FIREARMS

Mayank Kumar Dubey

Senior Forensic/DNA Expert
Head-operations & Business Development
Ex- General Manager, Assistant Director, Scientific Officer
(Forensic Laboratory and CID Police FSL)
Assistant Professor- Forensic Science/Forensic Medicine &
Toxicology
(Government Medical Colleges & Universities)
Ex- General Manager & Operations Head (PAN India)

UGC-NET (2006 & 2007)

• A firearm is a device by which a projectile or
projectiles can be hurled with great force. This
force is supplied by the expansion of gases,
usually produced by the burning of propellants.
 EARLY FIREARMS

• MATCH LOCK
• WHEEL LOCK
• FLINT LOCK
MATCH LOCK
WHEEL LOCK
FLINT LOCK
 Classification
1.Bore characteristics
Smooth bore, Rifled bore
2. Loading
Muzzle loading, Breech loading or Magazine loading
3. Action
Lever action, Bolt action, Self loaders or Automatics
4. Firing
Single shot, Repeaters
5. Handling
Handguns, Shoulder arms
 SHOTGUN
SBBL, DBBL, Magazine Loaders, Paradox, Crudely
improvised Zip gun (Katta).
 Parts
1. Barrel One or Two
2. Choke Full, Half, Quarter, cylinder
3. Chamber
4. Action Breech lever, Bolt, Pump
5. Stock
6. Fore End
Trigger, Trigger guard, Hammer
12 Bore Shotgun:- Internal diameter of the barrel is
equal to the diameter of a spherical lead ball
weighing 1/12 of a pound(454g).
d3= 4.6578/N d is diameter of barrel in inches.
 RIFLED FIREARMS
Rifles are often known by their calibres. They are
designated in 1/100, 1/1000 of an inch or in
millimeters.
The calibres are measured across the lands(Uncut
portion of rifled barrel).
 Barrel
The rifle barrels are grooved. The canal like furrows are
called grooves. They are furrows, cut in the form of
spirals inside the bore. The uncut surfaces between the
grooves are called lands. The number of grooves in a
rifle varies from 2-16.
 Twist
Left or Right
 Barrel caliber
Rifling reduced the weight and diameter of the service
projectiles drastically. The spinning and high velocities
could cause destructive wounds even with small caliber
projectiles. Now there is no military rifle having
diameter greater than 7.62mm.
Indian Army uses INSAS 5.56 Service rifle.
Barrel length
30-70 cms.
Action
Lever
Bolt
Slide
Semi- Automatic
a) Blowback
b) Recoil
 Magazine
 Stock
INDIAN RIFLES
.303, 7.62, 5.56 INSAS, Bren Machine Gun
In addition AK 47 and AK 74 (Russian Assault rifles)
 HANDGUNS
REVOLVER
 Barrel
Two to seven grooves, no chamber but a revolving
cylinder.
 Action
Single and double action
 Types
Solid Frame
Break Frame
Side swingers
 PISTOL
A semiautomatic rifled handgun.
 Barrel
5-20 cms. Number of grooves 4-8
Magazine
Capacity 6-20, rate of fire 5-30 shots/sec.
 Action
The action of the small semiautomatic pistol is
ordinarily based upon the blowback principle.
When a cartridge is fired the gases so produced
exert pressure in all directions. The bullet is
projected forward through the barrel while the
cartridge case is pushed backward.
The cartridge case, in its backward motion, pushes the
breechblock backwards. The breechblock is
comparatively heavy and is pressed in position by a
spring. The weight of the block and the strength of the
spring are so adjusted that the cartridge case comes
out of the chamber only after the bullet has left the
barrel. The backward motion of the block and the
cartridge case continues till the backward force is spent
. In the meantime the ejector pushes out the fired
cartridge case and the block crosses beyond the
magazine The breechblock now retraces its path, i.e. it
moves forward. In its forward motion the block picks up
a live cartridge from the magazine and places it in the
chamber. The pistol is ready for a second fire.
 AMMUNITION
PRIMERS
The primer composition have the following basic
ingredients..
1. An initiator, sensitive high explosive
2. Fuel
3. Oxidizer
4. Stabilizer
 Composition of mercury fulminate primer
Mercury fulminate 8 parts
Potassium chlorate 14 parts
Antimony sulphide 18 parts
Sulphur 1 part
Gunpowder 1 part
 Composition of Indian primer
1. Lead styphnate 32-42%
2. Barium nitrate 27-37%
3. Aluminium 6-8%
4.Antimony sulphide 13-17%
5. Tetracene 3-5%
6. PETN 4-6%
TYPES OF PRIMER
1. Berdan primer 2. Boxer primer
PROPELLANTS
Black powder
Potassium nitrate 75%
Sulphur 10%
Charcoal 15%
 Smokeless powder
nitro- glycerine and nitro- cellulose
 Semi- smokeless powder
nitrated wood cellulose, potassium nitrate, carbon
and sulphur (20, 60, 12, 8%)
 Triple- base powders
nitro- glycerine, nitro- cellulose and black powder
PROJECTILES
1. Lead pellets Lead 85% and Antimony 15%
2. Lead alloy bullets Revolvers
3. Jacketed bullets Lead and copper
4. Non lead bullets Copper and Zinc
5. Boat tailed bullets Long range firearms
6. Dum Dum bullets soft nose
Mechanism of Cartridge Discharge :-
Bullet fired from pistol showing flame, smoke
and bullet at muzzle end
 Classification of the range of the fire:-

