FORENSIC BALLISTICS BY: DELMER A.

MONDIDO,MSCRIM

Definition of Terms

Ballistics – about motion of projectiles 23. Dr. Richard Gatling: Patented design of Gatling
Gr. ballein or ballo: to throw Gun - six-barreled, hand cranked weapon capable of
Roman ballista: a catapult firing 200 rounds per minute
24. Hiram Maxim: inventor of Maxim Machine gun &
Branches – Maxim Silencer
• Interior ballistics – ANYTHING taking place IN & ON 25. George Luger: did lasting design work in connection
the gun prior to bullet leaving muzzle. with 9 mm parabellum cartridge
• Exterior ballistics – ANYTHING taking place when bullet 26. Carl Walther: developed a reliable small caliber
is OUTSIDE of muzzle. automatic pistol in 1866
• Terminal ballistics – ANYTHING taking place on
TARGET. Important Points in Firearms History
• Forensic ballistics – proper term: firearms identification
 The use of gunpowder started in China;
Firearms –  The Mongols brought the technology to the Middle
• Legal definition – Sec. 877, RACP & Sec. 290 of NIRC: East; and
weapons that discharge projectile by gunpowder & other  The Arabs in turn brought it to Europe.
explosives
• Technical definition – instrument for propulsion of Firearm Forerunners
projectiles by gases of gunpowder.
• Other definitions – weapon designed to expel projectile Any weapon that propels projectiles, e.g. bow & arrow;

VIPs of Firearms Ancient Firearms:

1. Col Calvin H. Goddard: Father of Modern Arquebus:

Ballistics; Invented comparison microscope &  Used 15th – 17th century
helixometer  Muzzle loading
2. John M. Browning: wizard of modern firearms;  Smoothbore
pioneered the breech loading single-shot rifle;  Forerunner of rifle & long arms
invented: Winchester rifle, pump-action shotgun, Colt
45 automatic Blunderbuss:
3. Samuel Colt: produced first practical revolver – Colt
 Muzzle-loading
45
 Short, large caliber barrel
4. Henry Derringer: gave his name to a whole class of
firearms manufacturer of the Pocket Pistol  Flared at muzzle
5. Lt. Col. Patrick Ferguson: designed his own rifle Musket:
6. Alexander John Forsyth: invented the percussion  Muzzle-loading
system of ignition  Smooth bore
7. Uziel Gal: invented the Uzi submachine gun  Fired from shoulder
8. John C. Garand:father of semi-automatic US Rifle Rifled musket:
Cal. 30 M1  Made in 19th century
9. Mikhail Kalashnikov: Russian designer of AK-47  Much more accurate than smooth-bore musket
10. John Mahon Marlin: founder of Marlin Firearms
Company famous for Marlin cal. 22 Carbine Classification of Firearms
11. Eliphalet Remington: one of first rifle makers
12. James Wolfe Ripley: stimulated the development of General Classif
the Model 1855 rifled musket • Smooth bore – shotguns & muskets
13. Benjamin Robins: one of first to state sound • Rifled bore – with riflings (lands & grooves)
ballistics theories
14. Elisha King Root: helped Samuel Colt synthesize Main Classif
the manufacturing of firearms • Artillery – more than 1 inch diameter projectile
15. Berthold Schwartz and Roger Bacon: credited to • Small arms – less than 1 inch diameter projectile; portable
have invented the first gunpowder & can be handled by only 1 man.
16. Horace Smith: founded the Smith & Wesson;
pioneered making of breech-loading rifle Small arms: Ex:
17. Daniel B. Wesson: partner of Horace Smith in Machine guns: M-60, Bren gun, BAR,
revolver making mounted .30 & .50 cal guns
18. David “Carbine” Williams: maker of first known Shoulder arms: rifle, carbine, shotgun
carbine firearms Handguns: revolver, pistol
19. Oliver Fisher Winchester: Manufactured
Winchester repeating rifle Mechanical Construction
20. Eugene Stoner: developer and designer of • Single-shot firearms
AR15/M16 rifle • Repeating Arms
21. John T. Thompson: Pioneered making of Thompson • Bolt-action Type
submachine gun - first hand held machine gun. • Lever-action Type
22. Melvin M. Johnson Jr: Invented Johnson Model • Slide-action Type
1941 rifle - one of most innovative rifles of its time • Semiautomatic
period • Automatic action
 FORENSIC BALLISTICS BY: DELMER A. MONDIDO,MSCRIM

