CARTRIDGE

• A term used to describe a

complete unfired unit
consisting of bullet, primer,
cartridge case and gunpowder.

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 Definition of AMMUNITION
 Ammunition is the generic military
term referring to the assembly of a
projectile, propellant, casing, and
primer.
 The alternative term for ammunition
is CARTRIDGE.

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 Definition of CARTRIDGE

 ‘Cartridge’ is used to describe a

complete unfired unit consisting
of bullet, cartridge case,
propellant, & primer.
 ‘Cartridge’ may have been derived
from the Latin word charta (paper)
or from the French cartouche (a roll
of paper).
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 Take note that …
✓ Ammunition for rifles and handguns
are usually called CARTRIDGES.
✓ Ammunition for large caliber guns
(such as artillery) are called SHELLS.
✓ Ammunition for shotguns are called
SHOTS.

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Classification of Cartridge According to Rim

• Rimmed Type – the diameter of the rim is greater

than the diameter of the body of the cartridge
case. Ex. Cal. 38 and Cal 22.
• Semi-rimmed Type – the diameter of the rim is
slightly greater than the diameter of the body of
the cartridge case. Ex. Cal 25, .32 auto, super 38.
• Rimless Type – the diameter of the rim is equal
with the diameter of the body of the cartridge
case. Ex. Cal 5.56, . 30.

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• Rebated Type -the diameter of the rim is smaller
than the body of the cartridge case. Ex. 8mm
• Belted Type – there is a protruding metal around the
body of the cartridge case near the rim. Ex. 38
magnum.

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 Rimmed Rifle Cartridge

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 Rimmed Cartridges for Handguns

- with straight-shaped case

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 Rimless Cartridges

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 Rebated Cartridge

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 Belted Cartridge

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 Types of Cartridges According to
location of Primer
• Pin-fire – the pin
extends radially through
the bead of the
cartridge case into the
primer. This type of
cartridge is no longer
used.

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• Rim-fire – the priming
mixture is placed in the
cavity formed in the rim
of the head of the
cartridge case.

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• Center-fire – the primer
cup is forced into the
middle of the portion of
the head of the
cartridge case.

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• Percussion – a means of ignition
of propellant charge by
mechanical blow against the
primer or percussion cup.

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 Types according to power
1. Low-power Cartridge
– with MV of less than 1,850 fps
2. High-power Cartridge
– with MV of 1,900 fps to 2,500 fps
3. High-intensity Cartridge
– with MV of more than 2,500 fps
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 Anatomy of AMMUNITION
Cased center-fire ammunitions have 4 major
components, which are as follows:
1. Bullet – or slug

2. Cartridge case – or shell

3. Gunpowder – or propellant

4. Primer – or percussion

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 Cartridge case
– also called shell
– tubular metallic container for gunpowder, primer &
projectile

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 Regular Ammo vs Magnum Revolver Ammo

.22 std .22 Magnum

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 Regular vs Magnum Pistol Ammo

.45 ACP .44 Magnum

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 Gunpowder
- the propellant inside the cartridge
intended to be burned to generate
pressure that propel the bullet

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 Smokeless Powder
almost entirely smokeless in action. Manufactured
principally from nitrated cotton called nitrocellulose.
• Nitrocellulose – 60%
• Nitroglycerine – 35%
• Vaseline – 5%

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 Primer
- also called percussion
- composed of the metal cup and priming
mixture

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 Composition of Primer

• Potassium Chlorate –
45%
• Antimony Sulfide – 23%
• Fulminate of Mercury –
32%

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Tool Marks Identification - is a discipline of
forensic science which has, as its primary
concern to determine if a tool mark was
produced by a particular tool.

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 Equipment used In A Ballistics
Laboratory
1. Comparison Microscope
2. Stereoscope Microscope
3. Comparison
4. Bullet Recovery Box
5. Measuring Projector
6. Vernier Caliper
7. Analytical Balance
8. Taper Gauge
9. Onoscope
10.Helixometer
11.Chronograph

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 The Six types of problems in forensic
ballistics
• Given a bullet, to determine the caliber and type of firearm
from which it was fired.
• Given a fired cartridge case, to determine the caliber and type
of firearm from which it was fired.
• Given a bullet and a suspected firearm, to determine whether
or not the bullet was fired from the suspected firearm.
• Given a fired cartridge and a suspected firearm, to determine
whether or not the cartridge was fired from the suspected
firearm.
• Given two or more bullets, to determine whether or not they
were fired from only one firearm.
• Given two or more cartridge cases, to determine whether or
not they were fired from only one firearm.

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• AMMUNATION
• The projectile
with their fuses,
propelling
chargers, or
primers fired from
gun.
 Principles of identification of bullets

• No two barrels are microscopically identical as the surfaces of

their bores all possess individual and characteristic markings of
their own.
• When a bullet is fired from a rifled barrel, it becomes
engraved by the riflings, and this engravings will vary in its
minute details in every individual bore. So it happens that the
engravings on the bullet fired from that on a similar bullet
fired from another barrel and conversely; the engravings on
bullets fired from the same barrel will be the same.
• Every barrel leaves its thumbmark on every bullet which is
fired through it, just as every breechfaces leaves its
thumbmark on the base of every fired cartridge case.

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 PRINCIPLE OF TRANSFORMATION

• “When two metals come in

contact with each other with
tremendous pressure, the
softer metal will suffer
impression.”

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Striations - (Striae) When a bullet is fired
through a rifled barrel, the raised and lowered
spirals of the rifling etch fine grooves called
"striations" into the bullet.

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 Marks found on fired bullets
• Landmarks –
depressed portion
caused by the lands
• Groovemarks –
raised or elevated
portions caused by
the grooves

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• Skidmarks – when the bullet enters the rifled bore
from a stationary position and is forced abruptly into
the rifling, its natural tendency is to go straight
toward before encountering the regular rifling twist
• Slippage marks – Bullets fired from a worn-out
barrel, oily barrels and slightly oversized barrels.
• Shaving marks – most commonly these marks are
found on bullets fired from a revolver due to poor
alignment of the cylinder with the bore.

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• Cartridge case
• Are most commonly
made of brass,
although steel is
also widely used,
and cases for
shotgun pellets are
made of brass and
cardboard.
• Function of cartridge case
• the cartridge case is the envelope (container)
of a cartridge. For rifles and handguns it is
usually a metal cylinder tube , normally made
of brass but sometimes of steel. It holds the
bullet at the neck, the propellant charge
inside, and the primer in its base.
 Principles of identification of shells

• The breechface and striker of every single firearm leave

microscopical individualities of their own.
• The firearm leave its “fingerprints” or “thumbmark” on every
cartridge case which it fires.
• The whole principle of identification is based on the fact that
since the breechface of every weapon must be individually
distinct, the cartridge cases which it fires are imprinted with
this individuality. The imprint on all cartridge cases fired from
the same weapon are always the same, those on cartridge
cases fired from different weapon must always be different.

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