FORENSIC BALLISTICS

Mr.Jose T. Amora jr.

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 Origin of the word
Ballistics
The word Ballistics was derived from
two Greek words, the word “ballo” and
the word “ballein” which literally means,
“to throw”.

 The term also said to have been

derived from the Roman war machine
called “Ballista”, a gigantic catapult that
was used to furl missiles or large object
at a distance like stone, dead animal or
even dead person.
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Ballistics
Is the science of the motion of
the projectile and the condition
that affects their motion;
It is a science in itself for it is
an orderly arranged knowledge,
which is a product of series of
experimentation, observation
and testing;
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Ballistics is not an exact
science rather it is
applied physics or applied
science, which is subject
to changes and
improvement depending
upon the demands of the
modern civilization.
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Motion

Refers to the mobility or

movement of the projectile
from the time it leaves the
shell, the time it leaves the
gun muzzle and until it reach
its target or fall in the ground.

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A projectile is any metallic on
non-metallic ball which is
propelled from a firearm. Its
motion can be categories into
three general types:
1)Direct motion;
2)Rotatory motion; and
3)Translational motion.

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 3 Types of Motion
1. Direct Motion = is the forward
motion of the bullet or shots out
of the shell by the action of the
expansive force of gases from a
burning gunpowder.
2. Rotatory motion = is the action
of the bullet passing through a
rifled bore barrel firearm which
is either twisted to the left or
to the right.
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3. Translational = is the action of
bullet once it hits a target and
subsequently ricocheted.

The study of Ballistics in the early

age is divided into (3) three
Divisions: Internal Ballistics,
Exterior or External Ballistics
and Terminal Ballistics. From the
time the gun was fired until it
reach the target and have its
maximum effect.
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At present, ballistics is branches
into four (4) and this is due to its
subsequent used in solving problems
in connection with the
administration of justice
particularly cases involving firearms
and ammunition which is termed as
Forensic Ballistics.

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Branches of Ballistics
1. Interior (Internal) Ballistics =
it treats of the motion of the
projectile while it is still inside
the firearm (chamber /barrel)
which extends from the breech
to the muzzle. The conditions
attributed to internal ballistics
are as follows:
 a. Firing pin hitting the primer

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b. Ignition of the priming
mixture
The priming mixture (composing
of the KCLO3, sulfur and
carbon) located either at the
cavity rim or at the center of
the primer upon the striking
effect of the firing pin will
ignites and such action is known
as “Percussion action”(came
from latin word, percussio,,
means to beat or strike)
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 c. Combustion of the gun
powder/powder charge
or propellant.
 d. Expansion of heated
gas.
 e. Pressure developed

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f. Energy
generated=
measured in foot
pound( the capacity
to lift one pound at
the height of one
foot)
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g. Recoil of the gun

 Is the equal and opposite

reaction of the gun against the
forward movement of the bullet
upon explosion.
 The backward or rearward
movement of the gun in relation to
the forward movement of the
bullet.

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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.

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 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 (ft./sec.)
 i. Rotation of the bullet inside
the barrel
 j. Engraving of the cylindrical
surface of the bullet
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2. Exterior (external) Ballistics
 It treats with the attributes
or movement of the projectile
after leaving the gun muzzle.
a. Muzzle Blast
is the noise created at the
muzzle point of the gun.
b. Muzzle energy
energy generated at the muzzle
point measured in foot-pound.
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 c. Trajectory
 Refers to the parabola-like flight of the
projectile from the time it leaves the
muzzle until it hits the target. It is also
described as the actual curve path taken
by a bullet during its flight
d. Range
 Refers to the imaginary straight
distance between the muzzle of the gun
and the target.

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 d.1. Accurate Range= the
distance within which the shooter
or gunner has control of his shots.
 d.2. Effective Range = the
distance within which when the
bullet was fired it is still capable
of inflicting fatal injury.
 d.3. Maximum Range= the
distance that a projectile can be
propelled from a firearm. The
farthest distance the bullet could
travel.
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 e. Velocity
Refers to the rate of speed of the
bullet (during its flight) per unit of time
usually express is feet per second
(ft/sec.)
 f. Pull of Gravity
It is the downward reaction of the
bullet towards the earth surface due to
its weight.
 g. Air Resistance
Refers to the force of the air
encounter by the bullet in its flight.
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3. Terminal Ballistics= is that branch
of Ballistics which deals with the
effects of the impact of the
projectile on 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.
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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.

(Penetration- the dept to

which a projectile sinks)

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4. Forensic Ballistics
This branch of ballistics is
the product of the application
of the ballistics to law. The
idea comes with the used of the
word forensic. The word
Forensic was derived from the
Latin word “forum” meaning a
“market place” where people
gathered for public disputation
or public discussion. 25
When used in connection
with the word ballistics or
other natural science, it
suggests a relationship to
the courts of justice or
legal proceedings
( become almost synonymous
with the word “Legal”)

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Forensic Ballistics is
defined as the study of the
motion of the projectile as
applied to law or simply the
science of firearm
identification by means of
the ammunition fired
through them.
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Scope of Forensic Ballistics:
1.Field Investigation= refers to the
work of investigator in the field
(collection, marking, preservation,
packing, transmission)

2. Ballistics Technical Examination

of the Exhibits=
Refers to the work of firearm
identification examiner within
laboratory (obtain test bullets,
photomicrography under BCM,
preparation of reports etc.)
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3. Legal Proceeding=
examiner will go to
court to act as an
expert witness
regarding the reports
he has made.
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The Evolution of Firearms
MAN BEHIND FIREARMS
 John M. Browning -
Wizard of the modern
firearms and pioneered
the breech loading single
shot rifled which was
adopted by Winchester.
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Breech loading rifle

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Samuel Colt
 He patented the first
practical revolver and
maker of the Colt
Peace Maker, a famous
revolver in the history.
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Colt peacemaker

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 Alexander John Forsyth –
Father of the percussion powder.
Produced a percussion
lock for firearms that would
explode a priming compound with a
sharp blow.

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 Major Uziel Gal - An Israeli
army who designed UZI
(Israel) in the year 1950
A German-born Israeli gun
designer, best remembered as
the designer and namesake of
the Uzi submachine gun.

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Uzi sub machine gun

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Col. Calvin H. Goddard - Father of
modern Ballistics.

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 John C. Garand - Designed
and invented the first Semi
automatic U.S. Rifle Cal. 30. M1
garand.

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 George Hyde

A well-known expert in the

field of SMG, (also known as
grease gun) developed in
1941. M3A1 (USA).

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 A grease gun is a
common workshop and 
garage  tool used
for lubrication. The purpose
of the grease gun is to
apply lubricant through an
aperture to a specific point,
usually on a grease fitting.

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Grease gun

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 Michael(Mikhail) Kalashnikov - Designed
the AK (Automat Kalashnikova) 47
(Soviet Union) adopted by the Russian
Army in the year 1951.

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 Horace Smith –A gunsmith,
inventor and businessman, founded
the great firm of Smith and
Wesson and pioneered in making
breech loading rifles.

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 Eugene Morrison Stoner
(November 22, 1922 - April
24, 1997) - Designed the
U.S. M16 Armalite under
licensed by Colt Company
from July 1959 onwards

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The ArmaLite AR-15 is
a selective fire assault
rifle which was adopted
by United States armed
forces as the M16 rifle.
Due to financial problems,
ArmaLite sold the AR-
15/M16 design to Colt.

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 Leroy C. Smith - Developed shotgun
bearing his name now the Ithaca gun
Company.
(The Ithaca Gun Company is a manufacturer
of shotguns and rifles 
originally established in Ithaca, New
York in 1880.)

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 John T. Thompson - Developed in
the course of WW1 the Thompson
M1A1 and model of 1928 A1
(USA). Pioneered the making of
Thompson sub-machine gun.

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 Daniel B. Wesson - Associates of Horace
Smith in the making of Revolver.
 David “Carbine” Williams (David Marshall
William)- Maker of the first known Carbine.

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 Firearms
Legal Definition of Firearm
Firearms or arms as herein
used, includes rifles, muskets,
carbines, shotgun, pistol,
revolvers, and all other deadly
weapons, to which a bullet, ball,
shot, shell, or other missiles
maybe discharge by means of
gun powder or other explosives.
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This term also includes air
rifle, except such of being of
small caliber and limited range
used as toys. The barrel of any
firearm shall be considered a
complete firearm for all
purposes hereof. (Sec. 877
Revised Administrative Code/
Sec. 290 national Internal
Revenue Code).
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 Technical Definition

Firearm is an instrument
used for the propulsion of
projectile by means of the
expansive force gases
coming from burning
gunpowder. (FBI manual of
Firearms Identification).

