PROF. CHERVIN LOEWE B.

NAVILLA
1st Placer, Criminology Licensure Exam
(OCT. 2015)
Review Lecturer
 PRC SYLLABI/TOS FOR
FORENSIC BALLISTICS
3.1. Scientific Study of Firearms Identification;
3.2. Study of Ammunition, projectiles, gunpowder,
printer, explosives;
3.3 Uses of laboratory equipment such as bullet
comparison microscope;
3.4. Functions and Parts of Firearms;
3.5. Class and Individual Characteristics of
Firearms;
3.6. Reports including illustration of firearms, slugs,
empty shells, etc. for legal proceedings.
 BALLISTICS
- it is a science of the motion, launching,
flight and movement of the projectile.
• There is “SCIENCE,” since it evolves into a
systematized study and experimentation of
firearms, bullet, and its effect to the target.
• There is “MOTION,” since it involves the
movement of the projectile.
• There is a “PROJECTILE,” since the one in
motion refers to the metallic or non-metallic
ball being propelled by the firearms.
BALLISTICS
 Three General Types of
Motion
• Direct Motion- is the forward
movement of the bullet or shots out
of the shell.
 Three General Types of
Motion
• Rotatory Motion- is the action of
the bullet passing through a rifled
bore firearm.
 Three General Types of
Motion
• Tr a n s l a t i o n a l
Motion- the
action of the
bul l et t hat hi t s
the target and
ricochet.
 ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT OF
THE WORD BALLISTICS
• T h e w o r d
“Ballistics” is
derived from the
I Greek Word “Ballo”
or “Ballein” which
literally means “to
throw.”
Its development was derived from the
Roman War machine called the “Ballista”
(a gigantic catapult used to hurl missile)
 BRANCHES INVOLVING
BALLISTICS
• INTERNAL BALLISTICS- refers to the
motion of the projectile from the breech up
to the muzzle of the firearm.
A. Firing pin striking the primer.
B. Ignition of the priming mixture
C. Burned priming mixture passes
through the flash hole into the
propellant charge
D. Combustion of the gunpowder
or propellant.
E. Recoil of the gun- Is the equal and
opposite reaction of the gun against
the forward movement of the bullet
upon explosion.
F. Velocity of the bullet in the
barrel
G. Engraving in the cylindrical
surface of the bullet (rifling)
• EXTERNAL BALLISTICS- refers to the study of the
bullets’ or missiles’ flight after it leaves the gun
muzzle and before it strikes the target. The process
involve are:

