FORENSIC BALLISTICS

BALLISTICS

 " Ballistics“- originated from the Greek word

"Ballein" or "Ballo" which means “to throw"
and from a Roman war machine called
"Ballista“

It is the science dealing with the motion of

projectiles in flight and the conditions governing
that motion or the study of natural laws relating to
the performance of gunpowder and projectiles in
firearms.
• Colonel Calvin H. Goddard pioneered
the introduction of this science in the
Northwestern University, Chicago, U.S.A.
Subsequently it was universally practiced
and accepted as manifested in the
different court dockets throughout the
world.
 FORENSIC BALLISTICS

 Is one branch of ballistics which refers to

the investigation and identification of
firearms by means of ammunition fired
through them.
 DIVISION OF FORENSIC BALLISTICS
 

• FIELD INVESTIGATION – It concerns mostly

with the collection, marking, preservation,
packing and transmission of firearms
evidences including the study of the class
characteristics of firearms and bullets.

• TECHNICAL EXAMINATION – Examination

of bullets and/or shells whether they were fired
from also whether or not cartridges were
loaded and ejected by the suspected firearm
submitted.
 FIREARMS IDENTIFICATION

• A discipline of forensic science which has

its primary concern to determine if a bullet,
cartridge case or other ammunition
component was fired by a particular
firearm.
 FIREARMS
 
Is any instrument used for the
propulsion of projectiles by means of
expansive force of gasses coming
from burning gunpowder.(technical
definition)
 FIREARM:
Under Section 877 of the Revised
Administrative Code & Section 290 of the
National Internal Revenue Code:

Firearms or arms as herein used, includes

rifles, muskets, carbines, shotguns, pistols,
revolvers, and all other deadly weapons from which
bullets, balls, shots, shells, or other missiles may be
discharged by means of gunpowder or other
explosives. This term also includes air rifles except
such as being of small caliber and of limited
range used as toys. The barrel of any firearm shall
be considered as a complete firearm for all purposes
hereof.
CALIBER/ BORE DIAMETER OF
THE FIREARM
The caliber of the firearm is
the diameter of the bore of
the barrel measured from
land to land in rifled firearm.
It is expressed in inches or
fraction of an inch by the
American and English
manufacturers and
millimeters or in centimeters
or fraction there by
manufacturers in Continental
Europe.
 
Gauge – As applied to shotgun indicates the bore diameter is equal to the
diameter of the lead ball whose weight in pound is equal to the reciprocal
gauge index.
Ex. 12 gauge indicate the bore diameter is equal to the lead ball
weighing 1/12 of a pound.

Gauge Bore Diameter (in inches)

4 .935
8 .835
10 .775
12 .729
16 .662
20 .615
28 .550
410 .410
A term used in the identification of a shotgun bore. The number of round
lead balls of bore diameter that equal one pound. Thus 12 gauge is the
diameter of a round lead ball weighing 1/12 pound (AFTE).
What makes a firearm different from the others?
What are the bases or basic principles involved?
 CLASSIFICATION OF FIREARM

1. According to Bore:

a. Rifled Bore Firearms - are those that

contain rifling inside the gun barrel. Ex.
Pistols, revolvers and rifles

  b. Smooth Bore Firearms - those that have

no rifling inside the gun barrel from the
breech end up to the muzzle of a firearm. Ex.
Shotguns, Muskets.
  The rifling in firearms may be divided into the following:

Styr type – four grooves, right hand twist, grooves and lands of equal
width. (4R G-L)

Smith and Wesson type – five grooves, right hand twist, grooves and
lands of equal width. (5R G-L)

Browning type – six grooves, right hand twist, narrow lands and broader
grooves. (6R G2X)

Colt type – six grooves, left hand twist, narrow lands and broader
grooves. (6L G2X)

Webley type – seven grooves, right hand twist, narrow lands and
broader grooves. (7R G3X)

Army type – four grooves, right hand twist, narrow lands and broader
grooves. (4R G3X)
• PURPOSE OF RIFLINGS

