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Criminology Mentality
CRIMINALISTIC
FORENSIC BALLISTICS ~ ADDITIONAL INFO
ACCURATE RANGE - THE DISTANCE WITHIN WHICH THE SHOOTER OR GUNNER
HAS CONTROL OF HIS SHOTS.
AIR RESISTANCE - REFERS TO THE FORCE OF THE AIR ENCOUNTER BY THE
BULLET IN ITS FLIGHT.
ALFRED NOBEL (1846) - INVENTED A SMOKELESS POWDER WITH
NITROGLYCERINE (40%0 AND NITROCELLULOSE (60%) AS THE MAIN
COMPOSITION AND CALLED IT “BALLISTITE”.
ALEXANDER JOHN FORSYTH - FATHER OF THE PERCUSSION POWDER.
AMMUNITION (LEGAL DEFINITION) - REFERS TO LOADED SHELL FOR RIFLES,
MUSKETS, CARBINE, SHOTGUN, REVOLVERS AND PISTOLS FROM WHICH A BALL,
SHOT SHELL OR OTHER MISSILES MAYBE FIRED BY MEANS OF GUN POWDER OR
OTHER EXPLOSIVE. THE TERM ALSO INCLUDES AMMUNITION FOR AIR RIFLES AS
MENTIONED ELSEWHERE IN THE CODE.
AMMUNITION (TECHNICAL DEFINITION) - REFERS TO A GROUP OF CARTRIDGE
OR TO A SINGLE CARTRIDGE. CARTRIDGE IS A COMPLETE UNFIRED UNIT
CONSISTING OF BULLET (BALL), PRIMER (CAP), CARTRIDGE CASE (SHELL) AND
GUNPOWDER (PROPELLANT).
ANTIQUE FIREARMS - FIREARMS WHICH WAS MANUFACTURED AT LEAST
SEVENTY FIVE (75) YEARS PRIOR TO THE CURRENT DATE BUT NOT INCLUDING
REPLICAS. FIREARMS WHICH IS CERTIFIED BY THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE
PHILIPPINES TO BE CURIO OR RELIC OF MUSEUM INTEREST. ANY OTHER
FIREARM WHICH DERIVES A SUBSTANTIAL PART OF ITS MONETARY VALUE
FROM THE FACT THAT IT IS NOVEL RARE, BIZARRE OR BECAUSE OF ITS
ASSOCIATION WITH SOME HISTORICAL FIGURE, PERIOD OR EVENT.
ANVIL - IS THAT PORTION OF THE PRIMER WHICH PROVIDES SOLID SUPPORT
AND ABSORBS THE BLOW OF THE FIRING PIN CAUSING FRICTION THAT WOULD
INITIATES IGNITION.
ARMOR PIERCING – IS A TYPE OF MILITARY BULLET DESIGNED TO PENETRATE
LIGHT STEEL ARMOR. ITS MECHANICAL CONSTRUCTION MAKES IT CAPABLE OF
PENETRATING THROUGH SOME LIGHT VEHICLES.
ARTILLERY - REFERS TO THOSE TYPE OF FIREARMS THAT PROPELS PROJECTILE
WITH MORE THAN ONE INCH DIAMETER.
AUTOMATIC FIREARM - TYPE OF FIREARMS THAT CONSTITUTES A CONTINUOUS
FIRING IN A SINGLE PRESS OF THE TRIGGER AND WHILE THE TRIGGER IS PRESS.
BALLISTICS (1) - DERIVED FROM TWO GREEK WORDS. THE WORD “BALLO” AND
“BALLEIN” WHICH LITERALLY MEAN, “TO THROW”.
BALLISTICS (2) - IS THE SCIENCE OF THE MOTION OF THE PROJECTILE AND THE
CONDITION THAT AFFECTS THEIR MOTION.
BALL TYPE – IS A TYPE OF BULLET, WHICH IS INTENDED FOR ANTI-PERSONNEL
AND GENERAL USE.
BASE - THE BOTTOM PORTION OF THE CARTRIDGE CASE WHICH CONTAINS THE
HEAD STAMP MARKING ON THE BASE OF THE SHELL CONTAINING THE CALIBER,
MANUFACTURER AND IN SOME CASES INCLUDING THE DATE, TRADE NAME,
AND BATCH NUMBER.
BATTERY – USED FOR SHOTGUN
BELTED TYPE - A CARTRIDGE WITH A PROMINENT RAISE BELT AROUND ITS
BODY JUST IN FRONT OF THE EXTRACTION GROOVE.
BERDAN IS A TYPE OF PRIMER CONSTRUCTION, WHICH WAS DESIGNED IN 1860S
BY COLONEL HIRAM S. BERDAN OF THE U.S ARMY ORDINANCE DEPARTMENT.
(TWO HOLE)
BERTHOLD SCHWARTZ (CONSTANTIN ANKLITZEN) - A MYSTERIOUS MONK OF
FREIBURG, WHO ACCORDING TO LEGEND THAT IS SUPPORTED BY AN
ENGRAVING DATED 1643, WHILE EXPERIMENTING ON SOME POWDER IN A CAST
IRON VESSEL, HE IGNITED A CHARGE AND THUS BLEW OFF THE LID, AND FROM
THIS DEDUCED THE PRINCIPLE OF CONTAINING A CHARGE IN A TUBE AND
PROPELLING A SHOT
BLACK POWDER - BLACK POWDER, THE OLDEST KNOWN EXPLOSIVE, WAS
INITIALLY MADE FROM SALTPETER (75%), CHARCOAL (15%) AND SULFUR (10%).
