INTRODUCTION

According to section 2-1 (b) of Indian Act of 1959, Ammunition means any artillery that can be
used in combat or warfare. It includes

(i) Rockets, bombs, grenades, and other live missiles

(ii) Articles designed for torpedo service and submarine mining
(iii) Other articles containing or designed or adopted to contain explosive, fulminating or
fissionable material or noxious liquid, gas, etc
(iv) Charges of fire arms and accessories for such charges
Fuses and friction tubes
(v) Parts of and machinery for manufacturing ammunition
Most of the crimes committed involve use of small arms, which consists of
(i) Cartridges
(ii) Propellants
(iii) Primers
(iv) Projectiles
(v) Wads

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 SMALL ARM

METALLIC AMMUNITION SHOTGUN AMMUNITION

1 Paper cartridge case (shell)

1 Metallic cartridge case
.
Percussion cap or primer 2 Percussion cap or primer
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3 Propellant (Gun powder 3 Propellant or gun powder

4 Bullet 4 Spherical ball or lead pellets

5 Over shot wad, under shot wad

PROPELLANT
The expression propellant means an agent, which fires the projectiles out from a firearm. In order
to propel out a bullet/ shotgun charge through the barrel and air, a certain amount of force is
necessary. The powder charge gets ignited through the primer and converts it in to gas very
quickly, thereby resulting in development of high pressure in the cartridge and forcing the bullet
to get out of the barrel. There are three types of propellants:

1) Gun powder: It is the oldest recorded propellant and had been invented by Chinese around
the tenth century.

COMPOSITION

POTASSSIUM NITRATE SULPHUR CHARCOAL

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 2) Smokeless powder: The modern high velocity era stared with the use of smokeless
powder. The basic constituents of the smokeless powders are nitroglycerin and
nitrocellulose.

TYPES

SINGLE BASE DOUBLE BASE

PROPELLANT
It has nitrocellulose as explosive
ingredients apart from it, chief It consist of nitrocellulose with
stabilizers and other stabilizers nitrocellulose with nitroglycerine, it
additive are used to control the reduces its smoke and increase
chemical stability and enhance energy output.
propellant properties. Ethyl centranide Nitrocellulose and mineral jelly are
and diphenyl amine are used as
cordite modified and ballistite.
stabilizers and mineral jelly are used
as plasticizer.

3) Semi- smokeless powder: Semi- smokeless is a mixture of black and nitrocellulose. The
approximate composition of the powder are:

Nitrate wood cellulose- 20%

Potassium Nitrate- 60%

Carbon -12%

Sulphur- 8%

4) Triple base: The triple based powder contain the following:

Nitrocellulose Nitro cellulose Black powders

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 5) RDX based Propellant: A new propellant in which the active ingredients are from the
family of cyclo- tri- methylene- triamine has come up.

PRIMERS
The primer composition has the following basic ingredients

(i) An inclinator – a sensitive high explosive

(ii) Fuel
(iii) An oxidizer
(iv) Stabilizer

The sensitive high explosive which functions as an initiator is a pressure sensitive material which
gives out a flame to ignite combustible material which works as a fuel. An oxygen supplier
would supply necessary oxygen so that combustion of fuel is proper. A friction causing material
is also mixed with to carry out the functioning of the entire exercise in a satisfactory manner.

In 1807, a Scottish clergyman, James Forsythe discovered a shock-sensitive explosive called

mercury fulminate, Hg (ONC) 2. This type of explosive will detonate if it is struck or by shock.
A spark will also be generated. By 1850, cartridges, which were being manufactured, contained
mercury fulminate inside the rim of cartridge.

The development of the cap composition has been a fascinating and dangerous adventure. It was
one of the most important steps in the development of firearms. It gave a final blow to the match
lock, flintlock and wheel lock mechanisms. It also gave an all weather cartridge.

The composition of mercury fulminate primer by weight is produced below:

Mercury Fulminate 8 parts

Potassium chlorate 14 parts
Antimony sulphide 18 parts
Sulphur or glass 1 parts
Gun powder 1 part

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Mercury fulminate primer suffers from a number of draw backs:-

(i) Mercury fulminate gives mercury on ignition. It makes the brass cases brittle and
consequently unfit for frequent use.
(ii) Barrels get deteriorated quickly because of the deposition of mercury on their
surface
(iii) Potassium chlorate when ignited produces potassium chloride, which absorbs
moisture resulting on early rusting of barrels.
(iv) Powder glass particles, if used, will abrade the barrel resulting in the increase of
bore diameter

In view of the above defects, the new primer compositions have come up by replacing mercury
fulminate. In our country, the new primer composition being used is as follows:

Lead styphnate 32-40%

Antimony sulphide 13-17%
Barium Nitrate 27-37%
PETN 4-6%

Tetraceine 3-5%
Aluminum 6-8%

WADS

In shotgun ammunition, there are a number of wads.