Is to impart a motion of rotation to a bullet during its passage inside

the barrel in order to insure gyroscopic stability in the flight, and so that
it will travel nose-on towards the target.
 CLASSIFICATION OF FIREARM
2. According to Mechanical Construction:
 
a. Single Action Firearms - those that are designed to shot only
one shot in one loading.

b. Repeating Arms - those that can fire several shots in one

loading.

  c. Bolt Action Type - those that bolt is used in order to load.

  d. Automatic Loading Type - there is an automatic in the

loading.

  f. Single Action Type - known as trombone

  g. Lever Type - such as of the rifles and shotgun

 
 CLASSIFICATION OF FIREARM

3. According to Use
 
a. Military Firearms
  pistol
revolver
rifles
shotgun
machine gun

b. Pocket and Home Defense

  pistol
revolver
rifles
 
 CLASSIFICATION OF FIREARM
3. According to Use

c. Target and Outdoorsman known as Sporting

  pistol
revolver
rifles
shotgun
 
d. Unusual/Miscellaneous Firearms-those that are
unique in mechanism and construction
  gas gun knife pistol
traps gun zip guns/paltiks
cane gun multi-barreled guns
 
 CLASSIFICATION OF FIREARMS
 

4. According to Power Pursuant to R.A. 8294

 Equivalent of Calibers in Inches and

Millimeters
 
•Caliber .22 about 5.59 mm
•Caliber .25 about 6.35 mm
•Caliber .30 about 7. 63 mm (Mouser)
•Caliber .30 about 7.65 mm (Luger)
•Caliber.32 about 7.65 mm
•Caliber .38 about 9mm
•Caliber .45 about 11 mm
 CLASSIFICATION OF FIREARMS
 

4. According to Power Pursuant to R.A. 8294

a. High Powered Firearm

caliber .45
caliber .44
caliber .357 magnum
10 mm/ .40
caliber .41
.22 magnum center fire
Automatic rifles Firearms with capability to fire 2 or 3
burst Shotgun gauges 410, 10,12, 16, 20 and 28
Homemade firearm w/ bore diameter bigger than cal.
38/9mm or any caliber but capable of automatic Air rifle
classified as firearm mode under EO 712
 CLASSIFICATION OF FIREARMS

4. According to Power Pursuant to R.A. 8294

b. Low Powered Firearm

 caliber .22 short
caliber .22 long
caliber .22 long rifle
caliber .22magnum
caliber .25
caliber .32
caliber .380
caliber .38
caliber .38 super
9mm
 CLASSIFICATION OF FIREARMS
5. According to its Mechanical Operation
 
Single Action – a firearm that must be manually cocked before firing.
The trigger performs single function of releasing the hammer to fire the
gun.

Single Action Semi Automatic – nee only be cocked for the first shot,
the hammer is cocked automatically for subsequent shots.

Double Action – a handgun that can be fired without first cocking the
hammer. The trigger performs two functions of cocking and releasing
the hammer.
CLASSIFICATION OF FIREARMS

5. According to its Mechanical Operation

Gas Operated - An automatic/semi automatic firearm with a
locked breech that uses a small amount of the expanding
gases created by the burning powder charge to cycle the
action.
Blowback - A semi-automatic or automatic system in which
the breech is not locked during firing, but held closed only by
the recoil spring and the weight of the bolt.
Automatic – Technically, a firearm that chambers and fires
rounds continuously as long as its trigger is held down.
CLASSIFICATION OF FIREARMS
5. According to its Mechanical Operation

Semi-Automatic – a repeating firearm that uses

some of the energy generated upon firing to
eject the empty shell and chamber a fresh
round. Only one shot is fired each time the
trigger is pulled.
Recoil Operated - A locked breech semi-
automatic or automatic system using a portion
of the recoil energy to cycle the operation.
AMMUNITION/CARTRIDGE
AMMUNITION/CARTRIDGE
is a complete unfired unit consisting of
bullet, cartridge case, gunpowder and the
primer. (technical)