A. Muzzle Blast- the noise created at the

muzzle point.
B. Muzzle Energy- the energy generated
at the muzzle point.
C. Conditions of the bullet in flight
• Yaw- it is the tumbling motion of the
bullet in flight.
•Precession- it is the rotating
movement of the bullet.
• N u t at i o n - r ef er s t o t he uns t e a d y
movement of the bullet or wobbling
movement of the bullet.
D. Trajectory- refers to the steady-flight
or parabola-like flight of the bullet.
E. Gravitational Effect
F. Range- the distance between the
muzzle and the target.
• Accurate Range- the distance in
which the shooter has the control
of his shots.
•Maximum Range- farthest
distance the projectile can be
propelled.
• Effective Range (Wounding
Capability)- distance where the
projectile can inflict damage.
• Maximum Effective Range-
the farthest distance the
projectile is effective against the
intended target.
G. Velocity- rate of speed of the
bullet in flight. It is expressed in
Feet per Second (f/s).
H. Air Resistance/Aerodynamic
Drag- resistance encountered by
the bullet in flight.
I. Pull of Gravity- the downward
reaction of the bullet due to its
weight.
• TERMINAL
BALLISTICS
• FORENSIC BALLISTICS- it is a
discipline that refers to the
investigation and identification of
the cartridge and what firearm it is
specifically fired at. The branch of
science which the police used as
their guide in their investigation.
• F i el d I n vest i g at i o n s- i t i s a l l t h e
investigative activities done in the field
involving the use of firearms and
ammunitions. It is the procedures and
methods from collection up to the
transmittal of fired shells and bullets to
the crime laboratory as well as the
firearms used at the crime scene.
• Technical Examination- it is a
tasked done at the laboratory. It
involves the examination of bullet
and firearms by taking a test bullet
and making a comparison of the
standard and questioned specimen
through photomicrography and
preparing laboratory reports
thereafter.
• Legal Proceedings- the
presentation of evidence and
technical reports to the trial court
as well as the taking of the
testimony of the expert witness.
FIREARMS
 IMPORTANT EVENTS IN THE
HISTORY OF FIREARMS
Fire Lance- was a
gunpowder weapon
that appeared in 10th
century China. It is
considered to be a
proto-gun, the
predecessor of the
hand cannon, and
the ancestor of all
firearms.
• The earliest known type of
handgun was simply a small
cannon. Its mechanism works by
putting a powder, wad and small
ball at the muzzle end of the
cannon. The ball is being
discharged by igniting the priming
charge through the match or hot
iron.
Small Cannon
• 1247 and 1311- the earliest used of
small cannon was in Seville, Spain.
• 1449- first recorded used of the hand
cannon as a cavalry weapon. The
hand cannon was heavy and
inefficient so the creation of the small
arms or hand guns was developed.
• Matchlock- the first major advance
in pistol that can be fired using one
hand. A slow-burning piece of cord
or a match is used to ignite the
priming charge. The part that holds
the piece of cord is known as the
“Serpentine”, the forerunner of the
modern trigger.
Matchlock
• Wheel lock (arquebus)- credited the
creation to Johann Kiefuss of
Nuremberg, Germany in 1517. It is
designed made for ambush than the
matchlock. A type of firearm that has
serrated wheel. When the trigger is
pulled, the serrated wheel will rub
against the iron pyrite and generate
spark. The spark will pass through the
“flash pan” and provides combustion to
the loose powder
Wheel lock
• Flintlock- the same with the wheel
lock but replaced the iron pyrite with a
flint.
• Snaphaunce (1570)- early form of
flintlock. A weapon with a
mainspring inside the lock plate
and a priming pan cover which had
to be manually pushed back
before firing.
• Miquelet- like the snaphaunce, it
is also a type of flintlock where
the mainspring will be
automatically pushed back before
firing.
• Self-contained Cartridge
In 1807 a Scottish clergyman,Rev.
Alexander John Forsyth, known as
the “Father of Percussion Powder”, is
credited with developing an ignition
system based on the principle that
certain chemicals would ignite with a
spark when struck a sharp blow, and
in 1822 the Percussion cap was
invented.
• Revolver- the earliest form of
revolver was made during the days
of King Charles I in 1650. The
original patents of revolver belongs
to Samuel Colt in 1835.
• Self-loading Pistol (1892)- the first
successful self-loading pistol appeared.
Patented by Austrian Schonberger and
made by company Steyr.
• 1896- creation of the self-loading pistol
with the introduction of 7.63 mm Mauser
• 1898- creation of the Luger Pistol
• Alexander Lacassagne- first to
recognized the significance of the
striations etched found on a bullet from a
murder victim
 PERSONS BEHIND THE
CREATION OF FIREARMS
• COL. CALVIN GODDARD- known
as “The Father of Modern
Ballistics.” Through his expertise,
he was able to established a
comparison microscope used to
determine whether or not a bullet
or shell was fired on a particular
firearm.
• HORACE SMITH- founded the
Smith and Wesson, the maker of the
breech-loading rifles.
• JOHN BROWNING- the “Wizard of
Modern Firearm”
• JOHN THOMPSON- pioneered the
making of Thompson sub-
machinegun.
