifles)
1. Dummy

• It is a replica usually made of hard plastic of alloy.

2. Blank ammunition

• Without a bullet containing gunpowder.

3. Live

• Refers to a complete unfired unit of cartridge.

 Basics of Ammunition
Modern ammunition varies in

•
•

•
Here are the steps showing what happens when you fire a rifle and a handgun.

A. A cartridge is inserted into the chamber.

Here are the steps showing what happens when you fire a rifle and a handgun.

B. The action is closed, and the firing pin is pushed

back and held back under spring tension.
Here are the steps showing what happens when you fire a rifle and a handgun.

C. The trigger is squeezed, releasing the firing pin, which moves

forward with great force. The firing pin strikes the primer,
causing it to explode.
Here are the steps showing what happens when you fire a rifle and a handgun.

D. The spark from the primer ignites the gunpowder. Gas converted from the
burning powder rapidly expands in the cartridge. The expanding gas forces
the bullet out of the cartridge and down the barrel with great speed. The
rifling in the barrel causes the bullet to spin as it travels out of the barrel. The
bullet's speed and escaping gases produce a "bang."
 CARTRIDGE
●

●
 Origin
The word cartridge was derived
from the Latin word “Charta” meaning
– a “paper” and also from the French
word “Cartouche” meaning – a rolled
paper. This only indicates that the
first type of cartridge was made up of
a rolled paper.
Parts of Cartridge
 Parts of Cartridge
1. Bullet - the projectile
propelled through the barrel of a
firearm by means of the expansive
force of gases coming from
burning gunpowder.
2. Cartridge case - the tubular
metallic container for gunpowder.
Sometimes, it is called a shell or
casing.
 Parts of Cartridge
3. Gunpowder - is a propellant or
powder charge which, when ignited by the
primer flash, is converted into heated gas
under high pressure and propels the
bullets or shots charge through the barrel
and to the target.

4. Primer - the metal cup containing

the highly sensitive priming mixture of
chemical compound, which then hit or
struck by the firing pin would ignite or
detonate. Such action is called percussion.
General Types of Ammunitions

a. According to General Function

b. According to Type of Firearm

 General types of Ammunition
a. Pistol Ammunition
- designed for pistols, carbines, and most
submachine guns. It has an extractor groove
instead of a rimmed base, allowing easier loading
and extracting.
 General types of Ammunition
b. Rifle Ammunition
– designed for hunting, sniping, and assault rifles and some
submachine guns. It has a bottleneck shape and a longer case
for greater powder capacity and firepower.
 General types of Ammunition
c. Shot Shells
- designed for shotguns with pellets. Some special shells have
single pellets or slugs with the cartridge usually made of
plastic.
 General types of Ammunition
d. Caseless Ammunition
– a special type of ammunition
with gunpowder serving as
its casing. It is coated with
varnish or a similar
material. It can be used in
handguns and rifles
because it is smaller in
weight and can optimize
volume.
Classification of Cartridge According to the:

a. According to Location of Primer

b. According to the Rim

c. According to Firepower

d. According to Caliber
Classification of Cartridge According to the Location of the Primer

a. Pin Fire is a type

of cartridge in which
the ignition cap
(primer) is concealed
inside the cartridge
case and has a pin
resting upon it.
Classification of Cartridge According to the Location of the Primer

b. Rim Fire is a
type of cartridge in
which the priming
mixture is located
at the hollow rim
of the case.
Classification of Cartridge According to the Location of the Primer

c. Center Fire refers

to a cartridge in which
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.
Classification of Cartridge According to Rim
Classification of Cartridge According to Rim
 Classification of Cartridge
According to Firepower
a. Low Power Cartridge - muzzle velocity of
less than 1850 fps.
b. High Power Cartridge - muzzle velocity of
1,950 to 2,500 fps.
c. High Intensity Cartridge - muzzle velocity
is more than 2,500 fps
 Classification of Cartridge According Caliber
Calibers in cartridges in inches and their approximate
equivalent in mm and use:

Inches MM
Cal .22 about 5.59 mm- used in revolver, pistol and rifles
Cal .25 about 6.35 mm- used in pistols and rifles
Cal .30 about 7.63 mm- (Mauser) – for carbines and other rifles
Cal .30 about 7.63 mm (luger)
Cal .32 about 7.65 mm for automatic pistols and revolvers
Cal .380 about 9 mm- used for pistols
 Classification of Cartridge According Caliber

