FORENSIC

BALLISTICS
Dean Mar M. Villanueva MSCJ
Former Ballistician II, MPD Crime Lab
National Lecturer, CLE
Part-time Faculty: UM, Arellano, Earist
Fernandez College, ACES Lucena City
Ballistic- Science of the
motion of projectiles.
• Science - refers to the
systematized body of knowledge
• Motion – refers to movements or
mobility of the projectiles
• Projectiles – refers to metallic or
non-metallic objects propelled
from a firearm.
 Ballistic is not an exact
science for it is subject to
changes and improvement
depending upon the demands of
the modern civilization. Ballistics
is rather an applied science.
 3 Types of Motion
Three Types of Motion
1. Direct motion
1. Direct Motion
2. Rotatory
2. Rotatory motion
3. Translational

3. Translational motion
1. Direct Motion = is the forward motion of the
bullet or shots out of the shell by the action of the
expansive force of gases from a burning
gunpowder.
2. Rotatory motion = is the
action of the bullet passing
through a rifled bore barrel
firearm which is either
twisted to the left or to the
right.
• Yaw - the trembling or unstable
rotating motion of bullet at the
start of its flight
 Technical Definition
Ballistic
Refers to the “ Science of firearms
identification” which involves the
scientific examination of ballistic
exhibits – fired bullet, fired shells,
firearms, and allied matters – used
in crimes
 Origin
Ballistic itself was derived from Greek
word “ ballo” or “ballein”
which literally means to throw.
It is also derived from the name of an
early Roman war machine called the Ballista
Ballista – is a gigantic bow or catapult used to
fire missiles or other large objects like
stones.
BRANCHES OF BALLISTIC :
• Interior ( Internal ) Ballistic
• Exterior ( External) Ballistic
• Terminal Ballistic
• Forensic Ballistic
 INTERIOR BALLISTIC
Refers to the properties and
attributes of the Projectiles ( Bullet)
while still inside the gun. It
involves all reactions that take
place while the bullet is still inside
the barrel of the gun. These
includes the following:
• Firing Pin hitting the primer
• Ignition of the priming mixture
• Combustion of the gun powder
• Expansion of the heated gas
• Pressure developed
• Energy generated
• Recoil of gun
• Velocity of the bullet in the barrel
• Rotation of the bullet in the barrel
• Engravings of the cylindrical
surface of bullet
 EXTERIOR BALLISTIC
Refers to the attributes and movements of the
bullet after it has left the gun muzzle, this
branch involves the following:
• Muzzle blast • Pull of gravity
• Muzzle energy • Water current
• Trajectory
• Range
• Velocity
• Air resistance
TERMINAL BALLISTIC

Refers to the effects of impact of the

projectile on the target. This involve
the following:
• Terminal Accuracy
• Terminal Energy
• Terminal Velocity
• Terminal Penetration
FORENSIC BALLISTIC
Refers to the investigation and
identification of firearms by means
of ammunitions fired through them.
Includes the following:
• Field investigations
• Technical examination of the ballistics
exhibit
• Legal/Court proceedings
The Evolution of Firearms
MAN BEHIND FIREARMS
1. John M. Browning - Wizard of the modern
firearms and pioneered the breech loading single
shot rifled which was adopted by Winchester.
2. Samuel Colt - Patented the first practical
revolver and maker of the Colt Peace Maker, a
famous revolver in the history.
3. Alexander John Forsyth - Father of the
percussion powder.
4. Major Uziel Gal - An Israeli army who
designed UZI (Israel) in the year 1950.
5. Col. Calvin H. Goddard - Father of
modern Ballistics.
6. John C. Garand - Designed and invented
the Semi automatic U.S. Rifle Cal. 30. M1 garand.
7. George Hyde - A well-known expert in the
field of SMG, (also known as grease gun)
developed in 1941. M3A1 (USA).
8. Michael Kalashnikov - Designed the AK
(Automat Kalashnikova) 47 (Soviet Union)
adopted by the Russian Army in the year 1951.
9. James Wolfe Rifley – Stimulated the
development of the model 1855 rifle musket.
10. Eliphalet Remington – one of the early rifle
makers.
11. Elisha King Root – designed the machinery
for the making of Colt firearms
12. Horace Smith - Founded the great firm of
Smith and Wesson and pioneered in making
breech loading rifles.
