1. Forensic Ballistics
Introductory Notes

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

3. Major Types of Ballistic Evidence
Bullet holes
Bullet damage
Bullet trajectories
Gunshot wounds

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

5. 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
Establishing the maximum range of a given bullet

6. 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”

7. 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