An Overview of Forensic Ballistics Ankit Srivastava, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Institute of Forensic Science & Criminology Bundelkhand University, Jhansi – 284128, UP, India E-mail: [email protected] ; Mob: +91-9415067667 Ballistics Ballistics It is a branch of applied mechanics which deals with the study of motion of projectile and missiles and their associated phenomenon. Forensic Ballistics It is an application of science of ballistics to solve the problems related with shooting incident(where firearm is used). Firearms or guns Bullets/Pellets Cartridge cases Related Evidence Bullet holes Damaged bullet Gun shot wounds Gun shot residue Forensic Ballistics is divided into 3 sub-categories Internal Ballistics External Ballistics Terminal Ballistics Internal Ballistics The study of the phenomenon occurring inside a firearm when a shot is fired. It includes the study of various firearm mechanisms and barrel manufacturing techniques; factors influencing internal gas pressure; and firearm recoil . The most common types of Internal Ballistics examinations are: ✓ examining mechanism to determine the causes of accidental discharge ✓ examining home-made devices (zip-guns) to determine if they are capable of discharging ammunition effectively ✓ microscopic examination and comparison of fired bullets and cartridge cases to determine whether a particular firearm was used External Ballistics The study of the projectile’s flight from the moment it leaves the muzzle of the barrel until it strikes the target. The Two most common types of External Ballistics examinations are: calculation and reconstruction of bullet trajectories establishing the maximum range of a given bullet Terminal Ballistics The study of the projectile’s effect on the target or the counter-effect of the target on the projectile. The ‘target’ can be any solid or liquid object, but when the target is a human or animal it is common to use the term “wound ballistics”. Common types of Terminal Ballistics examinations are : determination of the distance between firing point and target establishing whether or not a particular wound was caused by a fired bullet determining the caliber and type of projectile that caused bullet damage or gunshot wound examination of bullet exit/entrance by examining the holes in targets, or the wounds in biological tissue examination of ricochet possibilities and fired projectiles FIRE ARMS Firearm is a device for propelling the projectiles at a high velocity and the force to propel these projectiles comes from the propellant. History ➢Marcus Graccus was the inventor of Gunpowder. ➢The first use of gun powder was made by Romans for the shake of fun. ➢Device was known as “ Roman Candle Tube”. The hand cannon By the mid 1300’s the first recorded use of a firearm was noted. These were primitive muzzle loading black powder firearms. Referred to as hand cannons or hand guns. Complicated and fragile firing system. Gunpowder was placed in a flash pan. Lit fuse ignited the flash pan which ignited the main powder charge. Match lock • Primitive triggers allow the mechanical firing of guns • Complicated and fragile firing system. • Gunpowder was placed in a flash pan. • Lit fuse ignited the flash pan which ignited the main powder charge. • Pros- First trigger Cons- Fragile, weather sensitive, poor accuracy Wheel lock guns • Early 1500s • Think of cigarette lighters. • Flint and steel ignition. • Pros- Shorter lock time, better accuracy, Less weather sensitive. • Cons- Fragile operating system, very expensive to manufacture. The Snapaunce First appeared around 1570. This mechanism was much simpler and less expensive than the Wheel Lock. Flintlocks • On the scene by 1630. • Developed by French. • Cheaper to produce then wheel locks. • Pros- Cheap to produce, relatively fast reloads, work well for pirate movies. • Cons- weather sensitive, fragile Percussion Caps In 1820s. Making serious strides towards cartridges. Explosive pressure sensitive. Ignition system much less sensitive to weather. ➢ Pros- Cheap, fast lock time, improved weather resistance, multi-shot (repeater) action, looks good in Westerns. ➢ Cons- Slow reload time, possible sympathetic detonations. Classification of Firearms The modern firearms are classified on the basis of several characteristics. ❖ Handling Characteristics ❖ Bore Characteristics ❖ Loading Characteristics ❖Action Characteristics ❖ Use Handling Characteristics Handguns Shoulder Arms Mounting Guns HAND GUNS ➢ Handguns are classified as weapons that are designed to be highly portable and fired by the individual with one or both hands. ➢ Handguns are sub-divided into two groups: REVOLVERS and PISTOLS SHOULDER ARMS ➢ A firearm that is fired while being held in the hands with the butt of the weapon braced against the shoulder. ➢ Some of the shoulder firearms are: Rifle. Shotgun. MOUNTING GUNS Mounting guns are those in which stand is used to prevent the recoil. Bore Characteristics Smooth Bore Rifled Bore SMOOTH BORE & RIFLED BORE FIREARMS Smooth-bore weapon