Ammunition bsapp.com

bsapp.com

bsapp.com

bsapp.com

Bullet Design  “Bullet” refers to the projectile(s) which actually exits the barrel of the gun when fired  Bullets vary in shape and composition  There exist hundreds of different types of bullets  Most types are variations on three main shapes & three basic compositions bsapp.com

Three Main Shapes bsapp.com

Round Nose  Maximum penetration  Cheapest shape to manufacture  Easily loads into chambers bsapp.com

Hollow Point  Spreads or mushrooms on impact  Causes additional damage to target  Inhibits penetration bsapp.com

Wad Cutter  Used exclusively as a practice load  Minimizes penetration  Rips a hole in target paper which is visible by the shooter bsapp.com

Three Basic Compositions of Bullets  Lead  ½ Jacketed  Jacketed (Full metal jacket) bsapp.com

Lead  Cheap  Dense  Soft  Easy to mold bsapp.com

½ Jacketed  A lead bullet coated with copper half way up the exposed portion of the bullet  Used primarily for hollow points hollow points  Copper improves exit velocity exit velocity  Lead promotes mushrooming bsapp.com

Jacketed  A lead bullet completely coated in copper Copper improves exit velocity Used to hold the shape of the bullet in an effort to maximize penetration bsapp.com

Forensic Ballistics Introductory Notes

What is Forensic ballistics?  Forensic ballistics attempts to establish the true facts in a shooting crime  Ballistic evidence includes Firearms Firearms Bullets Bullets Cartridge cases Cartridge cases

Major Types of Ballistic Evidence  Bullet holes  Bullet damage  Bullet trajectories  Gunshot wounds

Internal Ballistics  Internal Ballistics studies all of the processes inside a firearm.  Most common responsibilities are: Examining firearms in case of accidental discharge Examining firearms in case of accidental discharge Examining homemade devices called zip guns Examining homemade devices called zip guns The microscopic examination of fired bullets and cartridge cases The microscopic examination of fired bullets and cartridge cases

External Ballistics  External ballistics studies the projectile of the bullet from the gun to target.  Two common types of external ballistics are: Calculation and reconstruction of bullet trajectories Calculation and reconstruction of bullet trajectories Establishing the maximum range of a given bullet Establishing the maximum range of a given bullet

Terminal Ballistics  Terminal ballistics is the study of the projectiles effect on the target.  The target can be any solid or living object  When the target is human or animal this is often referred to as “wound ballistics”

Types of Terminal Ballistics  Determination of distance between firing and target  Establishing whether a particular wound was caused by a fired bullet  Determining the caliber and type of projectile that caused the wound  Identifying exit/entrance by examining holes in targets or wounds  Examination of ricochet possibilities on targets and fired projectiles