PRELIM COVERAGE

FORENSIC BALLISTICS
LESSON 1.1
DEFINITION AND SCOPE OF BALLISTICS

A. DEFINITION OF BALLISTICS
Based on etymology, the term ballistics evolved from two ancient words: ‘ballista’ and
‘ballein’.  Ballista is a mid-18 century English word that came from the Romans about early
th

16 century.  This was the description of a huge catapult (an ancient military weapon) used
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by the Romans to hurl large stones at a particular distance to kill animals or to fight their
enemies.  The word ballista probably came from Greeks via Latin.  It was derived from the
Greek word ballein.  Which may be translated as ‘to throw’. (Microsoft Encarta, 2003)

 The following are accepted definitions of ballistics based on different point-of-views.

1. Ballistics basically means an activity that involves throwing. (Etymological
definition).
2. In the broadest sense, ballistics refers to the study of projectiles, firearms and
ammunitions, including the characteristics of firearm that affect the way projectiles
are fired.
3. In a technical sense, ballistics is the science of projectiles in motion from the
moment of firing until impact at the target.  It covers the scientific study of the
propulsion (driving force), flight, and impact (destructive action) of projectiles
(Encyclopedia Britannica, 2000)
4. Ballistics is a branch of engineering that deals with the motion and behavior of
projectiles such as bullets, rockets, bombs, and guided missiles.  Ordinarily, ballistics
is concerned with projectiles fired from small arms and cannons, but it may be
concerned also with the free flight of bombs and rockets.  (world Book
Encyclopedia, 2002)

Based on technical definitions, ballistics is not focused really on the study of firearms
but on the motion of projectiles.  Motion as used in the module, primarily refers to the
movement or action of projectiles launched from firearms.
The three general types of projectile’s motion are direct, rotary and translational.  These
kinds of motions studied in ballistics are distinguished as follows:
1. Direct motion is the forward movement of the projectile inside the gun barrel
resulting from the expanding force of gasses produced after combustion of the
gunpowder.
2. Rotary motion is the gyrating action of the projectile while passing through a gun
barrel.  This is true particularly to elongated projectiles such as bullets or slugs. 
While a bullet is passing through a rifles gun barrel, it is revolving either to the right
or to the left direction.
3. Translational motion is the movement of a projectile in a straight line so that every
part of the projectile follows a parallel path and no rotation takes place.  It may
include also the bouncing action of a bullet once it hits a resistant surface.
 B. BRANCHES OF BALLISTICS
Simplifying the scope of ballistics, this science can be divided into three main branches:
internal, external and terminal.
Internal ballistics means deals with the motion of a projectile while it is still inside the
gun.  It is the study focused on what happens inside the gun during firing.
External ballistics deals with the motion of the projectile from the time it escapes from
the gun muzzle until it reaches the target.  It is the study of what happens during the bullet’s
flight.
Terminal ballistics deals with the effect of the projectile on the target.  It is the study of
what happens when the projectile strikes the target.
Another significant area of ballistics is wound ballistics.  Closely associated with terminal
ballistics, wound ballistics is however primarily concerned with the nature and medical
implications of physical injury and shock caused by bullets and explosively driven fragments.

There are other sub-areas of ballistics such as handgun ballistics, shotgun ballistics, rifle
ballistics, air gun ballistics, etc.  Notice that these sub-areas of ballistics are classified based
on the general types of small arms.

LESSON 1.2
DEFINITIONS OF KEY TECHNICAL TERMS

I. CONCEPT
Since most violent crimes today involve the use of firearms and explosives,
people interested in investigating crimes must have adequate knowledge about forensic
ballistics, firearms forensics, and firearms identification.
Although the science of firearms and their uses is known as gunnery, study
regarding the characteristics of firearms and ammunition is usually associated with
ballistics.  When ballistics principles are used to settle legal questions involving a
criminal incident, what is applied is forensic ballistics.  For purposed of this course,
forensic ballistics encompasses the field of firearms forensics and firearms identification.
 