BLANK AMMUNITION – WITHOUT A BULLET
BODY - IS THE CYLINDRICAL PART OF THE SHELL WHICH HOUSE THE
GUNPOWDER.
BOLT ACTION TYPE - TYPE OF FIREARMS IN WHICH RELOADING TAKES PLACE
BY MANIPULATING THE BOTH BACK AND FORTH.
BORE DIAMETER - (CALIBER OR GAUGE) IT IS DIAMETER TO WHICH THE BORE
WAS REAMED. THE DISTANCE MEASURED BETWEEN TWO OPPOSITE LANDS
INSIDE THE BORE IN A HUNDREDTHS OR THOUSANDTHS OF AN INCH. IN MOST
EXPRESS IN EITHER CALIBER IN INCH OR IN MILLIMETERS.
BOXER - DEVELOPED BY COL. EDWARD M. BOXER OF THE ROYAL LABORATORY
AT WOOLWICH ARSENAL IN THE YEAR 1866. (ONE HOLE)
BREECH FACE MARK - MARK FOUND AT THE BASE PORTION OF THE SHELL
CAUSE BY BACKWARD MOVEMENT TO THE BREECH FACE OF THE BLOCK OF THE
FIREARM.
BROWNING - TYPE OF RIFLING HAVING (6) LANDS AND GROOVES, RIGHT HAND
TWIST, THE WIDTH OF THE GROOVES IS TWICE THE WIDTH OF THE LANDS.
BUCK SHOT - A LARGE SIZE LEAD SHOT FOR USED IN SHOTGUN
BULLETS - THE WORD “BULLET” WAS DERIVED FROM FRENCH WORD
“BOULLETTE” WHICH MEANS A SMALL BALL. THIS TERM IS GENERALLY USED
WHEN WE ARE REFERRING TO PROJECTILE FIRED FROM ANY SMALL ARMS,
WHICH HAS A VARIETY OF FORM, ESPECIALLY DURING THE EARLIER HISTORY.
IN A MORE TECHNICAL SENSE, BULLET REFERS TO A METALLIC OR NON-
METALLIC CYLINDRICAL BALL PROPELLED FROM A FIREARM IT IS SOMETIMES
CALLED AS SHOTS OR SLUGS.
CANNELURE - IS THE CYLINDRICAL GROOVE IN THE OUTER SURFACE OF THE
CARTRIDGE CASE DESIGNED TO SECURE THE SHELL TO THE CHAMBER AS WELL
AS PREVENT BULLET FROM BEING PUSH DOWN TO THE POWDER CHARGE. IN
SOME INSTANCE IT IS EVEN BEING UTILIZED FOR IDENTIFICATION.
CAPT. E. SCHULTZE OF THE PRUSSIAN ARMY, MADE THE 1ST SUCCESSFUL USED
OF SMOKELESS POWDER IN SHOTGUN IN THE YEAR 1864.
CARBINE - A SHORT BARREL RIFLE, WITH ITS BARREL RIFLE, MEASURING NOT
LONGER THAN 22 INCHES. IT FIRES A SINGLE PROJECTILE THOUGH A RIFLE-BORE
EITHER SEMI-AUTOMATIC OR FULLY AUTOMATIC, FOR EVERY PRESS OF THE
TRIGGER.
CARBINE TYPE - RIFLING HAVING (4) LANDS AND GROOVES, RIGHT TWIST, THE
WIDTH OF THE GROOVES IS TWO (2) TIMES THE WIDTH OF THE LANDS
CARTRIDGE CASE - IS THE METALLIC OR NON-METALLIC TABULAR CONTAINER
USUALLY OF BRASS (70% COPPER AND 30% ZINC) DESIGNED TO UNITE THE
BULLET, PRIMER AND THE GUNPOWDER INTO ONE UNIT. IT IS ALSO KNOWN AS
SHELL OR CASING.
CENTER FIRE - T REFERS TO A CARTRIDGE IN WHICH PRIMER CUP (IGNITION CAP)
IS CENTRALLY PLACED IN THE BASE OF THE CARTRIDGE CASE AND THE
PRIMING MIXTURE IS EXPLODED BY THE IMPACT OF THE FIRING PIN AND WITH
THE SUPPORT OF THE ANVIL.
CHAMBER MARK - MARK MOSTLY FOUND AROUND THE BODY OF THE FIRED
CARTRIDGE CASE CAUSE BY THE IRREGULARITIES OF NIPS INSIDE THE WALLS
OF THE CHAMBER.
CHILLED OR HARD SHOT - IS A TYPE OF SHOT WITH A SMALL AMOUNT OF
ANTIMONY MIXED WITH LEAD TO INCREASE HARDNESS. IT DOES NO DEFORM
EASILY, BETTER PATTERNS, LESS STRING AND MORE UNIFORM VELOCITY AND
PENETRATION.
