BALLISTIC

S
 Unit 8: BALLISTICS

4 Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 17

 Chapter 17 Ballistics
By the end of this chapter you will be able to:

 describe rifling on a gun barrel and explain how it

marks a bullet
 explain barrel size and caliber
 describe how bullets are test fired and matched
 discuss the role of ballistics recovery and
examination at a crime scene
 determine the position of the shooter based on bullet
trajectory
All Rights Reserved South-Western / Cengage Learning © 2009

5 Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 17

 Vocabulary
 Ballistics
 Barrel
 Breech
 Bullet
 Caliber
 Cartridge
 Firearm
 Fully automatic
 Gunshot residue
 Lands
 Muzzle
 Pistol
 Rifle
 Rifling
 Semiautomatic
 Shell casing

6 Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 17

 trajectory
 History of
Gunpowder and Firearms

 The Chinese invented gunpowder over a

thousand years ago.
 Muzzle-loading matchlocks used wicks to
ignite the gunpowder.
 The cartridge and breech loading followed.
 Rifling provided greater accuracy.
 Revolver, semi-automatic, and automatic
handguns were developed.
7 Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 17
 Why Should You Study This Topic?

Ballistic evidence helps explain:

 What type of firearm was used.
 The caliber of the bullet.
 The number of bullets fired.
 Where the shooter was.
 Whether a weapon was fired recently.
 If a firearm was used in previous crimes.
 It is currently a controversial political Issue {GUN
CONTROL}
8 Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 17
“The Most
Controversial Issue in
American Politics”
Key Facts
 70-80 million Americans own a gun
 40-45% of homes in US have a gun (2011)
 Firearms caused 68% of murders in 2010

A mountain of confiscated smuggled guns

collected in Nairobi, Kenya
History

 2nd amendment- "A well regulated Militia, being necessary

to the security of a free State, the right of the people to
keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”
 Constitution- "To preserve liberty, it is essential that the
whole body of people always possess arms, and be
taught alike especially when young, how to use them."
 The Federal Gun Free School Zone Act in 1995, cant be
within 1,000 feet of a school with possession of a firearm
Legal and Constitutional Significance

 2nd amendment – protects the right of an

individual to own a firearm
 Columbia vs. Heller (2008)
 Firearms can be used for self defense
 McDonald vs. Chicago (2010)
 States can determine gun laws
Support/Oppose

Support Oppose
• 67% of Americans that • Firearms caused 55% of suicides (2006)
own a licensed gun said • There have been 11 presidential
they use it for “defense assassination attempts (all using guns)
against crime” • Guns are unsafe and cause unnecessary
• 70% of male prisoners in violence in a community
jails across the country
said they knew someone
who attempted a robbery
but was scared away by
the owners’ possession of
a gun
Do you think that every American should be
allowed to carry a gun whenever they want?
 Current Status

Ownership of Guns:
Households with a gun= 40-45%
Adults owning a gun=30-34%
Adults owning a handgun=17-19%
Reasons for having a gun:
Protection against crime=67%
Target Shooting=66%
Hunting:41%
Laws:
Guns allowed in streets with a license= 39 States
Federal Gun Free School Zone Act of 1995= Guns at least 1000 feet away from a school
Federal law = restricts who can own, possess, or sell a gun
Brady Act= Certain scenarios people can’t use a gun
The National Firearms Act= gun must be specifically registered to a possessor of a gun
Many states consider ones guns laws of the state they come from when they go to another state while
othersdon’t.
Future of Gun Control

 Keeping and bearing arms is limited

 Officials will address the gun control
problems.
 Biden’s officials want to reduce gun control.
 General public wants to reduce gun control.
 Gun control will be limited further than it is
today.
Recent Occurrences

 April 16, 2007 – Seung-Hui Cho kills 32

people in the Virginia Tech Massacre
 Cho was able to purchase handguns without detection after
being declared mentally unstable

 July 20, 2012 – James Holmes kills 12

people in the Aurora movie theater shooting
 Holmes had “easy access” to assault weapons through the
Colorado state firearm policy
Recent Occurrences

 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting,

also called Newtown shootings of 2012,
mass shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, on
December 14, 2012, that left 28 people dead
and 2 injured. After murdering his mother at
their home, Adam Lanza fatally
shot 20 children and 6 adults at Sandy Hook
Elementary School before taking his own life.
It was one of the deadliest school shootings in
U.S. history.
https://www.britannica.com/event/Sandy-Hook-Elementary-School-
shooting
 What is Forensic Ballistics?