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Classification of Firearms
Two General Classification of
Firearms
(According to Interior Barrel
Construction)
1.Smooth Bore Firearms =
Firearms that have no rifling
(lands and grooves) inside their gun
barrel.
Examples: Shotguns and Musket

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muskets

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Liberator gun
The FP-45 was a crude, single
shot pistol designed to be cheaply and
quickly mass produced.  
It fired a .45
cal. pistol cartridge from
an unrifled barrel. Due to the
unrifled barrel, it was intended for
very close ambush (1-4 m) its
maximum effective range was only
about 25 feet (less than 8 m).

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Liberator gun

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2. Rifled Bore Firearms = Firearms that
have rifling inside their gun barrel.
Examples: Pistols, Revolvers,
and other modern weapons.

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Main Types of Firearms
(According to the Caliber of the
projectile propelled)
1. Artillery = Refers to
those type of firearms that
propels projectile with more
than one inch diameter.
Examples: Cannons, Mortars
and Bazookas:
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2. Small Arms = Are
firearms that propels
projectile with less than one
inch diameter and it can be
handled, moved and
operated by one man.
Examples: Machine gun,
shoulder arms and handguns.

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2.1 Machine guns
 Machine gun is a type of
firearm that is primarily
designed for military use.
Even in investigation of
shooting cases done in the
city, it is not usual or common
to encounter this type of
firearm having been used.
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Sub Machine Gun
Is a light, portable form of
machine gun, utilizing a
pistol size ammunition,
having a shoulder stock that
may or may not be folded
and designed to be fired
with both hands.
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2.2.Shoulder Arms are those
types of firearm that were
normally fired from the
shoulder.
Rifles= A shoulder weapon
designed to fire a projectile
with more accuracy through a
long rifled bore barrel, usually
more than 22 inches.
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Carbine = A short barrel
rifle, with its barrel rifle,
measuring not longer than 22
inches. It fires a single
projectile though a rifle-
bore either semi-automatic
or fully automatic, for every
press of the trigger.
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 Muskets = is an ancient
smoothbore and muzzle
loading military shoulder
arms designed to fire a
shots or a single round
lead ball(came from the
word, mousquette, a small
hawk)
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Shotgun = A smooth bore and
a breech loading shoulder arms
designed to fire a number of
lead pellets or a shots in one
charge (FBI Manual)
The barrel construction of
shotgun may also be found in
different bore construction.

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Types of shotgun

 a.Cylinder bore type = which the bore size is

the same through out the barrel

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b.Choke bored gun = designed with
a diminishing or reducing bore
diameter type towards the muzzle.
This type is designed to cause an
effect to the travel of the shots.
It makes the shots travel longer
before it spreads.
= shotgun that narrows toward the 
Muzzle to prevent shot from 
scattering too widely.
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c. Paradox gun”.= still in a
very rear occasions another
type of shotgun can be
observed to be having rifling
only a few inch from its
muzzle points.
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2.3. Handguns = those type of
firearms that are designed or
intended to be fired using one hand.
Ex. Pistols and Revolvers

A. Pistol
In early firearm history, all handguns
are generally called as pistols. There
were three classes of pistols in the
period. The single shot pistol, the semi
automatic and the revolving pistols now
known as the revolver.

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Kolibri
 considered as the smallest
commercially available pistol in
world, patented in 1910 And
introduce in 1914
 a cal 2.7 mm, 5 shots auto
pistol
 Also known as 2.7 mm kolibri
car pistol

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kolibri

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 Magnum .50
Considered as the most powerful
handgun in the world(the king of
handgun)
.500 S&W magnum fifty-caliber
(12.7 mm) semi rimmed handgun
cartridge

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A. Revolver
Revolver is a type of
firearm designed to position
cartridge into position for
firing with the aid of a rotating
cylinder serving as its chamber.
There are two types of
revolvers according to its
mechanical firing action;

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Single action, a type of
revolver that needs a manual
cocking of the hammer before
squeezing the trigger and the
other is Double action, a type
of revolver that does not need
manual cocking. Just press the
trigger and it both cocked and
released the hammer causing a
much faster firing.
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TOP BREAK REVOLVER

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FIX CYLINDER REVOLVER

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SWING OUT CYLINDER REVOLVER

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Types of Firearms
(According of Mechanical Construction)

1. Single shot firearms = types of

firearms designed to fire only one shot
every loading.
Examples: Single shot pistols, Revolvers
and shotguns.
2. Repeating Arms = A type of firearms
designed to fire several loads (shot) in
one loading.
Examples: Automatic pistols
revolvers rifles and shotguns.
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3. Automatic F/A = type of
firearms that constitutes a
continuous firing in a single
press of the trigger and while
the trigger is press.
Examples: Machine guns
and rifles
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4. Slide Action type = types of firearms in
which loading take place by back and forth
manipulation of the under/over forearms of
the gun.
Examples: Shotgun and pistols

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5. Bolt Action Type = Type of firearms in
which reloading takes place by
manipulating the bolt back and forth.
Examples: Rifles

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6. Lever type (Break type) = loading
takes place by lever action on the
firearms.
Examples: Rifles and shotguns.

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Miscellaneous Types of Gun
1. Cane gun, knife pistols, cellphone gun,
etc. = devices principally designed for
other purpose to which a gun mechanism is
incorporated also called as Freakish gun.

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 2.Flare gun = designed for tracing or
sending signals or locating enemy
troops.

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 3. Gas gun = generally
referring to all gun designed
from firing tear gas.

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5. Harpoon guns = refers to a
barbed spear in hunting large
fish.

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6. Paradox gun = a type of gun
which contains lands and grooves
a few inch from the muzzle point.
7. Tools = are those devices which
resembles a gun designed but are
generally used for construction of
furniture.
8.Traps = refers to gun used for
trapping animals that are fired to
woods.
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 9.Zip Gun = refers to all type
of home made gun.

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Ammunition
 Legal Definition
Ammunition refers to loaded shell for
rifles, muskets, carbine, shotgun,
revolvers and pistols from which a ball,
shot shell or other missiles maybe fired
by means of gun powder or other
explosive. The term also includes
ammunition for air rifles as mentioned
elsewhere in the code. (Chapter VII,
Sec.290 of NIRC as well as Sec 877
RAC)
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Technical Definition
 Ammunition refers to a
group of cartridge or to a
single cartridge. Cartridge
is a complete unfired unit
consisting of bullet (ball),
primer (cap), cartridge
case (shell) and gunpowder
(propellant).
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Origin
 The word cartridge was
derived from the Latin word
“Charta” meaning – a “paper” and
also from the French word
“Cartouche” meaning – a rolled
paper. This only indicates that the
first type of cartridge was made
up of a rolled paper. It was about
the turn of the 16th century that
the term “cartridge” comes to use.
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Paper cartridge

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General types of Ammunition
a. Dummy ( used as a model) used
by weapons instructor, inspector
and repairman when checking the
function of the weapons

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 b. Drill Ammunition (without
gun powder) used for training
to practice loading and
manipulation of the gun
 c. Blank Ammunition (without
bullet)
 d. Live Ammunition

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BLANK AMMUNITION

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B. Classification of Cartridge
According to the Location of the Primer
 Pin-Fire = is a type of cartridge in
which the ignition cap (primer) is
concealed inside the cartridge case
and has a pin resting upon it.

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b. Rim fire = is a type of cartridge
in which the priming mixture is
located at the hallow rim of the
case can be fired if the cartridge
is tuck by the firing pin on the rim
of the case (cavity rim).

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 Center fire = t refers to a cartridge in
which primer cup (ignition cap) is
centrally placed in the base of the
cartridge case and the priming mixture
is exploded by the impact of the firing
pin and with the support of the anvil.

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II. According to Rim Diameter
RIM- the projecting edge of the base or
head of a certain cartridge
a. Rimmed Case type= Commonly used for
revolvers.

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b. Semi-Rimmed type =invented by John
browning for automatic pistol in 1903
for greater fir to the chamber. At
first look the cartridge is a rimless
form but with closer look the rim is
slightly greater than the body
diameter of the shell.

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 c. Rimless type = the rim diameter of
the case is equal to the diameter of
the body, with an extracting groove cut
around the base.

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d. Rebated type = refers to the cartridge
with rimless pattern, but which has a rim
diameter smaller than the body of the
case.

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e. Belted type = a cartridge with a
prominent raise belt around its body just
in front of the extraction groove.

