Forensic ballistics

BALLISTICS is the science of the

motion of projectiles 
• a branch of applied physics which
deals with the motion of projectiles.
 The
term ballistics is derived from Greek word
‘BALLO and ballein’ to threw

• Roman War Machine called “ballista” – a

gigantic bow or catapult which was then used to
hurt missiles or large stones or hard objects against
their enemy forces.
TYPES OF MOTION
Direct motion
The forward motion of the bullet or s
hots of the shell by the 
motion of the expansive force of gass
es from burning gun powder
Rotary motion
The action of the bullet passing throu
gh a rifled gun barrel
twisting either to the left or to the rig
ht.
Translational
Action of the bullet upon hitting
the target and sometimes  ricocheted.
BRANCHES OF BALLISTICS
1. INTERIOR BALLISTICS 
It is that branch of the study of science
which has something to do with the
properties of the projectile of bullet
while inside the barrel of the gun, and
this extend from the breech to the
muzzle.
This branch of interior ballistics specifically
involves the following: 
a. Firing pin hitting the primer; 
b. Ignition of priming mixture; 
c. Combustion of the gun powder; 
d. Expansion of the heated gas;
e. Pressure developed; 
f. Energy generated; 
g. Recoil; h. Velocity of the bullet inside the
barrel; 
i. Rotation of the bullet inside the gun barrel 
j. Engraving of cylindrical surface of the
bullet
EXTERIOR BALLISTICS

The branch of science, which has

something to do with the movements
and attributes of the bullet after it has
left the muzzle of the gun,
a. Muzzle blast – that is the sudden noise
or sound created at muzzle point of the
by reason of the sudden escape – a – exit
of the expanding gas as it comes in
contact with the air in the surrounding
atmosphere;
b.Muzzle energy – that
energy generated at muzzle
point;
c. Trajectory – the actual curve path
of the bullet during its flight from the
muzzle of the gun;
Range– the straight distance
between muzzle & target;
Accurate Range= the distance
within which the shooter or gunner
has control of his  shots. 
Effective Range = the distance within
which when the bullet was fired it is still 
capable of inflicting fatal injury. 
Maximum Range= the distance that a
projectile can be propelled from a
firearm.  The farthest distance the bullet
could travel. 
Velocity – rate of the
speed of the bullet per unit
of time
Air resistance – the power of
capacity of the bullet to resist air
during its flight from the muzzle of
the gun
Pull of gravity – that is when the
bullet plunge or dive itself after
attaining its effective ranges
Penetration – the depth to which
the bullet has entered its target or
object hit.
TERMINAL BALLISTICS

that branch of SCIENCE that deals

with the effects of the impact of the
projectile on the target, 
Terminal velocity – velocity of the
projectile when it strikes the target or
object.
Terminal velocity – velocity of
the projectile when it strikes the
target or object.
Terminal penetration – that the
depth of the bullet penetration on
the target or object hit.
Terminal energy ‐ that the energy
of the projectile when it strike or
striking force or energy
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. 
 Scope of Forensic Ballistics 
 1.Field Investigation (Involves the processing of the
scene of the crime.) 
 2. Ballistics Technical Examination of the Exhibits
(Involves actual laboratory examination.)
 3. Legal Proceeding (Involves actual court proceedings.) 
Definition of firearms in its legal term;
 Section 877 of the revised administrative code
defines firearms; or arms, as herein used include
rifles, muskets, carbines, shot guns, pistol,
revolvers, and all other deadly weapons from
which bullets, balls, shots, shells, or other missiles
may be charged by means of gun powder or other
explosive. This term includes the air rifles, except
those of limited ranges and small caliber and which
are used as toys the barrel of any firearms shall be
considered a complete firearm for all purposes
hereof
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A COMPR
EHENSIVE LAW 
ON FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION 
AND PROVIDING 
PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS THER
EOF(R.A 10591)
 Firearm
refers to any handheld or portable weapon, whether
 a small arm or light weapon, that expel or is desig
ned to expel a bullet, shot, slug, missile or any proj
ectile, which is discharged by means of expansive f
orce of gases from burning gunpowder or other for
m of combustion or any similar
instrument or implement. For purposes of this Act, 
the barrel, frame or receiver 
is considered a firearm.
General types 

Firearm is an instrument used for the

propulsion of projectile by means of the
expansive force gases coming  from
burning gunpowder.
Rifled bore firearms – firearms that
contain rifling  inside the gun barrel.
Main type 

Artillery – those that propel

projectiles more than one [1]
inch in diameter
Small arms – those that propel
projectiles less than one [1] inch
in diameter
Machine gun – is designed to shot
automatically, more one shot, without
manual reloading, by a single press on
the trigger
Shoulders arms – normally
fired from the shoulders
Like rifle and carbine
Hand guns – designed or
intended to be fired one hand. 
Like pistol and revolver
According to Mechanical Construction

