Forensic Ballistics Examination/ Firearm Identification

Is forensic ballistics same as firearm

identification?

Yes, forensic ballistics is real

Science and firearm
identification is the technical
term for the science.

Yes, forensic ballistics is AKA

Firearm identification
As a Criminalist, Criminologist and
Ballistician or Firearm examiner,
he or he should:
A. know everything about everything
B. Know less and less about the less and less
C. Know more and more about more and more
D. Know more and more about the less and less
JUXTAPOSITION - BCMicroscope
The term Ballistics derived from the Greek
words Ballo or Ballien which means:

A. to throw
B. to eject
C. to extract to fly
D. to push forward
In the broadest sense, the term
Ballistics is defined as:

A. The Ballistae
B. Art of projectiles in motion
C. Scientific term of projectiles in motion
D. It deals with the motion of projectiles / bullet
BALLISTICS
The term derived from the Greek word
“Ballein” or “Ballo” meaning to
throw and also from the Roman word
“Ballista or Ballistae” which refers
to the ancient Gigantic Roman war
machine called “CATAPULT” used to
hurl missiles or any large objects.
MOTION - refers to the mobility or movement of
the projectile.

TYPES OF MOTION:
1. Direct Motion – the forward motion of the bullet
or shots out of the shell by the action of the
expansive force of gases from a burning gun
powder.
2. Rotary Motion– the action of the bullet passing
through a rifled bore barrel firearm which is either
twisted to the right or left.

3. Translational motion- the action of the bullet once

it hits a hard target and subsequently may
ricochet.
MOTION OF BULLET
OTHER TERM AND MOVEMENT
OF BULLET WHILE IN FLIGHT

Forward Movement
Spinning Movement
Tumbling Movement
Wobbling Movement
Downward Movement
Effects of Bullet
Penetration
Perforation
Ricochet
Detonation
Fragmentation
FORENSIC BALLISTICS - this refers to the science of firearm identification by means of the
ammunition fired through them.
FORENSIC – originated from the Latin word “forum” meaning a market place where people
gather for “public disputation” or “public discussion” during the Roman time.
BRANCHES OF BALLISTICS
Interior (Internal) Ballistics
Exterior (External) Ballistics
Terminal Ballistics
Forensic Ballistics
Wound Ballistics
Shot Ballistics
BRANCHES OF BALLISTICS
INTERIOR BALLISTICS EXTERIOR BALLISTICS TERMINAL BALLISTICS
BRANCHES OF BALLISTICS
1. INTERIOR (INTERNAL) BALLISTICS - refers
to the properties and attributes of the
projectile (bullet) while inside the gun. This
extends from the “breech” to the “muzzle” of
the gun. It involves all reactions that take
place while the bullet is still in the gun. These
includes the following:
 Firing pin hitting the primer
 Ignition of the priming mixture
Cont. - Interior (Internal) Ballistics

– Combustion of the gunpowder

– Expansion of heated gas…
– Pressure developed – measured in
pound per square inch.
– Energy generated – measured in foot
pound. Foot pound is the capacity to
lift one pound at the height of one
foot.
Cont. - Interior (Internal) Ballistics

– Recoil of the gun – Back kicking

movement of the Gun
– 0.0002 sec. explosion of the ammunition
– .01 sec. – travel of bullet inside the
firearm in a modern rifle
– Rotation of the bullet inside the barrel-
left or right
– Engraving on the cylindrical surface of the
bullet.
2. EXTERIOR (External) Ballistics – refers
to the attributes and movements of the bullet
after it has left the gun muzzle. This branch
involves the following:
Muzzle Blast – the sound created at the
muzzle end of the barrel of the firearm after
the explosion.
Muzzle Energy (ME) – energy generated
after leaving the firearm.
Trajectory ( Parabola) – the actual pattern
or the curved path of the bullet in flight.
Cont. - Exterior (External) Ballistics

– Velocity – speed of the bullet.

– Air resistance – force of the air
encountered by the bullet in its flight.
– Pull of gravity – downward reaction
of the bullet towards the earth center
due to its weight.
– Penetration – the entry of the bullet
on target.
Cont. - Exterior (External) Ballistics
– Range – the distance between the
muzzle and the target.
• Accurate (effective) range – the
distance within which the shooter has
control of his shots, meaning he can place
his shots at the desired spots.
• Maximum range – the greatest
distance a projectile can travel when fired
at the optimum angle of elevation of the
barrel.
The curve path travelled by a projectile
in the air during its flight is called;

A. Parabolic Flight
B. Parabola
C. Yaw
D. Trajectory
It is an imaginary traced of position
followed by an object moving through the
space is called?

A. External Ballistics
B. Motion
C. Parabola
D. Trajectory
3. TERMINAL BALLISTICS - refers to the effects of the impact of the projectile on the target.

This involves the following:

 Terminal accuracy – the size of the bullet grouping on
the target.

 Terminal energy – the energy of the bullet when it strikes

the target, same as striking energy.

 Terminal velocity – the speed of the bullet upon striking

the target measured in feet per seconds.

 Terminal penetration – the depth of the bullet on the

target.
OTHER FACTORS RESPONSIBLE IN THE
INJURIOUS EFFECT OF BULLET
1. FACTORS INHERENT TO THE BULLET
a. Speed of the bullet
b. Size and Shape of the bullet
c. Characteristic of the bullet

2. NATURE OF THE TARGET

a. Density or Depth of the target
b. length of the tissue involved
c. nature of the media traversed
d. vitality of the part involved
A division of forensic Ballistics that
deals on the work of the Police
Investigator in the field were Crime
may be is Committed.
A. Field investigation
B. Legal Proceedings
C. Scene of the Crime Operation
D. Technical Examination
4. FORENSIC BALLISTICS - The science of
Firearm Identification by means of the
ammunition fired through them. This is the
real branch of science which the police use
as their guide in field investigation.
Scope of Forensic Ballistics:
A. FIELD INVESTIGATION
refers to the work of the investigator in the
field. It concerns mostly with the recognition,
collection, marking, preservation, packing
and transmission of firearms evidences.
(SOCOperation)
B. TECHNICAL EXAMINATION -
Refers to the job of the firearms identification
examiner in the laboratory. It is extended to the
markings of evidences, test-firing evidences,
photomicrography under the bullet comparison
microscope and final reports on the findings and
observations of the firearms by the examiners.
C. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS -
Most critical part in the field of firearm
identification for the examiner will go to the
court as expert witness regarding the ballistics
report and exhibits he had prepared and
examined in the laboratory.
5. Wound Ballistics
- Refers to the study of projectile, bullet, balls, slugs penetration on tissues / target.
- Entry wound are generally clean, round holes, slightly smaller than the bullets which caused them. As the bullet travels through the body it produces a shock wave which damages the tissue around its path. This is known as “Tissue Quake”.
SAMPLE OF WOUNDS
Entrance exit
Sample of Wounds
ENTRANCE WOUND
EXIT WOUND
KINDS OF GUNSHOT
1. CONTACT SHOT– Gun muzzle is pressed
against or within an inch of the target.

2. CLOSE SHOT – The distance is within 6 to 12

inches from the muzzle to the target.

3. DISTANCE SHOT – When the distance is more

than 12 inches of more….
INJURIOUS EFFECT OF BULLET - WOUND
1. Permanent Cavity – Tissue surrounding the
wound vanished.
2. Temporary Cavity – Tissues within the wound
grew replacing the damage one.
3. Shockwaves – The effect of bullet when passing
in the soft part of the body like stomach, large
and small intestine etc.
4. Fragmentation – deformation and disruption of
hard part of the body like bones etc.
5. Muzzle blast in contact fire
6. SHOT BALLISTICS
refers to the study wounds caused by smooth
bore firearms like shotguns and muskets.
SAMPLE OF SHOTS
This are patterns of tiny orange brown
lesions on the skin made by a reaction or
cause of powder during shooting.
A. Soot
B. Abrasion
C. Contusion
D. Tattooing
MARKS FOUND AROUND THE ENTRY AND EXIT
OF WOUND CAUSED BY BULLET

1. Contusion ring – caused by the hotness of bullet

as it slips on the skin.

2. Smudging ring – it covers the contusion ring

consist wholly of the small particles coming from
the bullet.
MARKS FOUND AROUND THE ENTRY AND EXIT
OF WOUND CAUSED BY BULLET
3. Tattooing ring – seen around the entrance
opening of the wound caused by the powder
residue…

4. Grains of powder – next to tattooing…

5. Deposits of powder residue – unburned

residues…
The forensic Ballistics case that led to the
opening of the first independent
scientific crime detection laboratory in
the united states.

A. John F. Kennedy Assassination

B. Martin Luther King Association
C. The murder of John Lennon
D. The 1929 St. Valentines Day Massacre
The father of the modern Gunnery. The
first to undergo systematic series of
experiments to determine the velocity
of a firearm.

A. Nicolo Tartaglia
B. Galileo Galilei
C. Sir Isaac Newton
D. Benjamin Robins
MEN BEHIND FIREARMS

1. Col Calvin H. Goddard

– Father of Modern Ballistics
2. Horace Smith
– Founded the great firm Smith and Wesson and pioneered
the making of the breech-loading rifles
3. Daniel B. Wesson
– An associate or partner of Smith in revolver making
4. John M. Browning
- Wizard of modern firearms and pioneered the breach-
loading single shot rifle.
5. HENRY DERRINGER - he gave his name to a whole class of
firearms (Rifles and pistols)
6. John T. Thompson
- Pioneered the making of Thompson submachine gun

7. David “Carbine” Williams

- Maker of the first known carbine
8. Alexander John Forsyth
- Father of the percussion ignition
9. Elisha King Root
- Designed the machinery for making Colt firearms

10. Eliphalet Remington

- One of the first rifle maker

11. John Mahlon Marlin

- Founder of Marlin Firearms Company
12. James Wolfe Ripley
- Stimulated the development of the Model 1855
rifle-musket

13. Samuel Colt

- Produced the first practical revolver

14. Henry Deringer

- He gave his name to a whole class of firearms
(rifles and pistols)

15. John C. Garand

- Designed and invented the Semi-automatic
US rifle, caliber .30, M1
16. Oliver F. Winchester
One of the earliest rifles and pistols maker

17. Roger Bacon

An English monk and scientist who invented gunpowder in 1248.

18. Berthold Schwartz

A German monk who introduced the application of Gunpowder and the
propelling of a missile in the early 1300s.

19. Benjamin Robins – The father of the modern Gunnery. The first to
undergo systematic series of experiments to determine the velocity of a
firearm.
20. Alexandre Lacassagne – Prof. Univ. of Lyons, France – the
first who try to individualize bullets from a gun barrel… based
simply on the land and groove markings.

21. Paul Jeserich – the first to fire suspected gun in order to

determine whether the same was used in the commission of
crime.
22. Hans Gross – a professor who coined
the word Criminalistics and used in solving
Crimes.