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III. According Caliber
Calibers in cartridges in inches and their approximate equivalent
in mm and use:
Inches MM.
 Cal. .22 about 5.59 mm- used in revolver, pistol and
rifles
 Cal. .25 about 6.35 mm- used in pistols and rifles.
 Cal. .30 about 7.63 mm- (mauser) – for carbines
and other rifles
 Cal. .30 about 7.63 mm (luger)
 Cal. .32 about 7.65 mm for automatic pistols and
revolvers
 Cal. .380 about 9 mm- used for pistols
 Cal. .357 used in magnum .357 revolvers
 Cal. .45 about 11 mm – used in automatic pistols
 Cal. .50 used in .50 cal. Machine gun

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Shotgun Cartridge
It refers to a complete unit of unfired cartridge
consisting of the pellets, primer, case, wads and
gunpowder .
Gauge of Shotgun
 Compared with other types of firearms,
shotgun has very unique characteristics in terms of
its diameter designation both for its firearm and
cartridge use. The unit of measurement used in
shotgun is expressed in Gauge. This is determined
by the number of solid lead balls of pure lead, each
with diameter of the barrel that can be prepared
from one pound of lead. If for instance we have a 12
balls that can be made out of one pound of lead and
each ball exactly fitted to the inside of the barrel of a
shotgun, the gun is called
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a 12-gauge or 12 bore shotgun. Each lead ball for a
12-gauge should therefore weigh 1/12 of a pound.
Such is applied in almost all type of shotgun in which
the diameter is express in a thousandth of an inch. At
present the 10-gauge shotgun is considered with the
biggest diameter while the .410 as the smallest one.
Listed below are the equivalents of diameter in gauge
to inch.
Gauge Inch
10 .775 inch
12 .729 inch
16 .670 inch
20 .615 inch
28 .550 inch
.410 .410 inch

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Types of Shots
1. Soft or Drop Shots = made by
pure or nearly pure lead, to which
a small amount of arsenic has
been added to make it take on
the form of a spherical drop as it
falls down the shot tower. This
type is easy to deformed or
flattened, loose their velocity
quicker, low penetrating power
and string out more.
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2. Chilled or Hard Shot = is
a type of shot with a small
amount of antimony mixed
with lead to increase
hardness. It does not
deform easily, better
patterns, less string and
more uniform velocity and
penetration.
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3. Coated or Plated Shot =
also called as “lubaloy” shot. A
chilled shot coated with thin
copper through electroplating
design for greater strength
and elasticity, great resistance
to deformation and leading and
better pattern.
 Buck Shot = a large size
lead shot for used in shotgun
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Parts of the Shotgun Cartridge:
 Case or casing = usually made from plastic or
paper rolled which houses the powder, pellets
and wads.
 Primer = a battery type primer containing the
igniter.
 Pellets = a number of lead shots contained in
the case.
 Wad = a paper designed to separate the pellets
from the powder charge.
 Powder charge = also known as the propellant
or gun powder.
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118
BULLET
The word “Bullet” was derived
from French word “Boullette” which means a
small ball. This term is generally used when
we are referring to projectile fired from
any small arms, which has a variety of form,
especially during the earlier history. In a
more technical sense, bullet refers to a
metallic or non-metallic cylindrical ball
propelled from a firearm it is sometimes
called as shots or slugs.

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 Bullets have various types depending
upon their specific nature and
purpose. In general bullet can be
classified as either Lead or
Jacketed.
General Types of Bullets:
 Lead Type – is a type of a bullet
that is basically composed of lead
metal. Its used was due to its
density; having a good weight is a
small size and easy for casting.
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LEAD BULLETS

121
 Jacketed Type – Is a type
of bullet consisting of the
regular lead core, coated
with a copper alloy in order
to prevent lead fouling of
the barrel and is generally
used in pistols and other
high power guns.
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JACKETED BULLETS

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According to their Maximum Effect to
their targets

1. Ball Type – Is a type

of bullet, which is intended
for anti-personnel and
general use.
 Ball ammunition may refer
to a couple different
concepts.
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The modern day “ball”
ammunition is simply FMJ (full
metal jacket) ammunition, with
no special fragmenting, tracing,
or penetrating qualities. It is
jacketed, usually copper, over a
core, usually lead. This term is
most often used when referring
to military ammunition.

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Examples of ball bullet

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According to their Maximum
Effect to their targets
 2. Armor piercing – is a type of
military bullet designed to penetrate
light steel armor. Its mechanical
construction makes it capable of
penetrating through some light vehicles.

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According to their Maximum
Effect to their targets

 3. Explosive Bullet - Is a small

bullet containing a charge of
explosive, which will
detonate on impact

128
According to their Maximum
Effect to their targets
 4. Incendiary Bullet –Type
of military bullet used to
cause fire in a target,
generally designed to use by
aircraft armament in order
for the fuel tanks to ignite.
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Incendiary bullet

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According to their Maximum
Effect to their targets
Tracer Bullet – a type of
military bullet capable of
leaving visible marks or
traces while in flight giving
the gunner the chance to
observe the strike of the
shot or make adjustments in
the event of a missed.
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Tracer bullet

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Miscellaneous types of bullet
1. Baton round- also known as
the rubber bullet.
This bullet was first
developed for the Hong kong
police and was made of wood
These are non-lethal
alternative to metal projectile.
It is commonly use in riot
control and disperse of
protest.
These are meant to cause pain
but not serious injuries
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12 gauge rubber buck shots

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2. Dum dum bullets (Expanding
BULLETS)
 Is a type of bullet designed
in Dum Dum arsenal, near
Calcutta India by Captain
Neville Bertie-Clay.
 It was made by grinding off
the nose of the bullet in
order to expand upon impact,
now known as Hollow point and
soft point bullet. 135
HOLLOW POINT
BULLETS = bullet
in which the nose
is drilled out to
the certain depth
leaving a hole, the
purpose is to be
able for the bullet
to deform upon
impact making a
“mushroom bullet”. 136
 This process is commonly
referred to as mushrooming,
because the resulting shape, a
widened, rounded nose on top of
a cylindrical base, typically
resembles a ”mushroom”

137
SOFT POINT
BULLET = refers to
any type of bullet
with a jacket short
that has its nose
exposed thus,
capable of
deforming upon the
impact and it is
common for hunting
purposes 138
3. Sabot round
is a device used in
a firearm or cannon to fire
a projectile, such as a bullet,
that is smaller than
the bore diameter, or which
must be held in a precise
position.
The name "sabot" comes from
a French word for wooden
shoes.
139
Sabot round

140
When the sabot reaches
the end of the barrel, the
shock of hitting still air
pulls the parts of the
sabot away from the
projectile, allowing the
projectile to continue in
flight.

141
Sabot rounds

142
 4. Flechette bullet
 Is a pointed steel projectile, with a
vaned tail for stable flight;
The name comes from French
fléchette, "little arrow" or "dart“;
It is fired with the use of sabot

143
5. Heel bullet

Is a bullet commonly use

in pistol having its rear
portion reduce in
diameter in order to fit
into the mouth of the
shell.
144
6. Frangible ball type = is a type of bullet
designed for training purposes especially for
aerial targets. It does not cause any
damage to the target rather it leaves a
paint mark for the purpose of assessing the
gunners
7. Spitzer bullet = is the term used by the
American and British sportsmen when
referring to a pointed bullet.

145
8. Multiple bullet = is a
term applied to a
number of two or
three bullets forming
a cartridge; it was
patented in the early
1990s by George
Luger.

146
Cartridge Case
 Cartridge Case is the
metallic or non-metallic
tabular container usually of
brass (70% copper and 30%
zinc) designed to unite the
bullet, primer and the
gunpowder into one unit. It
is also known as shell or
casing.
147
Functions of the Cartridge Case

1. It locates the bullet

properly relative to the
bore of the firearm.
2. It is used to carry the
means of ignition.

148
3. It provides gas seals at the
breech against an unwanted
escape of propellant gas upon
firing.
4. Serves as waterproof container
for the propellant or powder
charge.
5. Acts as the insulator between
the propellant and the hot walls of
the chamber in a rapid firing of
firearms. 149
Parts of the Cartridge Case:
 1. Base= the bottom portion
of the cartridge case which
contains the head stamp
marking on the base of the
shell containing the caliber,
manufacturer and in some
cases including the date, trade
name, and batch number.
150
2. Rim= is the part of the
cartridge designed to limit the
forward movement of the
cartridge to chamber.
3. Extracting grooves= is the
circular groove near the rim of
the shell designed for automatic
withdrawal of the case from the
chamber.