Single shot firearms – designed to shoot only

one shot for every loading, {example: pistol,
revolvers, rifles, and shotguns};
 Repeating Arms = A type of firearms
designed to fire several loads (shot) in one
loading. Examples: Automatic pistols
revolvers rifles and shotguns
 Automatic F/A = type of firearms that constitutes
a continuous firing in a single press of the trigger
and while  the trigger is pressed. 
 Examples: Machine guns and rifles 
 Slide Actiontype = types of firearms in
which loading take place by back-and-forth
manipulation of the  under/over forearms of
the gun. 
Bolt Action Type = Type of firearms in
which reloading takes place by manipulating
the both back and 
• What are Handguns ? Handguns are
either revolver or pistols.
revolver is hand firearms which a rotating
cylinder serving as magazine, successively
places cartridge into position for firing
pistol is a short barrel hand firearm
designed to shoot a single projectile
through a rifled bore for every press of
the trigger and usually applies to a semi‐
automatic loading
Single Action, a type of revolver that
needs a manual cocking of the hammer
before squeezing the  trigger 
 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. 
The barrel construction of shotgun may
also be found in different bore
construction.  
A. cylinder bore type = which the bore size
is the same throughout the barrel  
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.
paradox gun” = still in a very rear occasions
another type of shotgun can be observed to be
having  rifling only a few inches from its
muzzle points.  
The Evolution of Firearms

 John M. Browning - Wizard of the modern

firearms and pioneered the breech loading
single shot rifled  which was adopted by
Winchester. 
Samuel Colt - Patented the first practical
revolver and maker of the Colt Peace Maker,
a famous revolver in  the history. 
 Alexander John Forsyth - Father
of the percussion powder. 
Major Uziel Gal - An Israeli army
who designed UZI (Israel) in the
year 1950
John C. Garand - Designed and
invented the Semi-automatic U.S. Rifle
Cal. 30. M1 garand
 George Hyde - A well-known expert in the
field of SMG,
Michael Kalashnikov - Designed the
AK (Automat Kalashnikova) 47 (Soviet
Union) adopted by the Russian  Army in
the year 1951. 
Horace Smith - Founded the great firm
of Smith and Wesson and pioneered in
making breech loading rifles. 
Eugene Stoner - Designed the U.S. M16
Armalite under licensed by Colt
Company from July 1959 onwards.
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. 
David “Carbine” Williams - Maker of the
first known Carbine. 
 Oliver Winchester - One of the earliest
rifles and pistol maker. 
  Cane gun,  = devices principally designed for other purpose to
which a  gun mechanism is incorporated .
 Tools = are those devices which resemble a gun designed but are
generally used for construction of furniture 
 Traps = refer to gun used for trapping animals that are fired to
woods. 
 Zip Gun = refer to all types of homemade gun. 
  Flare gun designed for tracing or sending signals or locating enemy
troops. 
  Freakish gun a tool in which firearm mechanism is attached to
prevent easy identification. 3. Gas gun = generally referring to all
guns designed from firing tear gas. 
  Harpoon guns refer to a barbed spear in hunting large fish. 
 Liberator U.S. government made smooth bore gun used in Europe
during war designed to fire an automatic  colt pistol cartridge caliber
.45. 
  Multi –Barreled gun  refers to all types of gun containing a
number of barrels. 
  Paradox gun a type of gun which contains lands and grooves a few
inches from the muzzle point.
Ammunition
 refersto 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 refers to a group of
cartridges or to a single cartridge
Technical Definition

Cartridge is a complete unfired unit 

consisting of bullet (ball), primer (cap),
cartridge case (shell) and gunpowder
(propellant). 
The word cartridge was derived from the
Latin word “Charta” meaning – a “paper”
and also from the  French word “Cartouche”
meaning – a rolled paper. This only
indicates that the first type of cartridge was
made up  of a rolled paper. 
General types of Ammunition 

 a. Dummy (used as a model) 

 b. Drill Ammunition (without gun powder) 
 c. Black Ammunition (without bullet) 
 d. Live Ammunition 
Shotgun Cartridge 

 Types of Shots 
 1.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 deform or flatten, loose their
velocity quicker, low penetrating power and string
out more. 
 2. Chilled or Hard Shot = is a type of shot with a
small amount of antimony mixed with lead to
increase  hardness. It does not deform easily, better
patterns, less string and more uniform velocity and
penetration.
  3. 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
cartridge