CHOKE BORED GUN - DESIGNED WITH A DIMINISHING OR REDUCING BORE
DIAMETER TYPE TOWARDS THE MUZZLE. THIS TYPE IS DESIGNED TO CAUSE AN
EFFECT TO THE TRAVEL OF THE SHOTS. IT MAKES THE SHOTS TRAVEL LONGER
BEFORE IT SPREADS.
CLASS CHARACTERISTICS - ARE THOSE PROPERTIES OR ATTRIBUTES OF A
FIREARMS WHICH CAN BE DETERMINED EVEN BEFORE THE MANUFACTURE OF
THE GUN. THIS IS TRUE FOR SUCH CHARACTERISTICS ARE CONSIDERED TO BE A
MANUFACTURE’S DESIGNS OR SPECIFICATIONS AND SECURITY.
COATED OR PLATED SHOT - ALSO CALLED AS “LUBALOY” SHOT. A CHILLED
SHOT COATED WITH THIN COPPER THROUGH ELECTROPLATING DESIGN FOR
GREATER STRENGTH AND ELASTICITY, GREAT RESISTANCE TO DEFORMATION
AND LEADING AND BETTER PATTERN.
COL. CALVIN H. GODDARD - FATHER OF MODERN BALLISTICS.
COLT - TYPE OF RIFLING HAVING SIX (6) LANDS AND GROOVES, LEFT TWIST, THE
WIDTH OF THE GROOVES IS TWICE (2) THE WIDTH OF THE LANDS.
CRIMP - IS THE CYLINDRICAL GROOVE ON THE MOUTH OF THE SHELL DESIGNED
FOR TWO PURPOSES: ONE (1) IS TO HOLD THE BULLET AND PREVENT IT FROM
BEING PULL OUT FROM THE SHELL AND TWO (2) TO OFFERS RESISTANCE TO THE
BULLET OUT OF THE NECK TO ENSURE BURNING OF THE GUN POWDER.
CYLINDER BORE TYPE - WHICH THE BORE SIZE IS THE SAME THROUGHOUT THE
BARREL
DANIEL B. WESSON - ASSOCIATES OF HORACE SMITH IN THE MAKING OF
REVOLVER.
DAVID “CARBINE” WILLIAMS - MAKER OF THE FIRST HAD KNOWN CARBINE.
DEPTH OF THE GROOVES - THE GROOVE’S DEPTH IF MEASURED ON A RADIUS OF
THE BORE. GROOVES ARE USUALLY FEW THOUSANDTHS OF AN INCH DEEP,
WHICH EQUAL TO THE HEIGHT OF THE LANDS.
DIRECT MOTION - IS THE FORWARD MOTION OF THE BULLET OR SHOTS OUT OF
THE SHELL BY THE ACTION OF THE EXPANSIVE FORCE OF GASES FROM A
BURNING GUNPOWDER.
DIRECTION OF TWIST - RIFLING INSIDE THE BARREL OF THE GUN IS EITHER
TWISTED TO THE LEFT OR TO THE RIGHT WHICH CAUSE BULLET TO ROTATE AS
IT PASSES THROUGH THE BORE, IN ORDER TO ENSURE GYROSCOPIC STABILITY
IN ITS FLIGHT.
DISC - IS A THIN PAPER OR FOIL WHICH IS PRESSED OVER THE PRIMING MIXTURE
IN ORDER TO PROTECT IT FROM MOISTURE ATTACK.
DOUBLE ACTION - A TYPE OF REVOLVER THAT DOES NOT NEED MANUAL
COCKING. JUST PRESS THE TRIGGER AND IT BOTH COCKED AND RELEASED THE
HAMMER CAUSING A MUCH FASTER FIRING.
DRILL AMMUNITION – WITHOUT CONTAINS GUN POWDER
DUMMY AMMUNITION – IT USED AS MODEL
EFFECTIVE RANGE - THE DISTANCE WITHIN WHICH WHEN THE BULLET WAS
FIRED IT IS STILL CAPABLE OF INFLICTING FATAL INJURY.
EJECTOR MARK - MARK GENERALLY FOUND ON CARTRIDGE CASE FIRED FROM
AN AUTOMATIC FIREARMS. IT IS LOCATED NEAR THE RIM OF THE CASE CAUSE
BY THE THROWING OF SHELL FROM THE FIREARM TO THE AREA OF SHOOTING.
EUGENE STONER - DESIGNED THE U.S. M16 ARMALITE UNDER LICENSED BY
COLT COMPANY FROM JULY 1959 ONWARDS.
EXPLOSIVE BULLET - IS A SMALL BULLET CONTAINING A CHARGE OF
EXPLOSIVE, WHICH WILL DETONATE ON IMPACT.
EXTERIOR (EXTERNAL) BALLISTICS - TREATS OF THE ATTRIBUTES OR
MOVEMENT OF THE PROJECTILE AFTER LEAVING THE GUN MUZZLE.
EXTRACTING GROOVES - IS THE CIRCULAR GROOVE NEAR THE RIM OF THE
SHELL DESIGNED FOR AUTOMATIC WITHDRAWAL OF THE CASE FROM THE
CHAMBER.
EXTRACTOR MARK - MARK MOSTLY FOUND AT THE EXTRACTING GROOVE OF
THE FIRED CARTRIDGE CASE. CAUSE BY ITS WITHDRAWAL FROM THE
CHAMBER.
