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Forensic Ballistics. Introductory Notes. What is Forensic ballistics?. Forensic ballistics attempts to establish the true facts in a shooting crime Ballistic evidence includes Firearms Bullets Cartridge cases. Major Types of Ballistic Evidence. Bullet holes Bullet damage
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Forensic Ballistics Introductory Notes
What is Forensic ballistics? • Forensic ballistics attempts to establish the true facts in a shooting crime • Ballistic evidence includes • Firearms • Bullets • Cartridge cases
Major Types of Ballistic Evidence • Bullet holes • Bullet damage • Bullet trajectories • Gunshot wounds
Internal Ballistics • Internal Ballistics studies all of the processes inside a firearm. • Most common responsibilities are: • Examining firearms in case of accidental discharge • Examining homemade devices called zip guns • The microscopic examination of fired bullets and cartridge cases
External Ballistics • External ballistics studies the projectile of the bullet from the gun to target. • Two common types of external ballistics are: • Calculation and reconstruction of bullet trajectories • Establishing the maximum range of a given bullet
Terminal Ballistics • Terminal ballistics is the study of the projectiles effect on the target. • The target can be any solid or living object • When the target is human or animal this is often referred to as “wound ballistics”
Types of Terminal Ballistics • Determination of distance between firing and target • Establishing whether a particular wound was caused by a fired bullet • Determining the caliber and type of projectile that caused the wound • Identifying exit/entrance by examining holes in targets or wounds • Examination of ricochet possibilities on targets and fired projectiles