Types of ammunition
Name : P.SIRI
B.SC Forensic science
4th semester
Subject: Forensic
Ballistics
Reg no : 221904320019
Ammunition
Legal definition –
According to the Indian Arms act , 1959 under section 2,(b) “Ammunition” means:
Ammunition for any firearm includes:
1. rockets, bombs, grenades, shells,
2. articles designed for torpedo service and submarine mining,
3. charges for firearms and accessories for such charges,
4. fuses and friction tubes.
5. Parts of, machinery for manufacturing, ammunition and
6. such ingredients of ammunition as the Central Government may, by the notification in
the Official Gazette .
Ammunition
FORENSIC BALLISTICS –
Ammunition is the material fired, scattered, dropped or detonated
from any weapon.
Ammunition is mostly part form of cartridge now.
Examples: Bombs, missiles, grenades.
It consists of:
(i) Cartridge case
(ii)Propellants
(iii)Primers
(iv)Projectiles
(v)Wads
(vi)Rim
Types of ammunition-
SMALL ARMS AMMUNITION IS OF TWO TYPES.
1. Metallic ammunition 2. Shot Gun ammunition
• Components of metallic cartridges are:
(i) Metallic cartridge case
(ii) Percussion cap or primer
(iii) Propellant(gun powder)
(iv) Bullet
• Components of shot gun cartridges are:
(i) Paper/Plastic cartridge case
(ii) Percussion cap
(iii) Propellants or gun powder
(iv) Spherical ball or lead pellets
(v) Wads
Propellants
Propellants fill the interior of an ammunition cartridge leading to
the expulsion of a bullet or shell
To propel a bullet or shotgun charge through the barrel & air, a
certain amount of force is necessary.
The powder charge gets ignited through primer and converts it in
to gas very quickly, there by resulting in development of high
pressure in the cartridge and forcing the bullet to get out of the
barrel.
The three types of propellants used are-
a) Gunpowder (Black powder)
b) Smokeless powder
c) Semi-smokeless powder
GUNPOWDER
Gunpowder is a mixture of saltpeter (potassium
nitrate), sulfur, and charcoal in the ratio of 75:10:15
It is also called black powder.
Gun powder is the oldest recorded propellant and had
been invented by Chinese around tenth century
Gunpowder
Grading of gunpowder: 2 categories- F and C (C is a grade
for cannons and large capacity explosive devices).
The letter ‘F’ stands for “Fine”
* FG: Large bore rifles
* FFG: Medium and small bore rifles
* FFFG: Small bore rifles and pistols
* FFFFG: Short pistols
Smokeless powder
The modern high velocity era started with use of
smokeless powders.
The basic constituents of the smokeless powders are
nitroglycerine and nitrocellulose(guncotton).
Nitrocellulose is either used alone or in combination
with nitroglycerine to form propellants, the latter are
called double based powders, white the former is known
as single base powder.
Semi smokeless powder
• Semi smokeless powder is mixture of black powder and
nitrocellulose.
• The approximate composition of the powder is :
nitrated wood cellulose 20%
potassium nitrate 60%
carbon 12%
sulphur 8%
Primer
• The primer is the chemical / device responsible for
intiating the propellant combustion that will push the
projectiles out of the gun barrel.
• Primer is a high explosive substance.
• The sensitive high explosive which functions as an
initiator is a pressure sensitive material which gives out
a flame to ignite combustible material which work as a
fuel.
• Example: Lead styphnate, mercury(II) fulminate,
tetrazene, lead azide, antimony sulphide, barium
nitrate.
Wad
• The “Wad” refers to the small disc of material
that seperates the powder from the lead shot- it
is pushed down the barrel behind the shot when
the powder is ignited by the primer.
• The wad creates a seal to help the pressure
reach an adequate level, used to push the shot
out of the cartridge.
• Types : over-powder wad, cushion-wad, under-
shot wad and over-shot wad.
Rim
• Rim provides the extractor on the firearm a place
to grip the casing to remove it from the chamber
once fired
• Types of rim:
1. Rimmed
2. Rimless
3. Semi-rimmed
4. Rebated rim
5. Belted rim
Rimmed
• rim that is significantly larger in diameter than the base
of the cartridge
Rimless
The rim is the same diameter as the base of the case. It
os known as an extractor groove.
Semi rimmed
• The rim projects slightly beyond the base of the case,
though not as much as a rimmed cartridge.
Rebated rim
• A rim that is significantly smaller in diameter than the
base of the case, serving only for extraction.
Belted
• The purpose of the belt on the belted cases (often
referred to as belted magnums) is to provide
headspacing; the extractor groove is cut into belt just as
it is cut into the case head on a rimless case.
