Course Code: CRI 028

Course Title: Forensic Ballistics

Student Activity Sheet # 13

Name: ______________________________________________
Date: _____________

Lesson Title: Essential Laboratory Equipment used for Examination

Lesson Objectives:
At the end of this module, you should be able to :
1. Familiarize with the different equipment or instruments use in Firearms Identification.
2. Identify the parts of the different equipment use in Firearms Identification.

TECHNIQUES OF EXAMINATION:
1. Physical Examination
2. Microscopic Examination

LABORATORY EQUIPMENTS USED IN FIREARMS IDENTIFICATION:

1. Bullet Comparison Microscope

 Used to examine evidence bullet and test bullet, either through intermarriage
or juxtaposition. It can also be applied in comparing evidence shell and test
shell.
 First used by the father of modern ballistics Col. Calvin Goddard.
 Test Bullets – Refers to bullets recovered from recovery box for comparison
purposes with the evidence bullet.
 Evidence bullet – refers to those bullet recovered from the crime scene.
 juxtaposition – comparison of the two objects- evidence and the test bullet are
examined and compared:
 at the same time
 at the same place or level
 at the same direction
 at the same magnification
 at the same image
 Intermarriage - it is the position of both evidence bullet and test bullet, wherein
half of the same image of evidence bullet and test bullet of same direction, the
same magnification and the same level or plane, are merged into one image. The
purpose is to look for congruency of striation or the same marking.

Note: for conclusiveness of findings, there shall be at least three test bullets that
should be compared.

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 Course Code: CRI 028
Course Title: Forensic Ballistics
Student Activity Sheet # 13
a. First, 1 for comparison/preliminary

b. Second, 1 for confirmation

c. Third, 1 for conclusion

Note: 8 or more striations – accepted by the court.

2. Stereoscopic Microscope
 It is generally used in preliminary examinations of fired bullets and fired shells to
determine the relative distribution of class characteristics or the so called
orientation purpose. It can also be used in the close-up examination of tampered
serial numbers of firearms.

3. Helixometer
 An instrument use in measuring the pitch of rifling of firearm.
 Invented by John Fisher
 Pitch of rifling – Refers to the distance advanced by the rifling in one complete turn,
equivalent to 360 degrees or it may mean, the distance traveled by the bullet in
completing 360 degrees rotation.

4. CP-6 Comparison Projector

 Very similar with the bullet comparison microscope in which two fired bullets of
fired shells can be examined simultaneously.
 Invented by William Howard Livens.

5. Manometer
 An instrument use for measuring gas and vapor pressure (Sarmiento, A.P. p266).

6. Ballistic Pendulum
 A device that measures the velocity of a projectile used in the 1740’s (Sarmiento,
A.P. p 6).

7. Chronograph
 First portable instrument use to measure muzzle velocity and striking power.
 Invented by Alfred Lee Loomis in 1918.

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 Course Code: CRI 028
Course Title: Forensic Ballistics
Student Activity Sheet # 13

8. Bullet Recovery Box/Capsule

 Used in test firing and retrieve the bullet undamaged. Banana trunks, rubber
strips, sand, saw dust with oil; waste threads and water tank are used to recover
test fired bullet prior to the invention of bullet recovery box.

9. Caliper
 An instrument use in making measurement of the bullet diameter, shell length,
rim diameter, bore diameter, barrel length. Precisely used in determining the
caliber of the bullet and the firearm with each standard measurement.

10. Analytical Balance

 Use in determining the weight of bullets of shotgun pellets for possible
determination of type, caliber, and make of the firearm from which it was fired.

11. Micrometer
 Similar in use as calipers.
12. Taper Gauge
 Use primarily for determining the bore diameter of firearms. Use to determine
the caliber of firearm based on measurement of the bore.

13. Onoscope
 A small instrument use in examining internal surface of the gun barrel.
14. Stylus
 Used manually for marking fired bullets, fired shells and firearms to include
metallic fragments.

15. Electric gun marker

 Use in laboratory for marking fired bullets, fired shells and firearms submitted
for examination.

16. Shadowgraph
 Equipment used in firearms identification. It contains a series of microscopic
lenses of different magnification that can be used in examining fired bullets or
fired shells to determine their class characteristics, and also their orientation
and purposes.

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 Course Code: CRI 028
Course Title: Forensic Ballistics
Student Activity Sheet # 13
17. Automated Ballistic Identification System (ABIS)
 It refers to a specialized computer hardware and software combinations
designed to capture, store and rapidly compare digital images of bullets and
cartridge casings.
 Every firearm leaves unique, reproducible markings on expended bullet and
cartridge cases that it fired. The barrel, firing pin, chamber, extractor, ejector
and other parts of the gun leaves these marks called as “tool marks” on the
bullet or cartridge cases. Individually and collectively, these markings function
as the “Ballistic signature” of the firearm.
 From 1993 to 1998, the United States had two ABIS in place: the Drugfire,
which is under Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Integrated Ballistics
Identification System (IBIS), under Alcohol, Tabaco, Firearms and Explosives
(ATF).
 ABIS have four components namely;
1. The Ballistic Scanner- Captures the images of bullets and cartridges
2. The Signature Extraction Unit - Uses a mathematical algorithm to extract
unique signatures from the images.
3. Data storage Unit – Serves as main storage
4. Correlation Server - Handles the actual comparison of images.
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automated_firearms_identification).

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 Course Code: CRI 028
Course Title: Forensic Ballistics
Student Activity Sheet # 13

Activity 1. Describe/discuss the use of the different equipment use in Firearms Identification. (3 points
each)

1. Bullet Comparison Microscope –

2. Stereoscopic Microscope –

3. Helixometer –

4. CP-6 Comparison Projector -

5. Manometer -

6. Ballistic Pendulum –

7. Chronograph –

8. Bullet Recovery Box/Capsule –

9. Caliper –

10. Analytical Balance -

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 Course Code: CRI 028
Course Title: Forensic Ballistics
Student Activity Sheet # 13

11. Micrometer –

12. Taper Gauge -

13. Onoscope –

14. Stylus –

15. Electric gun marker

16. Shadowgraph

17. Automated Ballistic Identification System (ABIS)

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