FIREARM INJURIES
Prof. Dr. Hakan KAR
Mersin University
Faculty of Medicine
Department of Forensic Medicine
Gun
– Barrel size
– Caliber
– Groove and Land
– Mechanism
– Ammunitions
Bullet
Pellet
– Gunpowder
BARREL SIZE
Short barrel
Long barrel
Mechanism
Revolver
Semi-automatic
Bullet – Shotgun Shell
Ballistics Groove and Land
FORENSIC QUESTIONS in FIREARM
INJURY CASES
Entrance – Exit holes
Number of injuries
Severity of injuries
Type of the gun used
Firing hand
Origin
Firearms Injuries
– Entrance – exit
– Range
Contact range
– Tight
– Loose
– Angled
Close to contact range
Close range
Distant range
Entrance Exit
Trace
Generally entrance wounds are smaller than the exit
wounds
There is always an
«Abrasion collar»
around the entrance
wound which is made
by the heat and rotating
movements of the bullet
Exit
•Mostly larger than entrance
•Margins through to outward
•No gunshot residue
•No abrasion collar
Entrance / Exit ?
Entrance - Exit
FIRING DISTANCES
CONTACT CLOSE RANGE DISTANT RANGE
Muzzle have contact Gunshot residues are Gunshot residues are
to the skin at reachable distance not at reachable
distance
Close to contact
(0-2 cm)
CONTACT RANGE WOUNDS
Muzzle have contact to the skin
– Tight
– Loose
– Angled
Contact Range Wounds
Hofmann
CONTACT RANGE WOUNDS-
MUZZLE STAMP
Blast Effect
Close to Contact Range Wounds
Close Range Wounds
Powder tatooing
Close Range Wounds
Distant Range Wounds
Atypical Entrance Wounds
Bullet scratch
Bulk entry hole of pellets / Satellite entrances
80-100 cm
Bulk entry hole of pellets
INTERMEDIATE OBJECTIVE?
Gunshot residue
CONTACT RANGE
•Abrasion collar
•Gunshot residues are CLOSE to CONTACT RANGE
under the skin
•Abrasion collar
•Gunshot residues are both
under and on the skin
CLOSE RANGE
•Abrasion collar
•Gunshot residues are
on the skin
DISTANT RANGE
•Abrasion collar
•No gunshot residue