It refers to a "loaded shell" for rifles,

muskets, carbines, shotguns, revolvers
and pistols from which a ball, bullet, shot,
shell or other missile may be fired by
means of gunpowder or other explosives.
 COMPONENTS OF A CARTRIDGE/AMMUNITION:

• BULLET

• GUNPOWDER

• CARTRIDGE CASE

• PRIMER
 TYPES OF CARTRIDGE
 

Pin-fire – the pin extend radially through the head of the

cartridge case into the primer.
 
Rim-fire – the priming mixture is placed in the cavity formed
in the rim of the head of the cartridge case. The flame
produced is in direct communication with the powder
charge. Used in calibers .22, .25 and .45 Derringer pistols.
 
Center-fire – the primer cut is forced into the middle
portion of the head of the cartridge case and the priming
mixture is exploded by the impact of the firing pin. The
flame is communicated to the powder charge through the
vents leading into the powder charge.
 TYPES OF CENTER-FIRE CARTRIDGES
Rimmed type – the rim of the cartridge case is greater than
the diameter of the body of the cartridge case. Ex. Cal .38 and
Cal .22
 
Semi-rimmed type – the rim of the cartridge case is slightly
greater than the diameter of the body of the cartridge case. Ex.
Cal. Super .38 Auto pistol, .32 and .25
 
Rimmed less type – the rim of the cartridge case is equal to
the diameter of the body of the cartridge case. Ex. Cal. .45 Auto
pistol, Cal. .30 Carbine, Cal. .223 Armalite
 
 TWO (2) PRINCIPLES OF FIREARMS
IDENTIFICATION
 
1. BULLET IDENTIFICATION :
 
No two barrels are microscopically identical as the surfaces of
their bores all possess individual and characteristic markings
of their own.
 
When a bullet is fired from a rifled barrel, it becomes
engraved by the rifling and this engraving will vary in its
minute details with every individual bore. So it happens that
the engravings on the bullet fired from one barrel will be
different from that on a similar bullet fired from another
barrel. And conversely, the engravings on bullets fired from
the same barrel will be the same.
 TWO (2) PRINCIPLES OF FIREARMS
IDENTIFICATION
2. CARTIDGE CASE/SHELLS IDENTIFICATION:

• The breech face and the striker (firing pin) of every single firearm
have microscopic individualities of their own.
 
• Every firearm leaves its “fingerprints” or “thumb mark” on every
cartridge it fires.
 
• The whole principle of identification of cartridge cases/shells is based
on the fact that since the breech face of every weapon must be
individually distinct, the cartridge cases which are fired are imprinted
with this individuality. The imprints of all cartridge cases fired from the
same weapon are always the same, and those on cartridge cases
fired from different weapons are different.
TWO (2) GOVERNING CHARACTERISTICS IN
FIREARMS IDENTIFICATION

1. CLASS CHARACTERISTICS :
 
2. INDIVIDUAL CHARACTERISTICS
 Class Characteristics
Those characteristics that are determinable prior to the manufacture of the firearms.
These characteristics are the factory specifications and are with in the control of man
and they serve as basis to identify a certain group or class of firearms.

a. Bore Diameter/Caliber
b. Number of Lands and Grooves
c. Width of Lands
d. Width of Grooves
e. Depth of Grooves
f. height of the Lands caliber
g. Direction of Twist
h. Pitch of Rifling
  The rifling in firearms may be divided into the following:

Styr type – four grooves, right hand twist, grooves and lands of equal
width. (4R G-L)

Smith and Wesson type – five grooves, right hand twist, grooves and
lands of equal width. (5R G-L)

Browning type – six grooves, right hand twist, narrow lands and broader
grooves. (6R G2X)

Colt type – six grooves, left hand twist, narrow lands and broader
grooves. (6L G2X)

Webley type – seven grooves, right hand twist, narrow lands and
broader grooves. (7R G3X)

