ARM-AMMUNITION lJNI(AGE

The identificJtioll of the firearm which fired he incriminating cartridges, bullets or the other projectiles is one of the most mporlant aspects of forensic ballistics. The identificalions, like fingerprints,areyosilive inmost of the cases. They have great evidentiary value inHnking the criminal with the crime.

_PRINCIPLES
When a firearm is discharged, the cartridge case comes in contact with the firing pin, the breech face, the extractor, the ejector and the chamber. The fired projectiles come in contact with the lead and the barrel. All these parts of a firearm are tnacle of steel. During their I11Jnufacture they undergo processes like culling, hanlmering, reaming, grinding, filing and polishing. Various to.o15 are used in their manufacture. The surface profiles of the tools used contimJc to change due to wear 8nd tear as the tools work on steel. The finished surface profiles of the firearms after undergoing sllch opcTiltions arc,. therefore, never alike even when the two surfaces arc I1lJde with the SClme set of tools, one ilftcr the other. ConsequentlYr all the firCClrrllSr even the twobarrcls of the sanie firearmr show cornplete individualities. This inclividuCllity has also been by actual experiments carried out in the initial stages, of the established development of this science by Colonel Goddard:

A long barrel IOns bored and grooved.

barrels. Bullets fired through

It was thell cut into six pieces to make six

ident~fied in respect of

the six bl1rrels 'Lucre correctly

the individual

pieces.

The peculiarities of the various parts of a firearm are enhanced \",ith, the use of the firearm due to the wear and tear and the accidental dumage. When a cartridge is fired, the cartridge cast and the bullet come in close contact with the relevant purts of the fireClrm, A negative profile o[th(' surLlCe of the firearm coming in contact with the surfllces of the fired cClrtridgc CClSC of the bullet, is or imprinted. The profile pallcrn is Gllled the thumbprint of the fireurm. It permits individualizJtion of the firearm .. The cartridge cases and bullets are made of softer materials than the steel of the firearm. The mmks proclucing surfClces, therefore, do not change. subst;:mlially for Cllong tirneor with continued use. The firearm C(1nbe identified in respect of the fired ammunition even \vhcn the [in.?Clrm is recovered after (l long time. The intervClI between the ccnnrnission of the crime and recovery firearm is, ordinarilYr too small to allow extensive changes in the barrel. of the

\Zlml'ncd wilh to ('h;H~ge the If the firearm is ill-kept, misused or inlcntion,dly profile p<1tlcl'1l of the Stll'fclCt', 111(: [ired ;1tnmuniUon then may OJ' I1\Cl)' not be iclenti[iClble. It depends upon the changes so produced. Each case 111(\)' be decided only after the thorough exarninCltion.
III nmurder the firel1rm cnse, the firearm it
I(}(/S

WI1S buried ll11dergrowld to identify

If/('

for

111rmy

months.

Afto thn

cl1n:ful c!ml1il1g

possiNe

fired

lJ1ltlel,

ill spite of the.filct

fwd I'1Isted c.Ylcnsiz)('fyfroll1

outside.

(ell)

Fig.
TIle firing pins Tile scmtches

III

ofa dOlillfc-1Jarrdlcd

n bore gun

were filed.

all the breech face bear witness

to the act.

Sometimes the extensive bore becomes

a very old firearm larger. A bullet

is used in the commission of the barrel through fired such

of the crime. does with not

Due to Its

use, the inner surface

of the firearm a firearm

gets 'vvashed'.

'house'

properly in the barrel. It is, consequently, thumbprint of the firearm.

not imprinted

the c01llple\(-

A loose fit bullet is marked imperfectly. A test bullet of the right calibre, therefore, ITlay not carry all the marks from the barrel. A lead bullet (or a slug) of slightly larger d illlnder is prepared and pushed through the barrel. It takes up most of the IllCHks from the barrel and proves useful for compinison, but not

ahvays.

_~t:Class

and Individual

Characteristics

The position, size zmd the general shJpe of the firing pin, the breech face, the extractor, the ejector and of the chamber marks on a cartridge arc the cJoss characteristics of the firearm. The finer details of all these marks constitute tlle individuzd features/ chzHJcleristics of tlle firearm. In a fired bullel, the C<llibrc, number, width, depth, direction and t\ovi,stof Ow grooves anclland,<; form the class ChilJ"ClctCrislics. The finer details (striz\tions) in of the firearm. the linlels c1l1clgrooves ME' individuGll characteristics The firCc1rms of the 58me make and model imprint C01TlmO!\ class charJclerislics on the fired ilmmunition. ':fhe firearms of tlie different makes and 6[ the different models of the same make imprint different class characteristics. The individual features are ahvays different. No two firearms have the same individua! cllJracteristics.