has a barrel that is completely smooth on the inside, while a Rifled-bore weapon has land and grooves that help the bullet to get stability and accuracy. Each type of weapon has specific uses and differing levels of power and accuracy. Loading Characteristics Muzzle Breech Magazine Loading Loading Loading Muzzle Loading Firearms The firearms into which the projectile and usually the propellant charge is loaded from the muzzle of the gun. This usually use loose propellant and projectile as well as separate method of ignition or priming. Now a days, these types of firearms are not in use. Breech Loading Firearms In these firearms the cartridge or shell is inserted or loaded into a chamber integral to rear portion of a barrel. The main advantage is that, this reduces the reloading time as it is much quicker. It also protect the crew member during loading ammunitions. Magazine Loading Firearms A magazine is an ammunition storage and feeding device within or attached to a repeating firearms. Magazines may be integral to the firearm (fixed) or removable (detachable). Action Characteristics Lever Action Bolt Action Automatic Lever Action Firearms It is a type of firearms which uses a lever, located around the trigger guard area, including the trigger guard to load fresh cartridges into the chamber of the barrel. Bolt Action Firearms In these firearms bolt action is operated in weapon manually by the opening and closing of the breech with a small handle, most commonly placed on the right hand side of the weapon. This action is most common in Rifles. Automatic Firearms A firearms that will continue to fire so long as the trigger is pressed and there is ammunition in the magazine. They extracts the used cartridge case from the barrel and ejects it, and load the new case and keeps firing until the trigger is released. Uses Sporting Service Sporting & Service Firearms Sporting firearms are used for sporting purpose like in Shooting, Air gun etc. while Service guns are mostly those guns used by Administrative Officers, Gazette Officers, Police, Army etc. Some Common Rifles are…… ✓ .22" Sporting Rifle ✓ .315" Sporting Rifle ✓ 30 - 06 Sporting Rifle ✓ 5.56 mm Assault Rifle ✓ 5.56 mm INSAS Rifle ✓ Rifle 5.56 mm INSAS (Fixed Butt) ✓ Rifle Excalibur 5.56 mm ✓ Assault Rifle AK 47 ✓ Assault Rifle AK 74 .22" Sporting Rifle Calibre .22 inch L.R. Barrel length 632 mm Chamber International stadard (5.70 mm * 16.50 mm) Groove 6 Nos. R.H. 1 Turn in Range 200 m max. Safety On rare in top of the body by turning lever safety Trigger pull Adjustable (minimum 1kg) Weight of the rifle 3 kg approx Overall length 1092 mm Furniture Wooden Magazine capacity 10 rounds .315" Sporting Rifle Calibre 8mm Barrel length 640 mm Range 275 mts Trigger pull 2.27 to 2.72 kgs Weight of the rifle 3.34 kg approx (without magazine) Overall length 44 " / 1117 mm (aprrox) Magazine Box type , capacity-5 cartridges .30 Sporting Rifle Calibre 0.30 inches Barrel Chrome flash with 4 grooves. Foresight Adjustable type Rearsight Adjustable ramp type Range 400 mts Trigger pull 1.5 kg (max) Weight of the rifle 3.0 kg Magazine 3 rounds 5.56 mm Assault Rifle Calibre 5.56 mm Barrel Chrome plated Length of weapon 960 mm Weight of weapon without magazine 4.15 kg Weight of weapon with full magazine 4.5 Kg Recoil energy 4.45 J Range 400 mts 5.56 mm INSAS Rifle Calibre 5.56 mm Length in folded condition 750 mm Weight of weapon Without magazine 4.25 kgs With full magazine 4.6 kgs Recoil Energy 4.43 Joules Barrel Chrome plated PNS/Daylight Telescope Provided Range 400 m Mode of Firing Single shot, three round burst. Gas operated. 5.56 mm INSAS (Fixed Butt) Calibre 5.56 mm Muzzle Velocity (m/s) 900 Length of Rifle (mm) Without Bayonet 960 With Bayonet 1110 Weight of rifle 4.15 kg Effective range 400 mt Range for grenade 200 mt Multimode 150 Magazine capacity 20 Cyclic rate 600 to 650 (rounds per min) Trigger pull 2.10 to 4.00 kg Recoil energy 4.43 J Type of fire Single, 3 Round Burst Excalibur 5.56 mm Calibre 5.56 mm Length –Butt Folded/ Butt Extended 665mm/895mm Weight without Magazine 3.81 kg Weight with Full Magazine 4.03 kg Weight of Empty Magazine 0.09 kg Magazine Capacity 20/30 rounds Length of Barrel 400 mm Barrel Chamber and Bore Chrome Plated Rifling 6/1 turn in 200/RH System of Operation Gas operated Mode of Fire Single Shot and Automatic Rate of Fire (650 to 700) rounds/min Effective range 400 m Assault Rifle AK 47 A K Avtomat Kalashnikova Length 699 mm (Butt folded), 869 mm (Butt Extended) Weight with telescopic sight 4.3 kg Barrel length 414 mm Rifling 4 grooves, RH, 1 turn in 235 mm Operation Gas operated Locking Rotating bolt Magazine Plastic Box , Capacity- 30 rounds Cartridge 7.62 X 39 mm Rate of fire 600 rounds/min Muzzle velocity 710 m/s Maximum Effective Range 300 mt Assault Rifle AK 74 A K Avtomat Kalashnikova Length 930 mm (Butt folded), 690 mm (Butt Extended) Weight with telescopic sight 3.6 kg Barrel length 400 mm Rifling 4 grooves, RH, 1 turn in 196 mm Operation Gas operated, on selection one can fire in bursts of 3 shots.