FORENSIC BALLISTICS

Q and A
Presented by
ALBOFERA ANTHONY, MSCJ
UNIVERSITY OF CEBU INSTRUCTOR
 Definition of Terms
1. Ballistics is the study of the motion
of the projectiles.
2. Forensic Ballistics is the science of
firearms identification by means of
the ammunition fired through them.
1. The science of motion of projectile is _____.
a. ballistician
b. forensic ballistics
c. firearms identification
d. ballistics

Forensic Ballistics - is the study of firearms

Identification by means of the ammunition fired
through them.
2. What is the characteristics of a DUM-DUM
BULLET that was invented in INDIA?
a. boat tail bullet
b. incendiary bullet
c. soft and hollow point bullet
d. sharp pointed military bullet
DUM-DUM BULLET
 Expanding bullets are projectiles designed to
expand on impact, increasing in diameter to
limit penetration and/or produce a larger
diameter wound for faster incapacitation.
Therefore, they are used for hunting and by
some police departments, but are generally
prohibited for use in war. Two typical designs
are the hollow-point bullet and the
soft-point bullet.
hollow-point bullet
3. The caliber of firearms can be determined through
the bore diameter which is measured from the:
a Rifling
b. Two opposite grooves
c. Two opposite lands
d. Lands and grooves
4. This holds a round in the chamber, and absorbs the
recoil of the cartridge when the round is fired,
preventing the cartridge case from moving.
A. Extractor
B. Breech face
C. Head space
D. Breechblock
5. The firearms that propelled projectiles more than
one inch in diameter is called _____.
a. Short arms
b. Small arms
c. Artillery
d. Handguns

Small arms – less than 1 inch in diameter. Jurisdiction

of Ballisticians.
6. A SMITH & WESSON type of firearm has a
class characteristics of:

A. 4 Rifling, RHT
B. 5 Rifling, RHT
C. 6 Rifling, RHT
D. 7 Rifling, RHT
 TYPES OF RIFLINGS
A. Colt type = 6 Rifling, LHT
B. Steyr Type = 4 Rifling, RHT
C. Army type = 4 Rifling, RHT
D. Browning Type = 6 Rifling, RHT
E. Webley type = 7 Rifling, RHT
F. Smith and Wesson Type = 5 Rifling, RHT
7. When the bullet enters the breech end of the
barrel, what marks are left when bullet moves
straight forward without yet turning motion
because the Rifling did not yet get the bullet.
a Land marks
b. Skid marks
c. Slippage marks
d. Shaving or stripping marks
8. These marks are found on bullets fired from a
Revolver due to a poor alignment of the cylinder
and barrel of a revolver and is common to Home
Made Guns.
a. Shaving or stripping marks
b. Skid marks
c. Pivot marks
d. Landmarks
 MARKS ON BULLET
A. Land Marks – caused by lands in the barrel
B. Groove marks – caused by grooves in the barrel
C. Skid marks – caused by the bullet that moves
forward before rifling catch the bullet.
D. Slippage marks – caused by rifling in a worn out,
oversize or oily barrel.
E. Shaving/Stripping marks – this is done with the bullet
when the chamber and the barrel are not aligned.
9. The inventor of gunpowder is credited to _____:
a. Alexander John Forsyth
b. Philip O. Gravelle
c. Berthold Swartz
d. Roger Bacon
Wu Ching Tsun – the unrecognized inventor of gunpowder.
Roger Bacon (1248) - an English monk and scientist, credited with
the invention of gunpowder (blackpowder).
Constantine Anklitzen (a.k.a. Berthold Schwartz) (1300) - A
German monk was credited for the application of gunpowder
for propelling missile.
10. What is the equipment that measures the pitch of
rifling?
a. Chronograph
b. Helixometer
c. Micrometer
d. Heliometer
 EQUIPMENT USED IN BALLISTICS LABORATORY
1. Vernier Calipers – determines the diameter of bullet and
length of barrel.
2. Chronograph – determines the speed of bullet or the muzzle
velocity of the bullet.
3. Onoscope – used in examining the interior surface of gun
barrel.
4. Taper Gauge – used in determining the bore diameter.
5. Analytical balance (Torsion) – determines the weight of
bullets, shots/pellets, caliber and make of firearm.
6. Bullet Recovery Box – for test firing
7. Comparison Microscope – used to
determine the similarity and
dissimilarity two fired bullets or
cartridges.
8. Stereocope Microscope – used in
preliminary examination of fired bullets
and fired shells.
Chronograph
Taper gauge
11. The hitting of bullet in sideway to the target is
called _____.
a. Keyhole shot
b. Yaw
c. Through and through
d. Oblique wound

