BALLISTICS

BALLISTICS

science of the motion of the projectile and the condition that affects their motion

PROJECTILE

object that is propelled by the application of an external forces

PROJECTILE

any metallic or non-metallic ball which propelled from a firearm

MOTION

refers to the mobility or movement of the projectile

DIRECT MOTION

forward motion of the bullet or shots out of the shell by the action of the expansive force of gases from a burning gunpowder.

ROTATORY MOTION

action of the bullet passing through a rifled bore barrel firearm which is either twisted to the left or to the right

TRANSLATIONAL MOTION

action of bullet once it hits a target and subsequently ricocheted

THREE TYPES OF MOTION

Direct, Rotatory and Translational

TO THROW

two Greek words, the word “ballo” and the word “ballein” which literally means

INTERIOR BALLISTICS

it treats of the motion of the projectile while it is still inside the firearm (chamber/barrel) which extends from the breech to the muzzle

RECOIL

Is the equal and opposite reaction of the gun against the forward movement of the bullet upon explosion. The backward or rearward movement of the gun in relation to the forward movement of the bullet.

EXTERIOR BALLISTICS

treats of the attributes or movement of the projectile after leaving the gun muzzle

MISFIRE

failure ior the cartrdige to explode after the firing pin strikes the primer

Causes of Misfire

1. Broken Firing Pin

2. Loose Firing Pin

3. Lacking Length in Firing Pin

HANGFIRE

delayed of explosion of the cartridge after the firing pin strikes the primer

CAUSES OF HANGFIRE

1. Wet Priming Mixture

2. Anvil is not properly fixed

3. No vent or flash hole

4. No priming mixture

PISTOL TRIGGER PRESSURE

3 to 4 lbs

REVOLVER TRIGGER PRESSURE

3 to 5 lbs

SHOTGUN TRIGGER PRESSURE

4 lbs

RIFLE TRIGGER PRESSURE

6 to 7 lbs

EXTERIOR BALLISTICS

treats of the attributes or movement of the projectile after leaving the gun muzzle.

MUZZLE BLAST

noise created at the muzzle point of the gun

MUZZLE ENERGY

Energy generated at the muzzle point measured in foot-pound

TRAJECTORY

Refers to the parabola-like flight of the projectile from the time it leaves the muzzle until it hits the target. It is also described as the actual curve path taken by a bullet during its flight.

STAGES OF TRAJECTORY

1. Straight Horizontal Line

2. Parabola Like Flight

3. Vertical Drop

RANGE

It refers to the imaginary straight distance between the muzzle of the gun and the 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

MAXIMUM EFFECTIVE RANGE

farthest distance that the bullet can inflice fatal injury

POINT BLANK RANGE

shot fired so close to the target that no sighting is necessary for effective aiming

MAXIMUM POINT BLANK RANGE

maximum range at which you dont have to adjust your point of aim to hit a vital zone

VELOCITY

Refers to the rate of speed of the bullet (during its flight) per unit of time usually express in feet per second

600 ft per sec

Velocity of Revolver

1200 feet per sec

Velocity of Pistol

2500 feet per sec

Velocity of Rifle

3300 feet per sec

Velocity of Shotgun

BALLISTIC PENDULUM

measures the momentum of the projectile

CHRONOGRAPH

measures the time required for the projectile to travel in a given distance

AIR RESISTANCE

Refers to the force of the air encounter by the bullet in its flight

BOW RESISTANCE

aerodynamic drag caused by the high pressure build-up at the front of a projectile

SKIN FRICTION OR SURFACE DRAG

aerodynamic drag caused by air molecules rubbing against the surface of a projectile

BASE DRAG OR WAKE DRAG

aerodynamic drag caused by the low-pressure area or turbulent wake behind a projectile during its flight

BALLISTIC COEFFICIENT

ability of the bullet to maintain its velocity against air resistance

PENETRATION

entry of the bullet in the target

RICOCHET

bouncing of a projectile after hitting a surface

FLAT TRAJECTORY

very little curvature in the flight of the bullet from muzzle to the point of impact

DRIFT

curve taken by a bullet while in flight made by the rifling

GYROSCOPIC ACTION

refers to the stillness of its rotating motion or stability in flight and penetrating power

YAW

rotation of the nose of the bullet around the away from the line of flight

PRECISION

refers to the rotation of the bullet around the center of mass

NUTATION

small circular movement at the bullet tip

WOBBLE

unsteady and uneven spin or rotation of the base of the bullet

TUMBLE

bullet rotates end over end during its motion

KEYHOLE SHOT

tumbling of a bullet during its flight and hitting the target sideways as a result of not spinning on its axis

TANDEM BULLET

two or more bullet leaving the barrel one after another

FORENSIC BALLISTICS

branch of Ballistics which deals with the effects of the impact of the projectile on the target

TERMINAL ACCURACY

It refers to the size of the bullet grouping on the target

TERMINAL ENERGY

energy or force of the projectile when it strikes the target same as striking energy

TERMINAL VELOCITY

speed of the bullet upon striking the target

TERMINAL PENETRATION

depth of entry of the bullet in the target

SHOCKING POWER

power of the bullet that results in the instantaneous death of the victim

STOPPING OR KNOCKING POWER

power of the bullet that put the victim out of action instantly

FORENSIC BALLISTICS

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

2. Ballistics Technical Examination

3. Legal Proceedings

WOUND BALLISTICS

study of the effects of projectile or penetration on tissues

GUNSHOT WOUND

open wound produced by the penetration of bullet slug within the tissues of the body

CONTACT

gun muzzle pressed against or within 1 to 2 inches

CONTACT DISCHARGE

6 to 24 inches or 2 feet

DISTANCE DISCHARGE

over 2 feet

BLACKENING OR SMUDGING

caused by deposition of smoke particles of powders at close ranges. It may be seen with a distance of up to 12 inches

SCORCHING, BURNING, CHARRING OR SINGEING

caused by hot flames or hot gases

TATTOOING OR PEPPERING

caused by the embedding of unburnt and semi-burnt gun powder particles into the surface of the target

DIRT RING

deposited by some projectile which carry the greases in them around the wound

PINK COLORATION

caused by the absorbed carbon monoxide in the skin and flesh

MUZZLE PATTERN

indicates contact wound and are often observed in suicidal cases

CONTUSION COLLAR

caused by the impact of projectile and form a belt around the wound

KIND OF WEAPON

the higher the power of the weapon is, the more destructive to the tissues of the body