FIREARMS OR ARMS (1) - AS HEREIN USED, INCLUDES RIFLES, MUSKETS,
CARBINES, SHOTGUN, PISTOL, REVOLVERS, AND ALL OTHER DEADLY WEAPONS,
TO WHICH A BULLET, BALL, SHOT, SHELL, OR OTHER MISSILES MAYBE
DISCHARGE BY MEANS OF GUN POWDER OR OTHER EXPLOSIVES. THIS TERM
ALSO INCLUDES AIR RIFLE, EXCEPT SUCH OF BEING OF SMALL CALIBER AND
LIMITED RANGE USED AS TOYS. THE BARREL OF ANY FIREARM SHALL BE
CONSIDERED A COMPLETE FIREARM FOR ALL PURPOSES HEREOF. (SEC 877
REVISED ADMINISTRATIVE CODE/ SEC. 290 NATIONAL INTERNAL REVENUE
CODE).
FIREARM (2) - IS AN INSTRUMENT USED FOR THE PROPULSION OF PROJECTILE BY
MEANS OF THE EXPANSIVE FORCE GASES COMING FROM BURNING
GUNPOWDER. (FBI MANUAL OF FIREARMS IDENTIFICATION).
FIREARM (3) - REFERS TO ANY HANDHELD OR PORTABLE WEAPON, WHETHER
SMALL ARM OR LIGHT WEAPON, THAT EXPEL OR IS DESIGNED TO EXPEL
BULLET, SHOT, SLUG, MISSILE, OR ANY PROJECTILE, WHICH IS CHARGED BY
MEANS OF EXPANSIVE FORCE OF GASSES FROM BURNING GUN POWDER OR
OTHER FORM OF COMBUSTION OR ANY SIMILAR INSTRUMENT OR IMPLEMENT:
FIRING PIN MARK - MARK GENERALLY FOUND AT THE BASE PORTION OF THE
CARTRIDGE CASE MORE SPECIFICALLY NEAR CENTER OF THE PRIMER CUP IN A
CENTER FIRE CARTRIDGE OR AT THE RIM CAVITY OF A RIM-FIRE CARTRIDGE.
CONSIDERED AS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT MARKS FOR IDENTIFICATION OF
FIREARMS USING FIRED SHELL.
FLARE GUN - DESIGNED FOR TRACING OR SENDING SIGNALS OR LOCATING
ENEMY TROOPS.
FORENSIC BALLISTICS - IS DEFINED AS THE STUDY OF THE MOTION OF THE
PROJECTILE AS APPLIED TO LAW OR SIMPLY THE SCIENCE OF FIREARM
IDENTIFICATION BY MEANS OF THE AMMUNITION FIRED THROUGH THEM.
FREAKISH GUN - A TOOL IN WHICH FIREARM MECHANISM IS ATTACHED TO
PREVENT EASY IDENTIFICATION.
GAS GUN - GENERALLY REFERRING TO ALL GUN DESIGNED FROM FIRING TEAR
GAS.
GEORGE HYDE - A WELL-KNOWN EXPERT IN THE FIELD OF SUB-MACHINE GUN
(GREASE GUN) DEVELOPED IN 1941. M3A1 (USA).
GUN POWDER (PROPELLANT OR POWER CHARGE) - IS THAT MIXTURE OF
CHEMICALS OF VARIOUS COMPOSITIONS DESIGNED TO PROPEL THE PROJECTILE
BY MEANS OF ITS EXPANSIVE FORCE OF GAS WHEN BURNED
GROOVES - ARE THE DEPRESSED PORTION OF THE BORE BETWEEN THE LANDS.
GROOVE MARKS - MARKS FOUND ON A FIRED BULLET CAUSED BY THE
GROOVES OF THE BARREL WHICH IS THE SAME NUMBER AS THAT OF THE
LANDMARKS.
GYROSCOPIC ACTION - IS THE STILLNESS OR THE STEADINESS OF THE BULLET IN
FLIGHT.
HARPOON GUNS - REFERS TO A BARBED SPEAR IN HUNTING LARGE FISH.
HORACE SMITH - FOUNDED THE GREAT FIRM OF SMITH AND WESSON AND
PIONEERED IN MAKING BREECH LOADING RIFLES.
IGNITION OF THE PRIMING MIXTURE - THE PRIMING MIXTURE (COMPOSING OF
THE KCLO3, SULFUR AND CARBON) LOCATED EITHER AT THE CAVITY RIM OR AT
THE CENTER OF THE PRIMER UPON THE STRIKING EFFECT OF THE FIRING PIN
WILL IGNITE AND SUCH ACTION IS KNOWN AS “PERCUSSION ACTION”
INCENDIARY BULLET –TYPE OF MILITARY BULLET USED TO CAUSE FIRE IN A
TARGET, GENERALLY DESIGNED TO USE BY AIRCRAFT ARMAMENT IN ORDER
FOR THE FUEL TANKS TO IGNITE.
INDIVIDUAL CHARACTERISTICS - ARE MEANT FOR THOSE
CHARACTERISTICS WHICH ARE BEING DETERMINED ONLY AFTER THE FIREARM
WAS ALREADY BEEN MANUFACTURED. THEY ARE THE PRODUCT OF MACHINE
IMPERFECTIONS AND SOME LATER DUE TO THE USED OF THE FIREARMS.