Army type – four grooves, right hand twist, narrow lands and broader
grooves. (4R G3X)
 Two bullets with the same class characteristics
a. Caliber d. No. of lands and grooves
b. Width of lands and grooves e. Other class characteristics
c. Twist of the rifling
Caliber

θ
5 - Right

Angle of Twist

Cannelure

Groove width

Landmark Width
Note: Weight and length of the bullets is disregarded
 Individual Characteristics

Markings peculiar or distinct in a particular

firearm

Markings which are determinable after the

manufacture of the firearm and whose existence
is beyond the control of the manufacturer.

Markings which are randomly distributed inside

the gun and whose existence is brought about by
the tools used in their manufacture and machine
operation resulting through wear, tear, abuse,
mutilation, corrosion, erosion and other
fortuitous causes.
Ordnance and Commercial Ammunition Components
Marking of Evidence
 Bullet’s base

never on the body

On the nose
Marking a pistol
On the barrel,
(example: engraved
marked “ABC” 10-14-08)

Slide, and
(example:
engraved
Frame or receiver marked
(example: engraved “ABC” 10-
14-08
marked “ABC 10-14-08”
 Marking a revolver

Barrel, “ ABC” “10-25-04”

Cylinder, “ABC” “10-25-04”

Frame, “ABC” “10-25-04”
 Marking a rifle
Upper receiver,
(example: engraved Barrel, (example:
marked “ABC” “10- engraved marked
25-04” “ABC” “ 10-25-04”

Lower receiver,
(example: engraved
marked “ABC” “10-25-
04” Bolt, (example: engraved
marked “ABC” ”10-25-
04”
 TRANSMITTAL OF THE RECOVERED EVIDENCE TO CRIME LAB:

1. All collected evidence must be transmitted to the Firearms

Identification Division and concerned CL offices for
examination as soon as possible.
2. All evidence must be photographed for future identification.
3. Take precautions to preserve the evidence.
4. Wrap and seal each item of evidence separately to avoid
contamination.
5. Pack live ammunition in a clean, dry cardboard container
separately from firearms.
6. Stabilize the evidence to avoid movement or friction during
shipment.
7. Seal the container with tape.
8. If any of the evidence needs to be examined for latent prints,
label LATENT on the container.
9. Label the outer container with “Evidence” label.
10. Always observe the Chain of Custody.
Evidence Tag
RELATED LABORATORY
EXAMINATIONS
for GPR examination by Chemistry Division
for SEROLOGY examination by Medico Legal Division
Fuming Box (for developing latent prints)
 Defaced Serial number

for Macro-Etching examination by Physical Identification Division

Bullet Recovery Tube
 PROCEDURES IN REQUESTING FOR LABORATORY EXAMINATIONS

1. Letter requests for examinations - should be addressed to the Director, Crime

Laboratory (D, CL), attention: Chief, Firearms Identification Division (C, FAID).

The requests must contain the following information:

a. The submitting contact person’s name, agency, address, and telephone

number.
 
b. Nature and the basic facts of the case.
 
c. The name(s) and descriptive data about the individual(s) involved (subject,
suspect, victim, or a combination of those categories) and the unit-assigned
case identification number, if there is any.
 
d. List of the evidence being submitted or under separate cover.
 
 PROCEDURES IN REQUESTING FOR LABORATORY
EXAMINATIONS
2. Physical examination of the evidence being referred to for examination
 
3. Referral of the evidence to other Technical divisions:
 
a. Fingerprint Division - for possible recovery of latent prints.
 
b. Photography Division – for documentation through photography.
 
c. Medico Legal Division - for possible Serology on evidence
firearms.
 