AMMUNITION

Definition
2. Rim-fire cartridges –
Legal definition – NIRC & RACP a. .22 pistols, revolvers & rifles
• Loaded shell – rifles, muskets, carbines, shotguns, b. Priming mixture inside and around the rim.
revolvers and pistols from which a ball, bullet, shot, shell c. Hammer or firing pin strikes the rim for ignition
or other missile; NOTE: with use of gunpowder/other d. Identifiable thru its headstamp
explosives
• Ammunition for air rifles 3. Rim-fire cartridges –
Further classification:
Technical definition – a. cal. .22 short – short bullet, short shell
• Group of cartridges b. cal. .22 long – short bullet, long shell
• Single unit c. cal. .22 L.R. – long bullet, long shell
• Single cartridge d. cal. .22 Magnum – extra long bullet, extra long
• Single round shell
• Complete unfired unit consisting of a bullet, cartridge
case, gunpowder and primer 4. Center-fire cartridges –
a. Used in most modern firearms
Evolution of Cartridge b. Primer cup at the center
c. Firing pin hits the center
 Powder charge & ball bullets loaded one after the d. Flame passes thru vent or flash hole igniting
other powder charge
 Powder charge & shot wrapped in paper – Latin
charta, paper & French cartouche, roll of paper Shotgun Shells

Parts of Cartridge  Single unit of ammunition for shotguns

 Parts:
 Bullet – a.k.a. slug o tubular case (paper, plastic or metal),
 Cartridge case – a.k.a. shell or casing o metallic base (with primer, powder or
 Gunpowder – a.k.a. propellant or powder charge propellant),
 Primer – cup of highly sensitive priming mixture, o wads, and
ignited thru percussion. o shots or pellets.
 Importance of wads:
Classification of Cartridges o sealer of gun bore preventing gas pressure
leaking around shot charge
According to the Type of Firearms used: o together with pellets, wads provide
 revolver cartridges information as to maker of ammo & type &
 pistol cartridges gauge of shotgun .
 rifle cartridges
 shotgun cartridges Cartridge Cases
Definition: tubular metallic or non-metallic container which
According to Location of Primers: holds together the bullet, gunpowder, and the primer.
1. Pin-fire cartridges – Other terms: shell or casing
a. Obsolete
b. Made by Monsieur Le Facheux of Paris in 1836 Functions:
c. Contained pin at the head which (end protrusion) Holder: bullet, gunpowder & primer;
is hit by a hammer for ignition Waterproof container: gunpowder; and
Sealer: gas at the breech end of the barrel

Parts of Cartridge Case

Revolvers

Classification of Cartridge Cases

According to Case Shape:

used
rarest cartridge in modern rifle
case
Pistols

greatest cartridges
powder capacity
“Magnum Jet” cartridge
Caliber .22 (carbines)
According to Head
 caliber 338 magn
caliber 8 mm x 59
FORENSIC BALLISTICS BY: DELMER A. MONDIDO,MSCRIM

Cal.45
Grease
Pistols
Cal.38 Super 38sThompson
Cal.357 Gun
Submachine
Gun

BULLETS

Definition of Bullet carried more energy

 Cylindrical projectile o Boat tail bullet
 Propelled by expansive force of gases from burning Streamlined base for spitzer bullet
gunpowder Reduces form drag

