TECHNIQUES OF EXAMINATION

PHYSICAL: Evidence bullets, cartridges cases and suspected firearms once

submitted by the requesting party will be physically examined to determine
its markings or initials will be physically examined to determine its
markings or initials made by the investigators for identification purposes.

TEST FIRING: The firearms is test fired from a bullet recovery box in
order to obtain test bullets and test cartridges cases for comparison with
evidence bullets and cartridge cases, but before firing the cartridge will be
marked at the side of the case on the nose portion of the bullet with letter T
(test) followed (eg T-77-1 to T-77-3) in their order of firing to distinguish
the number 1 test from 2 and 3. After the recovery of the test bullets and test
cartridges cases, they will be compared with the evidenced bullet and
evidence cartridges cases, under the bullet comparison microscope to
determine whether or not they have the congruency of striations or the same
individual characteristics.

Under the bullet comparison microscope, the two fired bullets or fired shells
are examine in a JUXTAPOSITION - That is, the two object-evidence and
the test bullet are examined and compared:

1. at the same time

2. at the same place or level
3. at the same direction
4. at the same magnification
5. at the same image

For conclusiveness of findings, there shall be at least 3 test bullets that

should be compared
First 1 for Comparison/ preliminary
Second 1 for confirmation
Third 1 for conclusion

PERIPHERY
These are the sides of the bullet are in contact with the inner surface
of the barrel.

STRIATIONS
A individual characteristics of the cartridges found at the base portion
and of the side of the bullet come in contact with the inner surface of the
barrel.

TEST BULLETS
Are those recovered from bullet recovery box for a comparison with
the evidenced bullets under the bullet comparison microscope.

A fired or evidenced bullets or cartridges cases are those recovered from the
crime scene.

Interconnected or intermarriages 8 or more striations can be accepted by the

court.

3 Points of basic positive identification the markings must be:

 1. Prominent
2. Significant; and are
3. Consistent

Means of –test firing, other than the recovery box.

1. Water tank 5. Darak

2. Saw dust with oil 6. Banana trunk
3. Sand 7. Rubber trips
4. Waste threads

PRINCIPLES IN FIREARMS IDENTIFICATION

Two things mark by one and same tool will bear the same markings, likewise
two or more things mark by different tools will have the same markings.

DEFINITIONS

PISTOL – a hand firearm usually applied to simple sot and automatic

loading.

REVOLVER – a hand firearm in which a rotating cylinder successively

-- places cartridges into position for firing.

SHOTGUN – a smooth-bore weapon designed to shoot a number of lead

pellets in one charge.

RIFLE – a type of weapon designed to be fired from the shoulder.

CARTRIDGE – term used to describe a complete unfired unit consisting of

the bullets, primer cartridges case and powder charge.

BULLET – is a projectile propelled from a charge.

AUTOMATIC – a weapon is automatic when its mechanism is so arranged

that it will fire continuously while the trigger is depressed.

DOUBLE ACTION – weapon in which pressure upon the trigger both cocks
and release the hammer.

SINGLE ACTION – weapon in which pressure upon the trigger release the
hammer that must be manually cocked.

CALIBER – term used to indicate the bore diameter which is measured

between two opposite lands.

GAUGE or GAGE – as applied to shotguns, it indicates that the bore

diameter is equal to the diameter of a lead ball whose weight in pounds is
equal to the reciprocal gauge index.
Ex. bore diameter of a lead ball weighing 1/12 of a pound.

BORE – the cylindrical passage of the barrel through which the projectile
travels.
PITCH OF RIFLING – the distance that the rifling advances to make one
complete turn.

EXPERT – as used in, court includes all witnesses whose opinions are
admitted on grounds of specialized knowledge, training and experience.

BREECHBLOCK – the steel block which closes the rear of the bore against
the force of charge or that part in the breech mechanism that locks the action
against the firing of the cartridges; the face of this block is known as the
breech face.

CHAMBER – that part of the weapon in which the cartridge is placed into
position for firing.

EJECTOR – that mechanism in a firearm which causes the empty shell or

ammunition to be thrown out from the gun.

EXTRACTOR – that mechanism in a firearm by which the empty shell or

ammunition is withdrawn from the chamber.

GROOVES – the depressed channels cut in the interior of a rifled gun

barrel.

LANDS – that raised portion between the grooves inside a rifled gun barrel.

VELOCITY – is the forward speed at which the bullet travels measured in

feet per second.

PRESSURE – the outward thrust of the burning powder gases against the
breechblock, chamber and bore normally measured one inch from the breech
and recorded in pounds per square inch.
Ex. 14,000 to 15,000 pounds per square inch for caliber .45 automatic pistol.

RANGE – the straight distance between the muzzle of the gun and the
target.

PENETRATION – the depth to which a projectile sinks in the tar get.

Ex. 6 inches at 15 yards in white pinewood.

TRAJECTORY – in the actual pattern or curved path of the bullets in flight.

FIRING PIN – that part of that firearm which strikes the primer causing the
firing of the cartridge.

HAMMER – that part of the firearm controlled by the trigger which causes
the firing pin to strike the primer striking the gun.

CORROSION – the chemical eating away of the bore of an arm due to

rusting or the action of salts deposited from they cap or powder.

EROSION – mechanical wear and tear of the bore of an arm due to sliding
friction when the bullet passes through it.

BERDAN PRIMER – a primer with two flash holes or vents.

BOXER PRIMER – a primer with only one flash hole or vents.

RIM – the projection edge of the base or head of a certain cartridge.

OGIVE – is the technical name of the cylindrical head critic of the bullets.