151
4. Primer Pocket=is that part
of the shell which provides the
means for the primer to be put
in the central position. Its
function is extended to: (a)
hold the primer in place; (b) to
provide means to prevent the
escape of gas;
(c) to provide solid support for
primer anvil.
152
 5. Body= is the cylindrical
part of the shell which
house the gunpowder.
 6. Shoulder= that part of
the cartridge case which
support the neck of the
cartridge which is evident in
a bottleneck type.
153
 Cannelure= is the
 7.
cylindrical groove in the outer
surface of the cartridge case
designed to secure the shell to
the chamber as well as
prevent bullet from being push
down to the powder charge. In
some instance it is even being
utilized for identification.
154
 8. Neck= is that part of
the shell which is actually
occupied by the bullet.
This is obvious in a
bottleneck type of shell
but not with the straight
type.

155
9. Crimp= is the cylindrical
groove on the mouth of the
shell designed for two
purposes: One (1) is to hold the
bullet and prevent it from
being pull out from the shell
and Two (2) to offers
resistance to the bullet out of
the neck to ensure burning of
the gun powder.
156
10. Vent or Flash hole= is
the hole at the bottom of
the primer pocket as the
passage way for the priming
mixture to impart an ignition
to the propellant charge.

157
158
PRIMER

Primer (also called CAP) is the

ignition system of the cartridge
used in a center fire type,
containing a highly sensitive
chemical compound that would
easily ignite or bursts into flame
when struck by the firing pin. It
may either be Berdan or Boxer
type. It is also known as the
percussion cup.
159
TYPES OF PRIMER
Berdan type
 The Berdan is a type of
primer construction, which
was designed in 1860s by
Colonel Hiram S. Berdan of
the U.S Army Ordinance
Department.
 It has 2 flash holes.
160
Berdan primed

161
Boxer type
The Boxer on the other hand,
was developed by Col. Edward
M. Boxer of the Royal
Laboratory at Woolwich
Arsenal in the year 1866.
It has one flash hole.
More popular because of its
adaptability for reloading

162
Boxer type

163
Origin of ignition system
The term lock was the one used
during the ancient time when
referring to ignition system.
Ancient weapons like muskets
uses variety of ignition system
such as;

1. Match lock- also referred to

as serpentine lock;
164
 With a piece of metal pivoted in
stave, the forward end holding
the hump fiber treated with
saltpeter, twisted and tied by a
thread to retain the twist to
make it slow burning.

It burns at about 3 to 5 inches

per hour

165
Match lock

166
2. Wheel lock
Match lock was superseded by a
wheel lock;
This ignition system is comparable
to the modern cigarette lighters,
because it has a rotating steel
wheel to provide ignition.

167
Wheel lock

168
3. Flint lock
 Also known as snap lock;
 is the general term for
any firearm based on the flintlock
mechanism. The term may also apply
to the mechanism itself.
 Introduced at the beginning of the
17th century,
 When struck against steel, a flint
edge will produce sparks
169
flintlock

170
4. Cap lock
The cap lock mechanism or
"percussion" lock was the
successor of the flintlock
mechanism in firearm technology,
and used a percussion cap struck
by the hammer to set off the
main charge, rather than using a
piece of flint to strike a
steel frizzen.

171
 The cap lock mechanism consists of a
hammer, similar to the hammer used in
a flintlock, and a nipple (sometimes
referred to as a "cone"), which holds a
small percussion cap.

172
Parts of the Primer
 1. Primer Cup= Is the brass
gilding metal cup which contains
the priming mixture, the disc and
the anvil.
 2. Priming Mixture= Is the highly
sensitive chemical compound which
ignites by the mechanical blow of
the firing pin. Also called as
percussion powder.
173
 3. Anvil= Is that portion of the
primer which provides solid
support and absorbs the blow of
the firing pin causing friction
that would initiates ignition.
 4. Disc= Is a thin paper or foil
which is pressed over the priming
mixture in order to protect it
from moisture attack.

174
 Types of Priming Mixture Compound

 Corrosive = one containing potassium chlorate

which when ignited produce moisture causing the
formation of rust in the bore of the firearm. Other
components are antimony sulfide and mercury
fulminate.

 Non-Corrosive = one which is designed for less

chances of rusting by replacing the potassium
chlorate with barium nitrate.

175
Gun Powder
 Gunpowder (also called as propellant or
Power Charge) is that mixture of chemicals of
various compositions designed to propel the
projectile by means of its expansive force of gas
when burned.
 Two of the most popular individual whose name
is always attached to gunpowder discovery were
Roger Bacon and Berthold Schwartz.
Let’s take a short description of how their
names are always mentioned in the history.

176
 Roger Bacon, (1242 A.D.) a Franciscan monk,
who wrote the ---“De Mirabili Potestate Artis
et Naturae” (On the Marvelous Power of Art
and Nature), including an anagram.
 Berthold Schwartz (whose real name
was Constantin Anklitzen), a mysterious
monk of Freiburg, who according to legend
that is supported by an engraving dated 1643,
while experimenting on some powder in a cast
iron vessel, he ignited a charge and thus blew
off the lid, and from this deduced the principle
of containing a charge in a tube and propelling
a shot (Encyclopedia of ammunition)

177
The Black Powder
Black powder, the oldest known explosive, was
initially made from saltpeter (75%), charcoal (15%)
and sulfur (10%). Creates a dark smoke and causes
fouling.
These problems in the used of black powder was
later remedied with the introduction of the smokeless
powder. According to Harrison, Captain E. Schultze of
the Prussian Army, made the 1st successful used of
smokeless powder in shotgun in the year 1864.
(Although historically nitroglycerine compound was
first discovered in 1846). The basic ingredient used for
smokeless powder is a nitrocellulose that was first
produced by adding a nitric acid to cellulose fiber.
178
 Later, M. Vieille of French developed the first
smokeless powder for rifle in the year 1884 and named
it “poudre B” taken after Gen. Boulanger’s name.
 In 1887, Alfred Nobel invented a smokeless powder
with nitroglycerine ( 40%) and nitrocellulose (60%) as
the main composition and called it “Ballistite”.
 In Great Britain, they utilized picrid acid in addition to
cellulose powder which they called “Lyddite” and in
Germany TNT (Tri-nitrololeune ) was the one used,
more powerful than picric acid but much difficult to
detonate. Also In the year 1889, Prof. Abel, a British
War dept. Chemist developed “Cordite” a smokeless
powder with same composition as Nobel in the form of
cords or sticks.
 And in early 1890’s smokeless powder had replaced
black powder and became uniformly used worldwide
by the year 1900.
179
FIREARM CHARACTERISTICS
Stages in the manufacture of barrel
A. Drilling- A special deep hole is used
through the center which lubrication oil is
forced under pressure
B. Reaming – a process in which the
scars/scratches left by the drilling
operation is remove
C. Rifling
 This process necessary for the
making of the helical groves inside the
barrel.
180
FIREARM CHARACTERISTICS
 D. Lapped – a polishing operation in
which a lead plugs closely fitting the
inside of the barrel is drawn back and
forth on a rod carrying with polishing
compound.

181
The Breech face

Just like any barrel of every firearm, the

breech face also bears with it the same
importance. It is that portion of the firearms
against which the shell or the cartridge case
and the primer is pressed backward every
time that a cartridge is fired in the chamber.
If this happens, the base of the cartridge will
be marked by the breech face of the gun.

182
Types of Characteristics in Firearms

A. Class Characteristics = are

those properties or attributes of
a firearms which can be
determined even before the
manufacture of the gun. This is
true for such characteristics are
considered to be a manufacture’s
designs or specifications and
security.
183
Class Characteristics of
Firearms
1. Bore diameter (caliber or
gauge) it is diameter to which
the bore was reamed. The
distance measured between
two opposite lands inside the
bore in a hundredths or
thousandths of an inch. In
most express in either caliber
in inch or in millimeters.
184
2. Number of lands and grooves
= the number of lands an grooves
inside the barrel of a given
firearm are always the same or
equal. It may run from 3 to 8, but
the most in the modern firearm
are five and six.
 Lands = are the elevated portion of
the bore of the firearm.
 Grooves = are the depressed portion
of the bore between the lands.

185
 3. Width of the lands = is
dependent upon the bore
diameter of the gun, grooves,
width and number. The lands are
the remainders of the
circumference after subtracting
all the grooves width.
 4. Width of the Grooves = is
measured as the shortest
distance between the two dies or
edge of a grooves.
186
 5. Direction of Twist = rifling
inside the barrel of the gun is
either twisted to the left or to
the right which cause bullet to
rotate as it passes through the
bore, in order to ensure
gyroscopic stability in its flight.

187
 6. Pitch of Rifling = it is
the measure of the twisting
of the lands and grooves. It
refers to the measure of the
distance advance by the
rifling in order to make a
complete turn inside the
barrel.
188
 7. Depth of the Grooves =
the groove’s depth if
measured on a radius of the
bore. Grooves are usually
few thousandths of an inch
deep, which equal to the
height of the lands.

