Forensic Ballistics Introductory Notes

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

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

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

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

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

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