BREECH END – the rear end of the bore of an arm where the cartridges is
inserted.

DEFINITIONS OF TERMS

1. PERCUSSION – Action when the priming mixture of chemical

compound hit or struck by firing in would ignite.

2. JUXTAPOSITION – Two objects is evidence bullet and test bullet

are examined and compared under the bullet comparison microscope.
Includes also the examination of fired shells.

3. BALLO or BALLEIN – Greek words where Ballistics was derived

from which means “to throw”.

4. BALLISTA – The early Roman was Machine – a gigantic bow or

Catapult.

5. BALLISTICS – Science of the motion of projectiles.

6. FORUM – A Greek word of forensic which means debatable,

argumentation in relation to the court of justice.

7. FORENSIC BALLISTICS- The study of firearms identification by

means of ammunition fired from them.

8. BALLISTICIAN – Person whose knowledge in identification is

accepted by the courts and other investigation agencies.

9. ABRASSION – (in the world) Scratches cause by using improper

cleaning materials, or by firing ammunition with bullets to which
abrasive material was adhering. Normal enlargement of the bore and
wearing away of lands due to the abrasive action of the bullets.

10. BLACK POWDER – A mechanical mixture of charcoal, sulfur and

salt paper. Burned with considerable white smoke.

11. CARTRIDGE – is a complete unfired unit of bullets, cartridge case,

gunpowder and primer.

12. AMMUNITION (legal) – SEC. 877 of the RAC – shall mean “loaded
shell” for rifles, muskets, carbines, shotguns, revolvers and pistols
which a ball, bullet shot shell or other missile maybe discharges by
means of gunpowder or other explosive. The term includes
ammunition for a rifles as mentioned else where in the code.
Ammunition (technical) – refers to a group of cartridge or to a single unit
cartridge, meaning a complete unfired unit consisting of bullets, cartridge
case, gun powder and primer. The term may also refer to a single round.

13. BALL BULLETS – Bullets have soft lead course inside a jacket.

14. ROUND – one single complete cartridge.

15. BULLET ENERGY – the powder possessed by a moving bullet, or in

other words its ability to keep going meets an obstacle of immense
importance, for obviously, the more powder a bullet has and the
harder it is to stop the, more effective it can be as a weapon.

16. BULLET RECOVERY BOX – consist of a wooden box, 12” x 12” x

96”, with the hinged to cover and with one end open. This long box is
filled with ordinary cotton and separated into section by card board
partitions.

17. CALIBER – is the diameter of the inner surface of the barrel that is
measured from land to land.

18. DUMDUM BULLET – “Dumdum” is an out molded and generally

misused term. It was an unofficial name first applied hallow point
bullets maid at the British arsenal at Dumdum, India.

19. EROSION – the mechanical wear and tear of the inner surface of the
gun barrel due to the mechanical abrasion or gliding.

20. CORROSION – the mechanical wear and tear of the inside of the
gun barrel due to rust formation or chemical action of the by products
of combustion after firing.

21. CANNELURE (bullet) – A knurled ring or serrated grooved around

the body of the bullet which contains wax for lubrication in order to
minimize friction during the passage of the bullet inside the bore.

22. CALIPER – an instrument used for making measurement such as

bullet diameter and bore diameter.

23. CHILLED SHOT – shotgun pellets made from lead especially

hardened by the addition of a slight amount of antimony.

24. CLASS CHARACTERISTICS – are those that are determinable even

before the manufacture of the firearm. It is categorized into caliber or
gauge number of lands and grooves, width of land and grooves, twist
of rifling, patch of rifling and depth of grooves.

25. RANGE – the straight distance between muzzle and target.

26. POINT BLANK RANGE – popularity used to indicate the distance

the bullet will travel before it drops enough to require sight
adjustment. A shot fired so closed to the target that no sighting is
necessary for effective aiming.
27. MAXIMUM RANGE – the farthest distance that a projectile can be
propelled form a firearm.

28. GALLERY RANGE – the indoor targets range on properly

constructed indoor ranges, firing maybe conducted with center fire
pistols and revolvers at range of 25 years and 50 years. Such
installation are generally referred to as indoor ranges the term gallery
being applied usually only to short range 22 caliber installation.

29. EXTREME RANGE – the greatest distance the bullet will travel the
cartridge is fire.

30. EFFECTIVE RANGE – the maximum distance at which a bullet may

reasonable be expected types of live target.

31. ACCURATE RANGE – the distance with in which he shoots has

control of his shots.

32. FOULING - the accumulation of a deposit wit in the bore of a firearm

caused by solid by products remaining a cartridge is fired.

33. GUM COTTON – a very powerful explosive, like nitroglycerine

which is a chemical compound and not a mixture. This is formed by
the action of nitric and sulfuric acid on cotton or nay other kind of
cellulose.

34. LANDS – the raised portion between the grooves in the interior
surface of the gun barrel.

35. LAPPING – is the smoothening of the inner surface of the barrel.

36. MACHINE REST – a machine used for testing the accuracy of a

firearm.

37. KNOCKING POWER – power of the bullet which believer of a very

paralyzing blow that put the victim down and may then recover if the
wound inflicted upon is not fatal.

38. STOPPING POWER – power of the bullet which put the victim out
of the action instantly. So it should be understood that stopping power
is not necessarily the same thing as killing power. However, stopping
power depends very largely on the location of the shot.

39. PRIMER – the complete assembly of cup, priming composition, paper

discs and anvil.

40. CARTOUCHE – French word of cartridge which means ROOL OF

PAPER.

41. CHARTA – Latin word for cartridges which means PAPER.