An Overview

of ForensicBallistics

Ankit Srivastava, Ph.D.Assistant Professor

Dr. A.P.J. Abdul KalamInstitute of Forensic Science & Criminology

Bundelkhand University, Jhansi – 284128, UP, IndiaE-mail: ankit_forensic81@rediffmail.com ; Mob: +91-9415067667

Ballistics

It is a branch of appliedmechanics which deals withthe study of motion ofprojectile and missiles andtheir associated phenomenon.

Ballistics

It is an application of science of ballistics to solve the problems related with shooting incident(where firearm is used).

Forensic Ballistics

Firearms or guns

Bullets/Pellets

Cartridge cases

Related Evidence Bullet holes

Damaged bullet

Gun shot wounds

Gun shot residue

Forensic Ballistics is divided into 3 sub-categories

Internal Ballistics

External Ballistics

Terminal Ballistics

The study of the phenomenonoccurring inside a firearm when ashot is fired. It includes the study ofvarious firearm mechanisms andbarrel manufacturing techniques;factors influencing internal gaspressure; and firearm recoil .

Internal Ballistics

The most common types of Internal Ballistics examinations are:

✓ examining mechanism to determine the causes of accidental discharge

✓ examining home-made devices (zip-guns) to determine if they are capable of discharging ammunition effectively

✓ microscopic examination and comparison of fired bullets and cartridge cases to determine whether a particular firearm was used

The study of the projectile’s flight from the moment it leaves the muzzle of the barrel until it strikes the target.

External Ballistics

calculation and reconstruction of bullet trajectories

establishing the maximum range of a given bullet

The Two most common types of External Ballistics examinations are:

The study of the projectile’s effect on the target or the counter-effect of the target on the projectile.The ‘target’ can be any solid or liquid object, but when the target is a human or animal it is common to use the term “wound ballistics”.

Terminal Ballistics

Common types of Terminal Ballistics examinations are :

determination of the distance between firing point and target

establishing whether or not a particular wound was caused by a fired bullet

determining the caliber and type of projectile that caused bullet damage or gunshot wound

examination of bullet exit/entrance by examining the holes in targets, or the wounds in biological tissue

examination of ricochet possibilities and fired projectiles

FIRE ARMS

Firearm is a devicefor propelling theprojectiles at a highvelocity and theforce to propel theseprojectiles comesfrom the propellant.

History

➢Marcus Graccus was the inventor of Gunpowder.

➢The first use of gun powder was made by Romans for the shake of fun.

➢Device was known as “ Roman Candle Tube”.

The hand cannonBy the mid 1300’s the first recorded use of a firearm was noted.These were primitive muzzle loading black powder firearms. Referred to as hand cannons or hand guns.

Complicated and fragile firing system. Gunpowder was placed in a flash pan.Lit fuse ignited the flash pan which ignited the main powder charge.

Match lock• Primitive triggers allow the

mechanical firing of guns• Complicated and fragile firing

system. • Gunpowder was placed in a

flash pan.• Lit fuse ignited the flash pan

which ignited the main powder charge.

• Pros- First trigger Cons- Fragile, weather

sensitive, poor accuracy

Wheel lock guns• Early 1500s• Think of cigarette

lighters.• Flint and steel ignition.

• Pros- Shorter lock time, better accuracy, Less weather sensitive.

• Cons- Fragile operating system, very expensive to manufacture.

The Snapaunce

First appeared around 1570. This mechanism was much simpler and less expensive than the Wheel Lock.

Flintlocks

• On the scene by 1630.• Developed by French.• Cheaper to produce then

wheel locks.• Pros- Cheap to produce,

relatively fast reloads, work well for pirate movies.

• Cons- weather sensitive, fragile

Percussion Caps

In 1820s.Making serious strides towards cartridges.Explosive pressure sensitive.Ignition system much less sensitive to weather.

➢ Pros- Cheap, fast lock time, improved weather resistance, multi-shot (repeater) action, looks good in Westerns.

➢ Cons- Slow reload time, possible sympathetic detonations.

Classification of Firearms

The modern firearms are classified on the basis of several characteristics.

❖ Handling Characteristics

❖ Bore Characteristics

❖ Loading Characteristics

❖Action Characteristics

❖ Use

Handling Characteristics

Handguns Shoulder Arms Mounting Guns

HAND GUNS

➢ Handguns are classified as weapons that are designed to be highly portable and fired by the individual with one or both hands.

➢ Handguns are sub-divided into two groups:REVOLVERS and PISTOLS

SHOULDER ARMS

➢ A firearm that is fired while being held in the hands with the butt of the weapon braced against the shoulder.

➢ Some of the shoulder firearms are:Rifle.Shotgun.

MOUNTING GUNS

Mounting guns are those in which stand is used to prevent the recoil.

Bore Characteristics

Smooth Bore Rifled Bore

SMOOTH BORE & RIFLED BORE FIREARMS

Smooth-bore weapon has a barrel that is completely smooth on the inside, while a Rifled-bore weapon has land and grooves that help the bullet to get stability and accuracy.

Each type of weapon has specific uses and differing levels of power and accuracy.

Loading Characteristics

Muzzle Loading

Breech Loading

Magazine Loading

Muzzle Loading Firearms

The firearms into which the projectile and usually the

propellant charge is loaded from the muzzle of the gun.

This usually use loose propellant and projectile as well as separate method of ignition or priming. Now a

days, these types of firearms are not in use.