Soiling over the target:- Designated Range:-

a) soiling a) Close range
b) No singeing b) Near range
c) No soiling c) Distant range or
(Contact range)

Fouling and stippling over the target Only stippling over the target
Appearance of shot gun wounds with
increasing range
Shot gun firearm entry wound at various
ranges
Shot gun injury
Shot gun entry with dispersion of pellets around
the main wound
Close shot gun firing on face
Intermediate range gun shot wound
 Wound by bullet (Mechanics of the wound production):-

It depends as upon the following factors :-

i) Velocity of the bullet : -
i) Ability to wound is directly proportional to K.E. of the bullet =
mv2/2g
ii) High velocity bullets – 2,000 to 2,500 ft/sec.
iii) Low velocity bullets – 1,000 to 1,200 ft/sec.
iv) Depends upon the propellant used
ii) Tissue Density :-
i) Tissue Density  K.E. imparted.
ii) Energy radiated in form of secondary projectiles formed by tissue
particles coming in contact of bullet, in all directions.
iii) Excessive disruption, distortion & disorganization.
iv) Excessive comunition and shattering of bones.
v) Energy dissipated in radial waves throughout the tissue.
iii) Hydrostatic Forces :- (Forces generated in fluid at rest)
- Visceral organs distended with fluid viz, stomach intestine, etc.
- Transmission of bullet K.E. to the fluid in radial directions.
- Secondary projectiles of fluid, radiating in all the directions.
- Massive laceration of the fluid filled organ.
iv) Bullet and Bone :-
i) Mechanism :-
i) Bone particles act as secondary missiles.
ii) Radiating fractures due to K.E. transmission.
iii) Bone shattering and fragmentation.
iv) Beveled or shelved pathway.
v) Exit size greater than entry size.
vi) Exit formed in the inner table.
ii) Flat bones :-
i) Skull vault.
ii) Connecting fractures.

iii) Long Bones :-

* Cominuted and breaked
* Massive soft tissue disruption
* Flying bone fragments
* Slow bullets may stop.
v) Temporary and permanent cavities :-
i) Cavities formed due to transmission of K.E. to the fluid at rest.
ii) Radial displacement of tissue from track, secondary missile formation.
iii) Not tearing but flinging away.
-Temporary Cavity :-
• Large, but extremely short-lived (for 2 milli seconds).
• Size of cavity is a function of energy and missile behavior and tissue elasticity.
• Size of the cavity  Velocity of the bullet.
-Permanent Cavity :-
• Formed after collapse of temporary cavity.
• Explosive effect seen.
-Cavity due to explosion :-
a. Explosive bullet – Dum-Dum
b. Bullet striking bone
i) Cavity formed here is equivalent to the cavity formed by the missile.
ii) Disintegration & disorganization of tissue immediately adjacent to
the wound track
• Wound on Abdomen:-
– Rupture of gas containing viscera eg. Intestine, stomach, etc.
• Wound in Brain:-
– Expansion confined in the unyielding skull vault.
– Increase in the intra–cranial tension.
– Blowing apart of brain
• Locating the wound :-
• Anatomical land marks considered.
• Portion of head, extremity trunk or digit involved.
• E.g. 4” from mid line, 2¼ below left nipple, 42” from left heel.
• Bullet graze or bullet slap :- Bullet striking at very acute angle.
• Gutter wound :- Bullet striking at very acute angle.
-Furrow covered only by skin & subcutaneous tissue.
 Classification of Dermal Entrance wound
(with Histopathology):-
• Criterion is solely
based on the muzzle-target distance.
• Target - Muzzle distance:- Designated Range:-
1. They are in contact Contact Range
2. Muzzle at a distance, producing all Close Range
components of soiling
3. Only smoke & powered particles on target Near Range
4. Only bullet Distant Range