23. Edmond Locard – one who said that

in the commission of crime a suspect always
leaves a part of him on the victim and in the
crime scene.
24. MICHAEL KALASHNIKOV
- The Russian engineer and famous Gun designer,
born in November 10, 1919 working in the train
depot as mechanics.
24. LT. COL. PATRICK FERGUSON – A British Army
Rifle designer.
26. UZIEL GAL – The inventor of UZI Machine Gun
in 1950’s and used by the Israeli Army for the first
time in 1956.
27. EUGENE STONER – The developer and designer
of the known Philippine Army Firearm, M16 Rifle.
The development of Firearm followed the invention of Gunpowder in Western Europe sometime early in which century?

A. 13th century
B. 14th century
C. 19th century
D. 20th century
IMPORTANT DATES IN FIREARM HISTORY
 1313 – Gunpowder as propellant. The age of
gunpowder began with its first use as a propellant
for a projectile.

• 1350 – Small arms. Gunpowder was first used only

in cannons. It was until the middle of the 14th
century that portable hand firearms were
introduced. These guns were ignited by a handheld
hotwire or lighted match.

• 1498 – Riflings. The first reference to rifled barrels

happened around this year. Although its importance
as an aid to accuracy was recognized by some, it
took many years before rifling was generally used.
IMPORTANT DATES IN FIREARM HISTORY
• 1575 – Cartridge. Paper cartridge were developed. This
combined both powder and ball about 1575. This
greatly speeded loading and reduced the hazards for
carrying loose powder.

• 1807 – Percussion system. John Forsyth discovered

that certain compounds detonated by a blow could be
used to ignite the charge in a firearm, forming the
basis for all later percussion and cartridge
developments.

• 1835 – Samuel Colt, patented the first practical

revolver in which the cylinder rotated by cocking the
hammer.
IMPORTANT DATES IN FIREARM HISTORY

• 1836 – Pinfire cartridge. The pinfire cartridge

developed by Le Faucheux was probably the first
self-exploding cartridge to come into general use.

• 1845 – Rimfire cartridge. In France, Flobert

developed “bullet breech cap” which was in
reality of the first rimfire cartridge.

• 1858 – Center-fire cartridge. The Morse cartridge

marked the beginning of the rapid development
of the center-fire cartridge.
IMPORTANT DATES IN FIREARM HISTORY

• 1884 – Automatic machine gun. Hiram Maxim

built the first fully automatic gun, utilizing the
recoil of the piece to load and fire the next
charge.

• 1885 – Smokeless powder. In France, Vieille

developed the first satisfactory smokeless
powder, a new propellant which lacked the
smoke characteristic of black powder, but was
more powerful.
DEFINITION OF FIREARM
• Legal Definition (Sec. 877 of Revised
Administrative 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 maybe 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.

(.22 cal and up, EO#713 of July 28, 1981).

– The barrel of any firearm shall be considered
a complete firearm for all purposes hereof.
DEFINITION OF FIREARM
• Technical Definition (FBI Manual on Firearms
Identification)
– Firearm is an instrument used for the propulsion
of projectiles by means of the expansive force of
gases coming from burning gunpowder.
• Other Definitions
– Firearm means any pistol or revolver with a
barrel less than 12 inches, any rifle with a barrel
less than 15 inches, any shotgun with a barrel less
than 24 inches, or any other weapon which is
designed to expel a projectile(s) by the action of an
explosive. (Uniform Firearm Act of Pennsylvania)
REVOLVER/PISTOL/RIFLE
CANNON

Different types of Essential parts of a cannon: 1. the

cannon balls recovered projectile or cannonball (shot) 2.
from the Vasa, sunk in gunpowder 3. touch hole (or vent) in
1628 which the fuse or other ignition device
is inserted
EARLY FORMS OF FIREARM
1. FIRELOCK – A simple smooth-bore tube of
iron, closed at the breech end except for an
opening called a touchhole and set into a
rounded piece of wood for holding under the
arm.
The tube was loaded with shot and powder and
then fired by inserting a heated wire into the
touchhole.
PICTURES OF FIRELOCK
2. Matchlock -
- The first mechanism or "lock" invented to
facilitate the firing of a hand-held firearm (1485).
• They utilized a lever, spring and trigger to hold
the burning match and bring it in contact with
the powder in the pan when firing.

• A type of Musket w/ match clamped device

called Serpentine or an S shaped metal.
PICTURES OF MATCHLOCK
3. Wheel-lock Rifle

• Introduced in about 1515, the wheel-lock pistol was a

great advance on its predecessor, the match lock.

• The system used a flint pressed against a revolving

toothed wheel to provide the sparks for igniting
powder in the priming pan, which in turn ignited the
main powder charge in the barrel.

• It worked similar to modern cigarette lighter, but in

place of a flint a piece of iron pyrites was used.
Picture of Wheel-lock Rifle
(German, 1645–1701)
4. Flintlock Musket

An early 18th Century Musket made by the gun maker

Adams of London. It is not a service arm, but a flintlock
sporting gun. Numerous portraits exist of country
gentlemen with such weapon, and surrounded by the
trophies of the chase.
5. Percussion Muzzle Loading Rifle Pattern
In 1807 a Scotch minister, the Reverend Alexander John
Forsyth, patented a chemical compound consisting mainly of
mercury fulminate, which would explode on being struck.

Percussion firing requires the use of an explosive

that will detonate when struck a sharp blow. 1807
TWO GROUPS OF FIREAMS

1. LONG ARMS OF SHOULDER ARMS

A. RIFLE – Types of Firearms that were

normally fired from the shoulder. Any weapon
designed or intended to be operated from the
shoulder and uses the energy of the explosive in
a fixed metallic cartridge to fire only a single
projectile through a rifled bore for each pull of
the trigger.
B. MUSKET

- An ancient smooth-bore and muzzle loading

military shoulder arm designed to fire a
single round lead ball.
C. CARBINE
A short barrel rifle, with its barrel
measuring not longer than 22 inches. It fires a
single projectile through a rifled-bore, either
semi-automatic or full-automatic, for every
press of the trigger.
TYPES OF CARBINE
• M-1 – semi automatic
• M1A1 – a carbine which have a folding
stock made of metal and usually used by
paratroopers.
• M-2 – a type of carbine which is either
automatic or semi – automatic
• M-3 – type of carbine which has a
telescopic sight and automatic firing.
D. SHOTGUN

This are smoothbore firearm that uses various

ammunition called Shots, Pellets or Balls.
From the standpoint of operation, shotgun
mechanisms parallel to those of rifles.
The major difference between the two types of
guns is the barrel. A shotgun is a smooth-
bored firearm meaning it has no riflings,
grooves or cut into the barrel.
TYPES OF SHOTGUN BARREL
Shotgun differs according to the
number of barrel:

1. Single barrel
TYPES OF SHOTGUN BARREL

2. Double barrel - side-by-side

3. Double barrel – over and under

SHOGUN CAN BE MANIPULATED IN THE FOLLOWING:
1. BREAK ACTION
- shotguns are the most straightforward and the
safest, and they're commonly used in shooting
competitions. The gun has a hinged opening
where the chamber meets the barrel. By opening
the gun, it is easy to see if it's loaded or not.
2. BOLT ACTION
• Bolt-action shotguns are not all that
common, but they work just like bolt-action
rifles.
3. PUMP ACTION
Pump-action shotguns also have a
moving bolt; but instead of a handle, their
bolt system is operated by a wooden or
composite slide called the fore-end.
AUTO-LOADING
Autoloaders and semi-automatic shotguns take the pump-
action idea one step further, using similar mechanisms to
those employed by machine guns. As the designs get more
complex and have more moving parts, the chances for
operator error, misfire and jamming increase dramatically.
Autoloaders are considered less reliable than pump-action
and break-action guns.
SHOT GUN VS. RIFLE BARREL
BASIC PARTS OF SHOT GUN
CLASSES OF SHOTGUN ACCORDING TO
NUMBER OF SHOTS

1. Birds shots – when the pellets are small from

200 – 400 pellets ex. Gauge 15 with 254
pellets.

2. Buck shots – with only 28 -29 pellets

3. Single shot – with only 1 pellet ex. Musket.

SHAPE OR SIZE OF SHOTGUN BARREL

1. Full choke
This choke has the tightest pattern mostly
used for a longer range of target.

2. Improved Modified Cylinder (IMC)

This is next tight pattern about 65% of the
pellets will hit the target. Sometimes the
performance is the same as full choke.
3. Modified Cylinder (MC or MOD-CYL)
Known us all around choke. It has the average shot
pattern between all the common chokes.

4. Open Cylinder or Un Choke

The most common type of choke applied to clay
shooting. The internal diameter of a bore is uniform all the
way.
2. HAND ARMS OR SHORT ARMS
Approximately 80% of the guns encountered in
police investigation belong to a class generally
known as handguns. This class includes all firearms
designed to be fired with one hand, such as pistols
and revolvers.
A. REVOLVER
A hand firearm equipped with a rotating
cylinder, serving as magazine, successively
places a cartridge into position for firing. (FBI
Technical Manual)
CLASSIFICATION OF REVOLVER

• ACCORDING TO FIRING MECHANISM:

1. Single Action
2. Double-Action
ACCORDING TO LOADING
1. Swing – out Cylinder (Ejection Rod type) SA
2. Break top type (Break-Open type) UK
3. Solid Frame type (Samuel Colt 1835)
Revolvers
B. PISTOL
A short barrel handgun equipped with
magazine designed to fire a single projectile
through a rifled-bore for every press of the
trigger.
CLASSES OF PISTOL

1. Single Shot
A pistol designed to shoot only one shot for every loading.

2. Automatic shot
A pistol is automatic when its mechanism is so arranged
that it will fire continuously while the trigger is depressed.

3. Semi – Automatic Shot (Self Loading)

A gun whose mechanism ejects the fired shell and put on a
new cartridge in the chamber and prepares the gun to be
fired.
WHAT IS THE LARGEST GUN IN HISTORY
1. GUSTAV GUN - known as the largest gun in history.
Built in 1941 by the Krupp Company. The gun
weighed 1344 tons and had a crew of 500 men.
GUSTAV GUN
2. GATLING GUN
Refers to the world’s first genuinely effective
rapid fire weapon invented by Richard Gatling.
Modern Gatling Gun
The type of weapon which automatically
shoot more than one shot without manual
reloading and by a single function of the
trigger.
A. Semi – automatic machine Gun
B. Auto Loading Hand gun
C. Automatic Pistols
D. Machine gun
3. MACHINE GUN
• is a fully automatic mounted or portable firearm,
usually designed to fire rounds in quick
succession from an ammunition belt or large-
capacity magazine, typically at a rate of several
hundred rounds per minute.
• Machine guns are generally categorized as
submachine guns, machine guns, or
autocannons.
Sample of Machine Gun
THREE (3) GENERAL TYPES OF MACHINE GUN

1. Recoil-operated
• A type of machine gun devised with a recoil
spring that is responsible in forcing the
breechblock move forward causing another
cartridge to be loaded only after the breechblock
moves rearward and empty shell is extracted
upon firing.