INTERIOR (INTERNAL) BALLISTICS - IT TREATS OF THE MOTION OF THE
PROJECTILE WHILE IT IS STILL INSIDE THE FIREARM (CHAMBER /BARREL) WHICH
EXTENDS FROM THE BREECH TO THE MUZZLE.
JACKETED TYPE – IS A TYPE OF BULLET CONSISTING OF THE REGULAR LEAD
CORE, COATED WITH A COPPER ALLOY IN ORDER TO PREVENT LEAD FOULING
OF THE BARREL AND IS GENERALLY USED IN PISTOLS AND OTHER HIGH POWER
GUNS.
JOHN C. GARAND - DESIGNED AND INVENTED THE SEMI-AUTOMATIC U.S. RIFLE
CAL. 30. M1 GARAND.
JOHN M. BROWNING - WIZARD OF THE MODERN FIREARMS AND PIONEERED THE
BREECH LOADING SINGLE SHOT RIFLED WHICH WAS ADOPTED BY WINCHESTER.
JOHN T. THOMPSON - DEVELOPED IN THE COURSE OF WW1 THE THOMPSON M1A1
AND MODEL OF 1928 A1 (USA). PIONEERED THE MAKING OF THOMPSON SUB-
MACHINE GUN.
JUMP - IS ANOTHER PORTION OF THE RECOIL ACTION CHARACTERIZED AS THE
BACKWARD AND UPWARD MOVEMENT OF THAT TAKES PLACE BEFORE THE
BULLET LEAVES THE MUZZLE.
KEY HOLE SHOT - TUMBLING OF BULLET IN FLIGHT HITTING THE TARGET
SIDEWAYS.
LANDS - ARE THE ELEVATED PORTION OF THE BORE OF THE FIREARM
LAND MARKS - MARKS LEFT ON A FIRED BULLET CAUSED BY ITS CONTACT TO
THE ELEVATED PORTION (LANDS) OF THE BORE OF THE FIREARM. IT APPEARS AS
SLIGHT DEPRESSIONS OR SCRATCHES THE CYLINDRICAL SURFACE OF THE FIRED
BULLET.
L.C. SMITH - DEVELOPED SHOTGUN BEARING HIS NAME NOW THE ITHACA GUN
COMPANY.
LEAD TYPE – IS A TYPE OF A BULLET THAT IS BASICALLY COMPOSED OF LEAD
METAL. IT’S USED WAS DUE TO ITS DENSITY; HAVING A GOOD WEIGHT IS A
SMALL SIZE AND EASY FOR CASTING.
LEVER TYPE (BREAK TYPE) - LOADING TAKES PLACE BY LEVER ACTION ON THE
FIREARMS.
LIBERATOR - U.S. GOVERNMENT MADE SMOOTH BORE GUN USED IN EUROPE
DURING WAR DESIGNED TO FIRE AN AUTOMATIC COLT PISTOL CARTRIDGE
CALIBER .45.
LYDDITE - GREAT BRITAIN, THEY UTILIZED PICRIC ACID IN ADDITION TO
CELLULOSE POWDER.
MACHINE GUNS - MACHINE GUN IS A TYPE OF FIREARM THAT IS PRIMARILY
DESIGNED FOR MILITARY USE. EVEN IN INVESTIGATION OF SHOOTING CASES
DONE IN THE CITY, IT IS NOT USUAL OR COMMON TO ENCOUNTER THIS TYPE OF
FIREARM HAVING BEEN USED.
MAGAZINE LIP MARK - MARKING FOUND AT THE TWO SIDES OF THE RIM CAUSE
BY THE MAGAZINE LIPS DURING THE LOADING OF THE CARTRIDGE INTO THE
MAGAZINE FOR FIRING.
MAJOR UZIEL GAL - AN ISRAELI ARMY WHO DESIGNED UZI (ISRAEL) IN THE
YEAR 1950.
MAXIMUM EFFECTIVE RANGE - THE FARTHEST DISTANCE OF THE BULLET CAN
TRAVEL AND STILL LETHAL.
MAXIMUM RANGE - THE DISTANCE THAT A PROJECTILE CAN BE PROPELLED
FROM A FIREARM. THE FARTHEST DISTANCE THE BULLET COULD TRAVEL.
MICHAEL KALASHNIKOV - DESIGNED THE A.K. 47 ADOPTED BY THE RUSSIAN
ARMY IN THE YEAR 1951
MOTION - REFERS TO THE MOBILITY OR MOVEMENT OF THE PROJECTILE FROM
THE TIME IT LEAVES THE SHELL EMPTY; IT LEAVES THE GUN MUZZLE AND
UNTIL IT REACHES ITS TARGET OR FALL IN THE GROUND.
MULTI –BARRELED GUN - REFERS TO ALL TYPES OF GUN CONTAINING A
NUMBER OF BARRELS.
MUSKETS - IS AN ANCIENT SMOOTHBORE AND MUZZLE LOADING MILITARY
SHOULDER ARMS DESIGNED TO FIRE A SHOTS OR A SINGLE ROUND LEAD BALL.