• David Williams- creator of the first-
known carbine.
• Michael Kalishnikov- designed the
AK (Automat Kalashnikova) used by
the Russian Army in 1951.
AK-47 (Automat Kalashnikova)
• Samuel Colt- create the first
practical revolver.
• Uziel Gal- he invented a sub-
machine gun in the 1950’s wwhich
was used by the Israeli Army during
its Sinai campaign in 1956.
• Alexander John Forsyth- “Father of
the Percussion Ignition”
• Henry Derringer- manufacturer of
the Pocket Pistol.
UZI (Sub-machine Gun)
Colt Peacemaker
• Eugene Stoner- designed the US
M16 Armalite.
• George Hyde- A well-known
expert in the field of SMG, (also
known as grease gun) developed
in 1941. M3A1 (USA).
Grease Gun
John Garand
 DEFINITION OF FIREARM
• LEGAL DEFINITION
• - Sec. 877 of Revised Administrative Code, Sec. 290 of
Nat’l Internal Revenue Code and Republic Act No. 8294
as follows:
• “FIREARMS OR ARMS as herein used, includes
rifles, muskets, carbines, shotgun, pistols, revolvers, and
all other deadly weapons from which the bullets, balls,
shots, shells, or other missiles maybe discharged, by
means of gun powder or other explosives. This term also
include air rifles and air pistols not classified as toys
under the provision of Executive Order No. 712. The
barrel of any firearm shall be considered a complete
firearm for all purposes hereof.
•
-Republic Act 10591 defines firearms as:
“FIREARM refers to any handheld
or portable weapon, whether a small
arm or light weapon, that expels or is
designed to expel a bullet, shot, slug,
missile or any projectile, which is
discharged by means of expansive force
of gases from burning gunpowder or
other form of combustion or any similar
instrument or implement. For purposes
of this Act, the barrel, frame or receiver
is considered a firearm.
-26 US Code 5845 defines firearms as:
• The term “firearm” means (1) a shotgun having a barrel or
barrels of less than 18 inches in length; (2) a weapon made from
a shotgun if such weapon as modified has an overall length of
less than 26 inches or a barrel or barrels of less than 18 inches
in length; (3) a rifle having a barrel or barrels of less than 16
inches in length; (4) a weapon made from a rifle if such weapon
as modified has an overall length of less than 26 inches or a
barrel or barrels of less than 16 inches in length; (5) any other
weapon, as defined in subsection (e); (6) a machinegun; (7) any
silencer (as defined in section 921 of title 18, United States
Code); and (8) a destructive device. The term “firearm” shall not
include an antique firearm or any device (other than a
machinegun or destructive device) which, although designed as
a weapon, the Secretary finds by reason of the date of its
manufacture, value, design, and other characteristics is primarily
a collector’s item and is not likely to be used as a weapon.
TECHNICAL DEFINITION
- a firearm is an instrument used for
the propulsion of projectiles by means
of the expansive forces of gases
coming from burning gunpowder.
CLASSIFICATION OF FIREARMS
ACCORDING TO BARREL
CONSTRUCTION
Smooth-Bore Firearms= firearms that
have no rifling inside the gun barrel. Ex.
Shotgun and musket
• Rifled-Bore Firearms= firearms that
have rifling inside the gun barrel. Ex.
Pistols and revolvers
ACCORDING TO CALIBER OF
THE PROJECTILE
• Artillery (Missile)= type of firearms
that propels projectile with more than
one inch diameter.
• Small Arms= firearms that
propels projectile with less than
one inch diameter.
 ACCORDING TO MECHANICAL
CONSTRUCTION
• Single Shot Firearms= designed to
fire only one shot every loading. Ex.
Pistol, Revolver, Shotgun
• Repeating Arms= designed to fire
several loads or shot in one loading.
Ex. Automatic Pistol, Rifle, Machine
Gun.
• Automatic Firearm= constitute a
continuous firing in a single press of
a trigger.
• Slide Action Type= loading take
place by back and forth manipulation
either under or over the gun. One
shot per loading.
• Bolt Action Type= reloading taking
by means of back and forth
manipulation of the bolt of the
firearm.
Lever Type/Break Type- loading
takes place by the lever action on
the firearm.
HANDGUNS= types of firearm
designed to be fired using one
hand only.
• Pistol= derived from the Italian word
“Pistoia” which means “city.”
I n e a r l y f i r e a r m h i s t o r y, a l l
handguns are generally called as
pistols. There were three classes of
pistols in the period. The single shot
pistol, the semi automatic and the
revolving pistols now known as the
revolver.
Pistol
Magnum 500 .50
Considered
as the most
powerful
handgun in
the world.
The king of
handgun .500 S&W
magnum fifty
caliber (12.7 mm)
semi rimmed
handgun cartridge.
Kolibri
considered as the smallest commercially
available pistol in world, patented in
1910 And introduce in 1914. A cal 2.7
mm, 5 shots auto pistol. Also known
as 2.7 mm kolibri car pistol
• Revolver= designed to
position the cartridge for firing
by the action of the rotating
cylinder that serves as a
chamber.
• Single Action= a revolver wherein
the hammer should be manually
cocked before squeezing the trigger.
• Double Action= a revolver that does
not need manual cocking. The hammer
will automatically cock after pressing
the trigger.
 Types of Revolver
1. Top-Break 2. Fixed-Cylinder
Revolver Revolver
3. Swing-out Revolver
 SHOTGUN