Inches MM
Cal .357 used in magnum .357 revolvers

Cal .45 about 11 mm – used in automatic pistols

Cal .50 used in .50 cal. Machine gun

Calibers in cartridges in
inches and their
approximate equivalent
in mm and use:
Types of Shell According to Shape

• Straight Case

• Bottle Neck

• Tapered Case
 Shotgun Cartridge
It refers to a complete unit of unfired cartridge
consisting of the pellets, primer, case, wads and
gunpowder.
The unit of 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.
 At present, the 10-gauge shotgun is
considered with the biggest diameter
while the .410 as the smallest one.
Gauge Inch
10 .775 inch
12 .729 inch
16 .670 inch
20 .615 inch
28 .550 inch
.410 .410 inch
 Types of Shots
1. Soft or Drop 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 a spherical drop as it falls down
the shot tower. This type is easy to deformed
or flattened, loose their velocity quicker, low
penetrating power and string out more.
 Types of Shots
2. Chilled or Hard Shot - is a
type of shot with a small amount of
antimony mixed with lead to increase
hardness. It does no deform easily,
better patterns, less string and more
uniform velocity and penetration.
 Types of Shots
3. Coated or Plated Shot - also called as
“lubaloy” shot. A chilled shot coated with thin
copper through electroplating design for
greater strength and elasticity, great
resistance to deformation and
leading and better pattern.
Buck Shot = a large size lead shot for
used in shotgun
Birdshot
Buckshot
 Shotgun slug
is a term for a single
projectile fired from a shotgun.
The most common type of shotgun
slug is the Foster-type "rifled slug,"
known in some locations as a "deer
slug" due to its regional use in deer
hunting where traditional rifles are not
allowed. Foster slugs are made of soft
lead, with angled riflings molded into
the sides, allowing them to swage
down through a shotgun choke safely.
 Bullets
The word “Bullet” was derived from
French word “Boullette” which means a
small ball. This term is generally used when
we are referring to projectile fired from any
small arms, which has a variety of form,
especially during the earlier history.
 Bullets
In a more technical sense,
bullet refers to a metallic or non-
metallic cylindrical ball propelled
from a firearm it is sometimes
called as shots or slugs.
Bullets have various types depending upon their specific nature and
purpose. In general bullet can be classified as either Lead or Jacketed.

General Types of Bullet

1. Lead type, is a 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.
 General Types of Bullet
2. Jacketed type, Is a type of bullet consisting of the regular
lead core, coated with a copper alloy in order to prevent lead
fouling of the barrel and is generally used in pistols and other
high power guns.
1. Ball type - Is a type of bullet, which is intended
for anti-personnel and general use.
2. Armor piercing- a type of military bullet
designed to penetrate light steel armor. Its
mechanical construction makes it capable of
penetrating through some light vehicles.