13. Eugene Stoner - Designed the U.S. M16
Armalite under licensed by Colt Company from
July 1959 onwards.
14. L.C. Smith - Developed shotgun bearing his
name now the Ithaca gun Company.
15. John T. Thompson - Developed in the
course of WW1 the Thompson M1A1 and model
of 1928 A1 (USA). Pioneered the making of
Thompson sub-machine gun.
16. Daniel B. Wesson - Associates of Horace
Smith in the making of Revolver.
17. David “Carbine” Williams - Maker of the
first known Carbine.
18. Oliver Winchester - One of the earliest rifle
and pistol maker.
Legal Definition of Firearm
Firearms or arms as herein used,
includes rifles, muskets, carbines, shotgun,
pistol, revolvers, and all other deadly
weapons, to which a bullet, ball, shot, shell,
or other missiles maybe discharge by means
of gun powder or other explosives. This term
also includes air rifle, except such of being of
small caliber and limited range used as toys.
The barrel of any firearm shall be considered
a complete firearm for all purposes hereof.
Technical Definition
Firearm is an instrument used
for the propulsion of projectile by
means of the expansive force gases
coming from burning gunpowder.
Classification of Firearms
Two General Classification of Firearms
(According to Interior Barrel Construction)
1.Smooth Bore Firearms = Firearms that have
no rifling (lands and grooves) inside their gun
barrel.
Examples: Shotguns, Musket and
Improvised Barrels
2. Rifled Bore Firearms = Firearms that have
rifling inside their gun barrel.
Examples: Pistols, Revolvers, and Rifles
Main Types of Firearms
(According to the Caliber of the projectile
propelled)
1. Artillery = Refers to those type of firearms that
propels projectile with more than one inch
diameter.
Examples: Cannons, Mortars and Bazookas:
2. Small Arms = Are firearms that propels
projectile with less than one inch diameter and it
can be handled, moved and operated by one man.
Examples: Machine gun, shoulder arms and
handguns.
Machine guns
Machine gun is a type of firearm that is
primarily designed for military use. Even in
investigation of shooting cases done in the city, it
is not usual or common to encounter this type of
firearm having been used.
Sub Machine Gun
Is a light, portable form of machine gun,
utilizing a pistol size ammunition, having a
shoulder stock that may or may not be folded and
designed to be fired with both hands.
Shoulder Arms
Are those types of firearm that were
normally fired from the shoulder.
Rifles= A shoulder weapon designed to fire
a projectile with more accuracy through a long
rifled bore barrel, usually more than 22 inches.
Carbine = A short barrel rifle, with its barrel
rifle, measuring not longer than 22 inches. It fires a
single projectile though a rifle-bore either semi-
automatic or fully automatic, for every press of the
trigger.
 Muskets = is an ancient smoothbore and
muzzle loading military shoulder arms designed to
fire a shots or a single round lead ball. A more
detailed discussion of musketeers can be found on
chapter 8 in the discussion of ignition system.
Shotgun = A smooth bore and a breech
loading shoulder arms designed to fire a number
of lead pellets or a shots in one charge (FBA
Manual)
 The barrel construction of shotgun may also
be found in different bore construction.
A. cylinder bore type = which the bore size is
the same throughout the barrel
B. choke bored gun = designed with a
diminishing or reducing bore diameter type
towards the muzzle. This type is designed to cause
an effect to the travel of the shots. It makes the
shots travel longer before it spreads.
C. “paradox gun”.= still in a very rear
occasions another type of shotgun can be
observed to be having rifling only a few inch from
its muzzle points.
 Handguns = those type of firearms that are
designed or intended to be fired using one hand.
Ex. Pistols and Revolvers
Pistol ═ refers to a handgun having
one chamber integral with the barrel or it is a
magazine fed type of handgun designed to fire a
single projectile through a rifled bore for every
press of the trigger.
Kolibri – smallest pistol in the world
 Revolver ═ is a type of firearm designed to
position cartridge into position for firing with the
aid of a rotating cylinder serving as its chamber.
There are two types of revolvers
according to its mechanical firing action.
1. Single action, a type of revolver that needs a
manual cocking of the hammer before
squeezing the trigger
2. Double action, a type of revolver that does
not need manual cocking. Just press the trigger
and it both cocked and released the hammer
causing a much faster firing.
Types of Firearms (According to Mechanical
Construction)
1. Single shot firearms = types of firearms
designed to fire only one shot every loading.
