Brief History of Ballistics

BRIEF HISTORY OF BALLISTICS
The word “Ballistics” originated from the Greek word “Ballein” or “Ballo” which means “to
throw” and from a Roman war machine called “Ballista” – a gigantic bow or catapult use to
throw missiles and large objects such as stones at a particular distance to deter animals or
enemy forces.
BRANCHES OF BALLISTICS
Originally, it was divided into three division namely, Interior, Exterior and Terminal. It was
only in the 20th century where firearm evidence become a subject of investigational interest in
the form of fired bullets, cartridge cases and gunshot wounds that its branches of study become
four, now including Forensic Ballistics as the science of firearms identification.
1. INTERIOR BALLISTICS – treats of the motion of projectiles while still inside the firearm.
The conditions attributed to internal ballistics are as follows:
a. Firing pin hitting the primer – it is when the trigger is press making the hammer
release which cause the firing pin to be pushed and hit the base portion of the
cartridge where the primer is located.
b. Ignition of the priming mixture – this action is known as “percussion action”,

wherein the priming mixture is located either at the cavity rim at the center of the
primer upon the striking effect of the firing pin will ignites.
c. Combustion of the gunpowder – it is the burning of gunpowder after the ignition of
the priming mixture wherein the ignition will be imparted to the gunpowder by
passing through the vent or flash hole and converts it into an expanded heated gas.
d. Expansion of heated gas – this will fill the entire container or empty shell once the
powder charge burned and converted into heated gas, which has a more elastic
property for its particles are far apart.
e. Pressure developed – it is developed due to the great amount of gas that is
expanding within the shell causing the withdrawal of the bullet from the shell.
f. Energy generated – it is the measure of force in foot-pound necessary for an
action.
g. Recoil of the gun – it is the equal and opposite reaction of the gun against the
forward movement of the bullet upon explosion.
Three factors that greatly influence the recoil of the gun
1. Gas operated
2. Recoil operated
3. Blowback type – the lesser recoil and can be observed in pistol.
Jump is another portion of the recoil action characterized as the backward and upward
movement of that takes place before the bullet leaves the muzzle.
h. Velocity of the bullet inside the barrel – it is the relative speed of the bullet per
unit of time while it is still inside the barrel expressed in feet per second.
i. Rotation of the cylindrical surface of the bullet – it refers to the twist of the bullet
caused by the cylindrical grooved portion of the barrel of most firearms.
j. Engraving of the cylindrical surface of the bullet – once the bullet passed
through the barrel of any firearm whether rifled or not will leave its mark to the
cylindrical surface of the bullet serving as its thumbprints.
2. EXTERIOR BALLISTICS – treats of the motion of projectiles after leaving the muzzle of
the gun.
a. Muzzle blast – is the noise created at the muzzle point of the gun due to the
sudden escape of the expanding gas and its contact with the air.
b. Muzzle energy – it is the energy generated at the muzzle point measures in foot-
pound.
c. Trajectory – it is described as the actual curve path travel by the bullet during its
flight from the gun muzzle to the target. It also refers to the parabola-like flight of the
projectile from the time it leaves the muzzle until it hits the target. Three kinds
of range
1. Accurate range – the distance within which the shooter or gunner has control of his
shots.
2. Maximum range – the distance that a projectile can be propelled from a firearm and
the farthest distance the bullet could travel.
d. Velocity – refers to the rate of speed of the bullet, during its flight, per unit of time
usually express in feet per second.
e. Pull of gravity – it is downward reaction of the bullet towards the earth surface due
to its weight.
f. Water Current – a continuous directed movement of water generated by force acting
upon the flow and waves or the magnitude and direction of flow within that fluid.
g. Air resistance
3. TERMINAL BALLISTICS – treats of the effects of the projectiles on the impact of the
target.
a. Terminal accuracy – it refers to the size of the bullet grouping on the target.
b. Terminal energy – is the energy or force of the projectile when it strikes the target
same as striking energy.
c. Terminal velocity – is the speed of the bullet upon striking the target.
d. Terminal penetration – is the depth of entry of the bullet in the target.
4. FORENSIC BALLISTICS - is one branch of ballistics which refers to the investigation and
identification of firearms by means of ammunition fired through them or simply defined as
the study of the motion of the projectile as applied to law. This is the real branch of the
science which the police use as their guide in field investigations. The word forensic was
derived from the Latin word “forum” meaning a market place, where people gathered for
public discussion or disputation.
Scope of Forensic Ballistics

1. Crime Scene Investigation - it is the conduct of processes, more particularly
the recognition, search, collection, handling, preservation and documentation of physical
evidence to include the identification of witnesses and the arrest of suspect/s at the crime
scene. Crime Scene Search - is a systematic method employed by the SOCO Team, if the
nature of the case is sensational or sensitive, and the Investigator-on-Case in the conduct of
search in the crime scene and in the surrounding areas where the alleged crime has taken place
for the purpose of finding and recovering evidence.
2. Technical Examinations of Ballistics Exhibits – this is the job performed by a
firearm examiner in the laboratory, it is extended to markings of evidences, test firing,
photomicrography under the bullet comparison microscope, preparation of the comparative
chart, and final reports on the findings and observations of the firearms examiners.
3. Legal proceeding - it is the most critical part in the field of firearm identification
for herein the examiner will go to court and testify as an expert witness regarding the ballistics
report he had prepared as well as the ballistics exhibits which he has examined in the
laboratory.

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BRIEF HISTORY OF BALLISTICS

b. Ignition of the priming mixture – this action is known as “percussion action”,

Scope of Forensic Ballistics

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