ROWENA E. MOJARES Reg. Crim.

, MS Crim
Chapter 1

Ballistics
Definition of Ballistics
 In its broadest sense, ballistics is defined as is the science
dealing with the motion of projectiles and the conditions
governing that motion. Science is a systematized body of
knowledge which has been observed tested and proven.
Motion refers to movement or mobility.
 3 Types of Motion
 Direct motion – is the forward movement of the bullet or
shots out of the shell by the action of the expansive force of
gases from a burning gun powder.
 Gyroscopic motion ( rotary motion)– is the action of the
bullet passing through a rifled bore barrel firearm which is
either twisted to the left or right.
 Translational – is the action of the bullet once it hits a target
and subsequently ricocheted.
 Projectile means the metallic and non-
metallic object propelled by means of force. In
strict sense, it is the study of natural laws relating
to the performance of gunpowder and projectiles
in firearms and the means of predicting such
performance. It is also refers to the science of
firearms identification which involves the
scientific examination of ballistics exhibits (fired
bullets, fired shells, firearms and allied matters)
used in crimes involving scientific equipments
such as bullet recovery box, bullet comparison
microscope and others.
Etymology
 The term ballistics was derived from the
Greek word “ballo” or “ballein” which literally
means “to throw”. Its root word was also said to
have been derived from the name of an early
Roman war machine called “ballista” - a gigantic
bow or catapult which was used to hurl missiles or
large objects such as stones at a particular
distance to deter enemy forces. The term ballistics
is frequently used synonymously in the press and
in police parlance to firearm identification and
investigation.
Ballistics as a Science
 Ballistics is classified, formulated and
verifiable knowledge gathered by observation,
research and experiment and based on scientific
theory and using scientific equipment and
apparatus. Results of firearms identification is an
exact science because it permits an absolute
precision in results free from possibility of error
normal to human perception. Therefore, ballistics
per se is not an exact science rather it is a branch
of physics or applied science which is subject to
changes and development depending upon the
demands of the modern civilization.
Early Recorded Firearms
Identification
 The earliest recorded identification of firearms by the
trained observer was recorded in the criminal investigation by
Hans Gross, the great Austrian Criminologist and considered as
the father of criminalistics. This refers to the French bullet fired
by soldier of Napoleon Bonaparte’s Army, which lodge behind the
eye of his grandfather in 1799. The bullet was recovered in 1845
after the death of his grandfather. When Hans Gross saw it, he
observed and found out that it was still with traces of gunpowder
and this would prove evidentiary value.
 Another was done by Charles Waite in the United States
of America. He was an employee of New York State who
conducted an investigation involving firearms. In 1915, a farmer
was accused of murder with a gun. Waite was not convinced by
the evidence of the firearms’ experts, and his effort showed that
the accused is innocent. Through Waite’s effort, to trace the gun
from which the bullet was fired, consequently identify the
manufacturer of the gun.
 Alexandre Lacassagne (1844-1921)- was the first to
recognize the significance of the striations etched found
on a bullet extracted from a murder victim and its to link
to the gun from which it was fired, thus beginning the
science of ballistics.
 Edmond Locard (1877-1966) – established the first
forensic laboratory in France. His principles “objects or
surfaces which came into contact always exchange trace
evidence”.
 Col. Calvin H Goddard (1920) – pioneered the
introduction of science of Ballistics in the different
universities in U.S., subsequently it was universally
practiced and accepted in the different courts throughout
the world.
Forensic Ballistics
 Forensic – a term originated from the Latin word “forum”,
meaning “marketplace where people gather for public
disputation or public discussion”.
 Forensic Ballistics – it refers to the science of investigation and
identification of firearms and ammunition used in crimes.
 It is a refined Tool Mark Identification where the firearm
is made of a material harder than the ammunition
components, acts as a tool to leave impressed or striated
marks on the various ammunition components that come into
contact with the harder surface of the firearm.
 Dr. Albert Llewellyn Hall, the pioneer in the field in
forensic ballistics, was an expert in identifying firearm from the
fired bullets. Identification of the crime gun is in the principal
purpose and objectives of criminal investigation, to establish
the identity of criminal offender and assist in their prosecution.
Branches of Ballistics
 1. Interior (internal) Ballistics
 It refers to the properties and attributes
of the projectile while still inside the gun. It
covers from the time; the firearm is loaded with
the cartridge, the explosion and the movement
of the bullet from the breech to the muzzle of
the gun.
Attributes of Interior Ballistics
 Firing pin hitting the primer
 In order that the primer should explode, the firing pin
should hit such. This is due to the theory of friction wherein
there is a resistance to motion created by the firing pin.
 Ignition of the priming mixture
 Priming mixture is made up of very sensitive material that
is commonly located in the center portion of the cartridge
case. In order to ignite the priming mixture, it must be live
and potent and must be devoid of any moisture.
 Combustion of the gunpowder
 As the primer crushed and ignited, the flash passes
through the vent towards the gunpowder that provides the
combustion of gunpowder.
 Expansion of the heated gas
 There will be equal expansion of heated gas
inside the cartridge, after the combustion
of gunpowder. The gas expanded in the
different direction that tends the bullet and
shell to separate from each other in the
cartridge.
 Individual characteristics found in the
chamber/Bore of the barrel of Firearms
.
 Pressure developed
 When the heated gas created by the burning powder charge is developed,
a tremendous pressure is produced in the chamber of the firearm hen
the heated gas created by the burning powder rge is
developed, a tremendous pressure is produced in the
chamber of the firearm.
 Energy generated
 Energy refers to the fatal equivalent of a bullet
compared to a pound that is drops from a certain
height.
 Recoil of the gun
 The recoil of the gun is due to the Newton’s third law
of motion (law of interaction) which states that in every
action is always equal and opposite reaction. The forward
movement of the bullet after the explosion results to
backward movement of the cartridge case. Recoil of the gun
is affected by several things such as tightness with which
the firearm is held, height of the bore above the center of
the stock line of wrist for pistols, shape and design of the
butt plate or the pistol’s grip, weight of the firearm and the
physical and mental condition of the shooter.
 Muzzle brake or compensator – reduce the recoil of the gun
in every firing.
 Velocity of the bullet in the gun
 The bullet will travel the bore of the barrel depending on the
powder load of the cartridges, since it is the powder load that
will propel the bullet in the bore of the barrel of the firearm.
 Rotation of the bullet in the barrel
 When the bullet is driven by the heated gas by tremendous
pressure towards the muzzle end, the bullet will rotate
following the rifling inside the gun barrel. But if the firearm
does not have rifling inside the barrel, the bullet (shot) would
just move forward without rotating inside the bore of the
barrel until the bullet left the gun muzzle.
 Gyroscopic stability =is the stability of the flight of the bullet within the
effective range, due to the twist of the lands and grooves from the breech
end to the muzzle.
 Engraving of the cylindrical surface of the bullet
 The rifling starting from the breech end up to the muzzle end of the
barrel will engraved in the body of the bullet, depending on the
number of lands and grooves as part of the class characteristics of
the firearm.
 Metal fowling – the metal left in the barrel
2. Exterior (external) Ballistics
 It refers to the attributes and movements
of the bullet after it has left the gun muzzle,
which includes the condition of the bullets’
movement and flight up to the target.
Attributes of Exterior Ballistics
 Muzzle blast – it is the noise created at the muzzle
point due to sudden escape of the expanding gas
coming in contact with the surrounding atmosphere.
Due to this sound at the muzzle end of the gun, a
silencer was invented to minimize the sound, which
the criminal took advantage to conceal the crime.
 Muzzle energy – it is an energy generated at the
muzzle point, whenever the cartridge explodes from a
firearm.
 Trajectory – actual curve path of the bullet during its
flight from the gun muzzle to the target. There are
three stages of trajectory namely, straight horizontal
line, parabola like flight and vertical drop.
 Range – straight distance from the muzzle to the
target. It is classified into:
1. Accurate /maximum effective range – it is the
distance within a shooter has control of his shots.