Forensic ballistics is the

scientific analysis or
interpretation of all ballistic
related evidence with the
purpose of interpreting and
establishing the facts in a
shooting related crime

18 Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 17

 Forensic Ballistics: Importance

 Ballistic evidence helps police answer many

questions pertaining to a crime scene.
– What type of firearm was used?
– What was the caliber of the bullet?
– How many bullets were fired?
– Where was the shooter standing?
– What was the angle of impact?
– Has this firearm been used in a previous crime?

19 Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 17

 Forensic Ballistics: Three Sections

 Forensic Ballistics is divided into three

categories:
– Internal ballistics
– External ballistics
– Terminal ballistics

20 Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 17

 What is Internal Ballistics?

The study of the processes occurring inside

a firearm when a shot is fired.

It includes the study of various firearm

mechanisms and barrel manufacturing
techniques; factors influencing internal gas
pressure; and firearm recoil

21 Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 17

 Internal Ballistics

The most common types of internal

ballistics are:
(a) examining mechanism to determine the
causes of accidental discharge
(b) examining home-made devices (zip-
guns) to determine if they are capable
of discharging ammunition effectively
(c) microscopic examination and
comparison of fired bullets and
cartridge cases to determine whether a
22 particular firearm was used
Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 17
 What is External Ballistics?

The study of the projectile’s flight from the

moment it leaves the muzzle of the barrel until it
strikes the target.

The 2 most common types of external ballistics

examinations are:
(a) the calculation and reconstruction of
bullet trajectories
(b) establishing the maximum range of a
23 given bullet
Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 17
 What is Terminal Ballistics?

The study of the projectile’s effect on the

target or the counter-effect of the target on
the projectile

The ‘target’ can be any solid or liquid object,

but when the target is a human or animal it is
common to use the term “wound ballistics”

24 Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 17

 Terminal Ballistics

Common types of terminal ballistics examinations

are
(a) determination of the distance between firing
point and target
(b) establishing whether or not a particular wound
was caused by a fired bullet
(c) determining the caliber and type of projectile
that caused bullet damage or gunshot wound
(d) examination of bullet exit/entrance by examining the holes
in targets, or the wounds in biological tissue
(e) examination of ricochet possibilities and fired projectiles

25 Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 17

Long Guns and Handguns

 Modern firearms are divided into two basic types, long

guns and handguns.
 Long guns – require the use of two hands during firing
(rifles fire bullets, shotguns fire pellets or slugs)
 Handguns – (pistols fire one and revolvers fire from a
revolving cylinder) can be fired using one hand. They
are divided into two subcategories, revolvers (holds 6
bullets) and semiautomatic (can hold up to 10 in a clip,
more in a military or police grade clip)
 Semiautomatic fires one bullet pull trigger pull and
automatic fire repeatedly as long as the trigger is
pressed.
 What is a Bullet?

“Bullet” refers to the projectile(s) which

actually exits the barrel of the gun when fired
Bullets vary in shape and composition
There exist hundreds of different types of
bullets
Most types are variations on three main
shapes & three basic compositions

27 Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 17

 Anatomy of a bullet
 The bullet (projectile) can be made of many
different things.
 The primer powder initiates the contained
explosion that pushes the bullet down the
barrel. The primer is struck by the firearm’s
firing pin that will strike the rim or bottom of
the cartridge
 The anvil and flash hole provide the
mechanism of delivering the explosive charge
from the primer to the gunpowder.
 The headstamp on the bottom of the
cartridge casing identifies the caliber and
manufacturer.
28 Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 17
 What is the “Caliber” of a Bullet?

 Bullets (and their cartridges) are named by caliber

and length.
 Caliber – measure of the diameter of the cartridge.
i.e. .22, .25, .357, .38, .44, and .45. They are
measured in hundredths of an inch. So .45-caliber
cartridge is 45/100 (almost ½ inch).
 Because the bullet moves through the barrel, the
caliber of the ammunition should match the firearm
that shoots it.

29 Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 17

 What Are The Three Types of Bullets?

30 Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 17

 Round Nose

Maximum penetration
Cheapest shape to manufacture
Easily loads into chambers

31 Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 17

 Hollow Point

Spreads or mushrooms on impact

Causes additional damage to target
Inhibits penetration

32 Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 17

 Wad Cutter

Used exclusively as a practice load

Minimizes penetration
Rips a hole in target paper which is visible by the
shooter

33 Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 17

 Bullet Composition: Three Types

Lead
½ Jacketed
Jacketed (Full metal jacket)
34 Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 17
 Lead Bullets

Cheap
Dense
Soft
Easy to mold
35 Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 17
 ½ Jacketed
A lead bullet coated with copper half
way up the exposed portion of the
bullet
Used primarily for
hollow points
Copper improves
exit velocity
Lead promotes mushrooming

36 Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 17

 Full Metal Jacket

A lead bullet completely

coated in copper
Copper improves exit
velocity
Used to hold the shape
of the bullet in an effort
to maximize penetration
37 Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 17
 What Makes Fired Bullets Unique?