2. Gas operated
• A type of machine gun equipped with gas part at
the anterior portion of the barrel.

3. Combination of recoil and gas action

TWO GENERAL CLASSIFICATION OF
FIREARMS
A. According to Gun Barrel Internal Construction
1. Smooth-bore firearms
• Firearms that have no rifling (lands and grooves)
inside the gun barrel.
– Ex. Shotguns and Musket

2. Rifled-bore firearms
• Firearms that have rifling inside the gun barrel.
– Ex. Pistols, revolvers and other weapons
There are four (4) types of firearm, the rifle,
Shotgun, Pistol and Revolver. When you
recovered a rimless fired cartridge cases,
your suspicion is focused on:
A. Pistol
B. Revolver
C. Pistol Rifle
D. Pistol or Rifle
The primary identification of a gun
is its,

A. Lands and Grooves

B. Caliber, Make and Type
C. Rifling
D. Direction of twist
RIFLING
It is the spiral groove pattern in a rifle or
handgun barrel the purpose of which is to
impart spin to the bullet in order to achieve
stability in flight.
GUN BARREL
COMPOSITION OF RIFLINGS
1. Lands - Refers to the raised portion seen
inside the gun barrel. The part that causes
the striation with in the surface of the Bullet.
2. Grooves – refers to the depressed portion
seen inside the gun barrel
A new type of rifling equipped with
hills and valleys usually in hexagon.

A. Conventional rifling
B. Broaching
C. Polygonal
D. Octogonal
PROCEDURES IN MAKING OF RIFLING
1. Cut Rifling - Cut rifling is the oldest method
and has been in use for about 500 years. It
was invented in Germany about the time
Columbus was sailing the ocean blue.

• To simplify, cut rifling involves actually cutting

or scraping the grooves in the steel to
eventually form the lands and grooves of the
rifling.
2. Button Rifling

• Perhaps the most commonly used method

today among custom barrel makers is button-
rifling.

• Once the bore is drilled and reamed, this

button is either pushed or pulled through the
bore, essentially “ironing” the rifling into the
steel of the bore.
3. Hammer-Forging Rifling

-This system is very fast and very efficient at

producing barrels in quantity and quality. The
best of the hammer forge machines will
produce a barrel about every three or four
minutes.
- Many factories do, however. The cost of the
equipment to hammer-forge a barrel is very
expensive and is cost effective only for high
volume barrel production.
4. Ramp barrel – The placing of throat to the lower opening of the
chamber to aid the entry of the bullet.

5. Damascus barrel – Obsolete

making process of gun barrel by
twisting or brading together steel and
iron wire or bars also called as
Laminated Barrel.
POLYGONAL RIFLING
• is a type of gun barrel rifling where the
traditional lands and grooves are replaced by
"hills and valleys" in a rounded polygonal
pattern, usually a hexagon or octagon.

• Polygons with a larger number of edges

provide a better gas seal in relatively large
diameter polygonally rifled bores.
The primary purpose of rifling in a
gun barrel is….
A. to give gyroscopic effect to the bullet during its
flight.
B. for firearm Identification
C. to identify the gun maker
D. to give greater speed and velocity
B. According to Caliber of Projectiles Propelled

1. Artillery
• Those types of firearms that propel projectiles
one (1) inch and more in diameter.
– Ex. Cannons, mortars, bazookas
2. Small Arms

• Those types of firearms that propel projectiles

less than one (1) inch in diameter.
– Ex. Machine guns, shoulder arms, and hand guns
TYPES OF FIREARM ACCORDING TO MECHANICAL
CONSTRUCTION
1. Single Shot Firearm
• A firearm loaded by hand before each shot. It only fire
one shot for every loading. Ex: rifles, revolver

2. Repeating Firearm
• A firearm that have a number of cartridges stored in
some form of magazine. Ex: automatic pistols and rifles.

3. Automatic Firearm
• Those that discharge one cartridge with each pull of the
trigger and that continue to fire as long as the trigger is
held back.
CLASSIFICATION OF RIFLES ACCORDING TO TYPE OF
MECHANISM

1. Bolt Action Rifle

Reloading is done by manipulation of the
bolt.

Original Mauser '98 or modern Mauser type magnum square bridge. Fitted with
Model 70 type safety catch for use with telescopic sights.
2. Lever Action Rifle (Break top)
Loading takes place by lever action on the firearm.
3. Slide Action Rifle (Trombone)
Loading takes place by back and forth
manipulation of the under forearm of the
gun.

12-gauge Winchester model 1200

4. Automatic Rifle
After the first shot is fired, automatic
loading or feeding of the chamber takes
place.

M4A1 assault rifle-American

MAIN TYPES OF FIREARMS
SMALL ARMS
– Machine Guns
• Those types of weapon which fires or is designed to
fire automatically or semi-automatically, more than
one shot, without manual reloading, by a single
press of the trigger.

– Shoulder Arms
• Those types of firearm that are normally fired from
the shoulder.

– Hand Guns
• Those types of firearm that are designed or
intended to be fired using one hand-either the right
or left hand.
TYPES OF FIREARM ACCORDING TO USE

1. Military Firearms
a. Pistol b. Revolver
c. Rifle / Shotgun d. Machine gun

2. Pocket and Home Defense Firearms

a. Pistol b. Revolver
c. Rifle / Shotgun d. Machine gun

3. Target and outdoor sport Firearms

a. Pistol b. Revolver
4. Miscellaneous Firearms
Paltik
The part that of firearm that houses
the internal part of the Gun

A.Upper receiver
B. Gun barrel
C. Bolt carrier
D. Frame
MAIN PARTS OF FIREARMS
 
Rifle – Cal. 30 Revolver – cal. 38
• Barrel assembly • Barrel assembly
• Magazine assembly • Cylinder assembly
• Stock group • Frame or Receiver

Shotgun – Gauge 12
Pistol – Cal. 45
• Barrel assembly
• Magazine assembly • Barrel assembly
• Stock group • Slide assembly
  • Frame or receiver
The equivalent of caliber 38 in millimeter

A. 5.56 mm
B. 11 mm
C. 7.25mm
D. 9 mm
FORMULA FOR CALIBER TO MM AND
FROM MM TO CALIBER
1. Caliber to MM x 25.4
2. MM to Caliber x .03937
example:
Cal. 38 to MM
25.4
x .38
9.642 or 9mm
Note. Always refer to the nearest Caliber or mm
AMMUNITION
• Legal Definition
– refers to the ammunition (Munitions) as a
“loaded shell” for rifles, muskets, carbines,
shotguns, revolvers and pistols from which a ball,
bullet, shot, projectile, shell or other missile may
be fired by means of gunpowder or other
explosives.
• National Internal Revenue Code, Chapter VII, Sec. 290
• Revised Administrative Code, Sec. 877)

– The term also includes ammunition for air rifles

as mentioned elsewhere in the Code.
Technical Definition

The term ammunition refers to a group of

cartridges or to a single unit cartridge-
meaning a complete unfired unit
consisting of a bullet, cartridge case,
gunpowder and primer.
The term may also refers to a “single round.”
ORIGIN OF CARTRIDGE
• The term cartridge derived from the word
“charta,” the Latin word for paper.

• Later on, it came through the French word

“cartouche,” meaning a roll of paper,
which indicates that the origin cartridges
were not brass gliding-metal tipped units
which we are familiar with today instead
from a roll of paper.
PARTS OF A CARTRIDGE
1. Bullet
– The projectile propelled through the barrel of
a firearm by means of the expansive force of
gases coming from burning gunpowder.

2. Cartridge case
– The tubular metallic container for the
gunpowder. Sometimes called “shell” or
“casing”.
3. Gunpowder
– The powder charge which, when ignited by the
primer flash, is converted to heated gas under
high pressure and propels the bullet or shots
charge through the barrel and to the target.
Sometimes called “propellant” or “powder
charge”.
4. Primer
– The metal cup containing the highly sensitive
priming mixture of chemical compound, which
when hit or struck by the firing pin would ignite.
Such action is called “percussion”.
THE MODERN CARTRIDGE
THE SHOTGUN CARTRIDGE
CLASSIFICATION OF CARTRIDGES

• ACCORDING TO TYPES OF FIREARMS

– Revolver cartridges
– Pistol cartridges
– Rifle cartridges
– Shotgun cartridges
ACCORDING TO LOCATION OF PRIMER

–Needle-fire cartridges (obsolete)

–Pin-fire cartridges (obsolete)
–Rim-fire cartridges
–Center-fire cartridges
AMMUNITION / CARTRIDGES FOR
REVOLVERS
AMMUNITION / CARTRIDGES FOR
PISTOL
AMMUNITION / CARTRIDGES FOR
RIFLE
CLASSIFICATION ACCORDING TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF RIM

Rimmed Type – ex; Caliber 38

Semi-rimmed type – ex; Automatic firearm,
9mm, UZI
Rimless type - Automatic firearm mostly
magazine fed.
CLASSIFICATION OF CARTRIDGE ACCORDING TO SHAPE

STRAIGHT - used by low powered firearm

BOTTLE NECK – used by high – powered firearm
TAPERED / TAPPERED – (obsolete)
BELTED - (obsolete)
BULLET
• It is a metallic or non-metallic,
cylindrical projectile propelled from a
firearm by means of the expansive
force of gases coming from burning
gunpowder.

• It is a solid projectile propelled by a

firearm and is normally made from
metal (usually lead).
The word "Bullet" is often used
loosely to refer to the combination of
bullet, case, gunpowder and primer;
such an item is properly called a
cartridge, or round.

"Bullet" derived from the French

word “Boulette" which roughly means
"little ball".
BULLET
PARTS OF BULLET

1. OGIVE OR NOSE

2. BODY

3. BASE
THE FIRST BULLET

• The history of bullets parallels the history

of firearms. Advances in one either
resulted from or precipitated advances in
the other.

• Originally, bullets were round metallic or

stone balls placed in front of an explosive
charge of gun powder at the end of a
closed tube.
Projectiles for the Early Guns
 The very first cannon fired arrows, simply
because the arrow was the most familiar
projectile. The shaft had to be found with
rags to make it fit the gun barrel.
 Later came stone shot, since stone was freely
available, easily worked into shape and did
not strain the gun.
 Stronger guns allowed the use of metal shot.
While this meant casting and more expense,
spent shot could sometimes be retrieved and
re-used.
 Chaining two shot together was an effective
anti-personnel weapon.
 Langridge was the term used to describe the
collection of scrap metal, horse-shoe nails,
gravel and anything else calculated to wound,
loaded into the gun.
These mid-19th century paper
These lead bullets were cartridges were manufactures by Ely
made for the 19th century Brothers, the famous London
percussion revolvers. ammunition firm.
SHAPED BULLET
• Captain John Norton of the British Army in 1823
– Norton's bullet had a hollow base which expanded
under pressure to catch the rifling grooves once
fired but the British Board of Ordnance rejected it
because spherical bullets had been in use for the last
300 years.
• William Greener, renowned English gunsmith
invented the Greener bullet in 1836.
– It was very similar to Norton's bullet except that the
hollow base of the bullet was fitted with a wooden
plug which more reliably forced the base of the
bullet to expand and catch the rifling.
• Sir Joseph Whitworth (Between 1854 and
1857)
– Conducted a long series of rifle experiments,
and proved, among other points, the
advantages of a smaller bore and, in
particular, of an elongated bullet.