• smooth bore shoulder arms

designed to fire a number of
lead pellets or shots.
A. Cylinder Bore Type= the
bore diameter is the same
throughout the barrel.
B. Choke Bore Type= the bore has a
diminishing diameter (choke) towards the
muzzle of the shotgun. It is designed for
more accurate shots.
C. Paradox Gun= it has a rifling a
few inch from its muzzle point. It is
usually found on a “Buck shot”
guns.
 According to Mechanism
A. Single-Barreled Shotgun- it has
one barrel and capable of holding one
cartridge only at a time.
B. Double Barreled Shotgun- two
barrels that is either position side by
side or over and under.
C. Pump Action Shotgun- most
common type of shotgun. It functions
by putting shot shells into the
magazine tube and manually pulling
the pump handle after each
succeeding shots.
D. Semi-automatic Shotgun-
capable of automatically feeding
the chamber with a new
cartridge after the first shot has
been fired.

E. Bolt Action Type- use for

hunting and sporting.
 MISCELLANEOUS TYPES OF
GUN
A. Cane Guns- it is termed as a
“Walking Stick” It is a walking cane
that has a hidden gun built in it.
B. Freakish Guns- it is a gun in
which it cannot be identified as a
real gun or is designed in a
different manner to avoid easy
identification.
C. Flare Gun- used to trace or
send signal.
D. Tool Gun- it has a resemblance of
a gun but is intended to be used in
carpentry and construction of
furniture.
E. Zip Gun- a home-made gun that is
usually used in street crimes or gang
wars. Locally known as “Paltik”
F. H a r p o o n G u n - a b a r b e d
spear in huntin large fish.
G. Gas Gun- referring to all
gun designed for firing tear
gas.
• Trap Gun- a gun used to trap
animals.
 AMMUNITION
• The first form of ammunition is
consisted of a loose powder that is
carried through a flask or horn and
loaded inside the barrel through the
muzzle of the firearm. Early
projectiles used are stone balls and
arrows.
• B y t h e 1 5 t h c e n t u r y, l e a d b a l l i s
wrapped in a wad filled with black
powder
• At the later part of the 16th century, a
pre-measured charges were wrapped
in a paper bag. This paper bags will
be torn and poured in the barrel
followed by the wadding then the
bullet.
• Towards the end of the 1600s, the
bullet was tied into the top of the
powder bag resulting in the first “self-
contained” cartridge.
 Types of Ammunition
1. Dummy- used as model.- (also called
as dummy rounds) are types of
ammunition used by weapons instructor,
inspector and repairman as a model for a
real one, when checking the function of
the weapons.
2 . D r i l l
Ammunition-
without gun
powder. used for
training to practice
loading and
manipulation of
the gun.
3. Blank
Ammunition-
without bullet
4. Live Ammunition
• DEFINITION OF AMMUNITION

• LEGAL DEFINITION
Chapter VII, Sec. 290 of the NIRC and also in Sec.
877 of the RAC defined as:
- it refers to ammunition as a “loaded
shell” for rifles, muskets, carbines, shotgun,
revolver, and pistols from which a ball, bullet, shot,
shell, or other missile may be fired by mean of
gunpowder or other explosive. The term also
includes ammunition for air rifles as mentioned
elsewhere in the code.
• TECHNICAL DEFINITION
-the term ammunition refers to a group of
cartridge or to a single unit or single
cartridge.
- a complete unfired unit consisting of a
bullet, cartridge case, gun powder and the
primer
- In a shotgun cartridge, it refers to
complete or unfired cartridge consisting of
pellets, primer, case, wads, and gunpowder.
 • ORIGIN OF THE
WORD CARTRIDGE

- It is derived from
the Latin Word,
“Charta” which means
“paper”
- Also from the
French Word,
“Cartouche” which
means “a rolled paper”
 PARTS OF CARTRIDGE
1. Bullet- a projectile being propelled
through the barrel of the firearm by
means of the expansive forces of gases
once the gunpowder or propellant is
burned. It is termed as “slug” in the police
parlance.
2. Cartridge Cases- a cylindrical
container for the gunpowder and the one
that holds the bullet. Sometimes called as
“Shell” or “Case” and “shell cup” in a
shotgun.
• Gunpowder- it is a powder charge
that once ignited by the primer will
build a tremendous pressure inside the
contained cartridge case and suddenly
propel the bullet from the barrel up to
the target. Also termed as “Propellant”
• Primer- contains a highly sensitive
priming mixture that initiates
combustion to gunpowder once struck
by the firing pin. Termed also as
“Percussion”
 PARTS OF A SHOTGUN
CARTRIDGE
• Primer- contains a highly priming
compound that explodes when hit by
the firing pin.
• Case- holds the other parts of the shell.
It is either made of plastic or brass.
• Powder Charge- propels the shell
once burned and formed pressure
inside the shell.
• Wad- it separates the shot from the
powder. It also holds the pellets once
it passes through the barrel and until it
leaves the muzzle. It is made up of
plastic or paper.
• Pellets or Slug- shotguns varies
depends on the projectile it propels
either it is a pellet/shots or slugs.
TYPES OF SHOTS
1. SOFT OR DROP SHOTS- made
with pure lead which is easy to
deform or flatten.
2. C H I L L E D O R H A R D S H O T S -
does not deform easily and with
increase in velocity.
3. COATED OR PLATED SHOT- a
chilled shot covered with thin
copper to provide strength and
elasticity.
CLASSIFICATION OF
AMMUNITION
 ACCORDING TO THE LOCATION OF THE
PRIMER
• Pin-fire Cartri dge- developed by Le
Fauchex. The primer or ignition cap is
concealed inside the cartridge case with a
pin attached in it. It is no longer used
(obsolete).
• Rim-fire Cartridge- developed by
Flobert. The priming compound is
located at the rim of the case and
ignites once the cavity of the rim
was struck by the firing pin.
• Center-Fire Cartridge- the
priming cap is placed at the
center of the base of the cartridge
case. Most commonly used
cartridge in our time.
 ACCORDING TO RIM
DIAMETER
A. Rimmed Case Type- a cartridge that
has its rim on the shell.
B. Semi-Rimmed Type- the diameter of
the cartridge case is bigger than its rim.
This was invented by John Browning for
an automatic pistol to fit the chamber of
the firearm.
C . R i m l e s s Ty p e / B o t t l e n e c k e d
Type- a the rim is equal to the size of
the cartridge. Allows the cartridge to
slide to the magazine
D. Rebated Type- it is a rimless type
of cartridge but has a rim diameter
smaller than the body of the case.
E. Belted Type- a cartridge that
has a belt around its body.
 ACCORDING TO CALIBER OR GAUGE