Examples: Single shot pistols,
Revolvers and shotguns.
2. Repeating Arms = A type of firearms designed
to fire several loads (shot) in one loading.
Examples: Automatic pistols revolvers
rifles and shotguns.
3. Automatic F/A = type of firearms that
constitutes a continuous firing in a single
press of the trigger and while the trigger is
press.
Examples: Machine guns and rifles
4. Slide Action type = types of firearms in
which loading take place by back and forth
manipulation of the under/over forearms of
the gun.
Examples: Shotgun and pistols
5. Bolt Action Type = Type of firearms
in which reloading takes place by
manipulating the both back and forth.
Examples: Rifles, shotguns and
machine guns.
6. Lever type (Break type) = loading
takes place by lever action on the firearms.
Examples: Rifles and shotguns.
Miscellaneous Types of Gun
1. Flare gun = designed for tracing or
sending signals or locating enemy
troops.
2. Freakish gun = a tool in which
firearm mechanism is attached to
prevent easy identification.
3. Gas gun = generally referring to all
gun designed from firing tear gas.
4. Harpoon guns = refers to a barbed
spear in hunting large fish.
5. Multi –Barreled gun = refers to all
types of gun containing a number of
barrels.
6. Paradox gun = a type of gun which
contains lands and grooves a few inch
from the muzzle point.
7. Zip Gun = refers to all type of home
made gun.
Legal Definition
Ammunition refers to loaded shell
for rifles, muskets, carbine, shotgun,
revolvers and pistols from which a ball,
shot shell or other missiles maybe fired
by means of gun powder or other
explosive. The term also includes
ammunition for air rifles as mentioned
elsewhere in the code.
Technical Definition
Ammunition refers to a group of
cartridge or to a single cartridge.
Cartridge is a complete unfired unit
consisting of bullet (ball), primer (cap),
cartridge case (shell) and gunpowder
(propellant).
Origin
The word cartridge was derived
from the Latin word “Charta” meaning
– a “paper” and also from the French
word “Cartouche” meaning – a rolled
paper. This only indicates that the first
type of cartridge was made up of a rolled
paper.
Parts of a Cartridge
• 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 gunpowder. Sometimes it is
called shell or casing.
 Parts of a Cartridge
• 3. Gunpowder – is a propellant or powder
charge which, when ignited by the primer flash,
is converted into heated gas under high pressure
and propels the bullets or shots charge through
the barrel and to the target.
• 4. Primer – the metal cup containing the
highly sensitive priming mixture of chemical
compound, which then hit or struck by the
firing pin would ignite or detonate. Such action
is called, percussion.
General types of Ammunition
a. Dummy ( used as a model)
b. Drill Ammunition (without
gun powder)
c. Black Ammunition (without
bullet)
d. Live Ammunition
Classification of Cartridge According
to the Location of the Primer
a. Pin-Fire = is a type of cartridge in
which the ignition cap (primer) is
concealed inside the cartridge case and
has a pin resting upon it.
Classification of Cartridge According
to the Location of the Primer
b. Rim fire = is a type of cartridge in
which the priming mixture is located at
the hallow rim of the case.
Classification of Cartridge According
to the Location of the Primer
c. Center fire = t refers to a cartridge
in which primer cup (ignition cap) is
centrally placed in the base of the
cartridge case and the priming mixture is
exploded by the impact of the firing pin
and with the support of the anvil.
Classification of Cartridge According
to Rim Diameter
a. Rimmed Case type.
b. Semi-Rimmed type
d. Rimless type
Classification of Cartridge According
to Rim Diameter
d. Rebated type = refers to the
cartridge with rimless pattern, but which
has a rim diameter smaller than the body
of the case
e. Belted type = a cartridge with a
prominent raise belt around its body just
in front of the extraction groove.
Classification of Cartridge According Caliber
Calibers in cartridges in inches and their approximate
equivalent in mm and use:
Inches MM.
Cal. .22 about 5.59 mm- used in revolver,
pistol and rifles
Cal. .25 about 6.35 mm- used in pistols and
rifles.