189
 B. Individual Characteristics
= are meant for those
characteristics which are
being determined only after
the firearm was already been
manufactured. They are the
product of machine
imperfections and some later
due to the used of the
firearms.
190
their existence in a firearm
is brought about the tools in
their normal operation
resulting through wear and
tear, abuse, mutilations,
corrosion, erosion and other
fortuitous causes.

191
Types of Rifling
 1. Steyer Type= is the type
of rifling having four (4) lands
and grooves, right twist and
the width of the lands
grooves. (4 RG=L)
 2. Carbine Type = rifling
having (4) lands and grooves,
right twist, the width of the
grooves is two (2) times the
width of the lands (4RG2X).
192
3. Smith and Wesson = rifling
having (5) lands and grooves,
right hand twist , the width of
the land and grooves are equal.
(5RG=L)
4. Colt = type of rifling having
six (6) lands and grooves, left
twist, the width of the grooves
is twice (2) the width of the
lands. (6LG2X)
193
5. Browning = type of rifling
having (6) lands and grooves,
right hand twist, the width of
the grooves is twice the width
of the lands. (6RG2X)
6. Webley = Rifling having
seven (7) lands and grooves,
right hand twist, the width of
the groove is three time larger
than the boarder of the lands.
(7RG3X)
194
7. Winchester = Rifling
having six (6) lands and
grooves, right hand twist,
the width of the grooves is
three time larger the width
of the lands (6RG3X).

195
Individual Characteristics in Firearms
 Individual Characteristics in
firearms are usually determined by the
test firing which will give us both the
test bullet and the test shell that will
show the individuality of its property
based on the left marks on every
bullet and shell fired from it. Such
marks are so minute that the use of
the lens with high magnification is
necessary to discover individuality.

196
Marks found of Fired Bullets

1. Land Marks = marks left on a

fired bullet caused by its contact to
the elevated portion (lands) of the
bore of the firearm. It appears as
slight depressions or scratches the
cylindrical surface of the fired
bullet.
2. Groove Marks = marks found on a
fired bullet caused by the grooves of
the barrel which is the same number
as that of the landmarks.
197
198
 3. Skid Marks = Marks that
are generally found on fired
bullet from a revolver. It is
more or less located at the
anterior portion of the fired
bullet due to its forward
movement from the chamber
to the barrel of the gun
before it initially rotates.
199
4. Stripping Marks = marks found
on those bullet fired from a “loose-
fit” barrel wherein the rifling are
already been badly worn-out.
Worn-out in the rifling of the
firearms can be cause by either
chemical reaction brought about
by rust (corrosion) or through
excessive use (erosion)

200
 Corrosion- refers to the mechanical
wearing out of the surface of the gun
barrel due to the formation of rust
caused by negligence; the deterioration
on the side of the barrel caused by the
chemical action of the product of
combustion after firing usually due to
neglect.
 Erosion- refers to the mechanical
wearing out of the surface of the gun
barrel due to usage or friction;
mechanical wear and tear of the bore
of an arm due to sliding friction when
the bullet passes through it.
201
 5. Shaving Marks = marks
commonly found on bullet fired
from a revolver cause by its
forward movement to the barrel
that is poorly aligned to the
cylinder.
 6. Slippage Marks = marks
found on fired bullets passing
through either on oily or oversize
barrel.
202
Marks found on Fired Shells
1. Firing Pin Mark = mark
generally found at the base
portion of the cartridge case
more specifically near center of
the primer cup in a center fire
cartridge or at the rim cavity of
a rim-fire cartridge. Considered
as one of the most important
marks for identification of
firearms using fired shell.
203
Firing pin impression

204
 2. Breech Face Mark = mark
found at the base portion of
the shell cause by backward
movement to the breech face
of the block of the firearm.
This is also one of the
important marks in shell
identification.
205
Breech Facce Breech Face
Marks 206
 3. Extractor Mark = mark mostly
found at the extracting groove of the
fired cartridge case. Cause by its
withdrawal from the chamber.
 4. Ejector mark = mark generally
found on cartridge case fired from an
automatic firearms. It is located near
the rim of the case cause by the
throwing of shell from the firearm to
the area of shooting.

207
Extractor
Mark 208
Ejector
marks

209
5. Shearing Mark =
sometimes called
“Secondary Firing Pin
mark” found in the
primer near the firing pin
mark.
210
Shear marks

211
6. Magazine Lip Mark =
marking found at the two sides
of the rim cause by the magazine
lips during the loading of the
cartridge into the magazine for
firing.
7. Chamber Mark = mark
mostly found around the body of
the fired cartridge case cause
by the irregularities of nips
inside the walls of the chamber.
212
Note:
 In fired cartridge case either
of the Firing pin mark and the
Breech face marks can be used
as basis for identification, in
the absence or none use of
these two, both the ejector
and extractor marks can be
utilized as secondary choice.
213
Problems in Forensic
Ballistics
1. Given a fired bullet to determine the
caliber, type; make of firearm from which it
was fired.
2. Given a fired shell to determine the caliber,
type, and make of firearm from which it was
fired.
3. Given a fired bullet and a suspected
firearm, to determine whether or not the fired
bullet was fired from the suspected firearm.
214
 4. Given a fired shell and a suspected firearm, to
determine whether or not the fired bullet was fired
from the suspected firearm.
 5. Given two or more fired bullets, to determine
whether or not they were fired from one and the
same firearm.
 6. Given two or more fired shell/cartridge case, to
determine whether or not they were fired from one
and the same firearm.
 7. Given a suspected firearm, to determine whether
it is serviceable or not.

215
 1.To impart a motion or rotation of a bullet
during its passage inside the barrel, to insure
gyroscopic stability in its fight is called;
 a. Range c. Rifling
 b. Gauge d. Center fire

 ANS.C

216
 2. Commonly, these marks are found on
bullets fired from a revolver, due to poor
alignment of the cylinder of a bore;
 a. Shaving marks c. Pivot marks
 b. Skid marks d. Landmarks

 ANS.A

217
 3. The inventor of gun powder in 1248.
 a. James Forsyth c. Van Amberg
 b. Philip O. Gravelle d. Roger Bacon

 ANS.D

218
 5. A magnified photograph of a small object
produced by connecting a camera with the
ocular of a compound microscope;
 a. Photo Microphotograph
c.Photomicrogragh
b. Microfilm
d. Photograph

 ANS.C

219
 4. The Equipment of Forensic Ballistic that
measures the pitch of rifling;
 a. Chronograph c. Micrometer
 b. Helixometer d. Taper gauge

 ANS.B

220
 6. If a bullet is fired through a weapon in
which the lands have been worn down, or
through a bore which is slightly oversized. The
marks, is called.
a. Skid marks c. Rifling marks
b. Slip page marks d. Shearing
marks

ANS.A

221
 7. When two specimens are compared under
the comparison microscope at the same
direction, the same level, the same
magnification and the same image, they are
called.
a. Positive match c.Juxtaposition
b. Pseudo matching d. Drag marks

 ANS.C

222
 8. A copper jacketed fired bullet is usually
fired from;
 a. Revolver c. Rifle
 b. Pistol d. Pistol and Revolver

 ANS.B

223
 9. A 12 gauge shotgun has an equivalent
diameter of;
 a. 730” c 729”
 b. 739” d. 724”

 ANS.C

224
 10. A completed unfired unit ammunition is
inserted into the chamber of a firearm for
firing is referred to ,as;
 a. Bullet c. Primer
 b. Shell d. Cartridge

 ANS.D

225
 11. Rifling located inside the barrel of a gun is
a combination of;
 a. Pitch c. Lands and grooves
 b. Twist d. Cannelure

 ANS.C

226
 12. Class characteristics are determinable
even ­_______ ­the manufacture of the firearm.
 a. During c.Before
b. After d. Never

 ANS.C

227
 13. The caliber of the bullet is determined
with the aid of;
 a. Combined microscope c.Macrometer
b. Micrometer d. High power
lens

 ANS.B

228
 14. Am investigator who recovered a fired
bullet from the crime scene will request the
ballistician to determine;
 a. Owner of the firearm
 b. Model of the firearm
 c. Caliber and type of the firearm
 d. Manufacturer of the firearm

 ANS.C

229
 15. The science which deals with the motion
of the projectiles at the time it leaves the
muzzles up to the time its hit target, is
known as;
a. Terminal Ballistics c. Exterior Ballistics
b. Interior Ballistics d. Forensic Ballistics