• W. E. Metford (About 1862 and later)

– Carried out an exhaustive series of
experiments on bullets and rifling, and had
invented the important system of light rifling
with increasing spiral, and a hardened bullet.
TWO MAIN CLASSIFICATION OF BULLET ACCORDING
TO MECHANICAL CONSTRUCTION
1. Lead bullet: Simple cast, extruded, swaged,
or otherwise fabricated lead slugs are the
simplest form of bullets. At speeds of greater
than 300 m/s (1000 ft/s) (common in most
handguns), lead is deposited in rifled bores at an
ever increasing rate.
2. Jacketed bullet:
Bullets intended for high-velocity applications
generally have a lead core jacketed or plated
with cupro-nickel, copper alloys, or steel; the
thin layer of copper protects the lead core
during flight, delivering it intact to the target.
– Full Metal Jacket bullets have the front and sides of
the bullet completely encased in the jacket.
– Some bullet jackets do not extend to the front of the
bullet to aid in expansion. These are called soft
points or hollow points.
PRINCIPAL TYPES OF BULLET
1. Armor Piercing bullet (black nose):
Jacketed designs where the core material is a very
hard, high-density metal such as tungsten, tungsten
carbide, depleted uranium, or steel. A pointed tip is
often used, but a flat tip on the penetrator portion is
generally more effective.
2. DUMDUM BULLET
Refers to an out-moded and generally misused
term but also refer to a bullet that cause
gaping wound upon contact.
3. Tracer bullet (red/orange): These have a
hollow back, filled with a flare material. Usually this
is a mixture of magnesium perchlorate, and
strontium salts to yield a bright red color. Tracer
material burns out after a certain amount of time.
Such ammunition is useful to the shooter as a
means of verifying how close the point of aim is to
the actual point of impact.
4. INCENDIARY BULLET (BLUE):
These bullets are made with an explosive or
flammable mixture in the tip which is designed
to ignite upon contact. The intent is to ignite fuel
in the target area and add to the destructive
power of the bullet itself.
5. EXPLOSIVES BULLET (Fragmentary or Frangible): Designed to
disintegrate into tiny particles upon impact to minimize
their penetration for reasons of range safety, to limit
environmental impact, or to limit the danger behind the
intended target. An example is the Glaser Safety Slug.
6. HOLLOW POINT BULLET:
refers to the bullet that is equipped with cavity in
the nose designed to increase the damaged and
expansion when it hits the target.
7. Ice or solidified bullet: refers to
a super cooled water made as a
bullet mostly used for assassination.
8. Soft point or Mushroom bullet:
refers to those that will expand upon
striking an object or target therefore
adding more injury or damage.
9. Spitzer bullet: Sharply pointed nose,
more effective than the round nose for it
penetrate more often the target.

10. Practice or wax bullet: Made from

lightweight materials like rubber, Wax,
wood, plastic, or lightweight metal bullets
are intended for short-range target work.
Because of their weight and low velocity,
they have limited range.
Special consideration of Bullet

1. Souvenir bullet: refers to the bullet that has

been lodged and remains in the body for a
very long period of time.
2. Bullet Migration: refers the bullet that is not
lodge in the place were it was located.
3. Tandem bullet: two or more bullets living
the barrel one after another or sometime
called a misfire.
4. Blank bullet: refers to the bullet use for
training.
CLASSIFICATION OF BULLET ACCORDING TO FORM & SHAPE

Bullet Bases can be made in the flat

(FB), dish base (DB), cup base (CB), hollow base
(HB), heel base (no abbreviation used), boat tail
(BT), and the superior rebated boat tail (RBT).
Corbin does not make the standard BT but only
the RBT, which offers about 15% better accuracy
due to less muzzle blast induced dispersion,
better barrel life, less gas cutting in some loads,
and far longer tooling life.
1. The Dish Base (DB)
Generally used to provide a very slight outward
expansion of the bullet during firing, by vectoring a
small component of the gas pressure at a slight angle
to the bullet centerline.

This can help "seal" the bore when the bullet is

used in undersize or unknown size barrels and
prevent gas cutting. It seems to have little or no effect
on accuracy other than improving it in an oversize
barrel.
2. The Cup Base (CB)

Typical of paper-patched lead bullets,

but can also be used with a jacketed bullet. It
has a radius cavity that is less than half a
caliber deep, starting after a margin of
from .010 to 0.030 inches (typically about
0.020) from the edge of the bullet.

The margin gives the bullet edge

greater resistance to expansion at the
muzzle, and is designed for the range of
muzzle pressure expected.
3. The Hollow Base (HB)

Typically has a conical or combination radius and conical cavity

shape, but it may be made with a truncated conical cavity. The
difference between hollow and cup base is the depth. Hollow
bases are almost always made a half caliber or deeper.
This shifts the weight considerably forward on the bullet.
Hollow bases are generally impractical to use with jacketed
bullets, as the jacket will be penetrated and cracked by the
amount of force needed to draw it into this conical shape in a
simple one stroke operation.
4. The Heel Base

Made to fit into the cartridge case up to the base

shoulder, and is used in certain very old calibers where
the original size of the bullet diameter was the same as
the chamber.

Conversions of blackpowder cap and ball revolvers to

shoot cartridges meant that the chambers usually fitted
the ball or bullet diameter, so inserting a cartridge
meant the cartridge case diameter needed to be the
same.
5. Boat Tail Base (BT)
Boat tail bullets have a tapered base that helps smooth the
passage of air over the base and reduces base drag. This is
true at any speed, but it has a small fraction of the total
drag at supersonic speeds.

The nose drag becomes so much greater that the base

effect is largely buried in the improvements that a nose
design can make. At subsonic speeds, the reverse is true. A
blunt bullet can be made to fly further and with less drop
below the speed of sound if the base is streamlined,
compared to making the nose more pointed.
6. Rebated Boat tail (RBT)
First introduced in mass production by the Finnish
Ammunition concern of Lapua (controlled by the
Finnish government).
The design provided a solution to the problem of
muzzle gas focusing itself in a ball in front of the
emerging bullet, which takes place with a boattail
design. Flat bases, and rebated boattail, deflect the
laminar flow of muzzle gas that wishes to follow the
smooth outline of the bullet and then break up right
in front of it. The gas is forced to flow off in a ring,
with a clear area in the center through which the
bullet passes.
7. The Flat Base (FB)
The most common and is the "default" design
when no other design is mentioned for a jacketed
bullet.

With a lead bullet, the Base Guard (BG) and the

flat base (FB) are ballistically identical: they
perform the same way and you can use a BG
punch without the copper disk with no ill effect
(a tiny bump appears in the exact center of the
base).
BULLET Ogive or Nose
1. The Open Tip (OT) is just the result of
seating the core below the jacket. This is
sometimes called a hollow point but that is
not the correct name for it. You can have an
open tip with a hollow point, a lead tip with a
hollow point, an open tip without a hollow
point, or a lead tip without a hollow point. But
you can not have a lead tip with an open tip.
This is a contradiction.
2. Lead Tip (LT) bullets, also called "soft
points", are made by seating the core so it is longer
than the jacket, or at least so that when the ogive is
formed the lead extrudes out of the jacket to some
extent.
The core seating punch might be a close fit near
the jacket mouth in this latter case. Larger lead tips
usually require a punch that is sized to fit the die
bore, rather than the inside of the jacket.
3. Open Tip Hollow Point (OTHP) - tips
are made by using a special core seating
punch that fits the jacket ID, but has a
conical projection. The OTHP core seating
punch forms the cavity in the core while
it is seating the core in the jacket.
4. Lead Tip Hollow Point (LTHP) - tips are
made by using a core seating punch that fits the
die bore, rather than the jacket ID, and also has
a conical projection on the end. The LTHP core
seating punch forms the cavity in the lead while
it compresses the lead core into the jacket.
SEMI-WADCUTTER SHAPES
WADCUTTER SHAPES
CARTRIDGE AND SHELLS
Is a tubular metallic or non-metallic container
which holds together the bullet, gunpowder
and primer.

The portion of the cartridge that is

automatically ejected from the automatic
firearm during firing and this remains at the
scene of the crime.

This is the firearm evidence that can help

trace a particular firearm from which it is fired.
FUNCTIONS OF CARTRIDGE CASES

Holds the bullet, gunpowder and primer

assembled into one unit;

Serves as the waterproof container of

the gun powder; and

Prevents the escape of the gases to the rear as

the sidewalls of the cartridge case (serves as a
‘gas seal’ at the breech end of the barrel.)
This serves the purpose of limiting
the forward movement of
Cartridge into the chambers.
A.Breech face
B. Breech lock
C. Rim
D. Base
PARTS OF THE CARTRIDGE CASE
1. RIM
– Serves the purpose of limiting the forward travel of cartridges into
their chambers and thus also limit the clearance, if any, between
the heads and the supporting.

2. PRIMER POCKET
– Holds primer securely in central position. It provides a means to
prevent the escape of the gas to the rear of the cartridge. It also
provides a solid support for primer anvils, without which, the latter
could not be fired.

3. VENTS or FLASH HOLES

– It is the hole in the web or bottom of the primer pocket through
which the primer flash provides ignition to the powder charge. It is
the ‘opening or canal ‘ that connects the priming mixture with
gunpowder.
4. HEAD & BODY
Constitute the corks that plug the breech of the barrel
against the escape of the gas.

5. NECK
The part of the cartridge case that is occupied by the
bullet.

6. CANNELURE
These are the serrated groves that are sometimes found
rolled into the necks and bodies of the cases at the
location of the bases of the bullet to prevent the bullet
from being pushed back or loosened.
7. CRIMP
The part of the mouth of a case that is turned in upon the
bullet. It aids in holding the bullet in place and it offers
resistance to the movement of the bullet out of the neck
which affects the burning of the gunpowder.
8. BASE
The bottom portion of the case which holds the primer
which contains the priming mixture and the shell head
which contains the head stamp, caliber and the year of
manufacture.
9. SHOULDER
The portion which supports the neck.
10. EXTRACTING GROOVE
The circular groove near the base of the shell designed for
the automatic withdrawal of the case after each firing.
THREE (3) TYPES OF CRIMP
1. Roll Crimp – the cartridge case neck was
rolled into the bullet material or groove in
the bullet to secure it from the tension of the
cartridge cases.
2. Taper Crimp – used with headspace on the
cartridge case mouth with lead bullet
3. Stab or Ring Crimping – used only on jacketed
ammunition. The crimp may be press to the
bullet body.
Parts of Cartridge/Ammunition
CLASSIFICATION OF CARTRIDGE ACCORDING
TO RIM

1. Rimmed
– The oldest type, the rimmed cartridge has a rim
that is significantly larger in diameter than the
base of the cartridge. Rimmed cartridges use the
rim to hold the cartridge in the chamber of the
firearm, with the rim serving to prevent the
cartridge from seating too deeply--this function is
called "head spacing".
2. Semi-Rimmed

– The rare semi-rimmed case was an attempt to make a

rimmed cartridge that fed better out of a box
magazine. The rim projects slightly beyond the base
of the case, though not as much as a rimmed
cartridge.

– The tiny rim provides minimal interference feeding

from a box magazine, while still providing enough
surface to headspace on, allowing the use of an
aggressive crimp to hold the bullet in place.