Cal. .30 about 7.63 mm- (mauser) – for
carbines and other rifles
Cal. .30 about 7.63 mm (luger)
Cal. .32 about 7.65 mm for automatic
pistols and revolvers
Cal. .380 about 9 mm- used for pistols
Cal. .357 used in magnum .357 revolvers
Cal. .45 about 11 mm – used in automatic
pistols
Cal. .50 used in .50 cal. Machine gun
Shotgun Cartridge
It refers to a complete unit of unfired
cartridge consisting of the pellets, primer,
case, wads and gunpowder .
The unit of measurement used in
shotgun is expressed in Gauge. This is
determined by the number of solid lead balls
of pure lead, each with diameter of the barrel
that can be prepared from one pound of
lead.
 At present the 10-gauge shotgun
is considered with the biggest
diameter while the .410 as the
smallest one.
Gauge Inch
10 .775 inch
12 .729 inch
16 .670 inch
20 .615 inch
28 .550 inch
.410 .410 inch
Types of Shots
1. Soft or Drop Shots = made by
pure or nearly pure lead, to which a
small amount of arsenic has been added
to make it take on the form of a
spherical drop as it falls down the shot
tower. This type is easy to deformed or
flattened, loose their velocity quicker,
low penetrating power and string out
more.
Types of Shots
2. Chilled or Hard Shot = is a
type of shot with a small amount of
antimony mixed with lead to increase
hardness. It does no deform easily,
better patterns, less string and more
uniform velocity and penetration.
Types of Shots
3. Coated or Plated Shot = also called
as “lubaloy” shot. A chilled shot coated
with thin copper through electroplating
design for greater strength and elasticity,
great resistance to deformation and
leading and better pattern.
Buck Shot = a large size lead shot
for used in shotgun
Bullets
The word “Bullet” was derived
from French word “Boullette” which
means a small ball. This term is generally
used when we are referring to projectile
fired from any small arms, which has a
variety of form, especially during the
earlier history.
Bullets
In a more technical sense, bullet
refers to a metallic or non-metallic
cylindrical ball propelled from a firearm
it is sometimes called as shots or slugs.
 Bullets have various types
depending upon their specific nature
and purpose. In general bullet can be
classified as either Lead or Jacketed.
General Types of Bullets
1. Lead Type – is a type of a bullet that
is basically composed of lead metal.
Its used was due to its density; having
a good weight is a small size and easy
for casting.
 General Types of Bullets
2. Jacketed Type – Is a type of bullet
consisting of the regular lead core,
coated with a copper alloy in order to
prevent lead fouling of the barrel and is
generally used in pistols and other high
power guns.
Types of Bullets According to their
Maximum Effect to their targets
1. Ball Type – Is a type of bullet, which is
intended for anti-personnel and general
use.
Types of Bullets According to their
Maximum Effect to their targets
2. Armor piercing – is a type of military
bullet designed to penetrate light steel armor.
Its mechanical construction makes it capable
of penetrating through some light vehicles.
Types of Bullets According to their
Maximum Effect to their targets
3. Explosive Bullet - Is a small bullet
containing a charge of explosive, which will
detonate on impact.
• 3. Explosive Bullet
Types of Bullets According to their
Maximum Effect to their targets
4. Incendiary Bullet –Type of military
bullet used to cause fire in a target, generally
designed to use by aircraft armament in
order for the fuel tanks to ignite.
 Types of Bullets According to their
Maximum Effect to their targets
5. Tracer Bullet – a type of military bullet
capable of leaving visible marks or traces
while in flight giving the gunner the chance
to observe the strike of the shot or make
adjustments in the event of a miss.
Cartridge Case
Cartridge Case is the metallic or
non-metallic tabular container usually of
brass (70% copper and 30% zinc)
designed to unite the bullet, primer and
the gunpowder into one unit. It is also
known as shell or casing.
Functions of the Cartridge Case
1. It locates the bullet properly
relative to the bore of the firearm.
2. It is used to carry the means of
ignition.
3. It provides gas seals at the breech
against an unwanted escape of
propellant gas upon firing.
 Functions of the Cartridge Case

4. Serves as waterproof container for the

propellant or powder charge.
5. Acts as the insulator between the
propellant and the hot walls of the
chamber in a rapid firing of firearms.
 Parts of the Cartridge Case
1. Base = the bottom portion of the
cartridge case which contains the head
stamp marking on the base of the shell
containing the caliber, manufacturer and
in some cases including the date, trade
name, and batch number.
2. Rim = is the part of the cartridge
designed to limit the forward movement
of the cartridge to chamber.
