CMTCS 106: FORENSIC BALLISTICS

DEFINITION AND ORIGIN OF BALLISTICS

MOTION, ITS TYPES
DINNES D. JAGUALING, RCRIM, MSCRIM (CAR)
INSTRUCTOR I
Introduction

• The making of firearms has evolved from simple hand cannons to

highly automatic and powerful jets.
• France and England are two of the most powerful countries that
have explored the manufacture of more powerful and
sophisticated firearms
• Originally, the study of Ballistics was divided into three divisions
namely Interior, Exterior, and Terminal Ballistics.
Ballistics and its Branches

Ballistics is the science of the motion of the projectile and the

condition that affects its motion.
it is not an exact science rather an applied physics.
Motion refers to the mobility or movement of the projectile from
the time it leaves the empty shell: it leaves the gun muzzle and
until it reaches its target or falls on the ground.
A Projectile is a generic term that refers to any metallic or non-
metallic ball that is propelled from a firearm. Technically, all
projectile propels from a small arm are called bullets with the
exemption of a shotgun projectile which is referred to as shots or
pellets.
To the policemen, the term bullets are commonly referred to as
slugs.
Bullet motion can be categorized into three (3) general types:
Direct Motion, Rotary Motion and Translational Motion.
Shotgun pellets and a projectile
Three types of Motion in Projectile

1. Direct Motion-is the forward motion of the bullet or the shots out
of the shell by the action of the expansive force of gases from a
burning gunpowder.
2. Rotary Motion-is the action of the bullet passing through a riffled
bore barrel firearm which is either twisted to the left or the right.
3. Translational-is the action of bullet once it hits an object or a
target and subsequently ricocheted (changes in motion).
The word Ballistics is derived from two Greek words; the word
“ballo” and the word “ballein”. Both of these Greek etymological
roots literally mean to “throw”.
It is also said to have been derived from the Roman war machine
called “Ballista”, a gigantic bow or catapult used to hurl missiles or
large objects.
Ballista
Branches of Ballistics

The study of Ballistics was initially divided into three Divisions:

Internal Ballistics, Exterior or External Ballistics, and Terminal
Ballistics. These encompasses the time from which the bullet is
fired from the gun until it reaches the target and has its maximum
effect.
Due to the current application of Ballistics in solving cases involving
the use of firearms and ammunition, a fourth branch has emerged,
namely, Forensic Ballistics.
Interior (Internal) Ballistics

• Is that branch of ballistics that treats the motion of the projectile

while it is still inside the firearm (chamber?/barrel) which extends
from the breech to the muzzle.
Firing pin hitting the primer

Upon the squeeze of the trigger, the hammer will be released which
causes the firing pin to be pushed and hit the base portion of the
cartridge where the primer is located.
Ignition of the priming mixture (percussion action)

The priming mixture (composed of KCL03, sulfur, and carbon)

located either at the cavity rim or at the center of the primer upon
the striking effect of the firing pin will ignite, and such action is
known as “Percussion Action”.
Combustion of the gun powder/powder
charge or propellant.

After the ignition of the priming mixture, the ignition is imparted to

the gun powder by passing through the vent or flash hole, thus
burning the gunpowder and converting it into expanded gases.
Expansion of heated gas

Once burned, the charged powder is converted into heated gas, and
due to a more elastic property of gases, its particles will spread and
fill the entire container (cartridge shell/case).
Pressure developed

The outward push of the gases to the burned powder pressure is

developed due to the great amount of gas that is expanding within
the shell causing the withdrawal of the bullet from the shell.
Energy generated

Energy is the capacity to do the work. The potential energy serves

as the propellant of the expanded gases, in as much as the pressure
that is developed has that degree of energy to force the projectile
out of the shell.
Recoil of the gun

This is the equal and opposite reaction of the gun against the
forward movement of the bullet upon explosion.
Jump

Is another portion of the recoil action that is characterized as the

backward and upward movement takes place before the bullet
leaves the muzzle.
Velocity of the bullet inside the barrel

It is the relative speed of the bullet per unit of time while it is still
inside the barrel or at which it leaves the gun muzzle.
Rotation of the bullet inside the barrel

It refers to the twist of the bullet caused by the cylindrical grooved

portion of the barrel of most firearms.
Engraving of the cylindrical surface of the
bullet

Once the bullet has passed through the barrel of any firearm be it
riffled (with cylindrical groove cut) or a smooth bore, whatever
imperfections or scratches the interior barrel of the gun has will be
impressed and left on the cylindrical surface of the bullet serving as
its thumbprint.
Exterior ballistics

• Treats of the attributes or movement of the projectile after

leaving the gun muzzle. It is extended from the muzzle of the gun
to the target or any attributes to the motion of the projectile
while it is in its flight and before reaching the target.
Muzzle blast

• It refers to the noise created at the muzzle point of the gun

brought by a chemical reaction between the expanded gases and
the air outside.
Muzzle energy

• Energy generated at the muzzle point measured in foot-pound.