Is a type of bullet, which is

intended for anti-personnel and general
use.
3. Explosive Bullet - Is a small bullet
containing a charge of explosive, which will
detonate on impact.
Types of Bullets According to their Maximum Effect to their targets
4. Incendiary Bullet – Type of military bullet used
to cause fire in a target, generally designed to use by
aircraft armament in order for the fuel tanks to ignite.
 Cartridge Case
Cartridge Case is the metallic or non-
metallic tabular container usually of brass
(70% copper and 30% zinc) designed to
unite the bullet, primer and the gunpowder
into one unit. It is also known as shell or
casing.
 Function of Cartridge Case
1. It locates the bullet properly relative to the bore of the
firearm.
2. It is used to carry the means of ignition.
3. It provides gas seals at the breech against an
unwanted escape of propellant gas upon firing.
4. Serves as waterproof container for the propellant or
powder charge.
5. 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
Parts of the Cartridge Case
1. Base - the bottom
portion of the cartridge
case which 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.
 Parts of the Cartridge Case
2. Rim - is the part of the cartridge designed to limit
the forward movement of the cartridge to chamber.
 Parts of the Cartridge Case
3. Extracting grooves - is the circular groove
near the rim of the shell designed for automatic
withdrawal of the case from the chamber.
 Parts of the Cartridge Case
4. Primer Pocket - is that part of the shell which provides the
means for the primer to be put in the central position. Its function
is extended to: (a) hold the primer in place; (b) to provide means to
prevent the escape of gas; (c) to provide solid support for primer
anvil.
Parts of the Cartridge
Case
5. Body - is the
cylindrical part of the
shell which house
the gunpowder.
 Parts of the Cartridge
Case
6. Shoulder - that part
of the cartridge case
which support the neck
of the cartridge which is
evident in a bottleneck
type.
 Parts of the Cartridge Case
7. Cannelure - is the cylindrical groove in the outer surface of the
cartridge case designed to secure the shell to the chamber as well
as prevent bullet from being push down to the powder charge. In
some instance it is even being utilized for identification.
 Parts of the Cartridge
Case
8. Neck - is that part of
the shell which is
actually occupied by the
bullet. This is obvious in
a bottleneck type of
shell but not with the
straight type.
 Parts of the Cartridge Case
9. Crimp - is the cylindrical
groove on the mouth of the shell
designed for two purposes: One (1)
is to hold the bullet and prevent it
from being pull out from the shell
and Two (2) to offers resistance to
the bullet out of the neck to
ensure burning of the gun powder.
Parts of the Cartridge Case
10. Vent or Flash hole -
is the hole at the bottom
of the primer pocket as
the passage way for the
priming mixture to
impart an ignition to the
propellant charge.
 Primer
Primer (also called CAP) is the ignition
system of the cartridge used in a center fire
type, containing a highly sensitive chemical
compound that would easily ignite or bursts
into flame when struck by the firing pin. It may
either be Berdan or Boxer type. It is also
known as the percussion cup.
 The Berdan is a type of primer construction,
which was designed in 1860s by Colonel Hiram S. Berdan of
the U.S Army Ordinance Department.
In a cartridge designed for a Berdan primer the
anvil is built into the primer pocket of the case, rather
than the primer. These cases cannot be de-capped and
reloaded by standard reloading tools.
Its anvil forms part of the cartridge case and a
number of flasholes to serve as the passage of ignition
usually two (2).
 The Boxer , was developed by Col. Edward M.
Boxer of the Royal Laboratory at Woolwich Arsenal in the
year 1866.
In a Boxer primer, the anvil is a separate stirrup
piece that sits inverted in the primer cup providing
sufficient resistance to the impact of the firing pin.
The primer pocket in the case head has a single
flash-hole in its center. This positioning makes little or no
difference to the performance of the round, but it makes
fired primers vastly easier to remove for re-loading.
Parts of the Primer

1.Primer Cup
2. Priming mixture
3.Anvil
4.Disc or thin
paper or foil
 Types of Priming Mixture Compound
1. Corrosives - one consisting potassium
chlorate added with antimony sulfide and mercury
fulminate, which when ignite produces moisture
causing formation of rust in the bore of the firearm.
2. Non-corrosives - one which is designed
for less chances of rusting by replacing the potassium
chlorate with barium nitrate.
 Gun Powder
Gunpowder (also called as propellant or
Power Charge) is that mixture of chemicals of
various compositions designed to propel the
projectile by means of its expansive force of gas
when burned.
Two of the most popular individual whose
name is always attached to gunpowder discovery
were Roger Bacon and Berthold Schwartz.
 Roger Bacon, (1242 A.D.) a Franciscan
monk, who wrote the ---“De Mirabili
Potestate Artis et Naturae” (On the
Marvelous Power of Art and Nature),
including an anagram.
 Berthold Schwartz (whose real name was
Constantin Anklitzen), a mysterious monk of
Freiburg, who experimenting on some powder
in a cast iron vessel, he ignited a charge and
thus blew off the lid, and from this deduced
the principle of containing a charge in a tube
and propelling a shot.
 Black powder , the oldest known explosive, was
initially made from saltpeter (75%), charcoal (15%) and
sulfur (10%).
It is a propellant which when fired, produces large
volumes of grayish smoke and considerable amount of
residue left in the barrel of the gun.
Black powder have three qualities which are typical in all
explosives;
1) when ignited, it will burn rapidly by itself, without the aid of the
air outside,
2) in burning, it gives off a large amount of gas and,
3) A considerable amount of heat is produced.
 The smokeless powder is a propellant which
when fired, does not give off huge cloud of white
smoke like black powder. It is the most powerful
propellants.
Major Kaspar Ernst Schultze of the Prussian
Army, made the 1st successful used of smokeless
powder in shotgun in the year 1864. The basic
ingredient used for smokeless powder is a
nitrocellulose that was first produced by adding a
nitric acid to cellulose fiber.
 Two Types / Main Classes of Explosives