d. Physical Identification Division – responsible in the examination
of allied examination, like; Bullet Trajectory Analysis and Serial
Number Restoration
 
e. Chemistry Division – for Gunpowder Residue Analysis
 
 PROCEDURES IN REQUESTING FOR LABORATORY EXAMINATIONS

4. Test firing of evidence of the evidence firearm.

 
5. Microscopic examination of the evidence bullet/cartridge cases
 
6. Preparation of worksheet
 
7. Preparation of Laboratory report
 
8. Retrieval of related laboratory reports
 
9. Turn-over of evidence to the evidence custodian for safekeeping
 
10. Release of laboratory report.
 

PROBLEMS IN FIREARMS
IDENTIFICATION
 Problems in Firearms Identification

Evidence bullet

Identification of the
caliber, type and possible
make of firearm
fired cartridge case (empty shell)

Identification of the caliber,

type and possible make of
firearm.
Two or more bullets

Determination whether the said

bullets were fired from one and the
same firearm.
Two or more evidence fired cartridge
cases

Determination whether or not the fired

cartridge cases were fired from one and
the same firearm.
Evidence bullet and
suspected firearm

Identification whether the

bullet was fired from the
firearm
.

.
Cartridge case (shell)
and suspected firearm

Determination whether
the spent shell was fired
from the said firearm.
Firearms

Serviceability tests
Determination of its authenticity
Classification pur to RA 8294.
 Ammunition

Serviceability tests
 SUMMARY

 
After discussing this lesson, the participants are expected to have
heartedly understood and grasped all the enumerated learning
objectives in the lesson plan. This will be evaluated thru the conduct of
an objective type of examination and practical exercises as to the
evidentiary value of firearm evidence like, spent bullet and spent
cartridge in investigation..
Firearms: A Quick History

• Almost every gun is based on the same simple concept: You apply
explosive pressure behind a projectile to launch it down a barrel.

• The earliest & simplest application of this idea is the cannon.

The 1st handheld guns were essentially mini-
cannons; you loaded some gunpowder & a
steel ball & lit a fuse.
• War typically resulted in the need for improved weapons technology.
• In the late 1800’s, the revolver quickly became popular due to it’s size &
quick loading.
• It only had to be reloaded every 5-6 shots instead of after each shot.
• Handguns reigned supreme for the past 200 years & to this day, remain
the most popular & readily available firearm.
Firearms Identification

•Often confused with the term ballistics

•Ballistics is the study of a projectile in

motion.
• Inside the firearm
• After it leaves the firearm
• When it impacts the target
Firearms Identification

Identification of Firearms is based upon

this basic idea:

A harder object marks a softer one &

imparts/transfers its microscopic
irregularities to that object.
Forensic Firearms Expert

• Did a suspect use this gun to kill that person?

• Did these bullets come from that gun?
• Was it really self-defense?
• Is this a case of suicide, or is foul play involved?
Forensic Firearms Expert

• Bullet Comparison
• Weapons Function
• Is it safe? Has it been modified?
• Serial Number Restoration
• Gunpowder Residue Detection
• on clothes, hands, & wounds
• Muzzle-to-Target Distances
 Pulling the Trigger
• Pulling the trigger releases the firing pin…
• The firing pin strikes the primer…
• The primer ignites the gun powder…
• The powder generates gas that propels the bullet forward through the
barrel & ejects the spent cartridge case.
Caliber: the diameter of the gun barrel.
• Caliber is recorded in
• hundredths of an inch (.22 & .38)
• millimeters (9mm)
Bullet Anatomy
Anatomy of a Bullet
Bullet Comparisons

• Each gun leaves distinct markings on a bullet passing through it.

• A gun barrel is made from a solid bar of steel that has been
drilled/hallowed out.

• The drill leaves microscopic marks on the barrel’s inner surface.

Bullet Comparisons

• Gun manufacturers also add spiral grooves to the barrel. This is

known as rifling.

• Lands: the space between the grooves.

• As a spinning bullet passes through the barrel, it is marked by these

grooves.
 Class Characteristics
• Class Characteristics: Once a manufacturer chooses a
rifling process, for a particular class of weapon, they
keep it consistent.

• Lands & Grooves are the same for a model.

