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FORENSIC BALLISTICS

Week: 8
Topic: Arms Manufacturing Processes Related to the Fire Arms Identification
Learning Objectives: At the end of the lesson, the learner will be able to:
1. Discuss the steps in the manufacture of Firearm Barrels
2. Enumerate the two general characteristics to be considered regarding ballistics examination.

I. LESSON DISCUSSION
It is very important that a Ballistic Expert or Firearms Examiner be sufficiently familiar with the various
steps in the manufacture of a firearm in order that he will able to explain the source or cause of the different
markings which may be found on a firearm evidence which may be found basis of his identification. There
should always be a sound reason for all markings, scratches, or dents visible on firearms evidence and it is the
function of the firearm examiner to determine how and why they are made, and also to interpret their
significance both to himself and to the court. Most of these markings are transferred on the fire arm evidence
by deliberate or accidental operations of the tools during the process of manufacture.

Manufacturing of Firearm Barrels

STEPS:
1. Drilling the Hole - This operation results in drilling deep accurate rough holes longitudinally
uniform in diameter from one end of the barrel to the other.
2. Reaming the Hole - This operation removes some of the scars and scratches left by the drilling
operation. The hole is reamed carefully to the exact bore diameter.
3. Cutting or Putting the Rifling - Firearm barrels have grooves cut or pressed, in the bore which
produces RIFLING.
 These grooves are cut in a spiral pattern.
 Between the grooves are raised areas. These are called lands.
In firearm examiner lingo, rifling refers to the LANDS and GROOVES. The lands are the raised
portion between two grooves, while the grooves are the depressed portion.
RIFLING METHODS
 Broach Rifling - A tool having a series of cutting edges of slightly increasing height used to
cut the spiral grooves in a barrel. All grooves are cut with a single pass of the broach.
 Button Rifling - A hardened metal plug with a rifled cross section configuration. It is pushed
or pulled through a drilled and reamed barrel so as to cold from the spiral grooves to the
desired depth and twist.
 Hammer Forging - An internal mandrel with rifling in the barrel by means of external
hammering.
 Hook Cutter - A cutting tool which has a hook shape and only cuts one groove at a time.
 Scrape - A cutting tool which cuts two opposing grooves at a time.
4. Lapping - It follows after the rifling operation is completed. This is the smothering of the inner
surface of the gun barrel. Polishing the inside of the barrel like a mirror with a polishing compound.
5. Chambering - The final step is the chambering or cutting away the breech end of the barrel where
the cartridge or shotgun shell is to fit.

TYPES OF RIFLING
1) Cut Rifling – made by a broach cutter or button which produces rifling with sharp edges.
Bore – refers to the cylindrical passage of a barrel through which the bullets travels.
2) Polygonal Rifling – lands and grooves having a rounded profile. This type of rifling is produced
with Hammer Forging.
TWO GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS TO BE CONSIDERED REGARDING BALLISTICS
EXAMINATION
1. Class Characteristics
 Intentional or design characteristics that would be common to a particular group or family
items.
 Characteristics that is determinable even prior to the manufacture of the firearms.
 These are factory specifications and within the control of man.
 These serve as basis for identifying a certain group or class of firearms
The following are class characteristics of firearms that can be determined in fired bullets:
o Bore diameter
o Rifling pattern contained in the barrel of the firearm
Rifling pattern contained in the barrel of the firearm consist of the following items:
o Number of lands and grooves
o Width of lands and grooves
o Depth of grooves
o Direction of twist – rifling either twist to the right or to the left.
o Pitch of rifling – this is also called degree of rifling twist. It simply refers to the distance
(measured either in inches or centimetres) travelled by the lands and grooves to complete a
single rotation (360 degrees).
All class characteristics are measurable
Caliber Direction of Twist
Number of Lands and Grooves Depth Grooves
Width of Lands and Grooves Pitch of Rifling
Class characteristics ACCORDING TO TYPES OF RIFLING:
o Steyr type - 4 lands, 4 grooves right hand twist and lands and grooves are of equal width. (4–
R –G=L)
o Smith and Wesson Type - 5lands and grooves, right hand twist and lands and grooves of
equal width. (5-R-G=L)
o Browning Type - 6 lands and grooves, right twist, narrow lands and broad grooves. (6-R-G-
2x)
o Colt Type - 6 lands and grooves, left twist, narrow lands and broad grooves. (6-L-G-2x)
o Webley Type - 7 lands and grooves, right twist, narrow lands and broad grooves. (7-R-G3x)
o Winchester Type - 6RG3X (six lands and grooves twist to the right, groove width is three
times wider than the land.)
o Carbine Type - 4RG2X which means there are 4 lands and grooves that twist to the right but
the grooves are twice wider than the lands.
o Army Type - 4 lands and grooves, right twist, narrow land and broad grooves (4-R-G3x).

2. Individual Characteristics - Also called accidental characteristics.

 When a firearm is manufactured, the individual parts are made with tools that are in a
constant state of change.
 As a result, no two guns will leave the same marks on the ammunition components.
 Separate a single item from a large of items.
 Considered “fingerprints” in that they are unique to that item.
Sources of individual characteristics of firearms:
 The wear and tear of the tools used in the manufacture of the firearm.
 The action of oxidation.
 The care of the firearm by the holder.
 The use of the firearm by the holder.

