Ballistics

Question 1

How are shotguns classified?

Answer 1

By gauge

Question 2

Gauge

Answer 2

The number of appropriately sized bullets that could be made from one pound of lead; the smaller the gauge, the bigger the bullet

Question 3

Contents of a cartridge

Answer 3

Projectile
Propellant
Primer
Casing

Question 4

Types of shotgun projectiles

Answer 4

Birdshot, buckshot, slug

Question 5

Tool

Answer 5

A device or implement used to carry out a particular function

Question 6

Firearm

Answer 6

A weapon from which a shot is discharged by gunpowder

Question 7

Ballistics

Answer 7

The study of projectiles, trajectories, and the effect on the target

Question 8

Firearms Identification

Answer 8

Methods to determine whether a bullet or cartridge was fired by a particular weapon

Question 9

Barrel

Answer 9

Metal cylindrical part of a firearm through which the bullet travels

Question 10

Muzzle

Answer 10

Discharging end of the barrel of a firearm

Question 11

Chamber

Answer 11

Firearm compartment that holds the cartridge

Question 12

What is the chamber of a rifle called?

Answer 12

The breech

Question 13

What is the chamber of a revolver called?

Answer 13

The cylinder

Question 14

Hammer/Striker

Answer 14

Part that hits the primer or firing pin or explodes the percussion cap, causing the gun to fire

Question 15

Magazine/Cylinder

Answer 15

Detachable firearm component in which cartridges are held to be fed into the firing chamber

Question 16

Types of firearms

Answer 16

Handguns, shotguns, and rifles

Question 17

Handgun types

Answer 17

Revolver

Semi-automatic pistol

Question 18

Shotgun types

Answer 18

Single shot
Pump action
Automatic

Question 19

Rifle types

Answer 19

Single shots

Automatic

Question 20

Three types of ballistics

Answer 20

Internal - travel within gun
External - gun to target
Terminal - wound ballistics

Question 21

Casing materials

Answer 21

Steel
Brass
Aluminum
Nickle-coated brass

Question 22

Caliber

Answer 22

Diameter of the bullet in either hundredths of an inch or mm or inside bore of the barrel

Question 23

Why is the bullet actually slightly larger than the caliber?

Answer 23

So it fits snugly in the barrel, creates a seal, and doesn’t rattle around

Question 24

Primer types

Answer 24

Center vs Rim

Berdan vs Boxer

Question 25

Cartridge Identification

Answer 25

``` Manufacturer markings Markings by the process Extractor Breech Firing pin ```

Question 26

Extractor

Answer 26

Hooks the cartridge and pulls it out to hit the ejector

Question 27

Process markings

Answer 27

``` Firing pin marks Chamber marks Breech impressions Ejector Extractor ```

Question 28

Gunpowder Identification

Answer 28

``` Granule shape (ball, flattened ball, flake, stick) Chemical composition ```

Question 29

Methods of bullet identification

Answer 29

Metal composition Caliber Barrel Rifling

Question 30

Common metal compositions

Answer 30

Copper Zinc Steel

Question 31

Full Metal Jacket

Answer 31

Brass or copper coated; doesn't fragment

Question 32

Weight of a bullet is measured in...

Answer 32

grains

Question 33

What type of bullet can penetrate armor

Answer 33

Steel centered bullets

Question 34

Barrel rifling

Answer 34

Grooves cut into the barrel to spin the bullet, leaves marks on the bullet which can be used for identification (4/right, 6/right, 6/left, 16/right)

Question 35

Types of bullet tracing (5)

Answer 35

``` Caliber, grains, and type Material it's made of Rifling pattern Distinguishing features Blood on the bullet ```

Question 36

Preferred firearm for crime and why

Answer 36

Shotguns; no rifling and harder to trace

Question 37

Greiss test

Answer 37

Tests for nitrates (unburned gunpowder) on clothing and suspect's hand

Question 38

Negatives of Greiss test

Answer 38

False negative - wash hands, gloves | Nitrates stop appearing after 48 inches

Question 39

Higher velocity =

Answer 39

bigger impact

Question 40

Air resistance is less effective in _____ altitudes

Answer 40

high

Question 41

Physical ballistic evidence at the scene (4)

Answer 41

Wound entrance/exit Final position of bullet Environmental factors Witness testimony