 When a gun is fired, the barrel marks

each bullet with its own unique pattern of
land and grooves. By examining the lands
and grooves, a bullet investigators can
match to the gun from which it was fired.
 Investigators compare bullets and spent
cartridge casings from a crime scene with
bullets and spent cartridges shot from the
suspected firearm.

38 Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 17

 What Makes Fired Bullets Unique?
 Firing pin marks left on the spent cartridge casings can also be
used to identify a firearm (left on the bottom of the cartridge when
the firing pin hits it to fire the shot).
 Breechblock markings are another kind of mark left on spent
cartridge casings when the firearm is shot. This causes explosive
force pushes the bullet forcasing backward against the breechblock,
which prevents the cartridge from shooting toward the user at it
recoils
 Other marks left on spent cartridge casings include extractor and
ejector marks, which are minute scratches produced as the
cartridge is placed in firing chamber (via extractor) and removed
from the chamber after firing (via ejector).

39 Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 17

 Striations

40 Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 17

 Matching Procedure for Striations

Fire bullets from a suspected

weapon
With the aid of a comparison
microscope, compare these “test
fires” to the suspected bullets
Striations must be identical for a
positive match
41 Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 17
 Matching Procedure for Striations

Comparison Two scopes-

Microscope One Field

42 Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 17

bsapp.com
 Gun Shot Residue
{External Ballistics}

 Because all firearms explode gunpowder, they produce

gunshot residues (GSR) when fired.
 These residues are the traces of smoke and particles of
unburned powder carried sideways from the firearm by
the expansion of gases as the bullet is fired.
 Gunshot residues containing nitrates can sick to the
person holding the firearm and leave evidence on the
shooter.

44 Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 17

GUN SHOT RESIDUE
(GSR)

CAN BE DETECTED EVEN

AFTER WASHING
CLOTHING / HANDS
 GUNSHOT
RESIDUES
•Particles of unburned powder and traces of smoke are
the residues of gunshots.
•They can leave a trace on:
•Shooter
•hand, arm, face, hair, or clothing
•Victim
•Chemical testing often can detect residue even if removal
is attempted.
•The distance from the victim to the shooter can be
determined by examination of the residue pattern on the
victim.
GUNSHOT
RESIDUES

Chemists have developed a

reliable new test for detecting
the presence of gun shot
residue. Above is a residue
particle -- roughly 1/20 the
size of a period -- that has
been magnified 200 times
with a digital microscope
 DATABASES
 A database is a searchable collection of information
stored in a computer system.
 Firearm databases can be searched to match crime-
scene evidence to registered weapons.
 National Integrated Bullet Identification System
(NIBIS), which has computer files of ballistic markings of
firearms used in previous crimes.
 Drugfire, FBI database that focuses on cartridge
casings.
 These databases were merged in 2000 to create the
National
48 Forensic Integrated Ballistics Network (NIBIN)
Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 17
What happens to bullets when they
are fired?

bsapp.com
 REV
I EW

How a Firearm Works

1. The firing pin hits the base of the

cartridge, igniting the primer powder.
2. The primer powder sparks through the
flash hole to the main propellant
supply.
3. The pressure of the explosion pushes
the bullet from the casing into the
barrel.
4. The bullet follows the lands and
grooves spiraling out of the barrel.

50 Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 17

 Trajectory of Bullet
{External Ballistics}
 An important part of a ballistics investigation is
determining where a shooter was located during a crime.
 Trajectory is the path of the propelled bullet. From the
angle of trajectory, the path back to the shooter can be
traced.
 This can be calculated by finding two reference points
along the flight path of the projectile. Ignoring gravity, if
you assume that bullets travel in straight lines, two
reference points will define a single line. You can then
assume that the shooter discharged the firearm
somewhere along that line.
 Ex.: bullet holes in objects, bullet wound on a victim,
GSR on objects or piles of spent cartridge casings. A
single victim can still have two reference points (entry
wound and exit wound)
 This can be difficult because bullets can ricochet.

