UNIVERSITY OF MINDANAO

Bansalan College

BS Criminology Program

Physically Distanced but

Academically Engaged

Self-Instructional Manual (SIM)

for Self-Directed Learning (SDL)

Course/Subject: CRI 414/L – FORENSIC BALLISTICS

Name of Course Coordinator: ROBBIE JEAN S. DUMAGSA, RCRIM

THIS SIM/SDL MANUAL IS A DRAFT VERSION ONLY; NOT FOR REPRODUCTION AND
DISTRIBUTION OUTSIDE OF ITS INTENDED USE. THIS IS INTENDED ONLY FOR
THE USE OF THE STUDENTS WHO ARE OFFICIALLY ENROLLED IN THE
COURSE/SUBJECT. EXPECT REVISIONS OF THE MANUAL.

AUGUST 2021
 UNIT 4

Week 8-9: Unit Learning Outcomes (ULO): At the end of the unit, you are expected to:

a. Ascertain the characteristics of firearms;

b. Distinguish the principles of firearms identification, the markings of evidence
and preserving the evidentiary chain on firearms cases, and to classify the
ballistics laboratory equipment

Big Picture B

Big Picture in Focus: ULOb. Distinguish the principles of firearms

identification, the markings of evidence and preserving
the evidentiary chain of firearms cases, and to specify the
ballistics laboratory equipment

Metalanguage
In this section, the most essential terms concerning to the marking and preserving the
evidentiary chain on firearms cases will and the laboratory equipment will be defined:

• IBIS – Integrated Ballistics Identification System

Essential Knowledge
To perform the aforesaid big picture (unit learning outcome) for the two (2) weeks of the
course, you need to fully understand the following essential knowledge that will be laid down in
the succeeding pages of discussion.

MARKING AND PRESERVING THE EVIDENTIARY CHAIN ON FIREARMS CASES

• For marking - use scriber, needle or sharp knife

• DO NOT USE “X” as mark of identification.

• As mark of identification- use two initials of recovering officer with the date of recovery and
item number.

AMMUNITIONS

- Mark loaded and fired cartridge cases with initials, date, and numbers to correspond
with numbered chambers in diagram.
 Scratch arrow on rear face of
cylinder to indicate the chamber
position under hammer (in line
with barrel) when recovered. Then
prepare diagram numbering in
clockwise direction the remaining
chambers, i.e. 1,2,3,4,5,6, etc.

Auto-loading Weapons:

- Remove magazines from Auto-loading weapons.

- Unload chamber.

- Check magazine and cartridges for fingerprint.

- Mark magazine and cartridges with initials, date and number to indicate cartridge
recovered from chamber and position of each cartridge in magazine.

FIRED CARTRIDGE CASES

- Mark initials of recovering officer on side of cartridge case near mouth or inside the mouth.

- Paper shot shells- (loaded or fired)- use either ink or indelible pencil to inscribe initials
and date.
Fired Bullets

- Mark on ogive or nose

or base. Then wrap
bullets individually in
clean cotton or tissue
paper.

Hand arms, revolvers, pistols

- Revolver, pistols = Mark the

initials, date of recovery on the
barrel, cylinder, frame, receiver
or magazine.

- Rifles, shotguns, machine guns

= mark on the barrel, frame, and
magazine.

EQUIPMENTS IN A BALLISTICS LABORATORY

1. COMPARISON MICROSCOPE - designed to permit the

firearms examiner to determine the similarities and
dissimilarity between two fired bullets or two fired
cartridge cases by simultaneously observing their
magnified image.

2. STEREOSCOPE MICROSCOPE - used to determine the

location of the extractor marks and ejector marks for
orientation purposes.

- Can be used in close up examination of tampered

serial numbers of firearms.
 3. COMPARISON PROJECTOR - a magnified
image appears on a large screen and can be observed in
a comfortable viewing distance.

4. BULLET
RECOVERY BOX- for obtaining best fire bullets or test
fired cartridge cases from the suspected firearms
submitted to the ballistics laboratory.

5. MEASURING PROJECTOR - determines the width of lands,

width of grooves, diameter and twist of a fired bullet.

6. VERNIER CALIPER - determines the bullet

diameter and barrel length.

7. ANALYTICAL BALANCE - determines the weight of the

bullets, shots and pellets for possible type, calibre and
make for firearm from which they were fired.

8. TAPER GAGE - used for determining the bore

diameter of the firearm.

9. ONOSCOPE -
used for examining the interior surface of the gun barrel.

10. HELIXOMETER- used for measuring the pitch of rifling (the

distance advanced by the rifling in one complete turn or the distance
travelled by the bullet in one complete turn)
11. CHRONOGRAPH - determines the speed of the bullet or the
muzzle velocity of the bullet.

IBIS (integrated Ballistics Identification System) - allows the

firearms Examiner to be proactive instead of reactive.

- The examiner will be able to notify the detective of

an identification between two unrelated cases.

- When you and your co-workers can recognize

identification, so will IBIS, and it will remember
where and when instantly.

- IBIS brings back to the FA Examiner the ability to

compare every open case, closed case and test
fire.

Please note that you are not limited to exclusively refer to this module. Thus, you are
expected to utilize other books, research articles and other resources that are available in the
university’s library e.g. ebrary, search.proquest.com etc. and other credible internet sources.

Self-Help: You can also refer to the sources below to help you further understand
the lesson:
• De Guzman, R.(2014) Fundamentals of forensic firearms identification. Page 91-95, 111-
127
• Manuel, G. & Ibutnande, D. (2016). Forensic ballistics. Page57-79, 87-85