A MORE DETAILED DISCUSSION OF MUSKETEERS CAN BE FOUND ON CHAPTER 8
IN THE DISCUSSION OF IGNITION SYSTEM.
MUZZLE BLAST - THE NOISE CREATED AT THE MUZZLE POINT OF THE GUN.
MUZZLE ENERGY - ENERGY GENERATED AT THE MUZZLE POINT MEASURED IN
FOOT-POUND.
M. VIEILLE OF FRENCH DEVELOPED THE FIRST SMOKELESS POWDER FOR RIFFLE
IN THE YEAR 1884 AND NAMED IT “POUDRE B” TAKEN AFTER GEN. BOULANGER’S
NAME.
NECK - IS THAT PART OF THE SHELL WHICH IS ACTUALLY OCCUPIED BY THE
BULLET. THIS IS OBVIOUS IN A BOTTLENECK TYPE OF SHELL BUT NOT WITH THE
STRAIGHT TYPE.
OLIVER WINCHESTER - ONE OF THE EARLIEST RIFLE AND PISTOL MAKERS.
PARADOX GUN- STILL IN A VERY REAR OCCASIONS ANOTHER TYPE OF SHOTGUN
CAN BE OBSERVED TO BE HAVING RIFLING ONLY A FEW INCH FROM ITS MUZZLE
POINTS.
PIN-FIRE - IS A TYPE OF CARTRIDGE IN WHICH THE IGNITION CAP (PRIMER) IS
CONCEALED INSIDE THE CARTRIDGE CASE AND HAS A PIN RESTING UPON IT.
PITCH OF RIFLING - IT IS THE MEASURE OF THE TWISTING OF THE LANDS AND
GROOVES. IT REFERS TO THE MEASURE OF THE DISTANCE ADVANCE BY THE
RIFLING IN ORDER TO MAKE A COMPLETE TURN INSIDE THE BARREL.
PISTOL - IN EARLY FIREARM HISTORY, ALL HANDGUNS ARE GENERALLY
CALLED AS PISTOLS. THERE WERE THREE CLASSES OF PISTOLS IN THE PERIOD.
THE SINGLE SHOT PISTOL, THE SEMI-AUTOMATIC AND THE REVOLVING PISTOLS
NOW KNOWN AS THE REVOLVER.
PRIMER (ALSO CALLED CAP) - IS THE IGNITION SYSTEM OF THE CARTRIDGE
USED IN A CENTER FIRE TYPE, CONTAINING A HIGHLY SENSITIVE CHEMICAL
COMPOUND THAT WOULD EASILY IGNITE OR BURSTS INTO FLAME WHEN
STRUCK BY THE FIRING PIN.. IT IS ALSO KNOWN AS THE PERCUSSION CUP.
PRIMER CUP - IS THE BRASS GILDING METAL CUP WHICH CONTAINS THE
PRIMING MIXTURE, THE DISC AND THE ANVIL.
PRIMER POCKET - IS THAT PART OF THE SHELL WHICH PROVIDES THE MEANS
FOR THE PRIMER TO BE PUT IN THE CENTRAL POSITION. ITS FUNCTION IS
EXTENDED TO: (A) HOLD THE PRIMER IN PLACE; (B) TO PROVIDE MEANS TO
PREVENT THE ESCAPE OF GAS; (C) TO PROVIDE SOLID SUPPORT FOR PRIMER
ANVIL.
PRIMING MIXTURE - IS THE HIGHLY SENSITIVE CHEMICAL COMPOUND WHICH
IGNITES BY THE MECHANICAL BLOW OF THE FIRING PIN. IT IS ALSO CALLED AS
PERCUSSION POWDER.
PROF. ABEL (1889) - A BRITISH WAR DEPT. CHEMIST DEVELOPED “CORDITE” A
SMOKELESS POWDER WITH SAME COMPOSITION AS NOBEL IN THE FORM OF
CORDS OR STICKS. AND IN EARLY 1890’S SMOKELESS POWDER HAD REPLACED
BLACK POWDER AND BECAME UNIFORMLY USED WORLDWIDE BY THE YEAR
1900.
PROJECTILE - IS ANY METALLIC ON NON-METALLIC BALL WHICH IS PROPELLED
FROM A FIREARM.
PULL OF GRAVITY - IT IS THE DOWNWARD REACTION OF THE BULLET TOWARDS
THE EARTH SURFACE DUE TO ITS WEIGHT.
RANGE - IT REFERS TO THE IMAGINARY STRAIGHT DISTANCE BETWEEN THE
MUZZLE OF THE GUN AND THE TARGET.
REBATED TYPE - REFERS TO THE CARTRIDGE WITH RIMLESS PATTERN, BUT
WHICH HAS A RIM DIAMETER SMALLER THAN THE BODY OF THE CASE
RECOCHET - BOUNCING OF BULLET AS A RESULT OF NOT PENETRATING OR
HITTING A HARD OBJECT.
RECOIL OF THE GUN - IS THE EQUAL AND OPPOSITE REACTION OF THE GUN
AGAINST THE FORWARD MOVEMENT OF THE BULLET UPON EXPLOSION. THE
BACKWARD OR REARWARD MOVEMENT OF THE GUN IN RELATION TO THE
FORWARD MOVEMENT OF THE BULLET.
