FORENSIC BALLISTIC

ORIGIN OF FIREARM

13 t h Century – development of firearms followed the invention of gunpowder in

Western Europe .

Berthold Schwartz – a German monk, and Roger Bacon , an English monk are both
credited with gunpowder invention.

-Most reference books credit Roger Bacon, English monk and Scientist with
the invention of gunpowder in 1248 and Berthold Schwartz, with application
of gunpowder to the propelling of a missile in the early 1300’s. This powder
was that we now call “Black Powder”.

1245 – Gen Batu, The Tartar leade r, used artillery in Liegnits when he defeated the
poles Hungarians, and Russians.

- It is also often stated that the gunpowder was first invented by Chinese,
were of gunpowder and its use as propellant long before its advantages
became recognized in Europe.

- It may also assume the Arabs with their advance knowledge of chemistry at
that time.

1247 – One of the earliest recorded uses of firearms in war far was that of an
attack on Seville, Spain.

1346 – Cannons used by King Edward II of England at Crecy.

1335 - Mohammad II of turkey in his famous conquest of Constantinople.

-First firearms were inefficient, large and heavy and were not capable of
being carried by an individual soldier; hence, the development of cannons
preceded that of small arm weapons by almost 50 years.

Man never satisfies to himself. He is always trying to improve himself and his
surrounding. He created some rule crude or primitive weapons which were
subsequently developed into sophisticated firearms of modern times.

The following are the stages of development of man’s weapon:

1. Stones
2. Cubs Knives Spears and Darts
3. Sling shots to hurl objects
4. Bows and arrows
5. Cross – bows
6. Guns
7. Missiles
IMPORTATNT PERSONALITIES:

1. Col. Calvin H. Goddard M.D, OS Army – Father of Modern Ballistics.

2. Horace Smith – Founded the great firm Smith and Weapon and pioneered
the making of breech – loading regales.

3. Daniel B. Wesson – An associate or partner of smith in revel verb making.

4. John M. Browning – Wizard of modern firearms and pandered breech

loading single shot rifle.

5. John T. Thompson – pioneered the making of Thompson sub-Machine.

6. David “Carbine” Williams – maker of first know carbine.

7. Alexander John Forsythe – Father of the percussion system.

8. Elisha King Root – Designed machinery of making colt firearms.

9. Eliphalet Remington – One of the first rifle makers.

10. John Malon Martin – Founder of martin Firearms Company.

11. James Wolfe Ripley – Stimulated the development of the model 1855 riffled
– musket.

12. Samuel Colt – (1814-1862) – Produced the first practical revolver.

13. Henry Derringer – He gave his name to a whole classes of firearms.

14. John C. Garand – Designed the semi-automatic US Rifle, Cal. 30

15. Oliver F. Wichester – One of the earliest rifles and pistol makers.

IMPORTANT DATES IN FIREARMS HISTORY

1313 ---Gunpowder as a propellant. Te age of gunpowder began with outs first use
as a propellant for a projective. Such use has been recorded as early as 1313.

1350 ---Small arms, Gunpowder was first used only in cannons. It was in the
middle of the 14 t h century that portable hand, F.A was introduced. These guns were
ignited by a hand-held wire or lighted match.

1498 ---Riffling, The first reference to rifled barrels appeared. Although its
important as an aid to accuracy was recognized by some, it was many years after
before rifling was generally used.

1575 ---Cartridges, Paper cartridges combining both powder and ball were
developed. This greatly speeded loading and reduced the hazards of carrying loose
powder.
1807 ---Percussion system, the discovery of Forsythe in 1807 the that certain
compounds detonated by a blow would be used to ignite the charge in a firearm,
for the basis for all later percussion and cartridges development.

1835 ---Samuel Colt-patented the first practical revolvers in which the cylinder was
rotated by cooking the hammer.

1836 ---Pin fire. Cartridge. Developed by Le Faucheux in 1836, was probably the
first self really the first rim fire cartridge.

1858 ---Center fire Cartridge. The Morse Cartridge of 1858 marked the beginning
of the rapid development of the center fire cartridge.

1884 ---Automatic Machine Gun. Hiran Maxim built the first fully Automatic gun,
utilizing the recoil of the piece to load and fire the next charge.

1885 ---Smokeless Powder. In Frnece, Veille, Developed the first satisfactory

smokeless powder, a new propellant which not only lacked the smoke
characteristics of black powder, but also more powerful.

1845 ---Rimfire Cartridge. In France, Florbert develop a “bullet” “breech cap” which
was in really the first rimterfire Cartridge.

BALLISTICS - is defined as the science of motion of projectiles • It is derived from the Greek
word "Ballo" or "Ballien" which means to throw and from the Roman war machine "Ballista" which
means a gigantic bow or catapult that hurls stones in killing enemies and wild animals.