 Over-powder wad,
 Cushion-wad,
 Under-shot wad and
 Over-shot wad

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  The base wad is a plastic mould and fixed in the base of the brass head, under
pressure.

 The over-powder wad has converted to an inverted cup wad-open side towards
(and over) the powder, so that when gases are formed, the lip, the open round
edge of the cup, is pressed with the pressure against the barrel and thus it seals
the bore. It prevents the escape of gases from the sides.

 The buckshot in a cartridge, have spaces which are filled with granular plastic
material to cushion the buck shots which prevents damage and provides uniform
push to the projectiles.

 Indian Ordnance Factory has introduced similar wads in their cartridges. In rifle,
pistol and revolver ammunition, ordinarily, no wad is used, but in some cases a
small wad over the powder charge is provided. It separates the powder charge
from the projectile. It prevents the lubricating grease placed in the cannelure to
seep inside and spoil the powder charge. Besides, it seals the bore and decreases
escape of gases.

PROJECTILES

Projectiles are pellets, buckshot, balls, fletchettes, bullets etc. intended to cause injuries. They are
hurled out by the gases produced by the propellant on discharge of a firearm. These projectiles
vary in constructional materials, shapes and sizes and their ballistics.

1) Unjacketed bullets: Bullet of this type is made from which has been hardened by addition
of a little amount of other metals. They are called soft bullet. They are used in revolver.

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2) Jacketed bullets: Bullets of this type consist of a metallic jacket with a
lead core or at times, with lead core and aluminum tip. Jackets are
provided to prevent bullets from getting reshaped; jackets are
manufactured from getting metal soft steel.

3) Wire patched bullet: This types of bullets consist of a tight envelope of metallic wire
usually made of copper but it was discontinued as the metal wire get detached during
flight.

4) Paper patched bullet: Paper was used as jacket for the lead
bullet and such projectile were known as paper bullet. The use
of paper patched bullet was discontinued because pieces of
paper used to be left in the barrel which gave trouble in
subsequent shootings.
5) Metal patched bullet: This type of bullet is having a metal cup over
the base and extends forward over the portion of the bullet which
bears against the rifling.

6) Amour piercing bullet: This is a non-lead bullet and is made from a tungsten chromium
steel core pointed at one end and enclosed in a mild-steel jacket.

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7) Tracing bullet: A tracer bullet contains a combustible material inside the jacket at its
base.

8) Incendiary bullet: Bullets of this type contains highly combustible material which is
capable of starting fire after an impact.

9) Dum-Dum bullets: British adopted 0.303 rifles in 1888. The S.A ball ammunition of this
weapon had a full jacketed bullet.

10) Hollow point bullet: A bullet of this type is provided with a cavity in
the nose.

11) Electro-Plated Bullets: The lead bullets were electro-plated

with hard metal like copper or its alloy with the object of
preventing its deformity.

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12) Aluminum Tip-Bullet: The jacket of this type of bullet has
aluminum tip towards the nose end. This improves its accuracy in
flight.

13) Boat – tailed Bullet: In an effort to provide stability in flight, the base of the bullet was
narrowed down.

14) Split Nose Bullet: The jacket of this type of bullet is cross cut at the nose end to enable
the bullets to have four sharp and pointed leaves sets at right angles like the blades of an
electric fan.

15) Stream Line Bullet: This was an improvement over the boat-tailed bullet and both the tip
and the base had fire pencil points.

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Swaged lead Bullet:

These bullets have lubricating grooves that are generally shallow. Rather than using
conventional grease lubricants or even the new synthetic lubricant, newly manufactured
bullets are made to run through a liquid solution. The bullet get a wax – like coating over its
surface.

Shotgun projectiles:

Shotgun projectiles are fix round of ammunition loaded either by a single ball
(spherical/elongated) pellets (smaller shots) or buckshot, encased in a suitable shell of
appropriate size made either of paper /plastic/aluminum metal with a metallic brass head and
provided with priming mixture in a percussion cap introduced in the centre at the base of the
shell and cardboard / filler / cork wad loaded between the propellant and projectiles.

Types of Projectiles in Ball Cartridges:

Shotgun ammunition loaded with a single projectile known as ball cartridge.

1) Spherical ball: A typical 12 bore spherical ball should be of

diameter 0.729 inches and should weight 1 1/3. The projectile is
a solid lead ball.

2) Lethal ball: It is spherical in shape having a couple of circular

raised lining over its surface set at right angle. Inside, the
partition is affected by L-shaped thin steel discs.
3) Contractile: A couple of circular disc containing four
partitions in each are bent in the form of spheres. The smaller
one forms the inner core and the bigger the outer covering.
4) Rotax Ball- This type of ball is elongated and has a hollow
centre with spiral fins. On leaving the muzzle the winds acts on the fins and spin the
slug and enables it to rotate on its own axis as a result of which has a better stability
in flight.