 ANS.C

230
 16. The science that deals with the effect of
the impact of the projectiles on target is
called;
 a. Exterior ballistics c. Anterior ballistics

 b. Interior ballistics dTerminal ballistics

 ANS.D

231
 17. The science dealing with the motion of
the projectiles from the time the firer
squeezes the trigger up to the time it riches
the muzzles of the barrel, is called;
a. Posterior ballistics c. Exterior ballistics

 b. Interior ballistics d. Terminal ballistics

 ANS.B

232
 18. The marks left on the bullet by a gun
barrel, are different from those left by any
other gun barrel. The fact is most useful in
directly identifying the;
 a. The person who fired the particular gun

 b. Direction from which a shot was fired

c.Gun from which a bullet was fired
 d. Bullet which caused the fatal wound

 ANS.C

233
 19. A policeman should fire his pistol;
a. At no time at all
c. To impress upon citizen
b. Primarily to stop at quarreL
d. Only as a last resort

 ANS.D

234
 20. Of the following the best method to use
in firing a revolver is to keep;
a. both eyes closed c. both eyes open

b. only the right eye is open d. only left is open

 ANS.C

235
 21. Pistol with the same number of barrel
grooves, may be differentiated by the direction of
the twist of the rifling which may either, to the
left or to the right. Of the following statement
the one which may accurately be inferred is that;
 a. Most pistols has the same number of grooves
 b. Some pistols can either left or right
 c. The direction of the twist in any pistol can be
either left or right
 d. The direction pf the twist of the lands and gro
oves are the same
ANS.C

236
 22. The secret of a good shooting form is;
 a. Proper sighting of the target
 b. Relaxed and natural position
 c. Firing slowly and carefully
 d. Keeping the thumb along the hammer

 ANS.B

237
 23. The term muzzle velocity refers most
accurately to;
 a. Acceleration of the projectile in flight
 b. Average speed of the bullet in flight
 c. Rate of expansion of the grooves in the
muzzle
 d. Speed at which the bullet leaves the
revolver barrel

 ANS.D

238
 24. Discharged bullets are initialed at;
 a. On the base or nose c. right side
 b. Left side d. The end of the bullet

 ANS.A

239
 25. Discharged shells are initialed at;
 a. Inside and outside of the case near open
end
 b. Where firing pin strikes
 c. On any part of the shell
 d. None of the above

 ANS.A

240
 26. Rifling in the bore of small arms is
designed to;
 a. Increase the speed of the bullet
 b. Decrease the amount of the recoil
 c. Mark the bullet for purpose of identification
 d. Prevent the bullet from turning end over
end in the air

 ANS.C

241
 27. The Caliber of the gun is;
 a. The barrel itself
c. The sized of the ammunition used
 b. the circumference of the barrel
d.Diameter of the bore

 ANS.D

242
 28. A homicide was committed using shotgun,
all parts of the exploded shell have been
recovered by the investigator. In order to
identify shell from which gun was fired, the
laboratory should be given;
 a. The cups, the wands and the pellets
 b. The caps and the wands
 c. The cap and the pellets
 d. The shotshells

 ANS.D

243
 29. Of the following, the most accurate
statement concerning the identification of an
unknown firearm by means of ballistics is that;
 a. Most pistols which have left lead have at least
eight lands
 b. The width of the grooves in pistols can be
determined by the angle of the lead
 c. Pistols with he same number of lands can be
differentiated by the direction of the lead
 d. The angle lead is the angle which the lands
from the width of the groove.
 ANS.C 
244
 30. Paraffin test is used to;
 a. Detect whether a witness is telling the
truth
 b. Discover whether the deceased person was
poisoned
 c. Estimate the approximate time of death of
the deceased
d.Determined whether the suspect has fired a
gun recently

 ANS.D

245
 31. The term double action with reference to
revolver means most nearly that;
 a. The revolver has both safety and
automatic firing action
 b. Pressure upon the trigger both cocks and
release the hammer
 c. The revolver can fire with or without
automatic shell ejection
 d. The shell of the fired shot is ejected and
fresh cartridges is pushed from the
 magazine at the same time
 ANS.B

246
 32. The pitch or rate of twist in the rifling of a
pistols or rifle barrels is called;
 a. Lands
c. Extractor marks
 b. Grooves
d. One complete rotation of the bullet inside
the bore
  
 ANS.D

247
 33. Identifying markings or imprint are not
left on a shell by;
 a. Firing pin c.
Extractor
 b. Ejector d. Hammer

 ANS.A

248
 34. Muzzles loading military shoulder arm
designed to fire a single round lead ball
 a. Musket c. Carbine
 b. Shotgun d. Revolver

 ANS.A

249
 35. It is the part of the mechanism in a firearm
that withdraws the shell or cartridge from the
chamber;
 a. Ejector c. Striker
 b. Primer

 ANS.D

250
 36. A revolver to be tested and used in
evidence should be picked up by;
 a. Inserting a pencil or ball pen in the barrel
 b. Placing a piece of wire or string through a
trigger guard
 c. Grasping the handle with handkerchief
 d. Grasping the barrel with a clean cloth

 ANS.B

251
 37. The part of 45 caliber semi automatic
pistol found at the crime scene, the normally
marked for identification in the;
 a. Trigger c. Slide
 b. Ejector d. Barrel

 ANS.C

252
 38. The type of bore usually found in sawed off
shotgun is;
 a. Rifle bore c. Full check bore
 b. Ejector d. Smooth bore

 ANS.D

253
 39. The maximum distance from the muzzle
at which the firearm discharge, will usually
produced detectable powder pattern on a
target, is about;
 a. 6 to 10 inches c. 6 to 10 yards
 b. 6 to 10 feet d. 6 to 10 meters

 ANS.A

254
 40. When shot fired from an automatic pistol
by a criminal;
 a. The empty shell remain within the chamber
 b. The shell in most cases will be found the
scene of the firing
 c. The shell is rarely found at the crime scene
 d. The shell is usually disposed by the
perpetrator

 ANS.B

255
 42. A member of the police force may
properly use his pistol;
 a. To disperse the orderly group of people
 b. To subdue a maniac
 c. To prevent the escape of a felon
 d. To stop a man suspected of having
committed a crime

 ANS.C

256
 41. When the “draws” of the revolver is
completed, the index finer should;
 a. Grasp and stock
 b. Be straight along the bar
c.Touch the outside of the trigger guard
 d. Be inside of the trigger guard

 ANS.C

257
 43. A policeman arriving at the scene of the
crime, found a revolver. In reference to this,
he should be most careful;
aTo see that it is not loaded
c. Not to handle it unnecessarily
 b. To put safety lock
d. To mark it readily to the barrel

 ANS.A

258
 44. The chemical eating away of the bore of a
firearm due to rusting of the action of salts
deposited from the cup or gun powder is;
 a. Pressure bCorrosion
 b. Extractor d. priming composition

 ANS.C

259
 45. The wear and tear of the bore of a firearm
due to sliding friction when the bullet passes
through, it is;
 a. Ejector c. Erosion
 b. Single action d. Potassium Composition

 ANS.C

260
 46. When the mechanism is so arranged that
it will fire continuously while the trigger is
depressed, is called;
 a. Double action c,Automatic
 b. Caliber d. Trigger

 ANS.C

261
 47. The distance that the rifling advances to
make one complete turn inside the gun barrel,
is called;
 a. Gauge c. Pitch of rifling
 b. Breech ends d. Velocity

 ANS.C

262
 48. Weapon in which pressure upon the
trigger released the hammer that must be
manually cocked is called;
 a. Automatic c.Single Action
 b. Repeating Arm d. Ejector

 ANS.C

263
 49. Weapon in which pressure upon the trigger
both cocks and released the hammer;
 a. single action c. Hammer
 b. Trigger d. Double action
  
 ANS.D

264
 50. When the barrel of the guns are almost
invariably bored with the slightly constriction
near the muzzle end is called;
 a. Shotgun c. Gauge
 b. Choke d. Chamber

 ANS.B

265
266
 51. The only sure method of determining the
velocity is by used of;
 a. Micrometer c. Caliper
 b. Taper gauge d. Chronograph

 ANS.D

267
 52. During the seven years of radical agitation
that followed the arrest of these men it was
apparently forgotten, that they had been seized
on specific charge of murdering Parmenter, a
Paymaster and his guard Berardelli. Forensic
Ballistics first sprang into national prominence
during this last phase of the;
 a. Brownel case c. Mitchell case
b.Sacco-Vanzetti Case d. Weber case

 aNS.B

268
 53. The name of the position of both image of
test and evidence bullets mounted in the
stage plate of the bullet comparison
microscope that are merged into one image.
a. Intermarriage Position
c. Juxtaposition
 b. Double position
d. Single position

 ANS.A

269
 54. The most important single process in
barrel manufacture from the standpoint of
the identification expert is;
 a. Roaming operation
c.Boring operation
bRifling operation
d. Grinding operation