A. Caliber- term or unit of measurement found

mostly on a rifled type of firearms like pistols,
revolver and rifles. It can be converted into
millimeter.
B. Gauge (U.S.) & Bore (U.K.)- a unit of
measurement found mostly on a smooth-bored
firearms like shotguns. The gauge is the number
of lead balls or pellets of the bore diameter equal
to the weight of one pound. Ex. 1/12 of a pound
is 12-Gauge and 1/20 of a pound is 20-Gauge.
 BULLET
DEFINITION OF BULLET

- The word “Bullet” was derived from

the “French word” “Boullete” which means
a small ball.
- it refers to a metallic or non-metallic
cylindrical ball propelled from a firearms. In
a police parlance, it is termed as “slug.” In a
shotgun, it is termed as “shots” or “pellets”
 TYPES OF BULLETS
A . L e a d Ty p e
B u l l e t -
composed of a
lead metal and
alloyed with
quantities of
antimony to give
it hardness.
B. Jacketed Bullet- it is covered by
thin layer of a much harder material like
copper or zinc alloy added with a thick
coat of lacquer to prevent corrosion. It
is commonly used in high-powered
weapons.
C. Soft Point or
Semi-Jacketed- a
bullet covered
with a jacket but
reveals the lead at
nose of the bullet.
D. Hollow Point-
the nose has a
cavity that makes
the bullet expand
o n i m p a c t
especially at soft
targets.
E. Saboted Bullet- a bullet that is
smaller than the bore diameter. A bullet
surrounded by a plastic sheet that
discards once it leaves the muzzle thus
creating a much higher velocity.
 TYPES OF BULLETS ACCORDING TO
MAXIMUM EFFECT TO THE TARGET

• Ball Type (NO COLOR)- used commonly

against personnel.
• Tracer Bullet (RED)- used in military
operations where the bullet leaves a trace on
its tail while on its flight.
• Dark Ignition Tracer (ORANGE)- known as
delay tracer bullet. The bullet will ignite some
distance away from the muzzle.
TYPES OF BULLETS ACCORDING TO
MAXIMUM EFFECT TO THE TARGET

• Ball Type (NO COLOR)- used

commonly against personnel.
• Tracer Bullet (RED)- used in
military operations where the
bullet leaves a trace on its tail
while on its flight.
• Dark Ignition Tracer (ORANGE)-
known as delay tracer bullet. The
bullet will ignite some distance away
from the muzzle.
• Armor-piercing Bullet
(BLACK)- used against armored
vehicles and target.
• Incendiary
B u l l e t
(BLUE)- it
sets fire on
target.
• Explosive (Fragmentary)
Bullet- it detonates once it
reaches the target.
 CARTRIDE CASE
- a metallic or non-metallic container,
usually cylindrical in shape, which
holds the primer, powder charge or
bullet. It is made up of 70% copper
and 30% Zinc.
- It is also termed as Shell, Case,
Casing or Brass.
 Functions of the Cartridge
Case
1. It properly locates the bullet relative to
the bore of the firearm.
2. It is used to carry the means of ignition.
3. It provides gas seals at the breech
against an unwanted escape of propellant
gas.
4. Serves as water proof
5. Acts as insulator.
 PARTS OF THE CARTRIDGE
CASE
A. Base- it is the bottom portion of the shell
where head stamp and primer will be found.
Head stamp indicates the caliber and
manufacturer of the ammunition.
B. Rim- it limits the forward
movement of the cartridge in the
firearms chamber or cylinder.
C. Extractor
G r o o v e s - a
depressed portion
between the body
and rim of the shell
that is actually being
withdrawn from the
chamber.
D. Primer Pocket- it holds the primer in
the central position and prevents the
gas from escaping.
E. Body- the part that houses the
gunpowder.
F. Shoulder- supports the neck
of the cartridge.