FlRE/\RMS

IN C~IMINALINVESTIGATIO!'J

AND TIHALS

fig.~
Rimjircfil'l'r1rms Tl1e piliI' ojpin

lcnue the pill II1nrk 011 the rim.

COIll'.1lOl1

marks show lhe idcl1Uly of tlie

so 11reI'.

The c1<1sSdl<1['c\cleristics {'He useful 85 they permit quick climinJtion suspected wCilpon, if the WCflflOIl W(lS not involved in the crime alld when are a munbcr of sLlspect firearms. 111ake of the fj rCJ rms used, They indicate the nature and

of () there

the possible

6.1.2 Identification

Basis of the rired Cartridge

The cartridges when fired, as already seen, come in close contact with relevant parts (the firing pin, the breech face, extractor, ejector ;:lnd chamber of the firearm. The parts imprintlheir negative facsimile on th.e cartridge case. In addition, if the case slides, strialedlnarks are imprinted on the case.

6.1.3 firing Pin

The firing pin strikes the c~,rtridgc on the percLlssiail cap and iillprints its rnark. The inlpC1d explodes the C(1P composition, The flame and the he;:lt produced, rapidly converllhe propelll1nt ch0rge into gl1scs. The high pressure developed presses the case against the firing pill. The cbrily of the firing pin marks is thus enhilllced. The firing pin S(Ti1PC ll1illks pmduccd The firing pin marks ,done permil per cenLcases, onlhe bit'ie are cqullJlYll.'iduL in ;:lbaul

the idcnUficC1lion of the firearm

ARM-AMMUNITION

LINKAGE

to

Breech Face The surface of the action block surrounding the firing pin (and opposite

the cartridge base in the loaded gun) is Gllled the breech ftlce. On firing, the gases push the cartridge C(lse violently against the breech face, which imprints its negative profile on the cartridge base. The breech [(lee profile is highly characteristic. It, alone, is sufficient for the identification of the firearm used, if the impriill of the profile on the base of the cartridge is dea rand Sl1 fficien t.

R.

8
Fig. 1J.IJ
1!IIIJOrfrlllt Parts

of a SllOtgulI

(1) Breech faces; (2) ureech lever; (3) safety catch with indicator (4) triggers; (6) firing pins; (7) chamber; (8) barrel; (9) extraclors.

(~i)trigger

guard;

The breech face marks are not always avai18ble. They are often absent on the
Gnlridgcs fircd (rom sholr;uns. 'fhey ,11"(' gene),<1l1y irnprit1!cd when either the alrununition develops In abnormal high pressure or when the shotgun is defective. The ammunition fired from the improvised firearms frequently carry the breech marks fron1 the i",'eapon, i,vhich usually alone arc sufficient for iclentification of the \veapon. The high velocity rifles and alltomatic anel

/.Q

8:
_

FIREARMS

IN CRIMINAL

INVESTIGATION

AND TRIALS

scmi-autol1lJlic firearms, ordini1rily, the c(}rl ridges fired from them.

imprint

idcnlifiilble

breech filcc T11ilrks on

Chamber

The chambci: marks are observed rarely on the fired ammunition. Ordinarily some defect or some deposit in the chamber imprints its negative profile on the tubular portion of the cartridge case when it develops pressure on firing. An over-sized cartridge GIse may also tend to get imprinted wilh the \=hamber mark. The chamber marks are often found in the cartridges fired from the improvised firearms as there is no proper obturation space to allow for the normal expansion of the cartridge case on firing. The chamber marks permit the identification of the firearm from the fired ammunition like the other marks. ~ Extractor

Extractor mark like the chamber marks 8re rarely prominent. They may permit the identification of the fireann whenever they are imprinted clearly. Extractor marks help in fixing the orientation of the cartridge in the chamber. The OI'iel'tali01\ is often helpful in locating ,the pmt of the breech block (or other parts) which may have imprinted the marks on the cartridge case.