Marks Found on Fired Bullets - A bullet is slightly larger in diameter than the bore diameter of the barrel in
which it is designed to be fired. As a result, a rifled barrel will impress a negative impression of itself on the
sides of the bullet.
IMPRESSED TOOLMARK - Features produced when a tool contacts an object with enough compressive
force that it leaves an impression.

STRIATED TOOLMARK - Features produced when a tool contacts an object with lateral a force and
motion.
 Land Marks – depressed portion found on fired bullet caused by the land.
 Groove Marks – raised or elevated portion caused by the grooves.
o Land and groove marks together are called Rifling Marks. These are striations found on the
periphery/bearing or cylindrical surface of the fired bullets.
o Rifling is a series of helical grooves in the interior of the barrel which causes the bullet to spin
and make it more stable (like a spiral on a football).
 Skid Marks – this happens 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 forward before entering the
regular rifling twist.
These markings are more pronounced in the revolver and caused due to worn out barrels.
 Slippage/Stripping Marks – these are marks found on bullets fired from a worn-out barrel and on
barrels.
 Shaving Marks – most commonly found on bullets fired from a revolver due to a poor alignment of
the cylinder with the bore.

Marks Found on Fired Cartridge Case

1) Firing Pin Impression – the indentation in the primer of a centerfire cartridge case caused when it is
struck by the firing pin.
2) Breechface Markings – negative impression of the breech face of the firearm found generally on the
base or the head of the cartridge case after firing.
3) Chamber Marks – marks upon a cartridge case by the chamber wall as a result of any or call of the
ff:
 Chambering
 Expanding during firing
 Extraction
Extractor Marks. Marks produced upon a cartridge case from contact with the extractor
 These are usually found on or just ahead of the rim.
 These are usually found on shells fired from pistols, rifles, shotguns and machineguns.
4) Ejector Marks – a part of the firearm that is designed to expel the cartridge case from the action of
the firearm.
5) Shear Marks or the Secondary Firing Pin Marks – found in the primer near the firing pin mark.
6) Firing Pin Drag Marks – it is caused by the protruding nose of the firing pin.

Other Marks Found on Fired Shells:

1. Pivotal Marks 2. Magazine Lip Marks 3. Breech Closure or Anvil Marks

II. A. REFERENCE
 Grimares, Erdulfo M. (2006).Forensic Ballistics. Quezon City: Wiseman’s Book Trading, Inc.
B. SUGGESTED READING
 Ballistics (n.d.) Retrieved from https://to.pbs.org/3FOvGkU on Oct. 14, 2021
III. REQUIREMENT

Activity 1. Essay.
1. Illustrate/Draw the steps in Barrel making. Include short captions describing each step.

Activity 2. Multiple Choices.

1. This is the smothering of the inner surface of the gun barrel.
a. Chambering c. Lapping
b. Reaming the hole d. Drilling the hole
2. This operation removes some of the scars and scratches left by the drilling operation.
 a. Chambering c. Lapping
b. Reaming the hole d. Drilling the hole
3. This operation results in drilling deep accurate rough holes longitudinally uniform in diameter from
one end of the barrel to the other.
a. Chambering c. Lapping
b. Reaming the hole d. Drilling the hole
4. The final step is the chambering or cutting away the breech end of the barrel where the cartridge or
shotgun shell is to fit.
a. Chambering c. Lapping
b. Reaming the hole d. Drilling the hole
5. A cutting tool which cuts two opposing grooves at a time.
a. Hook Cutter c. Scrape
b. Button Rifling d. Broach Rifling
6. A tool having a series of cutting edges of slightly increasing height used to cut the spiral grooves in a
barrel.
a. Hook Cutter c. Scrape
b. Button Rifling d. Broach Rifling
7. A cutting tool which has a hook shape and only cuts one groove at a time.
a. Hook Cutter c. Scrape
b. Button Rifling d. Broach Rifling
8. A hardened metal plug with a rifled cross section configuration. It is pushed or pulled through a
drilled and reamed barrel so as to cold from the spiral grooves to the desired depth and twist.
a. Hook Cutter c. Scrape
b. Button Rifling d. Broach Rifling
9. This happens when the bullet enters the rifled bore from a stationary position and is forced abruptly
into the rifling,
a. Shaving Marks c. Rifling Marks
b. Skid Marks d. Slippage/Stripping Marks
10. Most commonly found on bullets fired from a revolver due to a poor alignment of the cylinder with
the bore.
a. Shaving Marks c. Rifling Marks
b. Skid Marks d. Slippage/Stripping Marks
11. These are marks found on bullets fired from a worn-out barrel and on barrels.
a. Shaving Marks c. Rifling Marks
b. Skid Marks d. Slippage/Stripping Marks
12. These are striations found on the periphery/bearing or cylindrical surface of the fired bullets.
a. Shaving Marks c. Rifling Marks
b. Skid Marks d. Slippage/Stripping Marks
13. A part of the firearm that is designed to expel the cartridge case from the action of the firearm.
a. Firing Pin Drag Marks c. Shear Marks/Secondary Firing Pin Marks
b. Ejector Marks d. Chamber Marks
14. It is found in the primer near the firing pin mark.
a. Firing Pin Drag Marks c. Shear Marks/Secondary Firing Pin Marks
b. Ejector Marks d. Chamber Marks
15. It is caused by the protruding nose of the firing pin.
a. Firing Pin Drag Marks c. Shear Marks/Secondary Firing Pin Marks
b. Ejector Marks d. Chamber Marks