G. Neck- it is where the bullet

being placed.
H. Cannelure- it is a
groove around the
body of cartridge case
that prevents the bullet
from being pushed
down the case. It is
also consist of
lubricated substance
which is essential in
identification process.
I. Crimp- it is located at the mouth of the
case to hold the bullet in place and avoid
the bullet being pulled out from the case.
J. Vent or Flash Hole- it is the hole at
the bottom of the body but located inside
the primer. It is where the ignited priming
mixture pass through to provide
combustion to the gunpowder.
TWO TYPES OF FLASH HOLE
1. Boxer Type- a
cartridge that has
only one flash hole.
It was designed by
Colonel Edward
Boxer.
2. Berdan Type- a cartridge that has two
flash hole designed by Col. Hiram
Berdan.
 Primer
- it is considered as the ignition system
of the cartridge. It contains the highly
sensitive compound. When struck by
enough force from the firing pin, it will
ignite into a flame and imparts
combustion to the propellant. The
action of the primer is called,
“Percussion.” It is commonly found on
the center-fire type of cartridge.
- through the invention of Alexander
John Forsyth, he developed a
better system of ignition by devising
a formula composing a mercury
fulminate that would easily ignite
upon a single struck.
 PARTS OF THE PRIMER
• Primer Cup- it covers the priming
mixture, the anvil and the disc.
• Priming Mixture- the highly sensitive
compound that actually ignites. Also
called “Percussion Powder.”
• Disc- provides insulation for the
priming mixture against attack from
moisture.
• Anvil- it absorbs the blow of the firing
pin and provides that creates friction
which in turn provides ignition for the
priming mixture.
• Disc- provides insulation for the
priming mixture against attack
from moisture.
 Types of Priming Mixture Compound

1. Corrosive- the one containing potassium

chlorate which when ignited produce
moisture that causes the formation of rust in
the barrel.

2. Non-Corrosive- designed for less

chances of rusting by replacing the
potassium chlorate with barium nitrate.
 GUNPOWDER
- also termed as gun propellant or simply a
propellant. It is a chemical explosive created
to propel the projectile in a firearm through
the action of expansive forces of gases.
- the first known gunpowder is a “Black
Powder” (75% Potassium Nitrate, 15%
Charcoal/Saltpeter, and 10% Sulfur)
- the one being widely used today is the
“Smokeless Powder”, (40% nitroglycerine
and 60% nitrocellulose)
 HISTORY OF GUNPOWDER
• Black Powder
- Black powder is the first known
gunpowder and believed to have
originated in CHINA. It was used in
fireworks and signal during the 10 t h
century. It seems discovered by accident
by an alchemist who seeks for an
immortality while inventing the elixir of
life.
- In 142 AD, during the Han Dynasty, in the “Book
of the Kinship of the Three,” author Wei Boyang
was the first person to write regarding gunpowder.
He described the mixture of three powders that
would “fly and dance” violently that later on pave
way to the creation of fireworks.
- By 904 AD, during the Tang Dynasty, it was only
the time when the people began to use gunpowder
for a weapon. It was evident after the invention of
small cannonballs inside the bamboo tubes. It was
the idea that pave way to the creation of guns and
cannons.
- The Chinese Emperors tried to keep it a
secret from foreign countries but by 1100’s
AD, their secret had been discovered by
the Islamic and Roman Empire and started
to learn how to use gunpowder for
weapons.
- By 1216 AD, a monk named Roger
Bacon of England described gunpowder
as a weapon.
- Berthold Schwartz (whose real
name is Constantin Aklitzen)
who experimented on some
powder in a cast iron then he
ignited a charge and blew off
the lid.
• Smokeless Powder
- people realize that the use of black
powder is inefficient and messy that
made the invention of smokeless
powder.
- In 1864, the first smokeless powder
were made when both nitrocellulose
(gun cotton) and nitroglycerin
developed in Europe.
- In 1884, a French Chemist named
Paul Viellie improves the stability
issues of the guncotton. He treated the
guncotton with mixture of ether and
alcohol. These formulation is called
“Poudre B.” It is the first “single base
powder.” It was first used in a rifle
named Lebel Model 1886.
- In 1888, Alfred Nobel created the “Ballistite”
The chemical formula was 45% guncotton,
45% nitroglycerine and 10% camphor. It was
the first “double-base powder.” It has even
greater range than Poudre B.
- In 1889, Sir James Dewar and Sir
Frederick Abel invented the cordite in the
form of cord and sticks. It was made of
nitroglycerine, guncotton and petroleum
substance with the addition of acetone to
gelatinized the substance.
 FIREARMS MANUFACTURE
1. Drilling- first procedure to be done to a
metal is to drill a hole using a Gun Drills or
Deep Hole Drills. This procedure only creates
irregularities on the inside surface of the
barrel for the meantime.
2. Reaming- the procedure that creates a
very fine surface into the bore of the barrel
after the drilling operation which creates a
perfect circular hole.
 3. Cut Rifling- it creates the spiral
grooves inside the barrel using some
form of a cutter or the rifling operation
process.