A. FORENSIC BALLISTICS VS FIREARMS IDENTIFICATION
Forensic ballistics is the application of ballistics principles to legal matters.  Law
enforcers and criminal investigators encounter cases that require them to utilize their
knowledge in ballistics and resolve legal issues regarding a shooting incident.  Forensic
specialists need to investigate the propulsion, motion and impact of bullets in order to
discover the truth about what happened in a case whereby a gun was fired.
According to ABSA (Association of Ballistics Specialists in South Africa), a group
of specialists in reconstructing shooting scenes, forensic ballistics is a field of forensic
science that is focused on the scientific analysis of all ballistics related phenomena with
exclusive purpose of interpreting or establishing the true facts in a shooting related
incident.
 Ballistic related evidence, otherwise called ballistics exhibit, is usually in the
form of a real object such as a firearm, bullet or shell that can be brought to the court
and presented as physical evidence.
         On the other hand, ballistic related phenomenon is usually in the form of an
incident or a series of events involving a discharge of firearms which can be presented
to the court as documentary and /or testimonial evidence.  Ballistic related phenomena
that are often presented to the court during criminal trial include, but not limited to the
following:
1. Bullet holes
2. Bullet damage on various mediums
3. Bullet trajectories
4. Gunshot wounds
Investigations conducted by experts in forensic ballistics can be divided into
three main areas: forensic internal ballistics, forensic external ballistics, and forensic
terminal ballistics.  Forensic examinations involved in these three areas are closely
associated with firearms identification.
According to Scott Doyle (2003), firearms identification refers to the
examination of fired bullets, cartridge cases, or other ammunition components to
identify the gun where they came from.  Firearms identification is actually a form of tool
mark identification where the firearm acts as a tool that leaves impressed and/or
striated marks on the various ammunition components.  Take note that firearm is made
of a material harder than the metals used in bullets, shells and primers.  In effect,
firearms identification covers three areas:  bullet identification, cartridge case
identification (or shell identification), and firearm identification per se.
Firearms identification is the science of identifying the imperfections or
irregularities of firearms and matching the marks they put on bullets and cartridge cases
fired through them.  Thus, it is sometimes called ballistic fingerprinting.  Others prefer to
use alternative descriptions such as ballistic matching and tool-mark analysis.
Although ballistics is sometimes referred to as the science of firearms
identification, experts disagree with this definition since forensic ballisticians are not
only involved in identifying firearms.
In police parlance, ballistics is often used synonymously with “firearms
investigation and identification”.  Such usage is not appropriate because, strictly
speaking, investigation and identification of firearms for legal purposes is called
firearms forensics.  Take note, however, that forensic ballistics is already acceptable as
alternative term for firearms identification.

B. DEFINITION OF KEY TERMS

Aside from forensic ballistics, firearms identification, and firearms forensics, there
are other key terms such as projectile, firearm, ammunition, propellant, rifling, etc.  These
terms must be clarified because of their extensive use in this course.
1. PROJECTILE refers to an object that can be fired or launched, artillery shell, or
rocket (Microsoft Encarta, 2003).  It could be a metallic or non-metallic object
propelled from a firearm.  It could also be in the form of bullets, shotgun pellets,
artillery shells, rockets, bombs, and guided missiles.
2. A FIREARM, basically termed as a gun, is a portable weapon such as pistol or rifle
that discharges ammunition.  Technically, it is a weapon consisting essentially of a
 metal tube that fires a projectile by using the force of an explosive propellant. 
Based on the FBI manual on Firearms identification, a firearm is an instrument used
for the propulsion of projectiles by means of the expansive force of gases coming
from burning gunpowder.
Legally speaking, firearms or arms include rifles, muskets, carbines,
shotguns, pistols, revolvers, and other deadly weapons from which bullets, balls,
shots, shells, or other missiles maybe discharged by means of gunpowder or other
explosives.  This term also includes air rifles except those of small caliber and of
limited range that are used as toys.  The barrel of any firearm is considered a
complete firearm for all purposes under the Revised Administrative Code.  (Section
877, Act# 2711 as amended; section 290, National Internal Revenue Code)

3. AMMUNITION is the general term applied to metallic cartridges and shot shells used in
firearms.  Ammunition means any unfired assembly of primer, powder and ball which might be
used in a firearm.  The word is generally used when referring to a supply of assembled cartridges
in bulk as in boxes or cases.  However, ammunition is often used to refer to the supply a person
might be carrying in his pockets, although the term ‘cartridges” is equally applied.  The term
‘round” is often heard especially by the military, but it refers today to a single cartridge.
Legally speaking, ammunition refers to any loaded shell for rifles, muskets,
carbines, shotguns, revolvers, and pistols, from which a bullet, ball, shot shell, or
other missile may be fired by means of gunpowder or other explosive.  The term
also includes ammunition for air rifles except those that are loaded in toy rifles have
small caliber and limited range (-as provided under section 877, Act #2711 as
amended; section 290, National Internal Revenue Code)

4. PROPELLANT refers to an explosive charge that projects a bullet from a gun.  It is the gunpowder
loaded in a cartridge or shotgun shell which, when ignited by the primer flash, is converted to
gas under high pressure and launches a projectile through the barrel and on to the target.

5. RIFLING simply refers to spiral lands and grooves found at the bore of the gun barrel.   The
grooves cut along the bore surface have the main function of providing rotary motion to the
bullet passing through the gun barrel.  Consequently, the rifling imparts unique marks on the
bullet’s surface while being forced to spin while sliding at the gun’s bore.