This is attributed to the hot gas liberating at the muzzle point.
Trajectory

This refers to the parabola-like flight of the projectile from the time
it leaves the muzzle unit until it hits the target.
It is also described as the actual curve path taken by a bullet during
its flight.
Stages of trajectory

• A trajectory has three (3) stages when the bullet is fired to its
maximum range.
• The straight travel or the stage at which the bullet travel straight
or maintain its accurate level (Gyroscopic action)
• The curving of the bullet in flight due to the gradual loss of its
energy,
• and the drop of the bullet to the ground due to its weight and
upon reaching the maximum distance of its travel and it hits
nothing.
Range

• Range refers to the imaginary straight distance from the muzzle of

the gun to the target.
• Accurate range-the distance within which the shooter or gunner
has control of his shots.
• Effective range-the distance within which a bullet is still capable
of inflicting injury after it has been fired.
• Maximum range-the distance that a projectile can be propelled
from a firearm. The farthest distance a bullet could travel.
Velocity

• This refers to the rate of speed (during its flight) per unit of time,
and is usually expressed in feet per second (ft/sec.) and measured
through the use of a chronograph machine.
Pull of gravity

• This is the downward reaction of the bullet towards the earth

surface due to its weight. This is based on the principle that
anything that goes up must go down.
Air resistance

• It is the force of the air encountered by the bullet in its flight. A

slow-moving object occupies a smaller space at a given time while
a fast-moving object occupies a larger space in just a short time.
Terminal ballistics

• Is that branch of ballistics that deals with the effect of the

projectile’s impact on the target.
Terminal accuracy, terminal energy, terminal
velocity, terminal penetration

• It refers to the size of the bullet grouping on the target. A bullet

grouping that is bigger has a lesser chance to produce substantial
damage, hence lowering its chance to be lethal.
• Terminal energy is the energy or force of the projectile when it
strikes the target. A bullet of small caliber has lesser energy though it
penetrates greatly into the target.
• Terminal velocity is the speed of the bullet once it strikes the target
and penetrates it.
• Terminal penetration it is the depth of the bullet’s entry into the
target.
Forensic ballistics

• This branch of ballistics is the product of the application of

ballistics to law. The idea comes with the use of the word
forensic. The word Forensic was derived from the Latin word
“forum” meaning a “market place” where people gathered for
public disputation or public discussion.
• Forensic Ballistics is defined as the study of the motion of the
projectile as applied to law or simply the science of firearm
identification by means of the ammunition fired through them.
Scope of FORENSIC BALLISTICS

• Field Investigation- this is the work of the first officer on the case
on the field. It is primarily routine job of an investigating officer.
Such work includes recognition, collection, markings,
preservation, packing and transmittal of ballistics exhibit.
Ballistics Technical Examination of the
Exhibits

• This phase involves the participation of the firearms identification

examiner.
Legal Proceeding

• This is the last and yet one of the most critical part in the field of
firearm identification. Here the examiner has to go to court to
testify as an expert witness regarding the ballistics examination
and report that he/she has prepared.
1. Briefly describe the three (3) types of motion of the projectile
2. Is ballistics an exact science? (yes/no) support your answer
3. Give the etymological and real definition of ballistics
4. Enumerate and briefly discuss the four branches of ballistics
5. Briefly explain the scope of forensic ballistics work.
TYPES OF FIREARMS AND EVOLUTION OF FIREARMS
DINNES D. JAGUALING, RCRIM, MSCRIM (CAR)
• A firearm is any type of gun designed to be readily carried and used
by
• The term is legally defined further in different countries an
individual.
• Firearms include a variety of ranged weapons and there is no
agreed-upon definition. For instance, English language laws of big
legal entities such as the United States, India, the European Union,
and Canada use different definitions. Other English language
definitions are provided by international treaties.
United States

In the United States, under 26 USC § 5845 (a), the term "firearm" means
• 1) a shotgun having a barrel or barrels of less than 18 inches in length;
• (2) a weapon made from a shotgun if such weapon as modified has an overall length of less than 26 inches
or a barrel or barrels of less than 18 inches in length;
• (3) a rifle having a barrel or barrels of less than 16 inches in length;
• (4) a weapon made from a rifle if such weapon as modified has an overall length of less than 26 inches or a
barrel or barrel of less than 16 inches in length;
• (5) any other weapon, as defined in subsection (e);
• (6) a machinegun;
• (7) any silencer (as defined in section 921 of title 18, United States Code);
The term ‘‘firearm’’ shall not include an antique firearm or any device (other than a machinegun or destructive
device) which, although designed as a weapon, the Secretary finds by reason of the date of its manufacture,
value, design, and other characteristics is primarily a collector's item and is not likely to be used as a weapon.
• According to the US 
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, if gas
pressurization is achieved through mechanical gas compression
 rather than through chemical propellant combustion, then the
device is technically an air gun, not a firearm.
 India

In India, the arms act, of 1959, provides a definition of firearms where "firearms"
means arms of any description designed or adapted to discharge a projectile or
projectiles of any kind by the action of any explosive or other forms of energy, and
includes:
•(i) artillery, hand-grenades, riot-pistols or weapons of any kind designed or
adapted for the discharge of any noxious liquid, gas, or other such thing,
•(ii) accessories for any such firearm designed or adapted to diminish the noise or
flash caused by the firing thereof,
•(iii) parts of, and machinery for manufacturing, fire-arms, and
•(iv) carriages, platforms, and appliances for mounting, transporting and serving
artillery;