4. Lapping- is the process of polishing

the land and grooves of the barrel to
remove the remaining imperfections
and machining marks for an uniform
end to end surface of the barrel.
 FIREARMS IDENTIFICATION
- it is the process of determining a firearm
through close examination of bullet and the
shell casing by looking at the reproducible
marks created by the firearm. It is based on
the principle of uniqueness and distinguishing
characteristics of evidence.
- All cases of firearms identification involve
two examinations: Class Characteristics and
Individual Characteristics.
• CLASS CHARACTERISTICS
- also t er m ed as “ G ener al R i f l i ng
Characteristics.”
- it is the preliminary examination on all
types of physical evidence. It is a
design or characteristics of an object
that is common to a particular
- a characteristics which can be
identified before the manufacture of
the firearm.
 SEVEN GENERAL
CHARACTERISTICS
1. Caliber (Bore
Diameter of the
barrel)- either
caliber or gauge
and the distance
between two
opposite lands of
the barrel
2. Number of Lands and Grooves- the
number of lands and gooves in a rifled
barrel always has the same number.
 Lands- the elevated portion of
the barrel of the gun.
 Grooves- the depressed portion
of the barrel of the gun.
3. Width of Lands

4. Width of
Grooves- is
measured as the
shortest distance
between the two
dies or edge of a
grooves.
5. Direction of Twist- the rifling inside
the gun barrel may either twist to the
left or to the right and will cause the
bullet to rotate making stability to the
bullet in flight.

6. Pitch of Rifling- it is the measure of

twisting of the lands and grooves for
every one complete turn (360 degree)
7. Depth of Grooves- grooves
are usually measured thousands
of an inch deep and the height is
equal to the height of the land.
• Types of Rifling
A. Steyer Type= rifling having 4 lands and 4
grooves, right twist, and equal width of lands
and grooves. (4RG=L)
B. Carbine Type= rifling having 4 lands and 4
grooves, right twist, and grooves is 2 times
the width of the lands. (4RG2x)
C. Smith and Wesson= rifling having 5 lands
and 5 grooves, right twist, and equal width of
lands and grooves. (5RG=L)
D. Colt= rifling having 6 lands and 4 grooves,
left twist and grooves is 2 times the width of
the lands. (6LG2x)
E. Browning= rifling having 6 lands
and 6 grooves, right twist and grooves
is 2 times the width of the lands.
(6RG2x)
F. Winchester= rifling having 6 lands
and 6 grooves, right twist and grooves
is 3 times the width of the lands.
(6RG3x)
G. Webley= rifling having 7 land and 7
grooves, right twist and grooves is 3
times the width of the lands. (7RG3x)
• INDIVIDUAL CHARACTERISTICS
characteristics which are peculiar
and cannot be found in other types of
firearms.
It is acquired during or after the
manufacture of the firearm.
These are the product of
manufacturing imperfections. It is
also the effects on the firearm after it
has been used.
 BULLET IDENTIFICATION/MARKS FOUND
ON FIRED BULLETS
• Land Marks- marks left on a fired bullet
caused by the contact of the elevated
portion (lands) to the bullet.
• Groove Marks- bullets caused by the
grooves of the barrel.
• Skid Marks- it is due to the sudden
forward movement of the bullet from the
chamber before it spins to the barrel.
• Stripping Marks- caused by “worn-out”
and “loose-fit” barrel or because of
corrosion and erosion of the barrel.
• Shaving Marks - usually found on
bullet fired from a revolver wherein
the cylinder is poorly aligned to the
barrel.
• Slippage Marks- bullets passing
through a either oily or oversize barrel.
SHELL IDENTIFICATION
MARKS ON FIRED
CARTRIDGE CASE
• Firing Pin Mark- it is found on the
base portion of the shell near the
center of the primer of the shell. It is
considered as the most important
marks for identification on fired shell.
• Breech Face Mark- it is caused by
the backward movement of the shell
on the breech block of the firearm.
PARALLEL BREECH FACE MARK
CIRCULAR BREECH FACE MARK
CIRCULAR BREECH FACE MARK
• E xt r a c t o r M a r k - i t i s f o u n d o n t h e
extracting groove once the fired cartridge
is withdrawn from the chamber.
Ejector Marks on Cartridge Case
• Ejector Marks
• Magazine Lip Mark- this markings
found around the cartridge during the
loading into the magazine.
• Chamber Marks-
caused by the
irregularities of
the chamber of
the firearm.
 • SEVEN PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS ON FIREARM
IDENTIFICATION

