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Forensic Ballistics

                                    

Forensic Ballistics



(Photo Credit: Gopal1035)


What is Forensic Ballistics?


The United States army defines ballistics as the branch of applied physics that studies the motion of missiles or projectiles of all types and the conditions that influence that motion; which put simply means the study of firearms and ammunition. When ballistics are examined within a legal context the prefix forensic can then be applied.

A very useful defintion of appeared in a U.S. House Bill back in 2000, which stated that forensic-ballistics is "a comparative analysis of fired bullets and cartridge casings to identify the firearm from which the bullets or cartridge casings were discharged through the identification of the unique characteristics that each firearm imprints on bullets and cartridge casings."

The following videos demonstrate how this "comparative analysis" takes place in the real world.

Ohio University Forensic Chemistry Lab:

Professor Jim Spencer (Chem 113 Forensic Science Ballistics Lecture) Syracuse University:


Learn About Forensic-Ballistics


The Firearm Examiner Training website is published by The Research, Development, and Evaluation Agency of the U.S Department of Justice and provides a detailed interactive training program delivered in fourteen modules which cover the following topics areas:

  • Propellants, Firearms, and Ammunition Development
  • Modern Firearms Manufacture
  • Small Arms Ammunition
  • Evidence Handling Procedures
  • Equipment and Instrumentation
  • Examination of Firearms
  • Cartridge and Shotshell Examination
  • Characterization and Evaluation of Fired Projectiles
  • Bullet Comparison and Identification
  • Gunshot Residue and Distance Determination
  • Toolmark Identification
  • Communicating Results
  • You can access this outstanding resource for free by Clicking Here


    History of Forensic-Ballistics Articles


    Who Did The Shooting? Wonderful article from 1927 showcasing the then new science of forensic-ballistics.

    Forensic Ballistics History: Who Did The Shooting?


    Essential Reading


    Handbook of Firearms and Ballistics: Examining and Interpreting Forensic Evidence by Brian J. Heard

    Book Information

    The updated second edition of Handbook of Firearms and Ballistics includes recent developed analytical techniques and methodologies with a more comprehensive glossary, additional material, and new case studies. With a new chapter on the determination of bullet caliber via x-ray photography, this edition includes revised material on muzzle attachments, proof marks, non-toxic bullets, and gunshot residues. Essential reading for forensic scientists, firearms examiners, defense and prosecution practitioners, the judiciary, and police force, this book is also a helpful reference guide for undergraduate and graduate forensic science students.

    See following link for more details:

    Handbook of Firearms and Ballistics: Examining and Interpreting Forensic Evidence (Developments in Forensic Science)

    Visitors From The UK Click Here


    Read Serial Killer & FBI Profiling Classics on Kindle


    Click Here For Full Details


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