2. Absolute maximum range – it is the farthest

distance that a projectile can be propelled from a
firearm. It is based upon the intrinsic accuracy of
the firearm and ammunition, size of the target,
marksmanship ability of the shooter, the ability to
discern the target, knowledge of the ballistics
characteristics of the ammunition, and the level of
power needed to be delivered to the target.
 Velocity – rate of speed per unit time.
 Air resistance/aerodynamic drag – resistance
encountered by the bullet during its flight which reduces
its speed. There are three parts of drag bullet, the bow
resistance, skin friction and the base drag.
Aerodynamic drag-
 Pull of gravity – downward reaction of the bullet towards
the center of the earth, due to its weight. The pull of
gravity will apply only, starting from the parabola, then to
the maximum range and to the final vertical drop.
However, in the effective range, the bullet could
withstand the pull of gravity due to its velocity and
gyroscopic stability.
 Penetration – depth of entry on the target based on the
power and velocity of the bullet.
3. Terminal Ballistics
 It refers to the effects of the impact of the
projectile in the target. The knocking power of
particular powder load of the cartridges which
makes a devastating lesion, caused by the
bullet.
Attributes of Terminal Ballistics
 Terminal accuracy – it is the size of the bullet
grouping on the target.
 Terminal energy/striking energy – it is energy of
the projectile when it strikes the target. This
refers to the fatal equivalent of a bullet when it
struck the victim.
 Terminal velocity – it is the speed of the bullet
upon striking the target.
 Terminal penetration – it is the depth of entry of
the bullet in the target.
4. Forensic Ballistics
 It refers to the investigation and
identification of firearms by means of
ammunition fired through them. This is the real
branch of the science which the police use as
their guide in field investigators.
Attributes of Forensic Ballistics
 Field investigations – it is conducted the first
responders when they investigate a case wherein
firearms have been used.
 Technical examinations of ballistics exhibits – it is
conducted by the firearms examiners in the
ballistics laboratory to determine the value of
firearms exhibits in the solution of the case.
 Legal proceeding – it includes making of ballistics
report and presentation of the result of the
examination conducted before the court.
5. Shot Ballistics
 It is the study of shotgun ammunition
including its characteristics spread and trailing.

6. Wound Ballistics
It refers to the study of the effects of a
projectile on a target and the conditions that affect
them