1. Low Explosives - which is called

gelatinized nitrocellulose.
2. High Explosives - is the other smokeless
powder consists of a mixture of nitrocellulose with a
high explosive and nitroglycerine.
High explosives are designed to shatter or
destroy the intended target.
Firearms Characteristics
Stages in the manufacture of barrel

A. Drilling
B. Reaming
C. Rifling is the process necessary for the
making of the helical groves inside the barrel
D. Lapped
 Characteristics in Firearms

A. Class Characteristics - are those

properties or attributes of a firearms which can
be determined even before the manufacture of
the gun. This is true for such characteristics are
considered to be a manufacture’s designs or
specifications and security.
 Class Characteristics of Firearms

1. Bore diameter (caliber or gauge)

 Class Characteristics of Firearms
2. Number of lands and grooves It may run from
3 to 8, but the most in the modern firearm are five and six.
Lands - are the elevated portion of the bore of the firearm.
Grooves - are the depressed portion of the bore between the lands.
 Class Characteristics of Firearms
3. Width of the lands are the remainders of the
circumference after subtracting all the grooves width.
 Class Characteristics of Firearms
4. Width of the Grooves
5. Direction of Twist
6. Pitch of Rifling - it is the measure of the twisting
of the lands and grooves. It refers to the measure of
the distance advance by the rifling in order to make a
complete turn inside the barrel.
7. Depth of the Grooves - are usually few
thousandths of an inch deep, which equal to the
 Types of Rifling

1. Steyer Type is the type of rifling having four (4) lands

and grooves, right twist and the width of the lands and
grooves are equal. (4 RG=L)
2. Carbine Type rifling having (4) lands and grooves,
right twist, the width of the grooves is two (2) times the
width of the lands. (4RG2X)
3. Smith and Wesson rifling having (5) land and
grooves, right hand twist , the width of the land and
grooves are equal. (5RG=L)
 Types of Rifling
4. Colt 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)
5. Browning type of rifling having (6) lands
and grooves, right hand twist, the width of
the grooves is twice the width of the lands.
(6RG2X)
 Types of Rifling
6. Webley 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)
7. Winchester Rifling having six (6) lands
and grooves, right hand twist, the width of
the grooves is three time larger the width
 Individual Characteristics in Firearms
Individual Characteristics in firearms are
usually determined by the test firing which will
give us both the test bullet and the test shell
that will show the individuality of its property
based on the left marks on every bullet and
shell fired from it. Such marks are so minute
that the use of the lens with high magnification
is necessary to discover individuality.
Marks found of Fired Bullets

Land Marks marks left

on a fired bullet caused by its
contact to the elevated
portion (lands) of the bore of
the firearm. It appears as
slight depressions or
scratches the cylindrical
surface of the fired bullet.
Marks found of Fired Bullets

Groove Marks
marks found on a fired
bullet caused by the
grooves of the barrel which
is the same number as that
of the landmarks.
 Marks found of Fired Bullets

3. Skid Marks Marks that are generally

found on fired bullet from a revolver. It is
more or less located at the anterior portion
of the fired bullet due to its forward
movement from the chamber to the barrel
of the gun before it initially rotates.
 Marks found of Fired Bullets

4. Stripping Marks marks found on those

bullet fired from a “loose-fit” barrel wherein the
rifling are already been badly worn-out.
Worn-out in the rifling of the firearms can be
cause by either chemical reaction brought about
by rust (corrosion) or through excessive use
(erosion).
 Marks found of Fired Bullets

5. Shaving Marks marks commonly

found on bullet fired from a revolver
cause by its forward movement to the
barrel that is poorly aligned to the
cylinder.
 Marks found of Fired Bullets

6. Slippage Marks marks found

on fired bullets passing through
either on oily or oversize barrel.
 Marks found on Fired
Shells

Firing Pin Mark

found at the base portion of the
cartridge case more specifically
near center of the primer cup in a
center fire cartridge or at the rim
cavity of a rim-fire cartridge.
 Marks found on Fired Shells

Breech Face Mark

found at the base portion
of the shell cause by
backward movement to
the breech face of the block
of the firearm.
Marks found on Fired
Shells

Extractor Mark
found at the extracting
groove of the fired
cartridge case cause by
its withdrawal from the
chamber.
 Marks found on Fired Shells
Shearing Mark sometimes called “Secondary
Firing Pin mark” found in the primer near the firing pin mark.
 Marks found on Fired Shells
Magazine Lip Mark found at the two sides of the
rim cause by the magazine lips during the loading of the cartridge into
the magazine for firing.