 Parts of the Cartridge Case
3. Extracting grooves = is the circular
groove near the rim of the shell designed for
automatic withdrawal of the case from the
chamber.
 Parts of the Cartridge Case
4. Primer Pocket = is that part of the shell which
provides the means for the primer to be put in the
central position. Its function is extended to: (a)
hold the primer in place; (b) to provide means to
prevent the escape of gas; (c) to provide solid
support for primer anvil.
 Parts of the Cartridge Case
5. Body = is the cylindrical part of the
shell which house the gunpowder.
6. Shoulder = that part of the cartridge
case which support the neck of the
cartridge which is evident in a bottleneck
type.
 Parts of the Cartridge Case
7. Cannelure = is the cylindrical groove in the outer
surface of the cartridge case designed to secure the
shell to the chamber as well as prevent bullet from
being push down to the powder charge. In some
instance it is even being utilized for identification.
 Parts of the Cartridge Case
8. Neck = is that part of the shell which is
actually occupied by the bullet. This is
obvious in a bottleneck type of shell but not
with the straight type.
 Parts of the Cartridge Case
9. Crimp = is the cylindrical groove on the mouth
of the shell designed for two purposes: One (1) is
to hold the bullet and prevent it from being pull
out from the shell and Two (2) to offers resistance
to the bullet out of the neck to ensure burning of
the gun powder.
 Parts of the Cartridge Case
10. Vent or Flash hole = is the hole at the
bottom of the primer pocket as the passage way
for the priming mixture to impart an ignition to
the propellant charge.
Primer
Primer (also called CAP) is the
ignition system of the cartridge used in a
center fire type, containing a highly
sensitive chemical compound that would
easily ignite or bursts into flame when
struck by the firing pin. It may either be
Berdan or Boxer type. It is also known
as the percussion cup.
 The Berdan is a type of primer construction,
which was designed in 1860s by Colonel Hiram S.
Berdan of the U.S Army Ordinance Department.
In a cartridge designed for a Berdan primer
the anvil is built into the primer pocket of the case,
rather than the primer. These cases cannot be de-
capped and reloaded by standard reloading tools.
Its anvil forms part of the cartridge case and
a number of flasholes to serve as the passage of
ignition usually two (2).
 The Boxer on the other hand, was
developed by Col. Edward M. Boxer of the Royal
Laboratory at Woolwich Arsenal in the year 1866
In a Boxer primer, the anvil is a separate
stirrup piece that sits inverted in the primer cup
providing sufficient resistance to the impact of the
firing pin.
The primer pocket in the case head has a
single flash-hole in its center. This positioning
makes little or no difference to the performance of
the round, but it makes fired primers vastly easier
to remove for re-loading
Parts of the Primer
1. Primer Cup
2. Priming mixture
3. Anvil
4. Disc or thin paper or foil
Types of Priming Mixture Compound
1. Corrosives – one consisting potassium
chlorate added with antimony sulfide and
mercury fulminate, which when ignite
produces moisture causing formation of rust
in the bore of the firearm.
2. Non-corrosives – one which is
designed for less chances of rusting by
replacing the potassium chlorate with barium
nitrate.
Gun Powder
Gunpowder (also called as propellant or
Power Charge) is that mixture of chemicals
of various compositions designed to propel
the projectile by means of its expansive force
of gas when burned.
Two of the most popular individual
whose name is always attached to gunpowder
discovery were Roger Bacon and Berthold
Schwartz.
 Roger Bacon, (1242 A.D.) a
Franciscan monk, who wrote the ---“De
Mirabili Potestate Artis et Naturae” (On the
Marvelous Power of Art and Nature),
including an anagram.
 Berthold Schwartz (whose real
name was Constantin Anklitzen), a
mysterious monk of Freiburg, who
experimenting on some powder in a
cast iron vessel, he ignited a charge
and thus blew off the lid, and from
this deduced the principle of
containing a charge in a tube and
propelling a shot
The Black Powder
Black powder, the oldest known explosive,
was initially made from saltpeter (75%), charcoal
(15%) and sulfur (10%).
It is a propellant which when fired, produces
large volumes of grayish smoke and considerable
amount of residue left in the barrel of the gun.
Black powder have three qualities which are typical
in all explosives; 1) when ignited, it will burn
rapidly by itself, without the aid of the air outside,
2) in burning, it gives off a large amount of gas
and, 3) A considerable amount of heat is
produced.