– These are designed fro automatic weapons such as

pistols and submachine guns.
3. Rimless
– On a rimless case, the rim is the same diameter
as the base of the case; it is known as an
extractor groove. Since there is no rim
projecting past the edge of the case, the
cartridge must headspace on the case neck, for
a straight walled case, or on the shoulder of the
case for a bottlenecked case; the extractor
groove serves only for extraction.

– The lack of a projecting rim makes rimless cases

feed very smoothly from box magazines, and
they are primarily used in firearms that feed
from a box magazine.
4. Rebated Rim

Rebated rim cartridges have a rim that is significantly

smaller in diameter than the base of the case, serving
only for extraction.
Functionally the same as a rimless case, the rebated rim
provides some additional benefits when considered in
conjunction with other cartridges.

Perhaps the most famous rebated rim cartridge is

the .50 Action Express (or .50 AE), chambered in the
massive and expensive Desert Eagle pistol.
- The rebated rimmed case was designed to allow a
large diameter case while being able to use a smaller
bolt face.
4. BELTED

The sole purpose of the "belt" on belted

cases (often referred to as belted magnums) is
to provide head spacing and allow magazine
feeding.

The belt acts as a rim on what is essentially a

rimless case. The design originated in England
with the .375 H&H Magnum. The addition of the
belt allowed the cartridge to properly
headspace, despite the relative lack of a definite
shoulder.
CLASSIFICATION OF CARTRIDGE ACCORDING
TO CALIBER
1. Caliber .22
2. Caliber .25
3. Caliber .223
4. Caliber .30
5. Caliber .32
6. Caliber .380
7. Caliber .38
8. Caliber .44
9. Caliber .45
10. Caliber .50
PRIMERS
The primer is that portion of the cartridge
which consist of a brass or a gilding metal cup.
The cup contains a highly sensitive mixture of
chemical compound, which when struck by the
firing pin would detonate or ignite. Such action
is called “ percussion”.
ORIGIN
• Alexander John Forsyth is credited with being
the first to conceive the idea of using
detonating compounds for igniting powder
charges in small arms by “percussion” and in
1807 he obtained a patent for this idea.

• His first successful priming mixture was

composed of potassium chlorate, charcoal and
sulphur in powdered form.
PARTS OF PRIMER
1. Primer cup- the container of the priming
mixture. This is made of brass, gilding
metal or copper, depending upon the
kind.

2. Priming mixture- the highly sensitive

chemical mixture contained in the primer
cup. This priming chemical varies in
composition depending upon the
manufacturer.
3. Anvil- that portion of the primer against which
the priming mixture is crushed by a blow from
the firing pin. This must be hard, rigid and
firmly supported to provide the resistance
necessary for firing the priming mixture.

4. Disc- piece of small paper or disk of tin foil

which is pressed over the priming mixture, its
purpose is:
(a) to hold priming mixture in place
(b) to exclude moisture
THREE PRIMARY CHEMICAL COMPONENTS
THAT CREATE A MODERN PRIMER

1. The initiator is a percussion-sensitive primary

explosive that will detonate when struck sharply;
2. The fuel provides gas pressure and sustained
heat; and
3. The oxidizer provides extra oxygen to support
burning in the closed case.
– In addition, the compound normally contains
finely-powdered aluminum to throw
incandescent particles into the propellant to
insure complete ignition.
COMPOSITION OF THE PRIMING MIXTURE
• Priming compounds are divided into two classes:
1. Corrosive Primers
One of the chemicals in corrosive primers is potassium
chlorate, which in ignition, produces potassium chloride.
Potassium chloride draws moisture from the air, and this
moisture speeds the rusting and corrosion in gun barrels.
Corrosion – the chemical wear and tear of the inside part
of the gun barrel due to rust formation or the chemical
reaction by the products of combustion after firing.
Erosion – The mechanical wear and tear of the inner
surface of the gun due to mechanical abrasion or sliding
friction.
2. Non-corrosive Primers

Advances in “primer” chemistry

over the years have produced new
compositions in which the potassium
chlorate has been eliminated by the
substitution of other chemicals like the
Barium Nitrate. These new primers are of
the non-corrosive type and have practically
replaced the corrosive type.
KINDS OF PRIMERS
1. Boxer Primer - Invented by Col. Edward Munier Boxer
in June 29, 1869.The anvil is an integral part of the primer.
(American type)
- Now the reloader could easily push out the spent primer
with a thin punch. Ammunition assembled in reloadable
Boxer cases were offered for those who wanted to reload
their cartridge.
2. BERDAN PRIMERS
• Refer to a primer with two flush holes or
vents. The priming cup contains only the
priming mixture and the said anvil is part of
the cartridge case. It was invented by Hiram
Berdan in March 20, 1866. (European type)

- The Berdan priming was not "reloader-friendly."

Types of Primer according to the Location of Fire
1. Rim Fire – the type in which the primer assembly I
located at the rim of the Cartridge.

2. Center Fire – the part in which the primer assembly

is located at the middle or center of the rim.

3. Pin fire – the part in which the primer is located at

the body, sometimes called as self exploding primer.
40 YEARS AGO
• Potassium chlorate (initiator & fuel)…….…..45%
• Antimony sulphide (element & fuel)……...….23%
• Fulminate of mercury (initiator)………….…….32%

Basically, the above are the “ingredients” of a

typical mercuric priming mixture. In such a
mixture, the fulminate of mercury is the initiator,
the potassium chlorate acts both as an initiator
and a fuel, and the antimony sulphide is the
frictional element and fuel.
The standard mixture used by Frankford Arsenal known as
FH-42 - World War I

• Sulphur………………………………….... 21.97%
• Potassium Chlorate……………………47.20%
• Antimony Sulphide…………………….30.83%
Winchester Repeating Arms Primer Company
Formula, the 35-NF

• Potassium Chlorate………………..………….52%
• Antimony Sulphide……………………..……..17%
• Lead Sulpho-Cyanide……………….………..25%
• Tri-Nitro-Toluene (T.N.T)……………………..5%
In May 1917, troubles began with misfire in
the Frankford Arsenal Service Ammunition, and
so the Ordinance Department directed
Frankford Arsenal to adopt and use the
Winchester Repeating Arms Primer Company
Typical Rim – Fire Priming Compound, used
in caliber .22

• Potassium Chlorate………………..…….41.43%
• Antimony Sulphide……………………….9.53%
• Copper Sulpho-Cyanide…………………4.70%
• Ground Grass…………………..……..…..44.23%

Obtained by chemical analysis in the

Frankford Arsenal Laboratories
GERMAN FORMULA ON PRIMING COMPOUND
• Fulminate of Mercury……..………………….39%

• Barium Nitrate……………………….…………..41%

• Antimony Sulphide…………………..……….9%

• Picric Acid……………………………….…………..5%

• Ground Glass…………………………..……………6%
SWISS ARMY ( Karl Ziegler)
• Fulminate of Mercury………………...……..….40%
• Barium Nitrate……………………......…………25%
• Antimony Sulphide……………………………..25%
• Barium Carbonate……………………..……….6%
• Ground Glass……………………………..…….4%

The Swiss Army had been using non-corrosive

primer since about 1911.
This was based on the formula of Swiss
inventor ZIEGLER.
GUNPOWDER
• Whether black powder or smokeless powder, is a
substance that burns very rapidly, releasing
gases that act as a propellant in firearms.
• Both forms of gunpowder are low explosives. As
it burns, a subsonic deflagration wave is
produced rather than the supersonic detonation
wave which high explosives produce. As a result,
pressures generated inside a gun are sufficient
to propel a bullet, but not sufficient to destroy
the barrel.
A type of propellant made out
of nitrocelluse and nitroglycerin.
A. Black Powder
B. Ballistite
C. Brown Powder
D. TNT
HISTORY OF GUN POWDER
•Gunpowder was the first explosive known…

•The formula for gunpowder appears in the writings

of the 13th-century (1248).
Roger Bacon, English monk, it seems to have been discovered by
the Chinese, who had used it in firecrackers several hundred years
before his time. Gunpowder was probably introduced into Europe from
the Middle East.

Berthold Schwartz, a German monk of the early 14th century, may

have been the first person to employ gunpowder for propelling a
projectile.
CLASSIFICATION AND COMPOSITION OF GUNPOWDER

1. Black Powder - refers to the most dangerous explosive

to handle and store, because it easily be ignited by
heat, friction, flame or spark.
- This are mixture of saltpeter (potassium nitrate or, less
frequently, sodium nitrate), charcoal and sulfur with a
ratio (by weight) of approximately15:3:2 respectively.
The ratio has changed over the centuries of its use, and
can be altered somewhat depending on the purpose of
the powder.
COMPOSITION
1. Potassium Nitrate 76 %
2. Charcoal 14 %
3. Sulfur 10%
THREE (3) QUALITIES OF BLACK POWDER

1. When ignited, it will burn by itself without

the aid from the outside air.

2. In burning, it gives off a large amount of gas.

3. A considerable amount of heat is evolved.

2. Brown Powder (semi-smokeless)
Refers to an explosive agent similar to
black powder, but with a slower (and
therefore gentler) burning rate. This
difference is achieved by incorporating fuel
ingredients that are in a less-reactive state;
the pulverized and fully processed charcoal
(elemental carbon) in black powder
provides its distinctive color while its
replacement with a different substance
produces a more reflective powder, hence
its own namesake color.
THINGS TO REMEMBER IN BLACK AND
BROWN POWDER
 For pure explosive damage, high burn rates or
detonation speeds (and accompanying
brisance) are generally preferable, but in guns
and especially cannons, slower-burning
powder decreases firing stresses.
 This allows for lighter, longer (and more
accurate) barrels with associated decreases in
production and maintenance costs.
3. Smokeless Gunpowder
Special Gunpowder commonly used
nowadays as bullet propellant. Named not
because it is smokeless when ignited but it
does not give off a huge cloud of smoke when
set fire unlike those of the black powder.
Sometimes known as powerful propellants.

Ballistite – 1887 - Alfred E. Nobel (Great Britain)

Cordite – 1890 - Fredirick Abel & James Dewar
FOUR (4) CLASSES OF SMOKELESS POWDER
1.Single Base Propellant or Nitrocellulose:
Nitrocellulose is the only energetic material.
Contains only pure nitroglycerine gelatinized with
nitrocellulose.

2. Double Base Propellant:

These contains Nitroglycerine and cellulose
mixed with other materials such as Vaseline
phthalate esters, centralite and inorganic salts that
reduce flame.
3. Triple Base Propellant:
These contain nitrocellulose, nitroglycerine, and
nitroguanidine. Triple base smokeless powders are
used only as propellants in artillery ammunition.