REPEATING ARMS - A TYPE OF FIREARMS DESIGNED TO FIRE SEVERAL LOADS
(SHOT) IN ONE LOADING.
REPUBLIC ACT 10591 – COMPREHENSIVE FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION
REGULATION ACT
UNDER NEW LAW ON FIREARMS THE FOLLOWING SHALL BE CONSIDERED
FIREARMS (BARREL, RECEIVER & FRAME). EXCEPT. (MAGAZINE)
REVOLVER - REVOLVER IS A TYPE OF FIREARM DESIGNED TO POSITION
CARTRIDGE INTO POSITION FOR FIRING WITH THE AID OF A ROTATING
CYLINDER SERVING AS ITS CHAMBER. THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF REVOLVERS
ACCORDING TO ITS MECHANICAL FIRING ACTION.
RIFLED BORE FIREARMS - FIREARMS THAT HAVE RIFLING INSIDE THEIR GUN
BARREL.
RIFLES
A SHOULDER WEAPON DESIGNED TO FIRE A PROJECTILE WITH MORE ACCURACY
THROUGH A LONG RIFLED BORE BARREL, USUALLY MORE THAN 22 INCHES.
RIFLING - THIS PROCESS NECESSARY FOR THE MAKING OF THE HELICAL GROVES
INSIDE THE BARREL AND SUCH CAN BE PERFORMED IN ANY OF THE FOLLOWING
METHODS:
RIM - THE PART OF THE CARTRIDGE DESIGNED TO LIMIT THE FORWARD
MOVEMENT OF THE CARTRIDGE TO CHAMBER.
RIM FIRE - IS A TYPE OF CARTRIDGE IN WHICH THE PRIMING MIXTURE IS
LOCATED AT THE HALLOW RIM OF THE CASE CAN BE FIRED IF THE CARTRIDGE
IS TUCK BY THE FIRING PIN ON THE RIM OF THE CASE
ROGER BACON, (1242 A.D.) A FRANCISCAN MONK, WHO WROTE THE “DE
MIRABILI POTESTATE ARTIS ET NATURAE” (ON THE MARVELOUS POWER OF ART
AND NATURE).
ROTATORY MOTION - IS THE ACTION OF THE BULLET PASSING THROUGH A
RIFLED BORE BARREL FIREARM WHICH IS EITHER TWISTED TO THE LEFT OR TO
THE RIGHT.
SAMUEL COLT - PATENTED THE FIRST PRACTICAL REVOLVER AND MAKER OF
THE COLT PEACE MAKER, A FAMOUS REVOLVER IN THE HISTORY.
SHAVING MARKS - MARKS COMMONLY FOUND ON BULLET FIRED FROM A
REVOLVER CAUSE BY ITS FORWARD MOVEMENT TO THE BARREL THAT IS
POORLY ALIGNED TO THE CYLINDER.
SHEARING MARK - SOMETIMES CALLED “SECONDARY FIRING PIN MARK” FOUND
IN THE PRIMER NEAR THE FIRING PIN MARK.
SHOTGUN - A SMOOTH BORE AND A BREECH LOADING SHOULDER ARMS
DESIGNED TO FIRE A NUMBER OF LEAD PELLETS OR A SHOTS IN ONE CHARGE
(FBA MANUAL).
SHOTGUN CARTRIDGE - IT REFERS TO A COMPLETE UNIT OF UNFIRED
CARTRIDGE CONSISTING OF THE PELLETS, PRIMER, CASE, WADS AND
GUNPOWDER.
SHOULDER - THAT PART OF THE CARTRIDGE CASE WHICH SUPPORT THE NECK
OF THE CARTRIDGE WHICH IS EVIDENT IN A BOTTLENECK TYPE.
SHOULDER ARMS - ARE THOSE TYPES OF FIREARM THAT WERE NORMALLY
FIRED FROM THE SHOULDER.
SINGLE ACTION - A TYPE OF REVOLVER THAT NEEDS A MANUAL COCKING OF
THE HAMMER BEFORE SQUEEZING THE TRIGGER
SINGLE SHOT FIREARMS - TYPES OF FIREARMS DESIGNED TO FIRE ONLY ONE
SHOT EVERY LOADING.
SKID MARKS - MARKS THAT ARE GENERALLY FOUND ON FIRED BULLET FROM A
REVOLVER. IT IS MORE OR LESS LOCATED AT THE ANTERIOR PORTION OF THE
FIRED BULLET DUE TO ITS FORWARD MOVEMENT FROM THE CHAMBER TO THE
BARREL OF THE GUN BEFORE IT INITIALLY ROTATES.
SLIDE ACTION TYPE - TYPES OF FIREARMS IN WHICH LOADING TAKE PLACE BY
BACK AND FORTH MANIPULATION OF THE UNDER/OVER FOREARMS OF THE
GUN.
SLIPPAGE MARKS - MARKS FOUND ON FIRED BULLETS PASSING THROUGH
EITHER ON OILY OR OVERSIZE BARREL.
SMALL ARMS - ARE FIREARMS THAT PROPELS PROJECTILE WITH LESS THAN ONE
INCH DIAMETER AND IT CAN BE HANDLED, MOVED AND OPERATED BY ONE
MAN.