Origin of Bullets Bullet Classification

 Were not originally used in firearms but in sling
 Used in firearms – placed in front of gunpowder According to Mechanical Construction
 Lead balls as projectiles – bullet from French • Lead Bullets –
boulette, little ball • lead or alloys of lead,
 Delvigne, a French infantry officer, invented breech • tin, and
in 1826 giving way to breech loading system • antimony,
 Pointed bullets – a.k.a. conical bullets; hollow base • Jacketed Bullets –
which expands upon firing, engaging the rifling • Gilding metal – a copper alloy of
 Modern bullet: approximately 90% copper and
o Copper jacketed bullet 10% zinc.
• Copper-plated steel : jacket of
Elongated bullet with a lead core in a copper
caliber .45 bullets.
coating
NOTE: Primary function: to prevent
Greater muzzle velocity
adherence of Mattel (lead) to inside
o Spitzer bullet
of gun barrel.
Flew for greater distances more accurately

According to Bullet Shape

According to Bullet Type Rifle Bullets

• solid lead
• solid hollow-point 1. Ball Bullets – soft lead cores inside a jacket; used
• solid paper-patched against personnel only
• metal-cased 2. Armor-piercing Bullets – hardened steel cores; fired
• soft at vehicles and other armored targets.
• metal-cased hollow point 3. Tracer Bullets – base contains chemical compound
• metal point USU barium nitrates, catches fire when the bullet is
• rifled slug projected; seen during nighttime.
 FORENSIC BALLISTICS BY: DELMER A. MONDIDO,MSCRIM

4. Incendiary Bullets – contain mixture fires on impact; 5. Explosive/fragmentary Bullets – contain high charge
used on combustible targets: gasoline depot, aircrafts, of explosives; limited to 20 millimeter and above.
etc.

Primers
Description of Primer 2. Internal priming
 Portion of cartridge a. Magnum primers: contain more priming
 Consists of a brass or gilding metal cup compound & hotter flame
o Cup contains highly sensitive mixture of b. Berdan primers:
chemical compound c. Boxer primers:
o Cup is ignited by percussion
Parts of Primer
 Used for igniting the gunpowder or the powder • Primer Cup – container of the priming mixture
charge • Priming Mixture – highly sensitive chemical mixture
 Priming mixture may be contained in contained in the primer cup
o Separate primer cup (center fire) • Anvil – where priming mixture is crushed by a blow from
the firing pin
o Bottom rim (rim fire)
• Disc – small paper or tin foil pressed over the priming
Priming Methods
mixture; its purpose is to a) hold the priming mixture in
place, and b) to exclude moisture
1. External priming
a. Matchlock
Primer Composition
b. Wheel-lock
1. Potassium chlorate (initiator and fuel) - - 45%
c. Flintlock
2. Antimony sulphide (element and fuel) - - 23%
d. Caplock
3. Fulminate of mercury (initiator) - - - - - - - 32%

Gunpowder
Black powder –
Characteristics of Gunpowder • potassium nitrate (75%)
 A.k.a. propellant, powder charge • Sulphur (10%)
 Ignited by the primer flash • Charcoal (15%)
 Converted to gas under high pressure
 Propels bullet or shot thru barrel Smokeless powder (nitrocellulose-based) –
• Nitrocellulose (60 parts)
Classification & Composition • Nitroglycerine (35 parts)
• Vaseline (5 parts)

Ballistics Examination
and Investigation

CRIME SCENE SEARCH AND PRESENTATION OF  caliber of the bullet

BALLISTIC EVIDENCES  shape or form of the bullet
 presence of metal or bullet fragments
General Search  place and date of recovery
 Firearm evidences/ballistics exhibits
 Other traces Collection of Physical Evidence
 Search: well-planned & organized Features of shell or shells to take note:
 Take attention on minute details
 Extreme patience and keen observation  number of shells and their order of recovery
 caliber of the shells
Collection of Physical Evidence  trademark or brand of the shells
 Collect all articles  place and date of recovery
 Do not MAC: M-utilate, A-lter, C-ontaminate
 Sketch & photograph Collecting firearm:
 Features of firearm to take note: (1) type, (2) caliber,  Handkerchief/non-metallic string into trigger guard
(3) serial #, (4) whether loaded or not, (5) position of  Cocked firearm: lump of paper/cloth inserted on open
firearm in relation to body, (6) distinct/significant hammer
features, (7) place & date of discovery
Marking of Physical Evidence: Don’ts
Collection of Physical Evidence  Don’t rely on memory
 Don’t use universal marks such as “X”
Features of bullet or bullets to take note:  Don’t move or mark without first taking photographs
 type of bullet

