I N T E R I O R

Ballistics INTERIOR

Branches of Ballistics
Ballistics

Presented by:
NABAT, RHEA
Interior Ballistics
This branch of ballistics centers on the
study of the different phenomena that occur
while the projectile is still inside the
firearm.
Firing Pin Striking The Primer
This phenomenon will occur after the
hammer of the firearm strikes the firing
pin.
Firing Pin Striking The Primer
Firing Pin Striking The Primer
Primer
A part of the cartridge usually located at the
center of its base. It contains a highly sensitive
chemical that will produce ignition or heat
when the firing pin strikes it.
Firing Pin Striking The Primer
Primer
Firing Pin Striking The Primer
Firing Pin or Striker
A part of the firing mechanism pf a firearm that
impacts the primer in the base of a cartridge and
causes it to fire.
Firing Pin Striking The Primer
Firing Pin or Striker
Firing Pin Striking The Primer
Misfire
The phenomenon in which there is an absence
of explosion after the firing pin strikes the
primer.
Ignition of Priming Mixture
If the primer is not defective, it will produce
a spark when struck by a firing pin that is
sufficiemt in length and brings enough
force.
Ignition of Priming Mixture
Ignition of Priming Mixture
Priming Mixture
Highly sensitive chemical mixture contained in
a primer cup.
Ignition of Priming Mixture
Priming Mixture
Ignition of Priming Mixture
Percussion
The ignition resulting from the firing pin’s
impact to the primer.
Ignition of Priming Mixture
Hangfire
The phenomenon in which there is a delayed
explosion for several seconds after the firing pin
blows the primer.
Combustion of Gunpowder
The percussion produced by the priming mixture
will pass through the vent or flash hole towards
the gunpowder. This process results from the
gunpowder being exposed to heat. Since
gunpowder is sensitive to heat, then, it will react
in the form of combustion.
Combustion of Gunpowder
Combustion of Gunpowder
Combustion
The production of fire or heat due to a rapid
chemical process.
Combustion of Gunpowder
Vent or Flash Hole
Hole located at the center of the primer pocket
which serves as the canal of the ignition
produced by the primer towards the gunpowder.
Combustion of Gunpowder
Vent or Flash Hole
Expansion of Heated Gas in the

