How Barrel is made

a. Drilling Operation – this

operation results in a
longitudinally rough hole of
uniform diameter from one end
of the barrel to the other.
c. Rifling Method – method used to make rifling inside the gun barrel.
Several Rifling Methods
- Broach
- Button
- Hook
- Scrape
- Swage

1. Broach - The most commonly used rifling method.

- A broach cutter can thus cut all the 
grooves and lands to the final dimensions in a single
pass.
2. Button - A ' button' on the end of a long
rod, containing an exact negative of the
rifling required, is then pushed or pulled
through the bore forcing the metal to expand
into the final shape required.
- Generally only used on the cheaper
weapons, particularly those of 0.22" calibre.
This is a single operation and is a very
cheap way of rifling a weapon.
3. Hook - In this, a hardened steel
cutter, in the shape of a crochet hook, is
set into a recess in a steel rod of slightly
smaller diameter than the 
bore of the barrel being rifled.

4. Scrape - method of rifling uses a bar with

curved and hardened steel scrapers set into it.
The number of these scrapers corresponds to the
number of grooves required. As a result, all
grooves are cut with one pass after which the
height of the scrapers is increased and further
passes are made. This method produces
extremely fine rifling and is used on some of the
best weapons
5. Swage or Hammer Rifling - Another
method which is similar to button rifling
but produces a very much higher quality
. A mandril (an extremely hard steel plug
tapered at both ends) containing an
exact negative of the rifling profile
required is then passed through the
bore whilst the outside of the barrel is
either hammered or hydraulically
squeezed on to it. This method causes
the metal not only to work-harden, but
also to increase in density.
 Equipment's used in a Ballistics Laboratory
1. Comparison Microscope
- The valuable instrument is specially designed to permit the
firearms examiner to determine the similarity and dissimilarity
between two fired bullets or two fired cartridge cases by
simultaneously observing their magnified image.
Under the bullet comparison microscope, the two fired bullets
or fired shells are examine in a JUXTAPOSITION.
- The two object-evidence and the test bullet are
examined and compared:
1. at the same time
2. at the same place or level
3. at the same direction
4. at the same magnification
5. at the same image
2. Stereoscope Microscope
- this is generally used in the
preliminary examinations of fired bullets
and fired shells. To determine the
location of the extractor marks and
ejector marks for orientation purposes.
It can be used also in the closed-up
examination of tampered serial numbers
of firearms.
3. Comparison Projector
- this is similar to the comparison
microscope two fired bullets or two fired
shells can be compared in one setting of
the fire examiners. A magnified image
appears on a large screen and can be
observed in a comfortable viewing
distance.
4. Bullet Recovery Box –
-for obtaining best fired bullets or test fired cartridge cases from the suspected firearms
submitted to the Ballistics Laboratory. Water is one of the means to obtain test bullets and
test shells because the microscope marks on the cylindrical or peripheral surface of the
bullets are preserved for good use. The same is true with cotton.

TEST BULLETS - Are those recovered from bullet recovery box for a comparison with
the evidenced bullets under the bullet comparison microscope.
5. Measuring Projector
- This projector determines the
width of lands, width of grooves,
diameter and twist of a fired bullet.

6. Vernier Calipers
- this instrument
determined the bullet
diameter and barrel length.
7. Analytical Balance
- this more or less
determines the weights of
the bullets, shots and
pellets for possible type,
caliber and make for
firearms from which they
where fired.

8. Taper Gage
- used for determining the bore
diameter of the firearm.
9. Onoscope
- for examining the interior surface of
the gun barrel.

10. Helixometer
- a tubular instrument in which an
electric light and a prism and lens
system enable visual examination of
a small arms bore
- for measuring the pitch of rifling’s.
*Pitch of rifling is the distance advanced
by the rifling in one complete turn or the
distance travelled by the bullet in one
complete turn.
11. Chronograph
- for determining the speed
of the bullet of the muzzle
velocity of the bullet.