1. Given a bullet, to determine the caliber of firearm

from which it was fired.
- an examination is done on a rifled barrel as shown by its
class characteristics.
- it is done by measuring the diameter of the bullet. Count
the number of lands and grooves then get the width of its
lands and grooves and look for the direction of twist.
2. Given a fired cartridge case, to determine the caliber
of firearm from which it was fired.
- it is done by identifying first if it is a pin-fire, rim-fire or
center-fire cartridge and determine the caliber of the
cartridge case.
3. Given a bullet and fired firearm, to determine
whether or not the bullet was fired from the
suspected firearm.
- done by taking 3 t est bullet s using t he
suspected firearm and compare the test bullet with
the bullet found at the crime scene.
4. Given a fired cartridge case and a suspected
firearm, to determine whether or not the cartridge
case was fired from the suspected firearm.
- the solution given for problem number 3 is similar
for problem number 4.
5. Given two or more bullets, to determine
whether or not they were fired from the same
firearm.
 6. Given two or more fired cartridge
cases, to determine whether or not
they were fired from the same firearm.

7. Given a firearm, to determine

whether or not the firearm is
serviceable.
Basis of Firearm Identification
1. The basis of firearm identification is
based on minute imperfections causes
by final polishing of the tools involved.
2. The softer surface that comes in
contact with the harder surface will
always be engraved by whatever
impression present in the harder surface.
3. The minute imperfections of the
firearms are not exactly alike to other
firearms.
 Laboratory Instruments Used in
Firearms Identification

• Bullet Comparison Microscope-

- most prominent and common tool used
in comparing the test bullet or shell to the
bullet and shell found at the crime scene.
• Torsion Balance
- used to measure the equivalent weight of
the bullet.
• Bullet recovery Box
- used in getting at least three test bullets
and shells. After taking a test bullets or
shells, a mark must indicate the last two
digit of the firearm’s serial number and the
number of test bullet e.g. (T-88-1, T-89-2
and T-90-3)
• Chronograph
- used to measure the velocity of the
bullet.
• Caliper
- used to measure the caliber of the
firearm.
• Helixometer
- used to measure the pitch of rifling of the
firearm.
• Onoscope
- small instrument used in examination
of the inner surface of the barrel in
determining the irregularities inside the
bore.
 Collection of
Firearm/s and Bullet/
Cartridge
at the crime scene
• When firearm is
found at the
scene of the
crime
1. Never use a steel rod,
pencil or any other
object to be inserted at
the bore of firearm is
not advisable.
a. Contamination to the bore of
firearm.
b. Disturbance or removal of some
powder fouling inside the bore that
bears significant role for the chemical
analysis.
c. Alteration of the internal bore
construction due to added scratches.
2. The use of a handkerchief to
pick up firearm is prohibited
because it may loss the chances
of detecting and taking latent
prints for possible perpetrator.
3. Inserting a handkerchief or string in the
trigger guard of the firearm and put it inside
a hard paper envelope is the best method of
collecting suspected firearm.

4. Information as the location of the gun

when discovered caliber type, and make ,
serial number whether it is loaded or not
and how load were arrange should be noted
and tag to the firearm
• When bullet is found at the scene of the
crime
1. Do not dug out the bullet inside the body of
the victim only by the authorized person such
as the medico-legal officer.

2. Bullets that penetrates into walls, wood or

furniture should be treated with care. If it is
lodged in a wall, then split open the wall and
let it fall into your hands.
 Rules in Marking Ballistics
Evidence
1. Make use of a hard pointed
instument like stylus in marking
ballistics evidence.
2. Use distinctive marks such as
initial of the investigator and the date
of recovery.
3. Put a mark on surface that will not
alter the nature of the evidence.
Rules in Marking a Bullet
MARKINGS OF CARTRIDGE
CASE/SHELL
 On the barrel,
(example: engraved
marked “ABC” 10-
14-08)

Slide, and
(example:
e n g r a v e d
marked “ABC”
Frame or receiver 10-14-08
(example: engraved
marked “ABC 10-14-08”
Barrel, “ ABC” “10-25-04”

Cylinder, “ABC” “10-25-04”

Frame, “ABC” “10-25-04”
Upper receiver,
( e x a m p l e : B a r r e l ,
e n g r a v e d ( e x a m p l e :
marked “ABC” e n g r a v e d
“10-25-04” marked “ABC”
“ 10-25-04”

Lower receiver,
( e x a m p l e :
engraved marked
“ABC” “10-25-04” Bolt, (example:
engraved marked
“ABC” ”10-25-04”