Chamber Mark found around the body of the fired

cartridge case cause by the irregularities of nips inside the walls of the
chamber.
In fired cartridge case either of the Firing pin mark and the Breech face
marks can be used as basis for identification, in the absence or none use of these
two, both the ejector and extractor marks can be utilized as secondary choice.
 Problems in Forensic Ballistics
1. Given a fired bullet to determine the caliber, type, make of
firearm from which it was fired.
2. Given a fired shell to determine the caliber, type, and
make of firearm from which it was fired.
3. Given a fired bullet and a suspected firearm, to determine
whether or not the fired bullet was fired from the
suspected firearm.
4. Given a fired shell and a suspected firearm, to determine
whether or not the fired shell was fired from the
suspected firearm.
 Problems in Forensic Ballistics
5. Given two or more fired bullets, to determine
whether or not they were fired from one and
the same firearm.
6. Given two or more fired shell/cartridge case,
to determine whether or not they were fired
from one and the same firearm.
7. Given a suspected firearm, to determine
whether it is serviceable or not.
Proper Handling of Ballistic Evidences

DON’T M-A-C THE EVIDENCE:

- Mutilate;
- Alter the nature, and
- Contaminate
 MARKING OF
EVIDENCE

FIRED BULLETS
marks should be made at
its nose or ogive or at the
base, with the use of any
pointed instrument.
 MARKING OF EVIDENCE
FIRED SHELLS
- marks may be made in any of the following parts:
1. inside, near the open mouth
2. outside, near the open mouth
3. on the body of the shell
 MARKING OF
EVIDENCE
SUSPECTED FIREARM
- markings should be made on all
of the three main and
inseparable parts
1. Barrel
2. Cylinder (if revolver)
or slide (in pistol)
3. Frame
 NOTES:
✓ ALL evidences should be marked by the
recovering officer with his initials
✓ Always put your markings on the parts that
can never be replaced
✓ Never use the letter “X”
Scientific Instrument Used in Firearms Identification
Analytical or Torsion
- It is use to determine weights of bullets and pellets for
possible determination of type, caliber and make from
which fired.
Scientific Instrument Used in
Firearms Identification
Bullet Comparison Microscope
- it is designed to permit the
firearms examiner to determine
the similarity and dissimilarity
between two fired bullets or two
fired shells, by simultaneously
observing their magnified image
in a single microscopic field.
Scientific Instrument Used in
Firearms Identification
Shadowgraph
- A series of microscopic lenses of
different magnification use to
determine class characteristics of
fired bullets and shells. Also, for
orientation purposes, it can take
photomicrograph of the
observations and comparisons made
in the circulation ground glass.
Scientific Instrument Used in
Firearms Identification
Comparison Projector
Very much similar with the bullet
comparison microscope. No
eyestrain because the magnified
image appears on the large
screen. What can be seen in the
screen can be photographed by
any kind of camera.
Scientific Instrument Used in Firearms Identification
Bullet Recovery Box
this is used for test firing to recover bullets from
all pistols and rifles for purposes of examination filled
with ordinary cotton and separated into sections by
and board partitions. This tank shall be a one-piece
welded design having minimum overall interior
dimensions of 12 inches in diameter by 120 inches in
length by 39 inches in height with ¼ thick steel plate.
 Bullet
Recovery
Box
Scientific Instrument Used in
Firearms Identification
Helixometer
used in measuring
“pitch of rifling”.
Distance traveled by
the bullet in
one complete rotation.
Scientific Instrument Used in Firearms Identification
Micrometer
this is almost look like a caliper used for precise
measurement of small distances.
Scientific Instrument Used in Firearms Identification
Caliper
it is use for making measurements such as
bullet diameter barrel length.
Scientific Instrument Used
in Firearms Identification
Onoscope
the small instrument sometimes
used in examining the internal
surface of the gun barrel in
determining the irregularities inside
the bore of the gun barrel. It has a
tiny lamp the terminal portion and
is inserted inside the bore for
internal examinations.
Scientific Instrument
Used in Firearms
Identification
Taper Gauge
this is used
primarily for
determining
bore diameter.