 The smokeless powder is a propellant
which when fired, does not give off huge cloud of
white smoke like black powder. It is the most
powerful propellants.
Major Kaspar Ernst Schultze of the Prussian
Army, made the 1st successful used of smokeless
powder in shotgun in the year 1864. The basic
ingredient used for smokeless powder is a
nitrocellulose that was first produced by adding a
nitric acid to cellulose fiber.
Two Types / Main Classes of Explosives
1. Low Explosives which is called gelatinized
nitrocellulose.
2. High Explosives is the other smokeless
powder consists of a mixture of nitrocellulose
with a high explosive and nitroglycerine.
High explosives are designed to shatter or
destroy the intended target
Firearms Characteristics
Stages in the manufacture of barrel
A. Drilling
B. Reaming
C. Rifling is the process
necessary for the making of the
helical groves inside the barrel
D. Lapped
 Characteristics in Firearms
A. Class Characteristics = are those
properties or attributes of a firearms
which can be determined even before
the manufacture of the gun. This is true
for such characteristics are considered to
be a manufacture’s designs or
specifications and security.
 Characteristics in Firearms
B. Individual Characteristics = are
meant for those characteristics which
are being determined only after the
firearm was already been
manufactured. They are the product
of machine imperfections and some
later due to the used of the firearms.
Class Characteristics of Firearms
1. Bore diameter (caliber or gauge)
 Class Characteristics of Firearms
2. Number of lands and grooves. It may
run from 3 to 8, but the most in the
modern firearm are five and six.
Lands = are the elevated portion of the
bore of the firearm.
Grooves = are the depressed portion of
the bore between the lands.
Class Characteristics of Firearms

3. Width of the lands = are the

remainders of the circumference
after subtracting all the grooves
width.
4. Width of the Grooves
5. Direction of Twist
6. Pitch of Rifling = it is the measure of the
twisting of the lands and grooves. It refers to the
measure of the distance advance by the rifling in
order to make a complete turn inside the barrel.
7. Depth of the Grooves are usually few
thousandths of an inch deep, which equal to the
height of the lands.
Types of Rifling
1. Steyer Type= is the type of rifling having four
(4) lands and grooves, right twist and the width of
the lands and grooves are equal. (4 RG=L)
2. Carbine Type = rifling having (4) lands and
grooves, right twist, the width of the grooves is
two (2) times the width of the lands (4RG2X).
3. Smith and Wesson = rifling having (5) lands
and grooves, right hand twist , the width of the
land and grooves are equal. (5RG=L)
Types of Rifling
4. Colt = type of rifling having six (6) lands and
grooves, left twist, the width of the grooves is
twice (2) the width of the lands. (6LG2X)
5. Browning = type of rifling having (6) lands
and grooves, right hand twist, the width of the
grooves is twice the width of the lands.
(6RG2X)
Types of Rifling
6. Webley = Rifling having seven (7) lands
and grooves, right hand twist, the width of
the groove is three time larger than the
boarder of the lands. (7RG3X)
7. Winchester = Rifling having six (6) lands
and grooves, right hand twist, the width of
the grooves is three time larger the width of
the lands. (6RG3X)
Individual Characteristics in Firearms
Individual Characteristics in firearms are
usually determined by the test firing which
will give us both the test bullet and the test
shell that will show the individuality of its
property based on the left marks on every
bullet and shell fired from it. Such marks are
so minute that the use of the lens with high
magnification is necessary to discover
individuality.
Marks found of Fired Bullets
1. Land Marks = marks left on a fired
bullet caused by its contact to the elevated
portion (lands) of the bore of the firearm. It
appears as slight depressions or scratches the
cylindrical surface of the fired bullet.
2. Groove Marks = marks found on a fired
bullet caused by the grooves of the barrel
which is the same number as that of the
landmarks.
3. Skid Marks = Marks that are generally found
on fired bullet from a revolver. It is more or less
located at the anterior portion of the fired bullet
due to its forward movement from the chamber to
the barrel of the gun before it initially rotates.
4. Stripping Marks = marks found on those
bullet fired from a “loose-fit” barrel wherein the
rifling are already been badly worn-out.
Worn-out in the rifling of the firearms can
be cause by either chemical reaction brought about
by rust (corrosion) or through excessive use
(erosion)
5. Shaving Marks = marks commonly
found on bullet fired from a revolver
cause by its forward movement to the
barrel that is poorly aligned to the
cylinder.