The heated gas produced from the combustion of

gunpowrder and will expand inside the cartridge.
Consequently, the heated gas wwill cause the
body of the cartridge to expand.
Expansion of Heated Gas in the
Expansion of Heated Gas in the
Chamber
The part of a firearm into which the cartridge os
loaded. The chamber is also the place the
cartridge is fired from.
Expansion of Heated Gas in the
Chamber
Expansion of Heated Gas in the
Chamber Markings
The result due to the contact between the
cartridge case and the chamber wall after the
expansion of heated gas.
Expansion of Heated Gas in the
Chamber Markings
Pressure Develop
The heated gas produced in the cartridge will
expand. Both the vapor pressure and the volume it
occupies will increase. However, it is enclosed in
a sealed and a small container wich is too small to
accommodate its explansion.
Pressure Develop
As such, more impacts on the walls of the
container and an increase in the pressure will be
developed. The weakest part of the cartridge
against the massive pressure of the heated gas
inside is the mouth where the bullet is crimped.
Pressure Develop
Crimp
Pressure Develop
Pound Per Square Inch (psi)
Refers to the standard unit of pressure. The
pressure resulting resulting from a force of one
pound applied to an area of square inch.
Pressure Develop
Breech Face Marking
The marking created after the cartridge case is
extracted from the chamber and comes in
contact with the breech face of the firearm.
Pressure Develop
Breech Face Marking
Energy Generated
When pressure is developed, a massive force will
also be generated. This force serves as the source
of the energy of the bullet. Therefore, the bullet is
already fatal while still inside the firearm because
the pressure brought by the heated gas inside the
chamber had already been tremendous.
Energy Generated
The kncking power of the bullet depends on the
quantity of gunpowder because this is where the
pressure and forces are ultimately coming from.
To sum up, it is correct to say that the more
quantity of gunpowder, the greater the energy of
the bullet.
Energy Generated
Energy
The fatal equivalent of the bullet compared to a
pound that is dropped from a certain height.
Energy Generated
Foot-pound (ft-lb)
The unit of the bullet’s energy. The amount of
force required to move a one pound object
through a distance of one foot
Initial Velocity of the Bullet
The speed of the bullet as it travels from the
chamber to the barrel of the firearm. The velocity
of the bullet depends on the load and the quality
of the gunpowder.
Rotation of the Bullet in the Barrel
The bullet will rotate as it moves inside the rifled
bore firearm
A rfiled bore firearm is a firearm in which the
barrel has rifling. The purpose of the rotating
movement of the bullet is to develop gyroscopic
stability.
Rotation of the Bullet in the Barrel
Rotation of the Bullet in the Barrel
Rifling
The part of a barrel of the rifled bore firearm
composed of lands and grooves. It is designed
to cause the bullet to rotate either left or right,
depending on the manufacturer of the firearm
Rotation of the Bullet in the Barrel
Rifling
Rotation of the Bullet in the Barrel
Gyroscopic Stability
The condition in which the bullet os stable
during its flight within the effective range. It is
developed when a bullet passes through a barrel
that has rifling.
Engraving of the Cylindrical Surface of
the Bullet Stability
Gyroscopic
The bullet is a little bit bigger than the diameter
of the firearm’s bore. So that it can pass through
the bore, its cylindrical surface will be engraved
by the rifling of the gun.
Engraving of the Cylindrical Surface of
the Bullet Stability
Gyroscopic
This process produces a significant marking on
the bullet called rifling mark. Moreover, this
engraving caused the small particles from the
bullet’s body to be accumulated inside the
barrel. It is called metal fouling.
Engraving of the Cylindrical Surface of
the Bullet Stability
Gyroscopic
If this accumulation of residue or particles will
not be cleaned or removed, it will cause rust and
further result in erosionin the gunbarrel. Erosion
in the gun barrel will produce new significant
characteristics of the rifling.
Engraving of the Cylindrical Surface of
the Bullet Stability
Gyroscopic
Engraving of the Cylindrical Surface of
the Bullet
Cylindrical Surface
The bullet’s body that comes in contact with the
rifling of the gun.
Engraving of the Cylindrical Surface of
the Bullet
Barrel Leading (Metal Fouling),
The accumulation of lead or bullet jacket
material in a firearm’s bore due to the passage
of bullets.
Engraving of the Cylindrical Surface of
the Bullet
Barrel Leading (Metal Fouling),
Engraving of the Cylindrical Surface of
the Bullet
Erosion
The wearing away of the interface pf the bore
due to the combined effects of gas washing,
rusting, scoring, and mechanical abrasion.
Engraving of the Cylindrical Surface of
the Bullet
Erosion
Recoil of the Gun
Major Recoil
The equal and opposite reaction of the gun that
occurs immediately after the heated gas exits
from the barrel of the firearm and comes in
contact with the atmosphere. This results in the
whole gun moving backward.
Recoil of the Gun
Major Recoil
Recoil of the Gun
Minor Recoil
The equal and backward movement of the pistol
slide after the cartridge case is pushed by the
heated gas out from the chamber. This process
resulted from the collision between the base of
the cartodge case and the breech face.
Recoil of the Gun
Minor Recoil
The breech face is an integral part of the bolt.
The bolt is attached to the slide. Thus, the whole
slide will also move backward.
Recoil of the Gun
Minor Recoil
Recoil of the Gun
A Muzzle brake
Designed to redirect the exit of the heated gas
backward and, therefore, counter the gun’s
recoil.
Recoil of the Gun
A Muzzle brake
 INTERIOR SALAMAT
Ballistics

Presented by:
NABAT, RHEA