• .32 caliber Smith & Wesson has 5 lands & grooves twisting to
the right.
• .32 caliber Colt has 6 lands & grooves twisting to the left.

• Class characteristics can eliminate certain makes but

are not enough to ID a particular gun.
 Individual Characteristics
• Imperfections in the manufacturing process make each barrel unique.

• Rifled barrels, even if made in succession will NOT have identical

striation (scratch-like marks).
 Bullet Comparisons
• To match bullets to a gun, test bullets must be fired through
a suspect barrel for comparison.

• Goddard & Comparison Microscopes

• Examined bullets side-by-side (to match striated markings).
Bullet Comparisons
Cartridge Markings
All moving components contact the cartridge
rather than the bullet can leave useful
impressions on shell cartridges
• Breechface marks
• Firing pin impressions
• Chamber marks
• Extractor & Ejector markings
Breechface Marks
Actual Breech Marks
Firing Pin Marks
Chamber Marks
Ejector Marks
 Other Factors
• Perfect matches sometimes difficult b/c:
• Presence of grit & rust in a barrel
• Recovered bullets too mutilated or distorted on impact
• A spent bullet’s weight can sometimes determine the gun make.
• Microgrooves: 8-24 grooves; it’s not as common
• General Rifling Characteristics File
• FBI database of known land/groove width for all weapons.
 Shotguns
• Smooth barrel
• Projectile NOT marked as it passes through
• Fire small lead balls or pellets contained within a
shell.
• Characterized by:
• diameter of the shot
• size & shape of the wad
• Gauge: diameter of the barrel
• ( gauge  diameter)
Gunshot Residue (GSR)
• GSR Sources:
• victim, clothing or target
• shooter’s hands
•Gunpowder Chemistry
• Major detectable elements are: lead (Pb),
barium (Ba) & antimony (Sb)
• Virtually all cartridge cases are made of brass
(copper & zinc); also detectable.
Griess Test

• Tests for the presence of nitrates (partially burned or unburned

gunpowder)

• Swab of shooter’s hand

• Must produce a pattern for a distance determination

Results of GSR Hand Test

• Negative results may be caused by:

• Washing the hands
• Shooter may have been wearing gloves
• Lead free ammunition

• A rifle or shotgun may not deposit GSR on hands

GSR on the hand of a suicide victim, proving he
was holding the weapon when it was fired.
With a contact or very close range gunshot wound, it is possible to have
blood spatter as well as GSR on the hand of the person firing the weapon.
Trajectory
SERIAL NUMBER RESTORATION

• When a serial number is stamped into a gun, the metal underneath the number
is compressed & hardened.
• If the number is filed-off, the hardened area may still be present.
• By using an acid solution the metal can be slowly eaten away.
• In this process the softer metal will be eaten away first and the number may reappear.
Before & After

• Historically, serial numbers are successfully restored 63% of the time on steel &
54% of the time for aluminum or zinc.
 FIREARMS EVIDENCE
COLLECTION
• Make sure it is unloaded!!!!!
• DO NOT put a pencil into a barrel
• REVOLVERS
• Indicate location of fired & unfired ammunition
• AUTOMATICS
• Check magazine for number of rounds
• Fingerprint magazine
• Place ID tag on trigger guard
FIREARMS EVIDENCE
COLLECTION
• AMMUNITION
• Write on base or nose
• Package in pill box or envelope
• Wrap in tissue to protect
FIREARMS EVIDENCE
COLLECTION
• CLOTHING
• Protect & preserve any
residue
• Air dry if wet
• Package separately in
paper bags

• Establish CHAIN OF
CUSTODY
 TOOL MARK IMPRESSIONS

• Impressions
• Cuts
• Gouges
• Abrasions
TOOL MARK IMPRESSIONS

• SUBMIT ENTIRE OBJECT

• PACKAGE SEPARATELY (ALWAYS!)
• DO NOT ATTEMPT TO FIT THE TOOL
INTO THE TOOL MARK