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Unit 1: Historical Background of Forensic Ballistics

This document provides an overview of forensic ballistics and its historical development. It discusses the key branches of ballistics including interior, exterior, terminal, shots, and wound ballistics. Interior ballistics examines what occurs inside the firearm during firing. Exterior ballistics studies the projectile's flight. Terminal ballistics analyzes the projectile's impact. Forensic ballistics applies these scientific analyses to investigations and legal proceedings involving firearms.

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Pearl Calis
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2K views5 pages

Unit 1: Historical Background of Forensic Ballistics

This document provides an overview of forensic ballistics and its historical development. It discusses the key branches of ballistics including interior, exterior, terminal, shots, and wound ballistics. Interior ballistics examines what occurs inside the firearm during firing. Exterior ballistics studies the projectile's flight. Terminal ballistics analyzes the projectile's impact. Forensic ballistics applies these scientific analyses to investigations and legal proceedings involving firearms.

Uploaded by

Pearl Calis
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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UNIT 1: HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF FORENSIC

BALLISTICS

1. CONCEPT- It can be traced since man learned to study how to launch


objects. Man used every indigenous weapon such as bow arrow and sling
shots to hurl objects. Scientific studies began with the invention of
propellants and ballistic measuring devices.
2. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

a. 10th century AD, China- used for military purposes in the form of
rockets and explosive bombs fired from catapults.
b. 1126 AD- first cannon appeared, Chinese soldiers used oiled
bamboo tubes in killing enemy at great distances.
c. 1242 AD- Roger Bacon, English philosopher, the first to describe its
preparation.
d. There are some evidence claiming the Arabs as the first to
develop black powder.
e. 1304- Arabs produced the first gun, a bamboo tube reinforced with
iron that used a charge of black powder to shoot an arrow.
f. From China- the use of black powder spread to Europe.

UNIT 2: BRANCHES OF BALLISTIC

A. INTERIOR BALLISTICS- The time during which the projectile is


influenced by Interior Ballistic is very short. From the release of the firing
pin to the moment the sound of the shot can be heard as it leaves the
muzzle occupies only about 0.01 seconds, in a modern rifle.

THINGS INVOLVED IN INTERIOR BALLISTICS:


1. Ignition of primer
2. Flames is produced
3. Combustion of the gunpowder
4. Energy that is generated
5. Force/Pressure developed
6. Velocity of the bullet (from the chamber to the muzzle)
7. Rotation of the bullet
8. Engraving of the cylindrical surface of the bullet

B. EXTERIOR BALLISTICS- The flight of most bullet or projectile does not


exceed 30 seconds at maximum range, which for almost any firearms is
obtained at an elevation of about 33 degrees.
CONDITIONS:
1. Velocity- speed per unit of time ex. M16- 3,300 ft/sec.
2. Energy- fatal equivalent of a bullet.
3. Yaw- the unstable rotating motion of a bullet.
4. Gyroscopic action- refers to the stillness of its rotating motion and
attained its highest momentum or stability in flight and penetrating
power.

C. TERMINAL BALLISTICS- is the dealing with the effect of the impact of


the bullet on the target. Penetration of the bullet is of a prime interest. It
involves:

1. Terminal accuracy- size of the bullet grouping on the target.


2. Terminal energy- energy of the projectile when it strikes the target,
a.k.a. striking energy.
3. Terminal penetration- depth of entry of the bullet in the target.
4. Terminal velocity- speed of the bullet upon striking the target.

 Terminal ballistics also deals with the destructive actions and


effects that occur at the end of the projectiles flight as an integral
and un-deformed body and may end in one of these:
a. The projectile may strike a solid obstruction, or
b. Its metal case may be broken by the explosion of a bursting
charge.

D. SHOTS BALLISTICS- deals with the attributes and properties of shots


and pellets.
1. Choke- diameter of a barrel of a shotgun is the same throughout the
bore, it is called true cylinder.
2. Choked- diameter near the muzzle end is slightly smaller than the
diameter of the bore of the rest of the barrel.
3. Full- if reduced by one mm; half if reduced by one-half mm; quarter if
reduced by ¼ mm; and improved cylinder if reduced by about 1/10
mm.
4. Chilled Shot- shotgun pellets made from lead especially hardened by
the addition of a slight amt. of antimony.

