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Forensic Ballistics Equipment Overview

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878 views2 pages

Forensic Ballistics Equipment Overview

Uploaded by

bonsingmiguel23
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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FORS 421 FORENSIC BALLISTICS

Scientific Equipment Generally used in Firearms Investigation and Identification

BALLISTICS SCIENTIFIC EQUIPMENT

• Bullet Comparison Microscope - The Bullet Comparison Microscope is the most important scientific
equipment in a typical Ballistics Laboratory. It is used for comparing evidence bullets or shells and test
bullets or shells to determine whether or not they were fired from a suspected fatal gun.

• Stereoscopic Microscope - It is generally used in the preliminary examinations of


fired bullets and fired shells to determine the relative distribution of the class
characteristics or for so-called orientation purposes. It can also be used in the close-
up examination of tampered serial numbers of firearms.

• Bullet Recovery Box - This is the equipment used in test firing the evidence firearm
to recover test-fired bullets and test-fired cartridge cases for comparison purposes
under the bullet comparison microscope.

• Helixometer - This is the type of instrument used in measuring the


“pitch of riflings” of firearms. This instrument is generally used in
highly advanced ballistics laboratories or commercial agencies.

• Caliper -This is an instrument used in making measurements such


as bullet diameter, bore diameter, barrel length, and other important
details.

• Micrometer - Similar in use as calipers.

• Analytical or Torsion Balance - This is used for determining weights of


bullets or shotgun pellets-for possible determination of type, caliber, and make
of firearms from which they were fired.

• Onoscope - A small instrument sometimes used in examining the internal


surface of the gun barrel. It has a tiny lamp at the terminal portion and this
is inserted inside the bore for internal examinations.

• Taper Gauge - Used primarily for determining the bore diameter of firearms.
FORS 421 FORENSIC BALLISTICS

• Electric Gun Marker- Used in the laboratory for marking fired bullets, fired
shells, and firearms submitted for examination.

• Chronograph - Used primarily for determining the speed of the bullet or the
muzzle velocity of the bullet.

Alfred Lee Loomis invented the Aberdeen Chronograph for measuring muzzle
velocities.

NEW WEAPON ON THE WAR ON CRIME

• IBIS – a computerized identification system that stores ballistics information on bullets and cartridge
cases submitted as evidence in connection with a crime. It also stores test-fired bullets and cartridge
cases and can cross-search and match the known with the unknown in an attempt to identify a cartridge
case or bullet. The computer electronically compares and catalogs bullets and shells located at the crime
scene.

• Bulletproof – is a field-proven automated bullet image analysis system. It captures the image of the
microscopic features found on the surface of a fired bullet in a highly repeatable manner. The markings
or signatures are analyzed by the computer and can be compared to those of other fired bullets or to an
entire database if fired.

• Brasscatcher – an automated cartridge case image analysis system. It incorporates the exacting
forensic science software required to extract the marking of signature from an expended cartridge case,
similar in operation to Bulletproof. It has the ability to automatically search the database of cartridge cases
and rank in descending order the most likely hits.

• Drugfire – developed by the Federal Bureau of Investigations and Mnemonic Systems Inc., is a new
computerized technology that will allow the Forensic Firearm Examiner to associate previously unrelated
firearms involved in different cases. This is a data-based driven multi-media system designed to increase
the effectiveness of Forensic Firearm Examiner in searching open case expended cartridge and bullet
files. This system also integrates a forensic database, audio, video, digital imaging, and
telecommunications to aid the examiner in his quest to associate unrelated cases.

Common questions

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Beyond examining fired bullets and shells, the stereoscopic microscope helps in the close-up examination of tampered serial numbers on firearms, providing insights into potential tampering .

The Chronograph is essential for determining the speed or muzzle velocity of a bullet, which is crucial for understanding bullet trajectory and impact. Alfred Lee Loomis invented the Aberdeen Chronograph, a notable version of this tool .

The Onoscope contributes by allowing examiners to visually inspect the internal surface of a gun barrel, using a tiny lamp to illuminate the bore for internal examination .

IBIS enhances investigations by storing and electronically comparing ballistics data like bullets and cartridge cases to identify matches between evidence found at crime scenes and test-fired items, effectively linking crimes .

The Electric Gun Marker is used to mark fired bullets, shells, and firearms submitted for examination, which is crucial for organizing evidence and maintaining the integrity of examination processes in ballistics laboratories .

The Helixometer is significant because it measures the pitch of riflings in firearms, which is crucial for matching bullets to specific guns in advanced ballistics analyses .

While both systems perform automated analyses, Brasscatcher is focused on cartridge cases, extracting markings and signatures for database comparison, whereas Bulletproof focuses on bullet image capture and analysis. They both facilitate ranking and matching evidence to potential sources .

Drugfire introduces a multimedia data-driven system that associates unrelated cases by using forensic databases, audio, video, digital imaging, and telecommunications, enhancing case connectivity and examination efficiency .

Bulletproof provides the capability of automated bullet image analysis by capturing microscopic features on a fired bullet’s surface and comparing them to other bullets or an entire database, facilitating forensic comparisons .

The Bullet Comparison Microscope is used for comparing evidence bullets or shells with test bullets or shells to determine if they were fired from a suspected firearm .

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