Yaw – the unstable movement of bullet which may

tumble and wobble.
12. A cartridge case whose rim diameter is the same
with the diameter of its body.
a. rimmed
b. belted
c. Semi-rimmed
d. Rimless

Rimmed- designed in revolver

Semi-rimmed- 9mm
Rebated-
13. The body of systematized knowledge is ____.
a. system
b. science
c. scientific
d. motion
14. When two specimens are compared under the
comparison microscope and is being examined
side by side:
QB TB
a. Positively match
b. Pseudo match
c. Juxtaposition
d. Intermarriage

Intermarriage – the half image of evidence and test

are put as one.
15. In the United States, home-made weapons are
generally referred to as:
a. Freakish device
b. Zip guns
c. Matchlock
d. Flare guns

Paltik - Philippines
16. The color of the point of Tracer Bullet is:
A. Red
B. Blue
C. Black
D. Red and Blue

Armor – Piercing Bullet - BLACK

18. A complete unfired unit of ammunition inserted
into the chamber of firearm for firing is referred to
as:
a. Bullet
b. Shell
c. Primer
d. Cartridge
19. Rifling located inside the barrel of a gun is a
combination of:
a. Pitch of rifling
b. Twist
c. Lands & grooves
d. Cannelures
20. Class characteristics are determinable even
______ the manufacture of firearm:
a. During
b. After
c. Before
d. Before and after

Examples of Class Characteristics:

1. Caliber
2. No. of Lands and Grooves
3. Rifling Twist
21. The caliber may be determined with the following,
except:
a. Onoscope
b. Micrometer
c. Taper guage
d. Caliper
22. An investigator who recovered a fired bullet from
the crime scene will request the ballistician to
determine:
a. Owner of the firearm
b. Model of the firearm
c. Caliber and type of the firearm used
d. Manufacture
23. The heavier and longer a bullet is, the _____ the
rifling twist rate needs to be to stabilize it in flight,
therefore a lighter shorter bullet needs a _____
rifling twist rate to give proper bullet spin for correct
flight.

a. Faster - slower
b. Slower-faster
c. Faster-faster
d. Slower-slower
25. If a firearm’s caliber is expressed in hundredths
of an inch such as Cal .45, .38, .25, .30.. What
caliber measurement is used?
A. American System
B. English System
C. Continental system
D. European System
 Different Systems of Caliber Measurements

1. American System (2 digits)

Expressed in hundredths of an inch
such as Cal .45, .38, .25, .30.

2. English System (3 digits)

Expressed in thousandths of an inch
such as Cal .357, .380, .223.

3. Continental/ European System

Expressed in millimeters
such as Cal 9mm, 5.56mm, 7.62mm.
 Computations: mm-Cal. and Cal. to mm
1. Cal to mm (x 25.4)
Cal .38 – mm
.38 x 25.4 = 9.642 or 9 mm

2. mm to Caliber (x .03937)
5.56 mm – Cal
5.56 x .03937 = .2178972 or .22 Caliber

NOTE: After computing, always go to the nearest Caliber (Just like

no. 1)
25. That science dealing with the motion of projectile
from the time the firer squeezes the trigger up to
the time it reaches the muzzle of the barrel is
called:
a. Posterior ballistics
b. Interior ballistics
c. Exterior ballistics
d. Terminal ballistics
26. It is where the priming mixture is crushed
by blow from the firing pin.
A. Priming mixture
B. Primer cup
C. Anvil
D. Disc
28.A gun with barrel which is smoothbore
but at the near end of its barrel
contains rifling.
a. Shotgun
b. Paradox gun
c. Musket
d. Carbine
 Characteristics of FAs

1. Class Characteristics – these were set even

before the manufacture of FAs. These are
factory specifications.

2. Individual Characteristics – are determined

after the manufacture of FA.
 Significant Features of Class
Characteristics

1. Caliber or Bore Diameter –

determined with a bullet, shell, or
bore of the gun.

2. No. of Lands and Grooves – always

the same in number.

3. Width of Lands and Grooves – how

wide the lands and grooves. NOT
always the same.
4. Twist of Rifling – either
RIGHT or LEFT.

5. Pitch of Rifling – one

complete turn of bullet inside
the barrel.