Marking Firearms and Firearms Evidence: Guiding Principle

 Court is satisfied that this is the item (gun, bullet, cartridge, wad, etc.) that was collected.
 FORENSIC BALLISTICS BY: DELMER A. MONDIDO,MSCRIM

 Unmarkable item: secured in a suitable container, the container marked as to item number, date, time, finder, description,
location found, etc., sealed and the seal marked in such a way that breaking of the seal would be discernible.
Some Suggested Sites
for Marking Handguns

Melcon S.
Lapina,
MSCrim
Important Note ARMS MANUFACTURING PROCESSES RELATED TO
When marking, consider the following: FIREARMS IDENTIFICATION
 all class and individual characteristics How Barrel Is Made
 any trace evidence deposits Drilling – cutting a hole inside the barrel
 If in doubt: Reaming – removing scars and scratches left after
o wrap the item in a tissue drilling
o clean piece of paper Rifling – grooving inside the barrels
o secure and seal in a vial • Broach, Gang
o other appropriate container • Broach, Single
• Button
o thoroughly mark the sealed container
How Breechface Is Made
Transmittal of Physical Evidences: Establish Chain of
 Machine cut
Possession
 Machine or hand filing and grinding
 who recovered evidences
 Finishing operation
 who received exhibits from him
NOTE: Breechface –
 exact time exhibits were submitted
Where cartridge case and primer are forced backwards.
 date and time received Shell will be imprinted with breechface markings
 issuance of receipt and by whom
 location of evidence at any given time How Firing Pin Is Made
 Cut and shaped
 Fire finishing according to the grade of weapon

Class Characteristics

 common to a group or family of items 1. bore diameter (caliber)

 determinable even prior to the manufacture of the 2. number of lands and grooves
firearms 3. width of land
 factory specifications and within the control of man 4. width of grooves
 basis for identifying a certain group of class of 5. direction of twist
firearms 6. pitch of rifling
7. depth of grooves

Individual Characteristics

 markings peculiar and not found in all other firearms  stripping marks/shaving marks – due to bullet
 Determinable only after the manufacture of firearm “jumping” the rifling
 beyond the control of man  slippage marks – caused by rotating resistance of
 have random distribution bullet upon entering rifling of breech end.
 caused by tools in in their normal operation

Marks Found on “Fired Bullets” Marks Found on “Fired Shells”

 land marks – caused by the lands  firing pin marks – caused by a firing pin after
 groove marks – caused by the grooves hitting the primer cup
 skid marks – due to worn out barrel  breechface marks – due to impact created by the
 banging
 of the shell head and breechblock surface
 extractor marks – created by the action of the Marks Found on “Fired Shells”
extracting mechanism on the empty shells; usually  shearing marks – striations on the primer caused by
located on the extracting grooves of the shell sudden movement while being hit by the firing pin;
 ejector marks – commonly found among cartridges also called “secondary firing pin marks”
fired from automatic weapons; also located near the
rim of the cartridge
 FORENSIC BALLISTICS BY: DELMER A. MONDIDO,MSCRIM

 chamber marks – are mostly found around the body  magazine lip markings – found at both sides of the
of the fired cartridge case and they are caused by the rim of the shell and these are caused by the magazine
irregularities in the inside walls of the chamber lips during reloading of the cartridges into the
magazine for firing.


Summary of Marks Left on Expended Cartridges

Principles of identification of Bullets

 No two barrels are microscopically identical.
 Bullet is engraved by riflings of barrel from where it was fired.
 Barrel leaves thumb mark on bullet.

Principles of identification of Shells

 Breechface & striker leave microscopical individualities.
 Firearm leaves fingerprint on cartridge case.
 Breechface is distinct.