GUNSHOT RESIDUE

Basically, gunshot residue comes from the powder component of bullet elements from
cartridge cases and gun barrel where the bullet passes. When these components are burned,
certain products of combustion are formed w/c includes partially burned & unburned particles.
These particles are deposited on the target as definite pattern depending on the distance
between the muzzle of a gun and the target at the time of discharge.

Upon discharge of the fire arm, gunpowder residues may be deposited on a person at close
proximity, so the interpretations as to who discharged the firearm should be made with caution.

Hand or body part close to the fired weapon may have gunpowder residues consistent w/
having discharged the weapon. However, absence of gunpowder’s residue on the persons
hands or body parts does not mean he/she did not discharged the fire arm.

COMPONENTS OF GUNSHOT RESIDUE

1. PRIMER RESIDUE OR LEAD RESIDUE

2. GUNPOWDER RESIDUE
3. ELEMENTAL COMPONENT FROM CARTRIDGE CASES

GUNSHOT RESIDUE TESTS LOOK FOR:

 LEAD,
 ANTIMONY &
 BARIUM

CHEMISTRY OF GUNPOWDER
 PRODUCT OF COMBUSTION

56% SOLID MATERIALS 43%GASEOUS PRODUCTS 1% WATER

CHARCOAL- Consist of broken down cellulose & provides carbon and other fuel for the
reaction.

SALPETRE- Is a common name for Potassium nitrate. It supllies energy for the combustion
reaction.

SULFUR- Also referred as BRIMSTONE. Lowers the ignition temperature required to start a
combustion.

Composition of Primer

1. Major primer elemental composition: Lead(Pb), barium ( Ba) or Antimony (Sb).

2. Trace elements: Aluminum ( Al), Sulfur (S), Tin ( Sn), Calcium ( Ca), Potassium (K)
Chlorine (Cl)

3. Inorganic compound: Mercury fuminates ( Present in most ammunition

manufactured in Eastern Europe & used in Middle east)

Composition of Gunpowder

1. Contains up to 23 organic compounds.

2. Nitrocellulose is virtually always present along with the nitrate & nitrogen
containing compound such as Diphenylamine

Types of Gunpowder

1. Single based- when the basic ingredient is nitrocellulose.

2. Double based – Nitrocellulose + 1 to 40% nitroglycerine.

3. Triple based- Nitrocellulose + nitroglycerine + nitroguanidine.

These can be differentiated using a mass spectrophotometer.

Composition of cartridge case, bullet coating & metal jacket

A. Cartidge & Primer, cases, Brass ( 7:3 Copper-Zinc)

 B. Bullet cores:Lead, Lead, Antimony & Few Iron Alloy.

C. Bullet jackets: Brass ( 9:1 Copper-Zinc), Some are iron or aluminium alloy. Some
contain nickel

Types of Powder Used in the Ammunition of Small Firearms

1. Black Powder- this consist of a mixture of carbon ( charcoal) sulphur &

potasium nitrate. This mixture is used as an igniter in smokeless gun propeller. It
consist of a mixture of 15% Charcoal, 10% Sulfur & 75% Potassium Nitrates.

Aluminum is added to enhance the burning property. When this powder is burned,
combustion reaction takes place:

2KNO3 + 2O2 + S + C CO2 + SO2 + K2O2 + 2NO2

2. Smokeless Powder- This mixture consists of Cellulose or Glycerol Nitrate combined

with some stabilizers ( Nitrobenzene or graphite nitrates, dichromate & oxalates). When
this powder explodes, the chemical reaction takes place.

Cellulose nitrate: C12H14O4( NO3)6 + 6H2O + 3N2+

4CO2+8CO+H2

Glycerol nitrate: C3H5(NO3) 3 + C02 + H2O + N2 + O2

PRIMERS

• To explode a low explosive, flame is required. In guns, the flame is applied by means of
a primer.

• Primer produces flame on percussion. A typical primer consists of a case containing an

initiating explosive such as mercury fulminate, an oxidizing agent such as potassium
chlorate or barium nitrate, & a fuel such as antimony sulphide.

• This component is the basis for examination of gunshot residue particularly primer
residues for distance determination.

Detection of Gunshot Residue

• The following are common methods used by most crime laboratories to detect
gunshot residue:

1. Paraffin test
2. Lead Residue ( Detection limit: up to 30 feet & always present on the opposite sides of
the penetrated target. Reported from intermediate glass target present)

3. Gunpowder residue examination ( Detection limit: highly variable up to 20cm, & up to

21 inches is common)

4. Other examinations

AAS –Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer

NAA- Neutron Activation Analysis

SEM-EDX- Scanning Electron Microscope w/ Energy Dispersive X ray

Analysis

• The last 2 methods are classical. Color development or modern methods such
as

-Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA),

-Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS),

-Scanning lectron microscope with energy Dispersive Analysis (SEM-EDA)

&

- Inductively Coupled Plasma with Mass Spectrophotometry are used.

History of Paraffin Test/ Dermal Nitrate or Diphenylamine Test

• Paraffin test was organized from CUBA when Dr. Gonzalo Iturrios 1st used paraffin
for collecting gunpowder residues from discharge firearm.

• 1933-Teodoro Gonzalez of criminal identification laboratory Mexico City introduced

the test in United States.

• In this test, the hands were coated with a layer of melted paraffin. After cooling the cast
were remove & treated w/ Diphenylamine (5% DPA in 60% sulfuric)

Paraffin Test

• To determine whether a person has discharged a firearm, the Paraffin-Diphenylalamine

test is used.

• The basis of this test is the presence of nitrates in the gunpowder residue.
 • When a warm melted paraffin wax is applied on the hands of the alleged shooter it will
cause the pores of the skin to open & exude the particles of gun powder residue.