6. Depth of Grooves – how deep

the groove or the height of
every land.
31. A primer with two flash holes or vent with the anvil integral with
the cartridge case and is also called as EUROPEAN TYPE OF
PRIMER.
A. Berdan
B. Boxer
C. Boxer-Berdan
D. Battery Cup Type

Kinds of primer:
1. Boxer = has ONE flash vent or flash hole.
2. Berdan = has TWO flash vents or flash holes.
3. Boxer-Berdan = has THREE vents/flash holes
4. Battery Cup Type = for shotgun ammo
31. When loaded firearm is found in the crime scene,
what is the first thing to be done by the collector?
A. The FA should be cautiously observed of
presence of fingerprints
B. The FA should be properly handled and unloaded
C. The FA should be properly dusted for fingerprints
D. The FA should be properly marked for future
identification.
32.The term muzzle velocity refers most
accurately to the:
a. Acceleration of the projectile in flight
b. Speed of ammunition
c. Rate of combustion of gunpowder
d. Speed of bullet
33.Fired bullet is initialed at _____,
EXCEPT:
a. Base
b. Nose/Anterior Portion
c. Ogive
d. Side/Bearing Surface
34. Fired shell is initialed at what part?
a. Inside or outside of the shell near the mouth
b. Inside or outside the fired shell
c. Outside near the mouth of the shell
d. On the body of the shell near the mouth

Except for .22 Caliber = It should be marked on the body

of the shell near the mouth.
35. Rifling in the bore of small arms is
designed to :

A. To increase the speed of the bullet

B. To decrease the amount of recoil
C. To mark the bullet for purposes of
identification
D. To prevent the bullet from turning and
over and in the air
36. The caliber of the gun is determined in:
A. Its barrel length
B. The circumference of its barrel
C. The size of the ammunition used
D. The diameter of bore, measured from two opposite
lands.
37. What process of making barrel, where hole of barrel with
the use of barrel blank is used.
A. Drilling
B. Reaming
C. Broaching
D. Lapping
Reaming –to remove imperfections, scratches and
irregularities
Broaching - the construction of rifling inside the barrel
Lapping - smoothening/polishing of the inner surface of the
barrel.
D+R = Smooth bore D+R+B+L = Rifled bore
38. The most commonly used high explosives in the
world.
A. Trinitrotoluene (TNT)
B. Dynamite
C. Bomb
D. Grenade
Low explosives – deflagrate
High explosives - detonate
39. Paraffin test is conducted purposely to:

A. detect whether a witness is telling the truth.

B. discover whether the deceased person was
poisoned.
C. estimate the approximate time of death of the
deceased
D. determine whether a suspect has fired a gun
recently
40. The term double action is _____.

A. The revolver has both safety and automatic firing action.

B. The pressure upon the trigger both cocks and releases the
hammer.
C. The revolver can fire with or without automatic shell ejection.
D. The shell of a fired shot is ejected and fresh cartridge is
pushed from the magazine at the same time.
41. Inventor of micrometer.
A. Calvin H. Goddard
B. Cherubin d’Oreans
C. Alfred Lee Loomis
D. William Gascoine

Alfred Lee Loomis – Chronograph

Cherubin d’Oreans – ist streoscopic microscope
42.Identifying markings or imprint are
NOT left on a shell by the :
a. Firing pin
b. ejector
c. extractor
d. hammer
43. It is the part of the mechanism in a firearm that
withdraws the spent cartridge or shell from the
chamber is :
a. Hammer
b. Firing pin
c. Ejector
d. Extractor

Ejector – throws or ejects the shell from the firearm.

44. As part of the old procedure, a revolver
found in the crime scene must be picked
up by _____:

A. Inserting a pencil or ball pen in the barrel.

B. Placing a piece of wire or string through
the trigger guard.
C. Grasping the handle with a handkerchief.
D. Grasping the barrel with clean cloth.
45.The part of a .45 caliber automatic pistol
found at the scene of the crime is
normally marked for identification in the:
A. Lower receiver/frame
B. magazine
C. Slide/upper receiver
D. Barrel
46. Occurs when a cartridge fails to explode on
time or there is a delayed in explosion due
to faulty functioning of the primer or faulty
ignition of the propellant is:
a. Misfire
b. Recoil
c. Hang-fire
d. Velocity
47. The maximum distance from the muzzle at
which a firearm discharge will usually
produce detectable powder pattern on a
target is about:

a. 6 to 10 inches
b. 6 to 10 feet
c. 6 to 10 yards
d. 6 to 10 meters
48. When an automatic pistol is used in the crime scene, the
____:

a. empty shell remain within the chamber.

b. empty shell in most cases is found at the scene
c. empty shell is rarely found at the crime scene.
d. empty shell is usually disposed by the perpetrator.
49. Before FA is test fired, what SOP that should be
done first?
A. Swab the inside barrel
B. Mark the parts of FA to be used
C. Prepare the bullet recovery tube
D. The firer should be a marksman
50.What is the current law that prohibits
possession of firearm when
unauthorized?
a. RA 10591
b. RA 8294
c. PD 1866
d. RA 8293
 …THE END…
FORENSIC BALLISTICS
Q and A