Gunshot Wounds Practical Aspects of Firearms, Ballistics, and Forensic Techniques Second Edition
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Gunshot Wounds Practical Aspects of Firearms, Ballistics, and Forensic Techniques Second Edition by Vincent J. M. DiMaio, M.D. ©1999 CRC Press LLC Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Catalog record is available from the Library of Congress. This book contains information obtained from authentic and highly regarded sources. Reprinted material is quoted with permission, and sources are indicated. A wide variety of references are listed. Reasonable efforts have been made to publish reliable data and information, but the author and the publisher cannot assume responsibility for the validity of all materials or for the consequences of their use. Neither this book nor any part may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, microfilming, and recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the publisher. The consent of CRC Press LLC does not extend to copying for general distribution, for promotion, for creating new works, or for resale. Specific permission must be obtained in writing from CRC Press LLC for such copying. Direct all inquiries to CRC Press LLC, 2000 Corporate Blvd., N.W., Boca Raton, Florida 33431. Trademark Notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are only used for identification and explanation, without intent to infringe. © 1999 by CRC Press LLC No claim to original U.S. Government works International Standard Book Number 0-8493-8163-0 Printed in the United States of America 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 Printed on acid-free paper ©1999 CRC Press LLC To My Parents ©1999 CRC Press LLC Contents Foreword Acknowledgments Editor’s Note 1 Firearms and Ammunition Small Arms Handguns Rifles Assault Rifles Shotguns Submachine Guns Caliber Nomenclature for Rifled Weapons Ammunition Cartridge Cases Head Stamps Primers Propellants Bullets Caseless Ammunition Flint and Percussion Weapons References 2 The Forensic Aspects of Ballistics Class and Individual Characteristics of Bullets Comparison of Bullets Cartridge Cases Base Markings Cytology on Bullets and Clothing DNA Typing of Tissue on Bullets Fingerprints Black Powder Firearms Discharge of a Weapon References ©1999 CRC Press LLC 3 Wound Ballistics Loss of Kinetic Energy References 4 An Introduction to the Classification of Gunshot Wounds Contact Wounds Near-Contact Wounds Intermediate-Range Wounds Cylinder Gap Silencers Muzzle Brakes/Compensators Flash Suppressors Gas Ports/Vents Miscellaneous Powder Patterns Distant Gunshot Wounds Entrance Versus Exit Wounds Entrance Wounds Exit Wounds Miscellaneous Entrance Wounds Intermediary Targets Stippling: Powder Tattooing and Pseudo-Powder Tattooing Pseudo-Soot Ricochet Bullets Bone Bullet Wounds of the Skull Caliber Determination from Entrance Wounds Bullet Wipe Backspatter References 5 Wounds Due to Handguns Contact Wounds Contact Wounds over Bone Near-Contact Wounds Hair Gas Injuries Intermediate-Range Wounds Cylinder Gap Distant Wounds ©1999 CRC Press LLC Addendum: Centerfire Handgun Cartridges .25 ACP (6.35 × 16) .32 ACP (7.65 × 17SR) .32 Smith & Wesson and .32 Smith & Wesson Long .38 Smith & Wesson (9 × 20R) .38 Special .357 Magnum .380 ACP (9 × 19 mm/9-mm Kurz/9-mm Corto/ 9-mm Browning Short) 9 × 18-mm Makarov .38 Colt Super Auto (9 × 23R) 9-mm Luger (9-mm Parabellum / 9 × 19-mm) .40 Smith and Wesson .45 ACP (11.43 × 23) .44 Smith & Wesson Magnum References 6 Wounds from .22 Caliber Rimfire Weapons .22 Magnum .22 Short, Long, and Long Rifle Cartridges .22 Short Cartridge .22 Long Ammunition .22 Long Rifle Ammunition Shot Cartridges Hyper-Velocity .22’s BB and CB Caps Frangible Rimfire Ammunition CCI Rimfire Ammunition Wounds Due to Rimfire Ammunition Contact Wounds Intermediate-Range Wounds Distant Wounds References 7 Wounds from Centerfire Rifles Centerfire Rifle Bullets Centerfire Rifle Wounds Powder Tatooing X-rays Perforating Tendency of Centerfire Rifle Bullets ©1999 CRC Press LLC ©1999 CRC Press LLC Intermediary Targets Soot-like Residues Assault Rifles Military Ammunition Converted to Sporting Ammunition Plastic Wads in Rifle Bullets Addendum: Rifle Calibers .223 Remington (5.56 × 45 mm) 5.45 × 39 .243 Winchester (6.16 × 51 mm) .270 Winchester 7-mm Magnum 7.62 × 39 30 M-1 Carbine (7.62 × 33 mm) .30-30 Winchester .30-06 Springfield (7.62 × 63 mm) .308 Winchester (7.62 × 51 mm) 7.62 × 54R (7.62-mm Mosin-Nagent) References 8 Wounds from Shotguns Shotgun Ammunition Shot Birdshot Buckshot Ammunition Shotgun Slugs Wounds Due to Slugs Wound Ballistics of the Shotgun Shotgun Wounds Contact Wounds of the Head Intermediate and Close-Range Wounds of the Head Contact Wounds of the Trunk Intermediate Range Wounds of the Body Distant Wounds Wounds from Buckshot Pellet Holes