4. High ignition temperature propellant:

These are made out of RDX
(cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine) substance, a form
of wax plus plasticizers that easily mold in warm
temperature.
TYPES AND SHAPES OF GUN POWDER

1. Small Square
2. Flakes
3. Disc
4. Strips
5. Pellets or Perforated Cylinders
Test for the presence of firearm Residue
on the hands of a person believed to have
fired a Gun.
Dermal Nitrite test
Diphenylamine test
Gonzales test
- The above test can be called as Paraffin Test –
the presence of color Blue or Specks indicates
the presence of nitrates…except… tobacco, Urine,
Fertilizer and Cosmetics….
DIFFERENT TEST FOR GUNSHOT RESIDUE
1. Sodium Rhodizonate test – chemical test for the
presence of lead styhpnate.
2. Walker Test – chemical test for the presence of
unburned of partially burned Nitrate
3. Greiss test – test used to detect Nitrite.
4. Diphenylamine test - test used to detect Nitrites and
Nitrates.
5. Marshall and Tiwari test – test used to determined the
firearm distance to that of the target, both test is for
Nitrite.
6. Lunge test – the test and chemical used to indicate or
determine the presence of Nitrocelluse.
THREE (3) MODERN METHODS USED FOR TESTING GSR EVIDENCE

1. NAA – Neutron Activation Analysis

2. AAS – Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer
- NAA and AAS – test is conducted by means of
cotton – tipped applicator or other substances and
dilute nitric acid solution for collecting the residue.

3. SEM or EDX – Scanning Electron Microscopy or

Energy Dispersive X-ray Analysis
– SEM or EDX – test is conducted by aluminum stub with
double sided cellophane tape attached to the surface.
Republic acts Number 8294 sec.3
The law that penalized the unlawful
manufacture, sale, acquisition, disposition
or possession of explosives

DETONATION - is a subsonic explosion with a speed

greater than the speed of sound in that material, with
a pressure wave of up to 8500 metres per second. It
tend to have a shattering effect, and a particularly
condensed explosion will cause a huge crater.
Deflagration -
is a type of subsonic combustion which occurs
slower than the speed of sound in that material,
creating a pressure wave of up to 1000 metres per
second or less.
It is usually propagated by thermal conductivity
and is common to most every day fires. Condensed
explosives undergoing deflagration produce extreme
heat which will melt surrounding objects.
TYPES OR CLASSES OF EXPLOSIVES

1. Primary Explosives
Primary explosives are not usually used as the
main explosive itself, but as a detonator. They are
good detonators because they are very sensitive to
the heat of fuses.
Common primary explosives are lead azide, lead
stiphnate, and mercury fulminate. They are not very
extravagant, but they do the job.
2. Low Explosives - included in this
group are the gun powders like
smokeless powder, this are actually
gelatinized nitrocellulose. It burn at the
rate of inches per second.
3. High explosives
- This are generally considered
compounds, it undergo detonation at
the rates from 914 meters to 9,140
meters per second (1,000 to 10,000
yards per second)
- This are designed to shatter or destroy
the intended target
CLASSIFICATION OF EXPLOSIVES

1. Primary Explosives – sensitive to chemical shock, friction

and heat. Ex. fulminate of mercury, lead styphnate, lead
azide
2. Secondary Explosives (Base) - sensitive to shock, friction
and heat. Ex.dynamite, tnt, rdx

3. Tertiary Explosives (Blasting Agent) – insensitive to shock,

cannot be reliably detonated with practical qualities, it
needs the explosive booster of secondary explosives like
ammonium nitrate, fuel oil mixture.
A variety of explosives are commonly encountered, their construction and mechanisms specific to their use.

1. Pipe Bombs – Simple construction

generally consisting of a short length of
pipe with both ends capped. One end is
drilled and the detonator inserted, and
either high or low explosives may be used.
2. Vehicle Bombs – These generally use large
quantities of low explosive with a high
explosive booster. The bombs are placed
inside vehicles which can generally be subtly
left in the target location where they will often
cause great destruction.
3. Letter & Parcel Bombs – These generally
contain a small amount of high explosive
packaged inside an inconspicuous letter or
package. Such bombs often yield forensic
evidence as the devices rarely cause fires and
so less evidence is destroyed.
4. Mines – These are concealed devices
containing high explosive, commonly used by
the military. Mines are often hidden and
detonated when touched. Much forensic
evidence can often be obtained from the
device.
THE MAKING OF GUN BARREL
1. DRILLING
A special deep-hole is used through the center of
which lubricating oil is forced under pressure. This
operation results to a comparatively rough hole of
uniform diameter from one end of the barrel to
other.
At this stage the interior surface of the barrel will
bears numerous sears and scratches resulting
from the irregular cutting of the drill and the
metal chips which mark the finish.
2. REAMING
In this process some of the scars or
scratches left by the drilling operation
are remove. The reamer removes metal
from the entire surface because it is
slightly larger in diameter than the drill
which completes the bore operations. It
includes roughly, finishing and burnishing
reamer to have smooth bore barrel.
3. BROACHING
This is the process necessary for the making
of the helical grooves inside the barrel and
such can be performed in any of the
following methods:
• Hook-cutter system
• Scrape-cutter system
• Broaching system
• Button system
4. LAPPING
– This is the polishing operation in which a lead plug
closely fitting the inside of the barrel is drawn back
and forth on a rod carrying with is a polishing
compound. This will remove large imperfection on the
inside surface of the barrel both to the lands and
grooves.

– What is important about this process is that no matter

how many times we polish or finish, large
imperfections maybe eliminated but not the minute
imperfection which serve as the basis for firearms
identification.
RECOGNITION – TRANSMITTAL OF Physical
Evidence
• It is necessary for the prosecutor or the fiscal to
be able to present his evidence in such a manner
where he can give the court a complete and clear
picture of the crime and its commission.
• A thorough understanding of physical evidence,
its protection, preservation and examination are
necessary if this important duty is to be
performed.
Recognition of Evidences
– It is imperative on the part of every trained police
investigator to recognize properly those physical
evidences that might have come out from the use of
firearms.
– At the scene of the crime, the investigator must
exercise keen observation and extreme care in his
search for these physical evidences or ballistic exhibits
like fired bullets, fired shells, firearm(s) and allied items
or objects.
The success of the case will depend
heavily on how the investigator conducts
himself in handling these ballistics
exhibits. He has to do his job well at the
“proper time” and at the “proper place”.
Proper time - refers to when he is right
there in the scene.
Proper place - refers to right there at the
scene.
It is important therefore that the
investigator be familiar with the
modern techniques in the proper
recognition, collection, marking,
preservation and transmittal of
these physical evidences.
Collection of Physical Evidence
1. When collecting physical evidence, the officer
or investigator should collect all articles, which
are, or may be in some future date, be of value
as evidence.
2. Generally, these articles will consist of the
following:
a. any physical object which may tend to show,
indicate, or not, a crime was committed; and
b. anything which may connect some particular
person with the crime or crime scene.
Where possible, designate one of the officers
investigating the crime to collect all evidence.
This makes the introduction of the exhibits in
court simpler. Also, one officer will usually keep
records, and remember where, when, and what
was collected, much better than if several men
have handled the same exhibits.
Great care should be exercised
when collecting physical evidence.
Be sure that you don’t MAC the
evidence.
M- mutilate the evidence
A- alter the very nature of the evidence
C- contaminate the evidence
In the case of wood or trees, it is
better to split open the wood along
the grain until the bullet falls off. If
this cannot be done, bring a
section of the wood or tree to the
laboratory intact and will be
removed in the laboratory.
If the bullet has broken into many
fragments as possible. These fragments
can at times be fitted together and also
aid in some other ways.
When a firearm is found at the scene of
the crime, the investigator should take
note of the following pertinent facts or
features about the firearm.
Type of firearm- whether pistol, revolver, rifle
or shotgun.
Caliber of the firearm Serial number of the
firearm
Load in the cylinder, if revolver; or load in the
magazine, if pistol
Position of the firearm relative to the body at
the scene
Other distinct or significant features- nickel
plated barrel, fancy decorations or designs,
etc.
When a bullet/s is/are found at the scene of
the crime, the following should be noted down:

Type of bullet: lead or jacketed

Caliber of the bullet:

Shape or form of the bullet: round,flat ,pointed, etc.

Other metal or bullet fragments

Place and date of recovery.

What is the best way of picking a gun when
found in the scene of a crime by investigators?

A. Insert a handkerchief in the barrel of the gun.

B. Hold on its barrel and be sure it will not be

contaminated by foreign object.

C. Insert a rod in its barrel without touching the

trigger.

D. insert anything in the trigger guard without

touching the inside part of the said barrel.
When collecting firearm/s
at the crime scene, extra
caution should be taken by
the collecting officer. The
following dangers:
Inserting a rod or pencil into
the bore of a firearm may
introduce foreign matters (dust
or dirt) into the bore, adding
markings on the test bullets that
will subsequently be fired in the
laboratory through the same
bore.
When rod or pencil is inserted into the
bore of a suspected firearm, the rod itself
might disturb the powder fouling inside the
bore. This powder fouling are very important
to the chemist in determining whether or
not a suspected firearm was recently fired.
A metallic rod might cause
scratches inside the bore and these
scratches might cause additional
striations on the cylindrical surfaces
of the test bullets that will
subsequently be fired in the
laboratory through the same gun.
At the scene, the firearm should be
picked up by the investigator using
handkerchief or small wire inserted
through the “trigger guard” of the
firearm. Be sure that in picking up the
suspected firearm, the muzzle end of
the barrel is not pointed towards the
person picking it up, nor it is pointed
to anyone in the vicinity.
More so, if it is a revolver and this
revolver is in full “cocked” position-
meaning that the hammer is pulled
back completely into a ready position
for firing. There is always danger of a
little amount of “jarring” when
picking it up as the gun might fire,
causing additional shooting or
incident.
There is one complete practical caution
that can be exercised when one is picking
up a “cocked” firearm. After picking up the
revolver by inserting a handkerchief or
string through the “trigger guard”, a piece
of crumpled paper or cartoon may be
placed just in front of the hammer- on the
front area of the firing pin stop, after which
the trigger should be checked. This is done
to avoid accidental or unnecessary firing.
FIREARMS IDENTIFICATION
• Nowadays, we need to have a concrete basis
for an opinion of a fact before accepting it.
What then is the basis for firearms
identification? To answer this question,
following are cited:
– Firearms identification is actually a refined
tool marks identification.
– The natural wear and tear of the tools is
involved.
In firearm identification, it refer to those
characteristics which are determinable
even before the manufacture of the
firearm.

A. Class characteristics
B. Geoballistics
C. Individual characteristics
D. Mechanical fingerprints
Two General Characteristics to be
considered regarding Ballistics Examination
1. CLASS CHARACTERISTICS
– Intentional or design characteristics that would
be common to a particular group or family of
items.
– Characteristics that are determinable even prior
to the manufacture of the firearms. These
characteristics are factory specifications and
within the control of man. These serve as basis
for identifying a certain group or class of
firearms.
Significant features of Class Characteristics:

– caliber or bore diameter or gauge

– number of lands
– number of grooves
– with of lands
– with of grooves
– twist of rifling / direction of twist
– pitch of rifling – the number of inches of bore
required for one complete rifling spiral
– depth of grooves
Bore Diameter (caliber) – the diameter in
which the bore was reamed. It is the distance
measured between two opposite lands inside the
bore.