51 Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 17

 How do We Find the Trajectory
of a Bullet?
Wind shield
You can use the Pythagorean theorem to
Distance along path of
bullet to window, 23.9”
Path of bullet determine the length of the third side of the
x
y
triangle, which is the height of the shooter
above the horizon.
60 feet Horizon
Pythagorean theorem: for right triangles,
Distance along
horizon to the square of the length of hypotenuse
window, 23.5”
(longest side) is equal to the sum of the
squares of the two other sides. a2+b2=c2

 Two reference points are needed to define the

trajectory.
 Investigators can figure the shooter discharged the
firearm somewhere along that line.
52 Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 17
 What is needed to Calculate
The Trajectory of a bullet?

 Reference points can be bullet holes in objects

or victims.
 An entry point and exit point on a victim can be
used.
 Gunshot residue or spent cartridge casings can
be less specific reference points.
 Investigators can use lasers to trace a straight-
line path to help determine the position of the
shooter.
53 Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 17
 Trajectory Sample Problem
 A victim was shot from a bullet that came from a
nearby building. If the angle of trajectory is 36
degrees and the distance to the building in
question is 83 feet, calculate the height of the
path of the bullet relative to the bullet wound
using the Law of Tangents.

 Tan θ = opposite (height) / adjacent (distance to

building)

 Tan 36 = height/ 83 ft

 Height = (83ft)(tan 360) = 60.3 ft

54 Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 17
 YOU CAN EASILY DETERMINE THE ORIGIN HEIGHT OF THE FIRED BULLET
BY ADDING 60.3 FT + 5.7 Ft.

55 Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 17

 What happens to a bullet when
it hits a target? {TERMINAL
BALLISTICS}

•Most bullets tend to

mushroom when they hit a
target.

•Some bullets nearly

disintegrate.

•Left are bullet fragments

from a ½ jacketed hollow
point.
56 Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 17
 What happens to a bullet when
it hits a target?

Not all bullets mushroom the same. A lot

depends on the speed and shape of the
bullet, and the characteristics of the target.

57 Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 17

 Bullet Wounds

 Eyewitness accounts often are not accurate, so

investigators examine bullet wounds to confirm
stories.
 Determining which wound is the entrance and which
is the exit is an important step in determining what
happened at a crime scene.
 Generally, entrance wounds are smaller than exit
wounds. Because the skin is elastic, it stretches
when a bullet enters the body causing the
entrance wound hole to be smaller than the bullet.
Exit wounds are larger because the bullet may
move and gather tissue and bone and push that
out as it leaves.

58 Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 17

 Bullet Wounds: Continued

 If the bullet rips through clothing first, fibers would be

found in the entry wound. If the gun was touching the
victim, hot gases from the explosion would leave a burn
mark.
 Bullets’ paths though a body are not straight because
they can ricochet off bone and be knocked out of line by
organs. A bullet may not exit a body at all.
 High speed bullets are more likely to pass though a
body than a low-velocity bullet.
 Small bullets tend to lodge themselves in a body while
larger ones pass through.

59 Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 17

 GUNSHOT INJURIES

The seriousness of gunshot wounds

depends on 5 factors
(a) kinetic energy of the bullet
(b) distance to the target
(c) type of tissue
(d) tumbling (flipping around or going
straight through)
(e) bullet design ex. hollowpoint, vs.
round nose etc.
60 Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 17
Bullet wounds (4 kinds)

1. Barrel on skin
2. Barrel just off skin
3. Barrel inches away
4. Shot from a distance
Barrel on skin
Notice:
Distinctive star pattern, so…

energy from the gun shot

forced back out entryway
“blowback”

NO burnt gun powder marks

around entryway, so…

•ALL gunpowder delivered

inside entryway singing the
interior (black area)
 Barrel inches away
 Notice:
 “stippling”of
the burning
powder around
the actual
bullet entry way
 No star pattern
– No “blow back”
Barrel just off skin
Notice:
 - no star pattern so..
– not ON skin
 No stippling from g.p. so..
– TOO close for inches away
 Barrel burns like on skin
so….
– JUST off skin
9mm to person’s back NOTICE:
– Lack of burnt gun powder burns on skin
– Lack of star pattern

Conclusion = shot from distance

(probably through clothes)
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Summary

 Fired bullets show patterns of lands and grooves

that match the rifling in the barrel.
 The caliber of a cartridge usually is a measure of its
diameter.
 Investigators also check for firing pin, breechblock,
extractor, and ejector marks.
 Gunshot residue can help recreate a crime.
 It’s important to locate where the shooter was
located.
66 Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 17