in Window Screens Sawed-Off Shotguns Shotgun Diverters Automatic Ejection of Fired Hulls Miscellaneous Notes on Shotgun Shell Miscellaneous Shotgun Ammunition References ©1999 CRC Press LLC 9 Bloody Bodies and Bloody Scenes Physical Activity Following Gunshot Wounds Wounds Seen in the Emergency Room Minimal Velocities Necessary to Perforate Skin Bullet Emboli Gunshot Wounds of the Brain Bone Chips Secondary Fractures of the Skull Shape of the Bullet Tracks Point of Lodgement of the Bullet Intrauterine Gunshot Wounds Lead Poisoning from Retained Bullets Location of Fatal Gunshot Wounds Behavior of Ammunition and Gunpowder in Fires Blunt-Force Injuries from Firearms Multiple Gunshot Wounds Through One Entrance Falling Bullets Reaction-Response Times in Handgun Shootings References 10 Miscellaneous Weapons and Ammunition Air Weapons Zip Guns Stud Guns Captive Bolt Devices (Pistols) Bang Sticks Sympathetic Discharge of Rimfire Firearms Bullets without Rifling Marks Elongated Bullets Cast Bullets Sabot Ammunition Tandem Bullets New Forms of Handgun Ammunition Hollow-Point Design Miscellaneous Bullet Design Ammunition Intended for Use In Indoor Ranges NYCLAD® Revolver Cartridges Frangible Bullets “Armor-Piercing” Handgun Ammunition: KTW and Its Legacy Handgun Shot Cartridges ©1999 CRC Press LLC Plastic Training Ammunition Flechettes Rubber and Plastic Bullets Blank Cartridge Injuries Electrical Guns Interchangeability of Ammunition in Weapons Markings and Foreign Material on Bullets Effect of Environmental Temperature on Bullet Velocity References 11 X-rays References 12 Detection of Gunshot Residues Methods of Analyzing Gunshot Residues Flameless Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (FAAS) Scanning Microscope-Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectrometry (SEM-EDX Trace Metal Detection Technique (TMDT) Gunshot Wounds Through Clothing Analytical Examination of Clothing for Range Determination The Modified Greiss Test The Sodium Rhodizonate Test EDX for Examination of Clothes Range Determination in Decomposed Bodies Addendum References 13 Correct Handling of Deaths from Firearms The Autopsy Report 14 Suicide by Firearms Suicides due to Handguns Suicides Due to Long Arms Suicides in General Movement of Firearms at the Scene Guns Found in the Hand ©1999 CRC Press LLC Backspatter (Blowback) on the Hands of Shooters in Cases of Suicide Backspatter (Blowback) on Weapons in Cases of Contact Wounds “Russian Roulette” Accidental Deaths from Firearms Rifles and Shotguns Slam-Fires References Appendix A “Stopping Power” and Hollow-Point Pistol Ammunition: Myths and Facts Appendix B The Forensic Autopsy in Gunshot Wound Cases ©1999 CRC Press LLC ©1999 CRC Press LLC Foreword This Second Edition of Gunshot Wounds: Practical Aspects of Firearms, Bal- listics, and Forensic Techniques, written by Vincent J. M. Di Maio, M.D. has been greatly expanded to include over 78 new photographs with references and discussions not covered in the original text. Dr. Di Maio has taken his personal observations, experience and research of gunshot wounds and fire- arms to create an extremely practical hands-on guide. Guns continue to be the most frequently used weapons in murder and firearms account for more than half of the slayings. Therefore, this Second Edition of Gunshot Wounds: Practical Aspects of Firearms, Ballistics, and Foren- sic Techniques, will continue to be the definitive source and reference for Medical Examiners, forensic pathologists, professional law enforcement offic- ers, forensic crime laboratories, lawyers and others involved in the criminal justice and forensic fields. In 1985, the First Edition of Gunshot Wounds: Practical Aspects of Fire- arms, Ballistics, and Forensic Techniques written by Vincent J. M. Di Maio, M.D. was published within my Practical Aspects of Criminal and Forensic Investigations Series. At the time of this first publication, I had the opportunity to write the Foreword and stated; “…without a doubt this text was the most comprehen- sive text on gunshot wounds available today.” Little did I know how significant that statement would become. In fact, the First Edition became a benchmark within the forensic community and could only be replaced with this new and augmented Second Edition. I have known Dr. Di Maio for over twenty years and I consider him to be the nation’s foremost authority in the sphere of gunshot wounds and forensic techniques as they relate to firearm injuries. In both my Second and Third Editions of Practical Homicide Investigation: Tactics, Procedures and Forensic Techniques I cite the work of Dr. Di Maio. Dr. Di Maio, who is presently the Chief Medical Examiner of Bexar County, in San Antonio, Texas was previously affiliated with Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences in Dallas, Texas. Dr. Di Maio has been able to view