Number of lands and grooves – the number

of lands and grooves inside the bore of a firearm are
always the same.
Lands – elevated portions.
Grooves – the depressed portions.
Width of lands – land width is dependent on the
bore diameter, groove width and number. The
lands are a “reminder” of the circumference
after subtracting all the groove widths.
Width of grooves – groove width is measured as
the “shortest” distance between the two sides
or edges of a groove.
Direction of twist – the rifling inside the gun
barrel may twist either to the right or left.
Pitch of rifling – it is a measure of the
twisting of the lands and grooves. It refers
to the “distance” advanced by the riflings
in one complete run (360 degrees).
Depth of grooves – groove depth in the
bore is measured on a radius of the bore.
Grooves are usually a few thousands of an
inch deep. It is equal to the “height” of the
side of a “land”.
The type of firearm that has six land
and grooves and that is designed to be
left hand twist.

A. Styer Type
B. Smith & Wesson Type
C. Colt Type
D. Webley Type
CLASS CHARACTERISTICS OF HANDGUNS
1. STYER TYPE
– Rifling having four (4) lands and grooves, right
hand twist, width of the land and groove are
equal.

2. SMITH & WESSON TYPE

Rifling having five (5) lands and grooves, right
hand twist, the width of the land and groove are
equal.
3. COLT TYPE
Rifling having six (6) lands and grooves, left hand twist, the
width of the groove is two (2) times the width of the lands.

4. BROWNING TYPE
Rifling having six (6) lands and grooves, right hand twist, the width
of the groove is two (2) times the width of the lands.

5. WEBLEY TYPE
Rifling having seven (7) lands and grooves, right hand twist, the
width of the groove is three (3) times the width of the land.
CLASS CHARACTERISTICS OF LONGARMS
• Thompson submachine gun – 6LG – RHT
• Armalite cal.22 – 6LG – RHT
• Grease gun cal.45 – 4 LG – RHT
• Browning automatic rifle cal.30 – 4LG – RHT
• Garand rifle cal.30 – 4LG – RHT
• Springfield rifle cal.30 - 4LG – RHT
• Winchester rifle cal.22 - 4LG – RHT
• Martin rifle cal.22 - 6LG – RHT
• Remington rifle cal.22 - 6LG – RHT
• Remington rifle cal.30 – 2LG – RHT
• Winchester rifle cal.30 - 4LG – RHT
• Browning machinegun cal.30 - 4LG – RHT
• Browning machinegun cal.50 – 8LG – RHT
2. INDIVIDUAL CHARACTERISTICS

• Marks produced by the random imperfections

or irregularities of tool surfaces. These random
imperfections or irregularities are produced
incidental to manufacture and/or caused by
use, corrosion, or damage. They are unique to
that tool and distinguish it from all other tools.
• These characteristics are generally found in the
interior surface of the gun barrel and the
breech face.
The following are causes of Individual
characteristics of firearm, except;

A. Tools used in the manufacture of the firearms are

subject to wear and tear.

B. The action of weather or onset oxidation.

C. The manner they are cared for and kept.

D. The type of metal of used in the construction of the

Barrel firearm.
 
CAUSES OF INDIVIDUAL CHARACTERISTICS OF A FIREARM

• Tools used in the manufacture of the

firearms are subject to wear and tear.
• The action of weather or onset oxidation.
• The manner they are cared for and kept.
• The used of the firearm.
- The transfer of individual characteristics
from a firearm to the ammunition components
passing through it is what makes firearms
identification possible.
- The successful identification of firearms
from discharged bullets and empty cartridge
case is dependent on a basic principle: there is
no duplication in nature and exceptions to the
rule are never manifested as the result of man’s
ingenuinity.
MARKS FOUND ON FIRED BULLETS

• Land marks
– Marks left on a fired bullet caused by its contact to
the elevated portion (lands) of the bore of the
firearm. This is considered as one of the most
important mark found on a fired bullet used for the
purpose of identification.

• Groove marks
– Marks found on a fired bullet caused by the grooves.
Striation marks
It is more of less located at the anterior
portion of the fired bullet of revolver due to
its forward movement from the chamber to
the barrel of the gun before it initially rotates.
Slippage marks
Marks found on fired bullets passing through
either on oily or oversize barrel.
Stripping marks
Marks found on those bullet fired from a
“loose-bore” barrel wherein the rifling
are already been badly worn out.
Worn out in the rifling of the firearms can
be caused by either chemical reaction
brought about by rust (corrosion) or
through excessive use (erosion).
 
PRINCIPLES INVOLVED IN BULLET IDENTIFICATION

1. No two barrels are microscopically alike or

identical as the internal surface of their bores all
poses individual characteristics markings of their
own.
– The barrel of the gun is bored with a cylindrical steel
which leaves inside the bore which are impressed
upon the bullet that passes through the barrel.
These impressions or striations identify the gun from
which a bullet is fired.
PRINCIPLES INVOLVED IN BULLET
IDENTIFICATION
2. When a bullet is fired from a rifled bore gun, the
rifling will be engraved on the bullet and these
engravings will vary in its minute detail with
every individual firearms. So it happens that the
engravings on the bullet fired from one barrel will
be different from that of another bullet fired
from another barrel and conversely, the
engravings on the bullet fired from the same
barrel will be also the same
– If 8 (eight) or more striations or scratches coincide, they
are sufficient ground of identification
PRINCIPLES INVOLVED IN BULLET IDENTIFICATION

3. Every firearms leaves its “thumb marks”

on the body of every bullet fired from it.
– The striations being minute scratches can
be seen under a compound microscope and
may be reproduced in photograph.
– To determine whether or not a bullet is fire
from a certain gun, it is compared with test
bullet fired from the said gun.
Marks Found on Fired Cartridge Case
1. Firing pin mark
– Marks generally found at the base portion of the cartridge
case more specifically near the center of the primer cup in
a center fire cartridge or at the rim cavity of a rimmed fire
cartridge.
– Considered as one of the most important marks for
identification of firearms using fired shell.
Marks seen at the surface of the
rim sometimes called as the
secondary firing pin marks;

A. Breach face mark

B. Ejector Marks
C. Shearing Marks
D. Striated Marks
The general marks cause by the rifling
after a kin examination by a Ballistician
is called;
A. Breech Marks
B. Impressed marks
C. Striation Marks
D. Laceration Marks
2. Breech face mark
– Mark found at the base portion of the shell cause
by the backward movement to the breech face of
the block of the firearm.
– Also one of the most important marks in shell
identification.

3. Extractor mark
– Mark mostly found at the extracting groove of the
fired cartridge shell, cause by its withdrawal from
the chamber.
4. Ejector mark
Mark generally found on cartridge case fired from an automatic
firearms. It is located near the rim of the case cause by the
throwing of shell from the firearm to the area of shooting.

5. Shearing mark
Sometimes called secondary “firing pin mark” found on the
primer near the firing pin mark.
6. Magazine lip mark
Marking found at the two sides of the rim
cause by the magazine lips during the loading
of the cartridge into the magazine for firing.
7. Chamber mark
Marks mostly found around the body of the
fired cartridge case cause by the irregularities
of nips inside the walls of the chamber.
In fired cartridge case either of the
firing pin mark and the breech face
marks can be used as basis for
identification.
In the absence or non-use of these
two, both the ejector and extractor
marks can be utilized as secondary
choice.
PRINCIPLES OF SHELL IDENTIFICATION

1. The breech face and striker of every single

firearm leaves minute individualities of
their own.

2. The firearm leaves its fingerprint or thumb

mark on every cartridge case which it fires.
PRINCIPLES OF SHELL IDENTIFICATION

3. The imprint on all fired cartridge

cases fired from the same weapon are
always the same, those on cartridge
cases fired from different weapons
must always be different.
The Problems in Forensic Ballistics
Examination
• The breech face and firing pin of every single firearm
have microscopic individualities of their own.
• Every firearm leaves its “thumb mark” or
“fingerprint on every cartridge it fires.
• The whole principle of identification of shell is
predicated or based on the fact that since the
breech face of every weapon must be individually
distinct, the cartridge cases which it fires is
imprinted with this individuality.
TYPES OF PROBLEMS IN FORENSIC BALLISTICS

• Given a fired bullet – to determine the caliber, type

and make of firearm from which it was fired.
• Given a fired cartridge case – to determine the
caliber, type and make of firearm from which it was
fired.
• Given a fired and a suspected firearm – to
determine whether or not the fried bullet was fired
from the suspected firearm.
• Given a fired cartridge case and a suspected
firearm – to determine whether or not the fired
cartridge case was fired from the suspected firearm.
TYPES OF PROBLEMS IN FORENSIC BALLISTICS

• Given two or more fired bullet – to determine

whether or not they were fired from only one
firearm.
• Given two or more fired cartridge cases – to
determine whether or not they were fired
from only one firearm
• Given a firearm – to determine whether or
not it is serviceable.
Bullet Identification
• Bullets collected for comparison to a specific
firearm are examined first to see if they are of
a caliber that could have been fired from the
submitted firearm. 
• They are examined to determine if the pattern
of rifling impressions found on the bullet
match the pattern of rifling contained in the
barrel of the questioned firearm. 
Cartridge Identification
• Like bullets, cartridge cases can be identified as
having been fired by a specific firearm.  As soon
as cartridges are loaded into a firearm the
potential for the transfer of unique tool marks
exists. 
• However, the cartridge does not have to be fired
for these marks to be transferred.  Simply loading
a cartridge into a firearm can cause unique
identifiable marks that can be later identified.
Two forms of basic tool marks produced on the
cartridge cases.
1. Striated Action Marks. These
scratches are produced when the
cartridge case moves laterally against
the tool (inner surface of the
firearm) producing a scrape or
striated mark. 
2. Impressed Action Marks
These marks are created on cartridge
cases when it impacts the tool (again,
the firearm) with adequate velocity or
pressure to leave an impressed or
indented mark.
The image below shows a comparison between two
cartridge cases that lack any individual characteristics
but have a similar general appearance.
The comparison image below shows two cartridge cases
that exhibit noticeably different breech marks and firing
pin impressions.
Some of the more common striated action marks
include:

– chamber marks;
– shear marks;
– firing pin drag marks;
– extractor marks; and
– ejector marks.
Chamber Marks

One of the most common striated action marks are called chamber marks. 
Roughness in the chamber of a firearm can scratch the outer walls of a cartridge case
when loaded and removed from the chamber. Most chamber marks occur after the
cartridge is fired.
Shear Marks

Another common striated action marks are shear marks produced by GLOCK pistols on cartridge
case primers.  GLOCK pistols have a rectangular firing pin hole (below) in their breech face.
Firing Pin Drag Marks

In a similar process, striated marks called firing pin drag marks can be produced.  When the firing pin springs forward to
strike the primer of a cartridge, it may remain slightly forward and imbedded in the primer.
Extractor Marks

Another action mark, usually found in a striated form, are those created by the extractor of
most auto-loading or repeating firearms.  The extractor is a small part sometimes resembling a
hook that is used to remove a cartridge or cartridge case from the chamber of a firearm.
Ejector Marks

As described above, the extractor pulls the cartridge case

out of the firearm's chamber.  As the cartridge case is pulled to
the rear it will be struck somewhere on an opposing edge by a
part as seen below called the ejector.
The ejector is designed to expel the cartridge case from the
action of the firearm.  The resulting impact of the cartridge
case with the ejector will cause another action mark that can
be used as a means of identification.
Impressed Action Marks
 Impressed action marks, with a few exceptions,
are produced when a cartridge case is fired in a
firearm. 
 The two most common impressed action marks
are firing pin impressions and breech marks. 
 As mentioned at the end of the Striated Action
Marks page, ejector marks can also be in the
form of an impressed action mark.
Firing pin impressions

- are indentations created when the firing

pin of a firearm strikes the primer of center
fire cartridge case or the rim of a rim fire
cartridge case.  If the nose of the firing pin
has manufacturing imperfections or damage,
these potentially unique characteristics can
be impressed into the metal of the primer or
rim of the cartridge case.  
Light firing pin
impressions

Rim fire
cartridge cases
Center fire cartridge cases
Breech Marks

By far the most common impressed action marks on cartridge

cases are breech marks. 
Most fired cartridge cases are identified as having been fired by
a specific firearm through the identification of breech marks.

