Subject Name: Forensic Ballistics
Course code: CUTM 2317(3-2-0)
Forensic Ballistics CUTM 2317
Teacher
Wishard la Vincent Barreto
Category
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COURSE OBJECTIVES
- To impart the knowledge of firearms and projectile
- To understand the basics of firearm mechanism
COURSE OUTCOMES
- To understand about the knowledge of different firearms, ammunitions, and projectile.
- To analyse and detect gunshot residue, gunshot powder, class and
individual characteristics of firearms and ammunitions. - Identify the range of fire using modern methods and also different wounds caused by firearms.
Course Objective:
It helps to identify class and individual characteristics of firearm and ammunition. Enhance the skill and knowledge of investigating officer.
| CO | CO and PO mapping | |
| CO-1 | Know about classification of firearms and their firing mechanisms. |
PO1 |
| CO-2 | Understand importance of firearm evidence |
PO5 |
| CO-3 | Know about methods of identifying firearms. |
PO11 |
| CO-4 | Know about methods for characterization of gunshot residue. |
PO 12 |
Unit I: Firearms
History and development of firearms. Classification of firearms. Weapon types and their operation. Firing mechanisms of different firearms.
Unit II: Internal ballistics
Definition, ignition of propellants, shape and size of propellants, manner of burning, and various factors affecting the internal ballistics: lock time, ignition time, barrel time, erosion, corrosion and gas cutting.
Unit III: External Ballistics
Vacuum trajectory, effect of air resistance on trajectory, base drag, drop, drift, yaw, shape of projectile and stability, trajectory computation, ballistics coefficient and limiting velocity, Measurements of trajectory parameters, introduction to automated system of trajectory computation and automated management of ballistic data.
Unit IV: Terminal Ballistics
Effect of projectile on hitting the target: function of bullet shape, striking velocity, striking angle and nature of target, tumbling of bullets, effect of instability of bullet, effect of intermediate targets, influence of range. Ricochet and its effects, stopping power.
Unit V: Ammunition
Types of ammunition. Constructional features and characteristics of different types of cartridges and bullets. Primers and priming compounds. Projectiles. Headstamp markings on ammunitions. Different types of marks produced during firing process on cartridge – firing pin marks, breech face marks,
chamber marks, extractor and ejector marks.
Unit VI: Examination of Firearm Evidence
Matching of bullets and cartridge cases in regular firearms. Identification of bullets, pellets and wads fired from improvised, country made firearms. Automated method of bullet and cartridge case comparison. Determination of range of fire and time of fire. Mechanisms of formation of gunshot residues. Methods of analysis of gunshot residues from shooting hands and targets, with special reference to clothing.
Unit VII: Firearms Injuries
Identification and nature of firearms injuries. Reconstruction with respect to accident, suicide, murder and self-defense.
Practical’s:
1. To describe, with the aid of diagrams, the firing mechanisms of Pistol.
2. To describe, with the aid of diagrams, the firing mechanisms of Revolver.
3. To describe, with the aid of diagrams, the firing mechanisms of Air Gun.
4. To describe, with the aid of diagrams, the firing mechanisms of AK-47 Rifle.
5. To describe, with the aid of diagrams, the assembling and
disassembling of different types of firearms.
6. To describe, with the aid of diagrams, the internal structure of different types of bullets.
7. To describe, with the aid of diagrams, the difference between Pin fire, Rimfire and Centrefire ammunition.
8. To carry out the comparison of fired bullets.
9. To carry out the comparison of fired cartridge cases.
10.To differentiate, with the aid of diagrams, contact wounds, close range
wound and distant wounds.
Suggested Readings
1. B.J. Heard, Handbook of Firearms and Ballistics, Wiley and Sons, Chichester (1997).
2. W.F. Rowe, Firearms identification, Forensic Science Handbook, Vol. 2, R. Saferstein (Ed.), Prentice Hall, New Jersey (1988).
3. A.J. Schwoeble and D.L. Exline, Current Methods in Forensic Gunshot Residue Analysis, CRC Press, Boca Raton (2000).
4. E. Elaad in Encyclopedia of Forensic Science, Volume 2, J.A. Siegel, P.J. Saukko and G.C. Knupfer (Eds.), Academic Press, London (2000).
Session 3
Weapon types and their operation.
Weapon Types and Their Operation - Ballistics - Bev Fitchett's Guns
session 5
Definition, ignition of propellants, shape and size of propellants,
session 6
manner of burning, and various factors affecting the internal ballistics: lock time, ignition time, barrel time, erosion, corrosion and gas cutting.
Session 8
base drag, drop, drift, yaw, shape of projectile and stability, trajectory computation
Session 9
ballistics coefficient and limiting velocity, Measurements of trajectory parameters
Session 10
Introduction to automated system of trajectory computation and automated management of ballistic data.
Session 11
Effect of projectile on hitting the target - function of bullet shape, striking velocity, striking angle and nature of target
Session 12
Ricochet and its effects, stopping power.
Session 13
Tumbling of bullets, effect of instability of bullet, effect of intermediate targets, influence of range.
Session 14
Types of ammunition. Constructional features and characteristics of different types of cartridges and bullets.
Session 17
Different types of marks produced during firing process on cartridge – firing pin marks, breech face marks, chamber marks, extractor and ejector marks.
Session 18
Matching of bullets and cartridge cases in regular firearms.
Session 19
Methods of analysis of gunshot residues from shooting hands and targets, with special reference to clothing.
Session 20
Identification and nature of firearms injuries.
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