Forensic analysis of ammunition

Question 1

Self-loading mechanism - about cartridges

Answer 1

• Cartridges do not have a protruding base rim beyond the main body of the cartridge case
• Cartridges must have parallel sides to allow for stacking in a magazine
• Centre-fire ammunition

Question 2

Single-shot mechanism - about cartridges

Answer 2

• Cartridges have a protruding base rim
• This stop the cartridge fallling through the cylinder of the revolver
• Rim-fire ammunition

Question 3

Unjacketed bullets

Answer 3

• Lead alloy only
• Low muzzle velocity - low penetration, high impact deformation

Question 4

Semi-jacketed

Answer 4

• Includes soft point (SP), hollow point (HP) and polymer tipped (PT)
• Less impact deformation than unjacketed - low penetration and high energy transfer
• Can form a mushroom shape upon impact

Question 5

Fully-jacketed

Answer 5

• Great penetration with relatively low energy transfer - high stability and high energy retention