 ANS.B

270
 55. The part of mechanism in a firearm which
causes empty shells or cartridges cases to be
thrown from the gun is called;
 a. Extractor c. Hammer
 b. Ejector d. Trigger

 ANS.D

271
 56. The process of combustion results in the
solid powder being converted into gases and
a high temperature, and it is the expansion of
these gases which causes explosives force
which propels the bullet or shot charge along
the barrel. This is known as;
 a. Energy c. Velocity
b.Pressure d. High density

 ANS.B

272
 57. Instrument used for the propulsion of the
projectiles by the expansive force of gases
coming from the burning powder;
a. Micrometer c. Stereoscopic Microscope
b. Firearm d. Comparison

 ANS.B

273
 58. A firearm having six lands, six grooves with
right hand twist.
 a. Smith and Wesson c. Colt type
 b. Browning type d. Comparison

 ANS.B

274
 59. A ring or serrated groove around the body
of the bullet which contains substance, in
order to minimize friction during the passage
of the bullet inside the bore.
 a. Lead bullet c.. Bullet cannelure
 b. Wad cutter bullet d. Plated bullet

 ANS.C

275
 60. The bouncing off or deflection of a bullet
from its original trajectory.
 a. Gasses c. Key hole shot
 b. Fouling d.Ricochet

 ANS.D

276
 61. When cartridge fails to explode on time
or there is delayed in combustion due to
faulty functioning of the primer or faulty
ignition of the propellant, is;
 a. Misfired c.Hang fire
 b. Recoil d. Velocity

 ANS.C

277
 62. Bullets that contain a mixture such as
phosphorous or other material, that burn
upon impact, is called;
 a. Boat tail bullet c.Incendiary diary
 b. Tracer bullet d. Ball bullet

 ANS.C

278
 63. Rifle barrel, with its barrel measuring not
longer than 22 inches;
 a. Hand gun c. Carbine
 b. Paradox shotgun d. Muskets

 ANS.C

279
 64. A weapon designed to propel projectile
by means of compressed air;
 a. Field armory c. Carbine
 b. Marlin rifle d. Air rifle

 ANS.D

280
 65. Characteristic of 9 mm. Browning Pistol.

a. 5 lands, 5 grooves, right hand twist
c. 6 lands, 6 grooves, right hand twist
b. 3 lands, 4 grooves, right hand twist
d. 7 lands, 7 grooves, right hand twist

 ANS.C

281
 66. A 12 gauge 00 Buckshot shotgun
cartridges contain;
 a. 12 pellets c. 6 pellets
 b. 24 pellets d. 9 pellets

 ANS.D

282
 67. When two specimens are examined under
the comparison microscope and an erroneous
conclusion was drawn although there was no
similar identity that existed this matching, is
called;
a. Photomicrograph c. Microphotograph
b. Pseudo matching d. Striagraph

 ANS.B

283
 68. When the bullet enters the rifle bore from
the stationery position and its forced abruptly
into the rifling its natural tendency is to go
straight forward before encountering the
regular rifling twist, is called;
a. Shaving marks c. Individual characteristics
b. Skid marks d. Slippage marks

 ANS.D

284
 69. Characteristics which are determinable
only after the manufacture of the firearm. They
are characteristics whose existence in a firearm
is brought about through wear and tear, abuse,
mutilation, corrosion, erosion and other
fortuitous causes.
a. Forensic Ballistics
c. rifling
b. Class characteristic
d.IndividuaLcharacteristic

 ANS.D
285
 70. The still block which closes the rear of the
bore against the forced of the charge is;
 a. Breechface c.
Chamber
 b. Breech block d. Bore

 ANS.B

286
 71. Firearms which propels projectiles of less
than one inch in diameter are generally
classified as;
 a. Artillery c. Cannon
 b. Small arms d. Rifle

 ANS.B

287
 72. The actual curved path traveled by a bullet
in flight is;
 a. Velocity c. Penetration
 b. Trajectory d. Pressure
generated

 ANS.B

288
 73. Is the study of firearms identification by
means of ammunition fired through them or
fired through submitted suspected firearm.
 a. Ballistics c. Terminal ballistics
 b. Forensic ballistics d. Interior ballistics

 ANS.B

289
 75. To determine whether or not a particular
gun has been fired, a bullet requires a
comparison with one that has been test fired
from the suspected weapon. His expertise
established the comparison microscope as the
indispensable tool of the modern firearm
examiner, he was;
 a. Leon D. Lambert c. Dr. Calvin H.
Goddard
 b. Albert c. Osborn d. Douglas L. Bonze

 ANS.C
290
 74. Colt firearms has;
 a. 5 lands, 5 grooves, left hand twist
c. 6 lands, 6 grooves, left hand twist
 b. 5 lands, 5 grooves, right hand twist
d. 6 lands, 6 grooves, right hand twist

 ANS.C

291
 76. Caliber 38 fired bullet found at the crime
scene having 5 lands, 5 grooves and right
hand twist indicates that it was fired from;
 a. Colt c. Remington Rand
 b. Browning d. Smith and Wesson

 ANS.D

292
 77. A lead type bullet is usually fired from;
 a. Pistol c. Machine gun
 b. Rifle d. Revolver

 ANS.D

293
 78. A 30 caliber rifle has 4 grooves, 4 lands,
and right hand twist, the width of the groove
is the;
 a. 2x than the land c. 4x than the
land
 b. 3x than the land d. 5x than the
land

 ANS.B

294
 79. The caliber of a firearm is;
 a. Its barrel length
c. the size of the ammunition used
 b. The diameter of its bore measured
d. none of the from lands to lands

 ANS.B

295
 80. A very accurate test by which an expert
can determine the distance from which a gun
was fired, is known as;
a. Diphenylamine test
c. Alphanopthylamine test
 b. BEnzidine test
d. Photomicrograph test

 ANS.A

296
 81. The elevated rifling of the barrel of the
gun.
 a. Grooves c. Bore
 b. Lands d. Pitch

 ANS.B

297
 82. The depressed portion of the rifling as you
looked inside a barrel of a gun.
 a. Grooves C. Bore
 b. Lands d. Pitch

 ANS.A

298
 83. The rear portion of the barrel is called;
 a. Rifling c. Breech
end
 b. Muzzle end d. Bore

 ANS.C

299
 84. Can be located near the front sight in the
front end of the rifling
 a. Rifling c. Bore
b.Muzzle end d. Breech end

 ANS.B

300
 85. Is the part of the gun where the
ammunition is set for firing.
 a. Bore c.Chamber
 b. Rifling d. Breech end

 ANS.C

301
 86. Type of a weapon fired from the shoulder;
 a. Pistol c. Machine gun
 b. Revolver d. Rifle

 ANS.D

302
 87. It refers to the speed of the bullet when it
travels through the muzzle of the gun.
 a. Speed c. Terminal velocity
b. Muzzle velocity d. Terminal
energy

 ANS.B

303
 88. Indicates, that the bullet reaches the end
of the target.
 a. Speed c. Terminal velocity
 b. Muzzle velocity d. Terminal energy

 ANS.D

304
 89. The speed of the bullet upon striking the
target.
 a. Speed c. Terminal velocity
 b. Muzzle velocity d. Terminal energy

 ANS.C

305
 90. A Firearm that chambers and fires rounds
continuously as long as the trigger is held on;
 a. Double action c. Automatic
 b. Single Action d. Bolt action.


 ANS.C

306
  
 91. A type of primer with two vents or flash
holes.
 A. Bordan primer B. Berdan Primer
 C. Battery Primer D. Boxer Primer

 ANS.B

307
 92. Fired Cartridge case/shell are usually mark
at the _________?
A. At the base B. Side or body of the shell
C. At the rim D. Any ofFthese

 ANS.B

308
 93. Is that part of a firearm which houses all
the other parts.
 A. Housing B. frame
 C. casing D. Chamber

 ANS.B

309
 4. It is the measurement of the bore diameter
from land to land.
 A. Calibre B. Mean diameter
 C. Gauge D. Rifling

 ANS.A

310
 95. It is the science of mobility of the
projectile.
 A. Forensic Ballistics B. Applied
Physics
 C. Ballistics D. Applied Science

 ANS.C

311
 96. The caliber of the smoothbore firearm
case measure by?
 A. Gauge B. Caliber
C. Lands of grooves D. None of these

 ANS.