6. Slippage Marks = marks found on
fired bullets passing through either on
oily or oversize barrel.
Marks found on Fired Shells
1. Firing Pin Mark = found at the base portion of
the cartridge case more specifically near center of
the primer cup in a center fire cartridge or at the
rim cavity of a rim-fire cartridge.
2. Breech Face Mark = found at the base portion
of the shell cause by backward movement to the
breech face of the block of the firearm.
3. Extractor Mark = found at the extracting groove
of the fired cartridge case cause by its
withdrawal from the chamber.
4. Ejector mark = 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 in the primer near the
firing pin mark.
6. Magazine Lip Mark = 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 = 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 none
use of these two, both the ejector and extractor
marks can be utilized as secondary choice.
 Problems in Forensic Ballistics
1. Given a fired bullet to determine the
caliber, type; make of firearm from which
it was fired.
2. Given a fired shell to determine the
caliber, type, and make of firearm from
which it was fired.
 Problems in Forensic Ballistics
3. Given a fired bullet and a suspected
firearm, to determine whether or not the
fired bullet was fired from the suspected
firearm.
4. Given a fired shell and a suspected
firearm, to determine whether or not the
fired bullet was fired from the suspected
firearm.
 Problems in Forensic Ballistic
5. Given two or more fired bullets, to
determine whether or not they were
fired from one and the same firearm.
6. Given two or more fired shell/cartridge
case, to determine whether or not they
were fired from one and the same
firearm.
7. Given a suspected firearm, to determine
whether it is serviceable or not.
Proper Handling of Ballistic
Evidences
DON’T M-A-C THE EVIDENCE:
- Mutilate;
- Alter the nature, and
- Contaminate
 MARKING OF EVIDENCE
A. FIRED BULLETS - marks should be
made at its nose or ogive or at the base,
with the use of any pointed instrument
 MARKING OF EVIDENCE
B. FIRED SHELLS - marks may be made in any
of the following parts:
1. inside, near the open mouth
2. outside, near the open mouth
3. on the body of the shell
 MARKING OF EVIDENCE
C. SUSPECTED FIREARM - markings
should be made on all of the three main and
inseparable parts:
1. Barrel
2. cylinder (if revolver) or slide (in pistol)
3. frame
• NOTES:
• ALL evidences should be marked by the
recovering officer with his initials
• Always put your markings on the parts that
can never be replaced
• Never use the letter “X”
 Scientific Instrument Used in Firearms
Identification
1. Analytical or Torsion - It is use to determine
weights of bullets and pellets for possible
determination of type, caliber and make from
which fired.
2. Bullet Comparison Microscope – it is
designed to permit the firearms examiner to
determine the similarity and dissimilarity
between two fired bullets or two fired shells,
by simultaneously observing their magnified
image in a single microscopic field.
3. Stereoscopic Microscope - this is used for
viewing relatively large and solid surfaces or
specimens.
4. Shadowgraph - A series of microscopic lenses
of different magnification use to determine class
characteristics of fired bullets and shells. Also, for
orientation purposes, it can take photomicrograph
of the observations and comparisons made in the
circulation ground glass.
5. Comparison Projector - Very much
similar with the bullet comparison
microscope. No eyestrain because the
magnified image appears on the large
screen. What can be seen in the screen can
be photographed by any kind of camera.
6. Bullet Recovery Box - this is used for
test firing to recover bullets from all pistols
and rifles for purposes of examination filled
with ordinary cotton and separated into
sections by and board partitions. This tank
shall be a one-piece welded design having
minimum overall interior dimensions of 12
inches in diameter by 120 inches in length
by 39 inches in height with ¼ thick steel
plate.
7. Helixometer - used in measuring “pitch
of rifling”. Distance traveled by the bullet in
one complete rotation.
8. Micrometer - this is almost look like a
caliper used for precise measurement of
small distances.
9. Caliper - it is use for making
measurements such as bullet diameter
barrel length
10. Onoscope - the small instrument sometimes
used in examining the internal surface of the gun
barrel in determining the irregularities inside the
bore of the gun barrel. It has a tiny lamp the
terminal portion and is inserted inside the bore for
internal examinations.
11. Taper Gauge - this is used primarily
for determining bore diameter.