SMITH & WESSON - RIFLING HAVING (5) LANDS AND GROOVES, RIGHT HAND
TWIST, THE WIDTH OF THE LAND AND GROOVES ARE EQUAL.
SMOOTH BORE FIREARMS - FIREARMS THAT HAVE NO RIFLING (LANDS AND
GROOVES) INSIDE THEIR GUN BARREL.
SOFT OR DROP SHOTS - MADE BY PURE OR NEARLY PURE LEAD, TO WHICH A
SMALL AMOUNT OF ARSENIC HAS BEEN ADDED TO MAKE IT TAKE ON THE FORM
OF A SPHERICAL DROP AS IT FALLS DOWN THE SHOT TOWER. THIS TYPE IS EASY
TO DEFORMED OR FLATTENED, LOOSE THEIR VELOCITY QUICKER, LOW
PENETRATING POWER AND STRING OUT MORE.
STEYER TYPE - IS THE TYPE OF RIFLING HAVING FOUR (4) LANDS AND GROOVES,
RIGHT TWIST AND THE WIDTH OF THE LANDS GROOVES.
STRIPPING MARKS - MARKS FOUND ON THOSE BULLET FIRED FROM A “LOOSE-
FIT” BARREL WHEREIN THE RIFLING ARE ALREADY BEEN BADLY WORN-OUT.
SUB MACHINE GUN - IS A LIGHT, PORTABLE FORM OF MACHINE GUN, UTILIZING
A PISTOL SIZE AMMUNITION, HAVING A SHOULDER STOCK THAT MAY OR MAY
NOT BE FOLDED AND DESIGNED TO BE FIRED WITH BOTH HANDS.
TERMINAL ACCURACY - IT REFERS TO THE SIZE OF THE BULLET GROUPING ON
THE TARGET.
TERMINAL BALLISTICS - IS THAT BRANCH OF BALLISTICS WHICH DEALS WITH
THE EFFECTS OF THE IMPACT OF THE PROJECTILE ON THE TARGET.
TERMINAL ENERGY - IS THE ENERGY OR FORCE OF THE PROJECTILE WHEN IT
STRIKES THE TARGET SAME AS STRIKING ENERGY.
TERMINAL PENETRATION - IS THE DEPTH OF ENTRY OF THE BULLET IN THE
TARGET.
TERMINAL VELOCITY - IS THE SPEED OF THE BULLET UPON STRIKING THE
TARGET.
TNT (TRI-NITROLOLEUNE) - WAS THE ONE USED, MORE POWERFUL THAN PICRIC
ACID BUT MUCH DIFFICULT TO DETONATE.
TRACER BULLET – A TYPE OF MILITARY BULLET CAPABLE OF LEAVING VISIBLE
MARKS OR TRACES WHILE IN FLIGHT GIVING THE GUNNER THE CHANCE TO
OBSERVE THE STRIKE OF THE SHOT OR MAKE ADJUSTMENTS IN THE EVENT OF A
MISS
TRAJECTORY - REFERS TO THE PARABOLA-LIKE FLIGHT OF THE PROJECTILE
FROM THE TIME IT LEAVES THE MUZZLE UNTIL IT HITS THE TARGET. IT IS ALSO
DESCRIBED AS THE ACTUAL CURVE PATH TAKEN BY A BULLET DURING ITS.
TRANSLATIONAL - IS THE ACTION OF BULLET ONCE IT HITS A TARGET AND
SUBSEQUENTLY RICOCHETED
VELOCITY - REFERS TO THE RATE OF SPEED OF THE BULLET (DURING ITS
FLIGHT) PER UNIT OF TIME USUALLY EXPRESS IS FEET PER SECOND (FT/SEC.)
VELOCITY OF THE BULLET INSIDE THE BARREL - IT IS THE RELATIVE SPEED OF
THE BULLET PER UNIT OF TIME WHILE IT IS STILL INSIDE THE BARREL
EXPRESSED IN FEET PER SECOND.
VENT OR FLASH HOLE - IS THE HOLE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PRIMER POCKET
AS THE PASSAGE WAY FOR THE PRIMING MIXTURE TO IMPART AN IGNITION TO
THE PROPELLANT CHARGE.
WEBLEY - RIFLING HAVING SEVEN (7) LANDS AND GROOVES, RIGHT HAND
TWIST, THE WIDTH OF THE GROOVE IS THREE TIME LARGER THAN THE
BOARDER OF THE LANDS.
WIDTH OF THE GROOVES - IS MEASURED AS THE SHORTEST DISTANCE BETWEEN
THE TWO DIES OR EDGE OF A GROOVES.
WIDTH OF THE LANDS - IS DEPENDENT UPON THE BORE DIAMETER OF THE GUN,
GROOVES, WIDTH AND NUMBER. THE LANDS ARE THE REMAINDERS OF THE
CIRCUMFERENCE AFTER SUBTRACTING ALL THE GROOVES WIDTH.
WINCHESTER - RIFLING HAVING SIX (6) LANDS AND GROOVES, RIGHT HAND
TWIST, THE WIDTH OF THE GROOVES IS THREE TIME LARGER THE WIDTH OF THE
LANDS.
YAW - UNSTABLE ROTATION MOTION OF BULLET.
ZIP GUN - REFERS TO ALL TYPE OF HOMEMADE GUN.