Breech Loading Firearms

In these firearms the cartridge or shell is inserted or loaded into a chamber integral to rear portion of a barrel. The main advantage is that, this reduces the reloading time as it is much quicker. It also protect the crew member during loading ammunitions.

Magazine Loading Firearms

A magazine is an ammunition storage and feeding device within or attached to a repeating firearms. Magazines may be integral to the firearm (fixed) or removable (detachable).

Action Characteristics

Lever Action Bolt Action Automatic

Lever Action Firearms

It is a type of firearms which uses a lever, located around the trigger guard area, including the trigger guard to load fresh cartridges into the chamber of the barrel.

Bolt Action Firearms

In these firearms bolt action is operated in weapon manually by the opening and closing of the breech with a small handle, most commonly placed on the right hand side of the weapon. This action is most common in Rifles.

Automatic Firearms

A firearms that will continue to fire so long as the trigger is pressed and there is ammunition in the magazine. They extracts the used cartridge case from the barrel and ejects it, and load the new case and keeps firing until the trigger is released.

Uses

Sporting Service

Sporting & Service Firearms

Sporting firearms are used for sporting purpose like in Shooting, Air gun etc. while Service guns are mostly those guns used by Administrative Officers, Gazette Officers, Police, Army etc.

✓ .22" Sporting Rifle

✓ .315" Sporting Rifle

✓ 30 - 06 Sporting Rifle

✓ 5.56 mm Assault Rifle

✓ 5.56 mm INSAS Rifle

✓ Rifle 5.56 mm INSAS (Fixed Butt)

✓ Rifle Excalibur 5.56 mm

✓ Assault Rifle AK 47

✓ Assault Rifle AK 74

Some Common Rifles are……

.22" Sporting RifleCalibre .22 inch L.R.

Barrel length 632 mm

Chamber International stadard (5.70 mm * 16.50 mm)

Groove 6 Nos. R.H. 1 Turn in

Range 200 m max.

Safety On rare in top of the body by turning lever safety

Trigger pull Adjustable (minimum 1kg)

Weight of the rifle 3 kg approx

Overall length 1092 mm

Furniture Wooden

Magazine capacity 10 rounds

Calibre 8mmBarrel length 640 mm

Range 275 mtsTrigger pull 2.27 to 2.72 kgs

Weight of the rifle 3.34 kg approx (without magazine)Overall length 44 " / 1117 mm (aprrox)

Magazine Box type , capacity-5 cartridges

.315" Sporting Rifle

.30 Sporting Rifle

Calibre 0.30 inchesBarrel Chrome flash with 4 grooves.

Foresight Adjustable type

Rearsight Adjustable ramp typeRange 400 mts

Trigger pull 1.5 kg (max)Weight of the rifle 3.0 kg

Magazine 3 rounds

5.56 mm Assault Rifle

Calibre 5.56 mmBarrel Chrome plated

Length of weapon 960 mm

Weight of weapon without magazine 4.15 kgWeight of weapon with full magazine 4.5 Kg

Recoil energy 4.45 J

Range 400 mts

5.56 mm INSAS Rifle

Calibre 5.56 mm

Length in folded condition 750 mm

Weight of weapon

Without magazine 4.25 kgs

With full magazine 4.6 kgs

Recoil Energy 4.43 Joules

Barrel Chrome plated

PNS/Daylight Telescope Provided

Range 400 m

Mode of Firing Single shot, three round burst. Gas operated.

5.56 mm INSAS (Fixed Butt)

Calibre 5.56 mm

Muzzle Velocity (m/s) 900

Length of Rifle (mm) Without Bayonet 960With Bayonet 1110

Weight of rifle 4.15 kg

Effective range 400 mt

Range for grenade 200 mt

Multimode 150

Magazine capacity 20

Cyclic rate 600 to 650 (rounds per min)

Trigger pull 2.10 to 4.00 kg

Recoil energy 4.43 J

Type of fire Single, 3 Round Burst

Excalibur 5.56 mm

Calibre 5.56 mm

Length –Butt Folded/ Butt Extended 665mm/895mm

Weight without Magazine 3.81 kg

Weight with Full Magazine 4.03 kg

Weight of Empty Magazine 0.09 kg

Magazine Capacity 20/30 rounds

Length of Barrel 400 mm

Barrel Chamber and Bore Chrome Plated

Rifling 6/1 turn in 200/RH

System of Operation Gas operated

Mode of Fire Single Shot and Automatic

Rate of Fire (650 to 700) rounds/min

Effective range 400 m

Assault Rifle AK 47

A K Avtomat Kalashnikova

Length 699 mm (Butt folded), 869 mm (Butt Extended)

Weight with telescopic sight 4.3 kg

Barrel length 414 mm

Rifling 4 grooves, RH, 1 turn in 235 mm

Operation Gas operated

Locking Rotating bolt

Magazine Plastic Box , Capacity- 30 rounds

Cartridge 7.62 X 39 mm

Rate of fire 600 rounds/min

Muzzle velocity 710 m/s

Maximum Effective Range 300 mt

Assault Rifle AK 74A K Avtomat Kalashnikova

Length 930 mm (Butt folded), 690 mm (Butt Extended)

Weight with telescopic sight 3.6 kg

Barrel length 400 mm

Rifling 4 grooves, RH, 1 turn in 196 mm

Operation Gas operated, on selection one can fire in bursts of 3 shots.

Locking Rotating bolt

Magazine Plastic Box , Capacity- 30 rounds

Cartridge 5.56 X 39 mm

Rate of fire 650 rounds/min

Muzzle velocity 900 m/s

Maximum Effective Range 400 mts