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 5) Nitro conical ball (breneke): this type of bullet has the shape
of a bullet and has spiral grooves along its length. It consists
of a wad and soft had plugged joined at the base.
6) Paradox Slug: This type of slug has an elongated shape and
designed to be fired through a paradox gun.

7) Rifled Slug: This type of slug has an elongated cylindrical shape.

It has a rounded nose. Air passage through its grooves imparts a
spin to it.

8) Destructor: This type of projectile has lb lead shots encased in a

lead covering joined together and on impact breaks up and the
projectile on entering causes extensive damage. ELEY
manufacture them.

CARTRIDGE CASE:

A cartridge shell/case must satisfy the following need:

 Dimensional specification of the chamber.

 Provide for grip of an extractor.
 Head space needs.
 Maintain the stability needs of other compound after assembly during handling transit,
shortage, frequent loadings and unloading without any accidental firings.

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 MANUFACTURING

Copper for Rim Brass (Cu+ Zn= 70: 30) Paper+ Plastics
fires. Example: Rifle, pistol Example: Shotguns
etc. cartridges

1) Pin fire Cartridges Shell

This type of cartridges shell appeared prior to 1850.When the pin is
struck by a hammer, the inner pin of the tip strikes at the cup which in
turn fires the cartridges.
2) Rim fire cartridge shell: This shell is often made of soft, ductile
metal usually copper, in which the priming mixture is inserted inside the rim at the head
of the case as soon as the hammer strikes the rim of the cartridge at any point at the
circumference the priming mixture is exploded.
3) Centre Fire Cartridges Shell: There are four categories:

 Rimmed: In the rim the edges of the shells have projected rims which serve as a device
to prevent the cartridge from entering too deep into the chamber and provide a surface
which can be gripped by the extractor claw.
 Rimless: In rimless shells, the rim is excluded and a groove
is provided in the head to case extraction. For: Automatics
and Semi-automatics.

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  Semi-Rimless: It is provided with an extractor glove and the rim project slightly
beyond the diameter of the body of the cartridge case. Example: Pistol like super 38
caliber.
 Belted: Belted case contain a raised belt above the extractor groove. The shells of most
of the magazine cartridges are belted.
 Rebated: This has an extractor flange which is less than the diameter of the cartridge
case. Example: Caliber 40.

CLASSIFICATION

According to the
According to the head formation:
shape:
 Rimmed
 Straight  Semi-rimmed
 Tampered  Rimless
 Bottle neck  Belted
 Rebated

IDENTIFCATION OF FIREARMS

PRINCIPLES OF FIREARM IDENTIFICATION:

Firearm identification is actually a form of Tool mark Identification where the firearm,
because it is made of a material harder than the ammunition components, acts as a tool to leave
impressed or striated marks on the various ammunition components that come into contact with
the firearm.
“Every Contact Leaves a Trace”

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 CARTRIDGES IDENTIFICATION
The cartridges which are fired from automatic and repeating firearms show repetitive marks
which are useful in identification of the type of weapon used.

ANATOMY OF CARTRIDES

1) Striated action marks: Scratches” are produced when the cartridge case moves laterally
against the tool (inner surface of the firearm) producing a scrape or striated mark.
2) Chamber marks: are the striation marks which are produced from the rough walls of the
chamber during the loading and removing of the cartridge case.

3) Firing Pin Drag marks: In a similar process, striated marks called

firing pin drags marks can be produced. When firing pin springs

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 forward to strike the primer of a cartridge, it may remain slightly forward and imbedded
in the primer.
4) Extractor Marks: The extractor is a small part
sometimes resembling a hook that is used to
remove a cartridge or cartridge case from the
chamber of a firearm.
5) Ejector marks: As the extractor pulls the case back
it strikes a hard protrusion or bump, called the
ejector which cause the case to fling out of the
weapon. While the extractor pulls, the ejector
pushes and usually leaves marks on the very edge
of the cartridge case rim.
6) Firing pin impressions: These are the indentations created when the firing pin of a
firearm strikes the primer of center fire cartridge case or the rime of a rim cartridge case.
If the nose of the firing pin has manufacturing imperfections or damage, these potentially
unique characteristics can be impressed into the metal of the primer or rim of the
cartridge case

7) Breech marks: Most fired cartridge cases are

identified as having been fired by a specific
firearm through the identification of breech marks.

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 BULLET AND CARTRIDGE COMPARISON

 To match bullets and cartridges to a gun, test bullets must be fired through a suspect
firearm for comparison.

 Test bullets are the bullets which are fired from the suspected firearm for the purpose of
comparison with the crime bullet.

 Variety of materials like soap, ice, water and cotton has been used in which test firing is
done to obtain test bullet. However the most suitable material is Water.

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