Fig.~
Firillspil1 scrape l11arks cOl1lil1llity cartridges, across (//(' dividing line 011 tile 'cri/1/e' of marks. alia the 'rest' indicntes U/I' C0I11/1/011source

50

Fig .
Characteristic the chamber challlber marks marks identify the C017l11/0110urce as decisively 5 ollly {he defective //larks all fhe fired aml11unitioll. as the other marks.

But

are 110t COI1lJl/OII.Ordillarily, lcave clwmbcr

or the improvised

firearms

~.;

Ejector In the autom<itic and the semi-automatic firearms the ejector marks the cartridge G1Sewhen it strikes against it,in its backvvard motion. The ejector is so positioned that the fired shell after striking the device is pushed out of the firearm. The ejector marks are frequently identifiable anc1link the fired shells with the firearms. The clarity of the Inarks, hmvever, varies tremendously from one firearm to another ;me! cven from onc shot to another in the same firt<1rrn. The minks <1re, thereforc, morc useful 85 cbss chuacteristics to fix or eliminate the make of the firearms. They permit inclivic1uzllisalion of the firearm when the marks imprinted are sufficient and clear.

Identification Basis of the BuIld TIle bullets r('cei\"(~ n~,,!k5 from' the b<H[e\. The

lands of tlte barrel are called slippage

engrave grooves on the bullets. The grooves of the barrel may also ~'(T(lpe the surface of the bullet. The marks on the 'lands' of the projectiles are the result of this scraping. They are usually present when the bullets are made of lead. The leads sometimes fnarks. :-:'rape the bullets. The marks

The muzzle also gets burred due to the crowning, if the barrel has been sawn off or due to accident<:1)d(,lnl<:1ge. The addition<:11nooks and corners so produced, mark the bullets. The frequently utilised marks for the identification of the firearm are, however, those engraved by the lands of the barrel. The groove scrapes are useful whenever they are present. The slippage marks are seldom lltilised. The slippage marks should prove useful when the land and groove rnarks are not adequate. It is, however, difficult to prepare the adequate specimen slippage marks for the comparison purposes. It is important to note that: The dirt (rust, soil ete.) on the bullets or in the barrels affects the clarity of the marks. It mu!ilCltes or modifies the marks . The bClrrel engraves the marks all Ilw,lcad bullets easily. The marks are on the rnuti18tec! or destroyed \vilh equal C'flSC. The marks cngr;1Vcd jt1ckclS of the bu]]ds <lrcretained better. The bullets ]xlssing through the intermediate target (like the wire gauze, the glass, wood ete.) may carry scratches through the edges of the holes. The scratches mayor may not hinder the identification marks. " The crimped edges of the cartridge case may mark the projectile coming out of the same. The marks are the minute scratches parallel to the axis of the bullet. The marks should not cause confusion in the identification work. " Bullets passing through a bulged barrel may get engraved with the overlapping c1upliciltc set of marks because the bullets jump through ihc bulge. The dupliccttion mZlY hinder the identification of the projectile ; 1) respect of the fire3 rnl.
e

bullet fired from the revolver SOlT\etimes carries slippage (or aving) marks. This happens because the projectile has to jump the gap - the distance between the barrel. The chamber and the b;nrel bore ,He not perfectly ~lJjgned. In the process, some pmls of llw Ln;Jlct 3re shaved or scr8tchcd by the edges of the b8rrel at the breech end. These lnarks rnay interfere with the identification of the fin'ann which has fired the projectile. However, they may prove useful in 'ol11e cases. For example, \-vhen the usual marks are imperfectly in11'rinted or the m(1r~s an:' mutil3tcd, they may link the firearm and the pn'f"ctile.
/\

EV ALUA IrON

OF FlREAf.(M

INJURIES

,.
1

,f

"

Fig.
The meclwI1isl1l Tire wound (1) Dirt

-=and of fOrl11l1UOIl of extmneolls deposits. graphite, soil etc.). projectile.

O1t file

of forl11l1tioll offirel1rl11 injuries by:of dirt (grease,

is clwacterised
ring

rillg due to tile deposit

(2)
(,3)

CO/ll1/sion

fanned deposit

fiy tile impact (lrn1!l1d

edges, by tile entering

plli'/101I/I'na.

Smoke liJ?rlictc.5 Tattooing

plu?
11OI11C

f!ip 7.001lIlrl~~cfol)e range

(4)

duc to cl1Il!cdding
1/(/.

of sCl1li-bumt

or 1I/1Imrnt

powder

parliclcs-closc

muge

S /,