Effects of firearm discharge at various

ranges:-
1. Long / Distant -Bullet.
2. Medium -Bullet and Powder.
3. Short / close -Bullet, Powder and Soot.
4. Contact: Near / Close -Bullet, Powder < Soot with or with out, Gas tearing, and
Burn.
5. Contact: Actual contact -Bullet, Powder, Soot, with or without Barrel marks,
Gas tearing, and Burn.
Injuries in case of rifled weapon (bullet
injury)
Contact range gun shot wound
Split wound from contact over bone
Rifled firearm entry wound showing tattooing
Entry wound over skull
Fire arm entry wound in skull showing
bevelling of the inner table
 Dermal Exit Wounds (with Histopathology):-

1.Mechanism:-Stretching force.
-Limits of elasticity exceeded.
-Bullet has lost its spinning motion and velocity as well.

2.Surface :-Stellate, round, elliptical, cresentric or cutaneous laceration type(slit-like

stab or incised in shape),(formed due to the tumbling bullet).

3. Edges:- Everted.
-Shreds of contused hemorrhagic cutaneous fat extruding out.
-Rim of abrasion,soiling and burning absent.
4.Relation with the diameter of entrance wound:-
-Larger:- in usual manner.
- in unusual manner:-a) deformation of bullet(soft nose,hollow nose bullet)
b) tumbling(end-over-end rotation)-oblique bullet.
-Smaller
a) tumbling or yawing.
b) breaking into smaller fragments.
c) tangential entry.

5.One entrance and several exits:-

- Occur by 2 phenomenon:-a) Fragmentation of the bullet.
b) Secondary missiles formation from the bone
fragments.
6.Histopathology of exit wound:-
a) Epidermal damage:- Sharply demarcated from adjoining epidermis, which has
little or no damage.
- Contrast to progressive increase as in the entrance wound.
b)Powder residue:- Sparse or absent.
- Present when entrance and exit are close.
- If present:- Distribution just opposite to that in entrance wound.
c) Dermal/thermal collagen alteration:- Present indicating residual heat in the bullet.
Due to the friction by passage,especially through any bone.
d) Granulocytic infiltration and Fibroblastic proliferation:-
- Indicative of vital response to injury.
- Furnish objective indication of survival after injury.
Wound of exit in bullet injury
Trait Entrance Wound Exit Wound
1) Size Smaller than the diameter of the Bigger than the bullet.
bullet.
In close discharge skin is torn.

2) Edges Inverted Everett,Puckered or torn

3) Bruising,Abrasion Present Absent

Grease collar

4) Burning,Blacken- May be seen around the Absent.

ing,Tattooing wound.

5) Bleeding Less More

6) Fat No protrusion except May protrude

In contact shot.

7) Tissues within and May be Cherry-red due to CO of No color change

around the wound explosive gases.
8) Fibers of clothing Turned in and may be carried Turned out
into the wound.
9) Lead ring or May be seen around the wound by Absent
metal ring radiological examination
 Radiologic Imaging
Radiographic imaging may be needed to account for retained
bullets and fragments and to help determine the bullet
track. This has been accomplished for decades with plain
film radiography, utilizing multiple projections.

Computed tomographic (CT) imaging has been applied to

forensic investigations. CT provides multiple views with
higher resolution than plain film radiography.

In addition, radiography post-mortem is not limited by

potential hazards of cumulative radiation exposure as
would be the case in a living person. Thus, higher amounts
of radiation energy, and unlimited dosages, can be utilized.
With CT, cross sections can be computationally arranged
into three dimensional images.
X ray showing fracture of femur due to
shot gun pellet impact
X ray showing pellets in the soft tissue of
the shoulder
Sequence of fire

In some situations, pathologic findings may help to

establish in what sequence the bullets were fired
that caused the injuries. For example, multiple
gunshot wounds to the head may produce fracture
lines, and a subsequent fracture line will not cross a
pre-existing fracture line.
 “puppe’s rule”

1st
fracture

2nd fracture
Manner (Mode) of Death
The manner of death from firearms injuries can be
classified as homicide, suicide or accident.

There is no single characteristic appearance of a gunshot

wound that defines the manner of death.

Such a determination requires analysis of multiple pieces of

evidence, including the scene investigation, the
examination of the body, ballistic evidence, analysis for
gunshot residue, and interviews of persons involved with
the decedent and the scene of death.