312
 97. The pattern or curved path of the bullet in flight.
 A. Yaw B. Range
 C. Velocity D. Trajectory

 ANS.D

313
314
315
 99. What instrument is used in obtaining test
bullet?
A. Caliper B. Bullet Comparison Microscope

C. Bullet Recovery Box D. Water Tank

 ANS.C

316
317
 101. It is a branch of ballistics that treats of the
motion of a projectile while still inside the
firearm.
A. interior ballistics B. terminal ballistics
C. exterior ballistics D. forensic ballistics

 ANS.A

318
 102. It refers to the size of the bullet groupings
on the target.
A. terminal penetration B. terminal velocity
C. Terminal energy D. terminal accuracy

ANS.D

319
 103. Which refers to the size of the bullet
grouping on the target?
A. Penetration B. Terminal
penetration
C. Terminal ballistics D. Terminal accuracy

 ANS.D

320
 104. A metal rod or plate that strikes the
cartridge primer to detonate the powder.
 A. Spring B. Trigger guard
 C. Hammer D. Revolver

 ANS.C

321
322
 107. A type of a bullet designed to be fired at
night which emits a bright flame at its base
and usually colored red-tip.
 A. armor piercing B
C. incendiary bullet D. explosive

 ANS.B

323
324
 108. A type of a firearm which propels a
number of lead pellets in one charge to a
smooth bore barrel.
 A. Rifle B. Machinegun
 C. Shotgun D. Musket

 ANS.C

325
 109. Generally applied to all homemade gun,
just as the one used by juvenile delinquent in
United States.
 A. zip gun B. freakish gun
 C. grease gun D. paltik

 ANS.C

326
 20. In the story of crime, with the use of
firearm, the energy coming from the muzzle
point is called?
 A. Armor-piercing B. Velocity
 C. Lead bullet D. Muzzle energy

 ANS.D

327
 111. Is a complete unfired unit consisting of
bullet, primer, gun powder and shell:
 A. Ammunition B. Shotgun Cartridge
 C. Cartridge D. Missile

 ANS.A

328
 112. Is that branch of ballistics which treats the
motion of the projectile while it is in its flight?
 A. Interior B. Terminal
 C. Exterior D. Forensic

 ANS.C

329
 113. Is the rate of speed of the bullet per unit of
time, expressed in ft/sec?
 A. Muzzle Energy B. Muzzle Blast
 C. Velocity D. Trajectory

 ANS.C

330
 114. It is the distance at which the gunner has
the control of shot where the bullet travel
straight.
 A. Maximum Range
B. Maximum Effective Range
 C. Accurate Range
D. Effective Range

 ANS.C

331
 115. It refers to the characteristics of a firearm
which are determinable even before the
manufacture of the firearm?
 A. Class Characteristics B.
Individual Characteristics
 C. Repetitive mark
D. accidental mark

 ANS.A

332
 116. That mechanism in a firearm by which the
cartridge case or shell is withdrawn from the
chamber.
 A. Extractor B.
Chamber
 C. Firing pin D. Barrel

 ANS.A

333
 117bullet leaves the muzzle of the gun. What
kind of ballistic?
A. Interior Ballistics B. Exterior
Ballistics
 C. Terminal Ballistics D. Ballistics

 ANS.B

334
 118. The part of the mechanism of a firearm
that withdraws the shell or cartridge from the
chamber.
 A. Extractor B. Ejector
 C. Striker D. Trigger

 ANS.A

335
336
 121. The study of the effect of the impact of a
projectile on the target.
A. Terminal Ballistics B. Internal Ballistics
C. External Ballistics D. Forensic Ballistics
  
 ANS.A

337
 122. This is the actual curved path of the
bullet during its flight from the gun muzzle
 and target.
 A. Air Resistance B. Velocity
 C. Trajectory D. Pull of Gravity

 ANS.C

338
 123. This refers to the deflection of the bullet
from its normal path after striking a resistant
surface.
 A. Misfire B. Mushroom
 C. Ricochet D. Key hole shot

 ANS.C

339
 124. This refers to the helical grooves cut in
the interior surface of the bore.
 A. swaging B. ogive
 C. rifling D. breaching

 ANS.C

340
 125. What do you call the type of instrument
used in measuring pitch of rifling firearms?
 A. Pinometer B. Helixometer
 C. Thermometer D. Caliper

 ANS.D

341
 126. What instrument is used in measuring
the pitch of rifling of a firearm?
 A. Calipher B. Tortion Balance
 C. Helixometer D. Chronograph

 ANS.C

342
 127. What occurs when a cartridge fails to
explode on time or delayed in firing?
 A. Knocking Power  B. Hang fire
 C. Recoil D. None of these

 ANS.B

343
 128. What type of a firearm propels a
projectile with more than one inch diameter?
 A. Small Arms B. Artillery
 C. Mortar D. Cannon

 ANS.B

344
 129. Which of the following test is used to
determine whether a person fired a gun?
A. Luminescence B. Duquinois Levine test
C. Takayama’s test D. Paraffin test

 ANS.D

345
 130. It is the sound created at the muzzle end
of the gun barrel after explosion.
A. muzzle energy B. range
C. trajectory D. muzzle blast

 ANS.D

346
347
 132. The Morse cartridge in 1858 marked the
beginning of the rapid development of the
A. pin-fire cartridge B. center-fire cartridge
C. rimfire cartridge D. none of these


 ANS.B

348
 133. It refers to one complete unfired unit
consisting of a bullet, primer, cartridge case,
and gunpowder
 A. projectile B. cartridge
 C. firearm D. slug

 ANS.B

349
 134. Characteristics which are determinable
only after the manufacture of the firearm.
A. class characteristics
 B.forensiccharacteristics
 C. rifling characteristics
D. Individual characteristics
  
 ANS.D

350
 135. The most important single process in a
barrel manufacture from the standpoint of
the identification expert is:
A. reaming operation B. rifling operation

C. lapping operation D. drilling

operation

ANS.B

351
352
 136. The motion responsible for the bouncing
of the bullet in different direction after hitting
a much harder object known as ricochet.
A. direct motion B. rotary motion

C. translational motion D. ricochet motion

 ANS.C

353
 137. What should be the classification of a
shell when the diameter of the rim is larger
than the diameter of the shell’s body?
A. Bottleneck type B. Rimless case

C. Rebated type D. Rimmed case

ANS.D

354
 138. Handguns that can be fired several times
by means of cartridge stored in the handle are
called.
A. Pistols B. Revolver

C. Self-loading pistol D. Automatic Weapon

  

 ANS.A

355
 139. The chemical eating away of the bore of a
firearm due to rusting of the action of salts
deposited from the gunpowder is:
A. pressure B. corrosion

C. erosion D.
decomposition
 b

356
 140. It refers to the measure of the twisting of
the lands and grooves or one complete turn.
A. Pitch of rifling B. Bore diameter

C. Lands and grooves D. Bullet twisting

 ANS.A

357
141. Spiral grooves in the bore designed to give
a spin to the projectile for greater accuracy
and carrying power.
 A. Rifling B. Caliber
 C. Gauge D. Bore

 ANS.A

358
 142. Father of percussion ignition.
A. Alexander John Forsyth B. Roger Bacon
C. Bethold Schwartz D. Veillie

 ANS.A

359
 143He is known as the Father of Ballistics.
A. Hans Gross B. Charles Waite
C. Albert Osborne D. Calvin Goddard

 ANS.D

360
 144. A fired bullet with six lands and grooves
twisted to the right is fired from the barrel of
a firearm with identical class characteristics
as that of:
 A. Browning B. Colt
 C. Smith and Wesson D. Steyr

 ANS.A

361
 145. He gave his name to a whole class of
firearms; he is also the manufacturer of the
Pocket Pistol.
A. John M. Browning B. Samuel Colt
C. Col. Calvin H. Goddard D. Henry Derringer

ANS.D

362
 146. He invented a submachine gun in the
1950’s which was used by the Israeli Army
during its Sinai campaign in 1956.
A. Alexander John Forsyth B. Uziel Gal
C. Major Patrick Ferguson D. John C.
Garand

 ANS.B

363
 147. Are small grooves, channels or ridges on
the surface of the bullet due to the tool marks
or other irregularities in the interior surface of
the bore?
 A. Land marks B. Groove marks
 C. Striation D. Accidental marks

 ANS.C

364
 148. A shaving marks on a bullet is due to:
 A. Oversized barrel
 B. Poor alignment of the cylinder to the bore
of the barrel
 C. Oily barrel
 D. Delayed combustion

 ANS.B

365
 149. Consist of a wooden box, 12 “x”12”x 96,
with a hinged to cover and with one end open.
This long box is filled with ordinary cotton
and separated into sections by cardboard
petitions use in ballistics.
A. Firing point box B. Bullet recovery box
 C. Slug collection box D. All of these 

 ANS.B

366
 150. How is the serial number of a firearm or
engine number of vehicle restored?
 A. By polishing stamped serial number
 B. By cleaning obliterated surface
 C. By removing the zone of strain
 D. By applying etching reagent

 ANS.D

367