Mottled appearance Parallel Circular

• Ejector Marks

– Ejector marks are sometimes created when cartridges or

cartridge cases are ejected from the action of a firearm. 
– Ejector marks can be either striated or impressed but
the impressed ejector marks not only can be used to
identify a cartridge case as having passed through a
firearm's action.
– They can also be an indication that the cartridge case
was fired in the firearm.
Ejector marks like those seen below could only be
reproduced when the cartridge cases were fired in
the firearm and not by simply hand chambering and
ejecting a live cartridge.
The marks left and seen from the
shell of automatic firearm as it
throws out the shells from chamber;
A. Ejector marks
B. Extractor marks
C. Striations marks
D. Laceration marks
The marks left and seen from the shell of firearm
equipped with cylinder as it throws out the shells
from chamber;

A. Ejector marks
B. Extractor marks
C. Firing rod marks
D. Laceration marks
The marks seen in a rape victim
after it was examined by medico
legal examiner is called;
A. Scars lining marks
B. Pregnancy marks
C. Striation Marks
D. Laceration Marks
CRIME SCENE SEARCH FOR BALLISTIC EXHIBITS

The search in a scene of the

crime for ballistics exhibit is one of
the most important phase of crime
investigations, especially commission
of crime involving the used of
firearm.
METHODS OF SEARCH FOR BALLISTICS EXHIBIT

1. STRIP METHOD – applicable when the

shooting incident took place in a small close
area.

2. DOUBLE-STRIP METHOD – applicable when

the shooting incident took place in a bigger
area.
3. SPIRAL METHOD – the searchers follow each other in the path of a spiral beginning from the outside and then spiraling in towards the center.
4. WHEEL METHOD – the searcher gathered at the center and proceed in outward radii.
5. ZONE METHOD – a search for physical evidence applied in larger or bigger area of a crime scene.
The correct technique of picking up firearm when seen in the crime scene during SOCO processing is manifested with the following;

A. Holding the barrel with the aid of tissue.

B. Holding the gun on grip.
C. Inserting any object in the barrel.
D. Inserting any cord in the trigger guard.
MARKINGS OF EVIDENCE

• The investigator who collects physical

evidence should take it to the laboratory
himself whenever this is possible. He should
mark and wrap the physical evidence and put
a seal on it. Use a thumbprint or write initials
on the back of the envelop at the place where
the two parts come together.
LOCATION OF MARKING
STYLUS- BALLPOINT-POINTED METAL
MARK-INITIAL OF THE POLICE OFFICER

1. PROJECTILE- OGIVE/BASE
2. BULLET- BASE
3. SHELL- INSIDE MOUTH
4. FIREARMS- EDGE OF THE TRIGGER GUARD
WHEN IS LABELLING AND TAGGING
APPLICABLE?
PROCEDURES IN MARKING BALLISTICS EXHIBIT:

• Use a distinctive mark such as initials of the recovering officer.

• Do not use “X” for marking because “X” is a universal mark and
almost every body often uses it that it is hard to distinguish one “X”
from another “X”.
• Record the mark used and the position of the marks present on the
object.
• Record any serial number or other distinctive marks present on the
object.
• Whenever possible, mark the object itself, taking care not to
damage or alter it.
• Always mark the container in which the object is placed even the
object itself is already marked.
• When tags are used, mark corresponding entry in the tag and
attach it securely to the object.
COLLECTION AND HANDLING OF FIREARM EVIDENCE
A. FIREARM
• Before lifting a firearm from the crime scene bear in
mind the presence of fingerprint of the suspect.
• Never insert a hard material inside the bore of the gun
barrel rather insert the same in the trigger guard or use
string in lifting the firearm and bring it to the laboratory.
• Do not operate the firearm except to unload, in case of
self – loading firearm.
• If the firearm involve is a revolver, always mark the
position of the spent and live cartridge corresponding to
the cylinder in accordance with its rotation.
• Take not on your notebook of the make, trademark,
caliber and serial number of the firearm.
 
B. CARTRIDGE

• If a cartridge was found at the crime scene

always collect them separately and wrap the
same with soft materials like cotton or paper
tissue.
• Take note of any special identification of the
cartridge like the trade mark, make of bullet
and type.
C. BULLET
• Bullets that are found at the crime scene must be collected
individually by wrapping each with a soft tissue or cottons.
• When a bullet was embedded on a solid materials do not
remove it directly but rather cut enough portions around it
and bring it to the laboratory.
• Always take note of any distinguishing features of the said
bullet, such as the caliber or type.
• When there are two or more bullets recovered at the crime
scene always sketch their relative positions indicating by
feet or meter based on two fixed point.
• Take photograph before lifting the bullet.
D. CARTRIDGE CASE
• Gather as many as there are cartridge cases in
the scene.
• If cartridge cases are found in the cylinder of a
revolver, mark their positions therein by
indicating in numbers or letter therein in
accordance with the rotation thereof.
• Take note of any distinguishing features of the
cartridge case.
• Always prepare a sketch of the crime scene
indicating the relative positions of the cartridge
cases by feet or meter based on two fixed point.
E. SHOT PELLETS
• Collect as many as there are at the crime
scene and keep them in an evidence
container properly sealed indicate the
number therein.

• If a pellet was embedded on a hard

material, cut enough portion around it and
bring it to the laboratory.
TECHNIQUES OF EXAMINATION

A. Physical Examination
• Evidence bullet, cartridge cases and suspected firearms once
submitted by the requesting party will be physically examined
to determine its markings or initials made by the investigators
for identification purposes.

• The firearm is test fired from a bullet recovery box in order to

obtain test bullets and test cartridge cases. Before test firing
the ammunition will be marked first at the side of the case or
on the nose portion of the bullet with letter T (tested) followed
by the last two digits of the serial number of the firearm in
their order of firing to distinguish the number one test from
two and three test. Ex. T – 88 – 1, T- 88 – 2, T – 88 – 3
B. Microscopic Examination

• After the recovery of the test bullet and test cartridge cases, they
will be compared with the evidence bullet and evidence cartridge
cases under bullet comparison microscope to determine whether or
not they have congruency of striations or have the same individual
characteristics.
• Under the bullet comparison microscope, the two fired bullets for
fired shells are examined in a JUXTAPOSITION; that is, the two
objects evidence bullet and the test bullet are examined and
compared.
• at the same time
• at the same place or level
• at the same direction
• at the same magnification and
• at the same image
THREE (3) POINTS OF BASIC POSITIVE IDENTIFICATION

For conclusiveness of findings three (3) test must be

done:
The 1st test is for comparison / preliminary
2nd test is for confirmation
3rd test is for conclusion

In order to be concluded the marking must be:

 Prominent
 Significant and;
 consistent
MODERN TOOL IN THE FIRE ARM
INDENTIFICATION AND EXAMINATION
Integrated Ballistics Identification System (IBIS)
– It is a computerized identification system
that stores ballistics information on bullets
and cartridges cases – to be match with any
suspected physical evidence.
Bullet proof – bullet analyzing
Brasscatcher – cartridge case analyzing
SCIENTIFIC EQUIPMENT GENERALLY USED IN FIREARM IDENTIFICATION
 

• THE COMPARISON MICROSCOPE – this is a piece of optical

equipment frequently employed by firearms identification expert
with camera attachment.
PHILIP O. GRAVIELLE - inventor

• STEREOSCOPIC MICROSCOPE – this is an equipment that has no

camera attachment and no photomicrograph can be taken for
court representation. Use for close up examination for tampered
serial numbers and for orientation purposes.
SHADOWGRAPHS - this contains a series of microscopic lenses of different magnifications use to determine class characteristics of fired bullets and shells.

CP-6 COMPARISON PROJECTOR – this equipment is very much similar with the bullet comparison microscope. No eye strain because the magnified image appears on the large screen. What can be seen on the screen can be photographed by any kind of camera.
• BULLET RECOVERY BOX – this is a long box
measuring 12” x 12” x 96” filled with ordinary
cotton and separated into sections by
cardboard partitions.

• HELIXOMETER – this is used in measuring

pitch of rifling – distance traveled by the
bulleting once complete rotation. Invented by
JOHN H. FISCHER.
MICROMETER – this equipment is similar in use as calipers.

CALIPER – this equipment is used for making measurements such as bullet diameters, bore diameters, barrel length, etc.
• ANALYTICAL OR TORSION BALANCE – this
equipment is used to determine weights of
bullets and pellets for possible determination of
types, caliber and make of firearms from which it
was fired.
ONOSCOPE – this equipment is a small instrument sometimes used in examining the internal surface of the gun barrel in determining the irregularities inside the bore of the gun barrel.

TAPER GAUGE – this equipment is used primarily for determining bore diameter.

ELECTRICAL GUN MARKET – this equipment is used in the laboratory for marking fired bullets, fired shells and firearms submitted for examination.
LAWS ON FIREARM AND
EXPLOSIVES

Revised Administrative Code (RAC)

Act No. 2711, March 10, 1917
P.D. No. 1866, June 26, 1983
R.A. No. 8294, July 7, 1997
R.A. 10591, MAY 29,2013
As per CMO 21 Examination Syllabi
1. Explain the importance of Forensic Ballistics in
Crime Investigation
2. Discuss / Identify the different types, kinds,
make and classification of Firearms.
3. Classify the different types of Ammunition,
Explosives and its Components
4. Familiarize / apply the scientific procedures
involved in the processing of Ballistics
evidences.
-THE END-
• Who invented the first explosives?
• Julius Caesar
• Roger Bacon
• Asian Alchemists
• Frumpy The Clown
• What did they do to their beards?
• Shaved Them
• Singed Them
• Ripped Them Off
• Dipped Them In Mayonase
• What are primary explosives used for?
• Blasting Caps and Detonators
• Demolition
• Bullets
• To Get That Explosive Crunch In Your Cereal
•  
• Which one of these is a blasting agent?
• RDX
• CIA
• PETN
• ANFO
•  
• Who invented the first rocket?
• The Japanese
• The Chinese
• The Martians
• Bill Gates
• What are the four main types of explosives?
• CIA, Mafia, FBI, and NYPD
• Low, Primary, Blasting Agents, and High
• ANFO, RDX, PETN, and EXO
• Low, High, Blasting Agents, and Large
• What does ANFO stand for?
• Democratic National Commitee
• American National Farting Opposion
• Amonium Nitrate and Fuel Oils
• American Nuclear Flame Oils