GENERALLY: Ballistics includes:

1. Science - refers to the systematized body of knowledge.
2. Projectiles - the metallic or non-metallic objects propelled from a firearm.
3. Motions - the movement or action of projectiles launched from firearms.
a. Direct - forward movement of the projectile inside the gun barrel resulting from the
expanding force of gases produced after combustion of the gun powder.
b. Rotary - the gyrating action (rotating or spinning), either right or left, of the projectile while
passing through a gun barrel.
c. Translational - the straight-line movement where every part of the projectile follows as
parallel path and no rotation takes place such as bouncing of a bullet after hitting a
resistant surface.

BRANCHES OF BALLISTICS

1. INTERIOR BALLISTICS - treats of the motion of projectile while it still inside the firearm.
The time during which the projectile is influenced by interior ballistic. From the release of
the firing pin to the moment the sound of the shot can be heard as it leaves the muzzle occupies
only about 0.01 seconds, in a modern rifle.

THINGS INVOLVED IN INTERIOR BALLISTICS:

a. Ignition of primer
b. Flames is produced
c. Combustion of the gunpowder
d. Energy that is generated
e. Force/Pressure developed
f. Velocity of the bullet (from the chamber to the muzzle)
g. Rotation of the bullet
h. Engraving of the cylindrical surface of the bullet
2. EXTERIOR BALLISTICS - treats of the motion of projectiles after leaving the muzzle of the gun
barrel.
The flight of most bullet or projectile does not exceed 30 seconds at maximum range, which
for almost any firearms is obtained at an elevation of about 33 degrees.

a. Muzzle Blast - the sound created at the muzzle end of the barrel of the firearm after the
explosion.
b. Muzzle Energy - energy generated after leaving the firearms.
c. Trajectory - this refers to the parabola-like flight of the projectile from the time it leaves the
muzzle until it hits the target.
d. Range - the distance between the firearm and the target.
1. Accurate Range - the distance within which the shooter or gunner has control of his
shots.
2. Effective Range - the maximum distance at which the projectile can be expected to be
lethal.
3. Maximum Range - the greater distance a projectile can travel when fired at the optimum
angle of elevation of the barrel.
e. Velocity - the speed of the bullet
f. Air resistance - encountered by the bullet in flight.
g. Pull Of Gravity - the downward movement of the bullet.
h. Penetration - the entry of the bullet on target.

3. TERMINAL BALUSTICS - is the dealing with the effect of the impact of the bullet on the target.
Penetration of the bullet is of a prime interest. It involves:
a. Terminal Accuracy - size of the bullet grouping on the target.
b. Terminal Energy - energy of the projectile when it strikes the target. a.k.a. striking energy.
c. Terminal Penetration - depth of entry of the bullet in the target.
d. Terminal Velocity - speed of the bullet upon striking the target.

• Terminal ballistics also deals with the destructive actions and effects that occur at the end of the
projectiles flight as an integral and un-deformed body and may end in one of these:
a. The projectile may strike a solid obstruction or
b. Its metal case may be broken by the explosion of bursting charge

4. FORENSIC BALLISTICS - is the science of Firearms Identification by means of the ammunition

fired through them.
This is the real branch of the science which the police use as their guide in field I
nvestigations. This includes the following:

1. Field Investigation - conducted by the first officers on the case in the field when they
investigate a case or cases wherein firearms have been used. This is a routine job of the
investigating officers, and this involves recognition, collection, marking, preservation, and
transmittal of ballistics exhibits like fired bullets, fired shells, firearms and allied matters.

2. Technical Examination of the Ballistics Exhibits - This is the job performed by the
firearms examiners in the laboratory. It involves marking of the evidence firearms, test
firings of evidence firearms to obtain test bullets and test shells for comparative purposes.
photomicrography under the bullet comparison microscope, preparation of comparative
charts, and making of reports on the findings and observations of the firearms examiners.

3. Legal Proceedings- Court Trials - wherein the ballistics report of the firearm examiner
and the ballistics exhibits are presented during trial of the case in a court of justice.
FORENSIC - As applied to ballistics, or to any other subject. suggest a relationship to Courts of
Justice and legal proceedings.

FORUM - It is a Latin word from which forensic was derived, meaning a marketplace, where
people gather for "public disputation" or "public discussion." The term "Ballistics", "Forensic
Ballistics. and "Firearms Identification", have come to mean one and the same thing in the minds
of the public, and they can be used interchangeably.

LEGAL DEFINITION OF FIREARM – “Firearms” or “Arms” are herein used includes

rifles, muskets, carbines, shotguns, revolvers, pistols and all other deadly weapons
from which a bullet, ball, shot, shell or other missile may discharge off by means of
gunpowder or other explosives. The term also includes air rifles except such as
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 see also Sec. 290 National Internal Revenue Code).

TECHNICAL DEFINITION OF FIREARM – instrument used for the propulsion of a

projectile by means of expansive force of gases from burning powder.

AMMUNITION (defined) – under the National Internal Revenue Code the word
“Ammunition” shall mean loaded shell for rifles, muskets, carbines, shotguns,
revolvers and pistols from which bullets, ball shot, shell or other missile may be
ammunition for air rifles.