 1.Bullet ‐ the projectile propelled 
through the barrel by the expansive 
force of heated gas.  It is sometimes  called [slug].
2.Cartridge case –the container of 
the gunpowder, sometimes called  shell.
Gunpowder – sometimes called
(propellant or powder charges )
which when ignited by the primer
flash, is converted to gasses under
high pressure and propels the bullet
or shot charges through the barrel
and unto the target.
4.Primer – the chemical 
compound or (priming mixture )
contained in the  primer cup.  This mixture is 
highly susceptible to friction
According to the Location of the Primer

 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.  
b. 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
(cavity rim)
 Center fire = It 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.
According to Rim Diameter 
 CLASSIFICATION ACCORDING TO HEAD FORMS 
 1. Rimmed – diameter of base is very much bigger than of the body 
 2.  Semi-rimmed – diameter of base is slightly bigger than of
the body 
 3. Rimless – diameter of base is the same as of the body 
 4. Rebated type = refers to the cartridge with rimless pattern but
which has a rim diameter smaller  than the body of the case 
 5. Belted type = a cartridge with a prominent raise belt around its
body just in front of the extraction  groove.  
BULLETS (Projectiles)

  PROJECTILE – is a metallic or non metallic

body usually referred to as a bullet that is
completely dependent upon  an outside force for its
power
 Bullet”originated from the French word
“boulette”, a 
 smallball. In common Police parlance, a bullet
may be called “slug” which 
 is a colloquial term.
CLASSIFICATION OF BULLETS
ACCORDING TO MECHANICAL 
CONSTRUCTION
 1.  Lead Bullets – those which are made of lead or alloy
of this metal 
 such as lead, tin and antimony. 
 2.  Jacketed Bullets – those with a core of lead alloy
covered a  jacket of harder metal such as guiding metal
and copper zinc. 
 1. Ball Bullet ‐ this kind of bullet has soft cores and is used against
personnel only.
 2. Armor Piercing Bullet – a kind of bullet that has hardened steel
core and its fired against vehicles, weapons, and armored targets in
general
 3.Tracer Bullet – contains a compound, usually similar to barium
nitrate, which is set on fire when the bullet is projected. The flash
smoke from the burning permits the flight of the bullet to be seen.
 4.Incendiary Bullet – contains a high charge of explosives. Because
of its small size, 
Parts of cartridge case

 1. 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. 
 2. Rim= is the part of the cartridge designed to limit the forward
movement of the cartridge to chamber. 
 3. Extracting grooves= is the circular groove near the rim of the
shell designed for automatic withdrawal  of the case from the
chamber. 
 4. 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. 
 5.Body= is the cylindrical part of the shell which houses
the gunpowder. 
 6.Shoulder= that part of the cartridge case which supports
the neck of the cartridge which is evident in a  bottleneck
type.
 7. 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. 
 8.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. 
 9. 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 offer resistance to the bullet out of the  neck to
ensure burning of the gun powder. 
 10. 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. 
 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 burst into flame when struck by the
firing pin
Parts of the Primer 
 1. Primer Cup= Is the brass gilding metal cup which contains the
priming mixture, the disc and the anvil. 
 2. Priming Mixture= Is the highly sensitive chemical compound
which ignites by the mechanical blow of  the firing pin. 
 3. Anvil= Is that portion of the primer which provides solid support
and absorbs the blow of the firing pin  causing friction that would
initiate ignition. 
 4. Disc= Is a thin paper or foil which is pressed over the priming
mixture in order to protect it from moisture  attack. 
CLASSIFICATIONS AND COMPOSITI
ON OF  PROPELLANTS
 1.Black powder – this is oldest form of
propellants, the standard ingredients of black
powder are: potassium nitrate (75%), sulfur (15%)
and charcoal (10%).
 2. Smokeless powder  – this powder do not gives 
off huge cloud of white  smoke like black powder.
CLASS CHARACTERISTICS are those
that exist in a firearm or firearms even
prior to their manufacture. T
MARKS FOUND ON FIRED BULLET

 RIFLING MARKS – they  are found on the cylindrical 

portion of the fired bullets or  slugs and are caused by the 
riflings inside the barrel.
 SKID MARKS – are  generally found  on bullets on 
slugs fired from revolvers,  these marks are more  or less 
found on the anterior portion  of the fired bullets or slugs, 
and are caused by the forward 
movement of the build before 
it rotates as required by riflings
STRIPPING MARKS –
are generally found on 
bullets or slugs through 
loose fit barrels  wherein  the riflings
are badly  worn out.
 Shaving Marks = marks commonly
found on bullet fired from a revolver
caused by its forward  
Slippage mark- found on fired
bullets passing through either on oily
barrel or oversized barrel 
MARKS FOUND ON FIRED SHELLS:

 FIRING PIN MARKS – are 
generally found in the primer cup 
which is the central area of the 
base of the cartridge, in case of  rim‐
fire cartridge, the firing pin 
strikes in any portion along the  rim 
wherein the priming mixture is  contained.
EJECTOR MARKS – these are 
generally found in cartridges fired 
from automatic weapons, they are 
also near the rim
 EXTRACTOR MARKS – these 
are generally found in cartridges 
fired in pistols, rifles, shotguns and 
machine guns, this are found along 
the rim of the fired cartridge case.
 MAGAZINE LIP MARKS  –
these markings are found on the rim 
of the cartridge cases and are 
caused by magazine lips during the 
loading of the cartridges into  position of firing.
 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.  
 Individual Characteristics = are meant
for those characteristics which are being
determined only after  the firearm had
already been manufactured. They are the
product of machine imperfections and
some later due  to the used of the
firearms. 
Types of Rifling

 1.Steyer Type= is the type of rifling having four (4) lands

and grooves, right twist and the width of the  land’s
grooves. (4 RG=L) 
 2. Carbine Type = rifling having (4) lands and grooves,
right twist, the width of the grooves is two (2)  times the
width of the lands (4RG2X). 
 3.Smith and Wesson = rifling having (5) lands and
grooves, right hand twist , the width of the land  and
grooves are equal. (5RG=L) 
 4. 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. (6LG2X) 
 5.Browning = type of rifling having (6) lands and
grooves, right hand twist, the width of the grooves  is
twice the width of the lands. (6RG2X) 
 6. 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. (7RG3X)
 7. 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. 
 Thesuccessful identification of the firearms from
discharged bullet and empty cartridge cases is
based upon a basic principle “THERE IS NO
DUPLICATION IN NATURE & EXCEPTIONS
TO THIS RULE ARE NEVER MANIFESTED AS
THE RESULT OF MAN’S INGENUITY.” These
characteristics are produced at the stage of
manufacturing of firearms, & a result of
coincidental procedure and subsequent mutations.
PRINCIPLES INVOLVE IN SHELL IDE
NTIFICATION
 1. The breech face and firing pin of every single firearm
have individual microscopic individuals of their own;
 2.Every firearm leaves its fingerprint or thumbprint on
every cartridge it fires; 
 3. That, since the breech face of every weapon has
individual distinction, the imprints of all cartridge cases
fired from the same weapon are the same
PRINCIPLES IN BULLET OR SLUG 
IDENTIFICATION
 1.No two barrels are microscopically alike or identical as
the internal surface of the bore or barrels all possess
individual characteristics of their own; 
 2. When a bullet is fired from a rifled gun barrel, riflings
are engraved therein, which vary in its minute details with
other firearms, even of the same type.
 3.every barrel leaves thumbprints or fingerprints on
every bullet fired on it.
 Is a type of mark found on the bullets fired to a
revolver which is located more or less at the
interior portion of the bullet due to its forward
movement to the chamber and before it initially
rotates? 
 a. Stripping marks 
 b. Shaving marks 
 c. Slippage marks 
 d. Skid marks
D
 Isa condition in which two bullets or shells are
examined and compared under the comparison
microscope at the same time, level and direction
and magnification and same image?
  a. Pseudo match
  b. False match  C

 c. Juxtaposition 
 d. Sodo match
 . The chemical eating away of the bore of an arm due to
rusting or the action of salts deposited from the cap of gun
powder is 
 a. Pressure 
 b. Extractor 
 c. Corrosion 
 d. Priming composition C
 thatmechanism in a firearm which the cartridge
case or shell is withdraw from the chamber
 a. ejector 
 b. ejection port 
 c. extractor
 d. ejector port C
 In firearm examination, the distance advanced by the
riflings in one complete turn is?
  A.Pitch of riflings
 B.None of these 
 C.Depth of grooves 
 D.Depth of twist
A
 Thetype of cartridge with a rim diameter smaller
than the body is what kind of cartridge? 
 A.Center 
 B.Belted
  C.Rebated
C
 D.Rimmed
 . The importance of individual marks left on a
bullet by a gun barrel is that it is useful in directly
identifying the: 
 a. Bullet which caused the fatal wound 
 b. Person who fired a particular firearm 
 c. Gun from which a bullet was fired 
 d. possible direction of the shot

C
. European made firearm are usually referred in
millimeter in determining calibers, when you talk
of 9mm you are referring to?
 a. .38 cal 
 b. .357 cal 
 c. .45 cal  A

 d. .30 cal
. Fire arms include muskets, carbine shotgun etc. as
mention in ________ of the revised administrative
code. 
 a. Sec. 788 
 b. Sec. 787 
 c. Sec. 878 
D
 d. Sec. 877
Is the rearward reaction of the firearm in
relation to the forward movement of the
bullet upon firing?
a. Back fire
 b. Recoil
 c. Buck shot
B
d. Ricochet