E. WOUND BALLISTICS- it is the study of the effects of projectile to human


body.

Gunshot Wound (GSW)- It is an open wound produced by the


penetration of bullet slug within the tissues of the body. The bullet which
was propelled from the gun as well as the flame from the heated
expanded gases in short range fire is one that produces injury.
Three Basic Kinds of GSW Distinguished by the Proximity of the
Weapon:

1. Contact- gun muzzle pressed against, or within an inch or two of the


body.
2. Close discharge- 6 inches to 2 ft.
3. Distance discharge- over 2 ft. or 3 ft.

F. FORENSIC BALLISTICS- This is the real branch of the science which the
police use as their guide in field investigations. This includes the following:

1. Field Investigations- conducted by the first officers on the case in the


field when they investigate a case or cases wherein firearms have
been used. This is a routine job of the investigating officers, and this
involves recognition, collection, marking, preservation, and transmittal
of ballistics exhibits like fired bullets, fired shells, firearms and allied
matters.
2. Technical Examinations of the Ballistics Exhibits- This is the job
performed by the firearms examiners in the laboratory. It involves
marking of the evidence firearms, test firings of evidence firearms to
obtain test bullets and test shells for comparative purposes,
photomicrography under the bullet comparison microscope,
preparation of comparative charts, and making of reports on the
findings and observations of the firearms examiners.
3. Legal Proceedings- Court Trials- wherein the ballistics report of the
firearm examiner and the ballistics exhibits are presented during trial of
the case in a court of justice.

 FORENSIC- As applied to ballistics, or to any other subject, suggest


a relationship to Courts of Justice and legal proceedings.

 FORUM- It is a Latin word from which forensic was derived,


meaning a marketplace, where people gather for “public disputation”
or “public discussion.” The term “Ballistics”, “Forensic Ballistics”, and
“Firearms Identification”, have come to mean one and the same
thing in the minds of the public, and they can be used
interchangeably.
UNIT 3: FORENSIC BALLISTICS AND FIREARMS
IDENTIFICATION

1. Forensic Ballistics
 Includes firearms identification; forensic internal ballistics; forensic
intermediate ballistics; forensic external ballistics and forensic terminal
ballistics.
 It is a field of forensic science that is focused on the scientific analysis
of all ballistics-related phenomena to interpret or establish the true
facts in shooting incident (Association of Ballistics Specialists in South
Africa – ABSA).

Ballistic-related evidence (ballistic exhibits) – usually in the form of a


real object such as firearm, bullet, or shell that can be presented in court
as physical evidence.
Ballistic-related phenomenon – usually in the form of an incident or a
series of events involving discharge of firearm which can be presented as
documentary or testimonial evidence in court such as:
1. Bullet holes
2. Bullet damage on various mediums
3. Bullet trajectories
4. Gunshot wounds

2. Firearms Identification
 Examination of fired bullets, cartridge, or other ammunition
components to identify the gun where they came from.
 It covers bullet identification; cartridge identification; and firearm
identification.
 Sometimes called ballistics fingerprinting, ballistic matching, and/or tool
mark analysis.

A. KEY TERMS
1. Projectile- object that can be launched or fired like bullet, artillery shell, or
rocket.
2. Firearm- basically termed as a gun. A portable weapon such as pistol or rifle
that discharges ammunition.
3. Ammunition- any unfired assembly of primer, powder and ball which might
be used in a firearm.
4. Propellant- explosive charge that projects a bullet from a gun.
5. Rifling- spiral lands and grooves found at the bore of the gun barrel which is
designed to:
1. To impart of rotation to a bullet,
2. To insure stability in flight,
3. So that the bullet will travel nose towards the target
6. Cartridge Case- tubular metallic or non- metallic container which holds
together the bullet, gunpowder and primer

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