• The Blue Color that appears indicates the reaction of nitrates w/ Diphenylamine
Reagent.

• Nitrate from other sources like fertilizers will give the same reaction.

• Other substances similar to nitrate known as OXIDIZERS will also react with the
reagent.

• However it must also be noted that the blue specks have the characteristic of “
Tailing”.

• Paraffin casting of the alleged shooter shall only be done w/n 72 hours from the time
of the alleged shooting incident happen.

• Embalmed cadaver who allegedly discharged a firearm shall no longer be subjected to

paraffin testing.

Paraffin Wax

Paraffin wax is a white, translucent, tasteless, odourless solid consisting of high

molecular weight.

It is Insoluble in water & acids

Soluble in Benzene, Ligroin, Warm alcohol, Chloroform, Turpentine, Carbon disulphide,

Olive oil.

Combustible, Auto ignition temperature 473 F ( 245 degree C)

Interpretation of Result

• Number & Characteristics of blue & minute specks.

• The location & character of the blue specks.

• Distribution of the blue specks

Washing of hands will not remove nitrates from the pores of the skin
& stay for 72 hours.

Different name of PARAFFIN TEST

- LUNGE’S TEST

- DIPHENYLAMINE TEST
 - DERMAL NITRATE TEST

- GONZALES TEST

SUBSTANCES Giving FALSE FACTORS GIVING A NEGATIVE

POSITIVE RESULT RESULT TO PARAFFIN TEST
1. Fertilizer 1. Types of calibre of ammunition
2. Explosives 2. Use of Gloves
3. Tobacco 3. Length of the barrel
4. Urine 4. Age of the gun/efficieny of
5. Certain Cosmetics mechanism
6. Food Samples 5. Direction of firing
7. Cigarette 6. Wind direction & velocity
7. Humidity/Percentage moisture in
air
8. 72 hours had lapse

GUNSHOT RANGE DETERMINATION

• Distance Determination- the method of determining the distance between the

firearm & target. This is usually based on the distance of the powder patterns or the
spread of the shot pattern.

• Importance of Distance Determination

• In connection of self-defense pleas

• Distinction between murder & suicide

ENTRANCE & EXIT HOLES OF GUNSHOT WOUNDS

Exit
Characteristics Entrance

Size of the Smaller than Bigger than

wound entrance missile missile

Edge of the exit Inverted Averted

Shape of the Round or oval Has no definite

wound shape

Contusion Collar Present Absent

Gunpowder Present in contact Absent

Tattooing or near fire
 Paraffin Positive Negative
Test

Powder residue pattern- burning, smudging, tattooing – a black coarsely peppered pattern

Classification of Gunshot Distance

-Burning (Direct)

-Singeing ( 1-2 inches)

- Smudging ( 2 to 8 inches)

- Tattooing ( 8 to 18 inches)

The Distance of the muzzle of the gun to the target is classified into three:

1. Direct Contact

2. 2 inches to 36 inches away

3. 36 inches away or more

Tests for Gunshot Residue (GSR)

a. Nitrite

b. Lead Residue Chemical Examination

Characteristics of Gunshot Wounds

• A. Direct/Contact Wounds- The principal damage is more visible due to the flame &
the muzzle blast than to the penetration of bullet. The ff observations maybe noted:

1. Gaping hole where fabric is badly torn

2. Blackened area surrounding the bullet hole

3. The presence of partially burned powder residues around the entrance hole.

• B. Wounds Inflicted at a Distance from 2-36 inches:

If the gun discharged closey to the body of the victim, Two (2) types of discoloration will
be observed around the hole of the entrance namely:

-1. Smudging- is produced when the gun is held from about 2 inches to the maximum of 8
inches. The smoke & soot from the burned pores are deposited around the hole of the entrance
producing a dirty appearance.
 2. Powder Tattooing – Black coarsely peppered pattern.

The size of the smudge depends upon the following:

• A. Length of the barrel: a weapon of 2 inch barrel will deposit residue over a larger
area than a weapon of 5 inch barrel.

• B. Age of gun/ Efficiency mechanism. Complete combustion or the conversion of all

nitrates into its end product is more likely to occur in a new weapon.

• C. Direction of firing- More powder residues will be obtained when the gun is fired
upward than down ward.

• D. Wind Direction & Velocity- high velocity ( strong wind) the powder residues will
be blown in the direction of the wind. One is more likel to be positive for gunpowder
nitrates if there is no wind or direction of the wind.

• E. Humidity/Percentage moisture in Air- humidity lessens the extent of combustion

yielding more gunpowder nitrates.

FIREARM EXAMINATION

Methods used to determine the probable time the firearm has been discharged:

• LUCAS Test- A characteristic smell that decreases in internsity with lapse of time
is present in the gaseous state. This compound can be detected by means of
lead acetate paper test.

• ODOR ( HYDROGEN SULFIDE) – another product resulting from combustion of

gunpowder which is present in the gaseous state. This compound can be
detected by LEAD ACETATE paper test.

• ODOR of the BARREL ( RUSTING)- Iron salts are form & can be detected inside
the barrel if the firearm is discharge.

• PRESENCE OF NITRATES- by cotton swabbing method.

• DERMAL NITRATE TEST- the test is designed to determine the presence of

gunpowder nitrates on the hands of the alleged shooter.

Scorching or Singeing

• If a firearm was discharged very close to the target as in a case of alleged suicide &
sometimes in murder, burns or Scorches may result.

• This resulting reaction is caused by flame that emerges from the muzzle & travels only a
short distance from it.
• This distance will vary with the length of the barrel, size of the powder charge & degree
to which the bullet fill the barrel.