FORENSIC BALLISTICS

Composition of Gunpowder
  1. Sulfur
  2. Charcoal
  3. Saltpeter (potassium nitrate)
      - gun powder first appeared in china but used
        primarily in firecrackers.
Different Firing Mechanisms of Firearm
  1. Matchlock - employed a burning wick on a spring that was "locked" back and released into a pan ofpowder
upon pulling a trigger. The powder in the
      pan then ignited, sending flame through a small
      hole into the barrel chamber of the weapon,
      igniting a larger powder charge in the chamber and
      sending the projectile (bullet) forward.
  2 Wheellock - in the early 16th century, improvement
      included the wheellock mechanism in which a
      spinning wheel against a metal plate showered
      sparks into the pan holding the priming powder.
  3. Flintlock - developed in the early 17th century,
      flint is released by the trigger mechanism that
      strikes a steel plate to shower sparks into the pan
      filled with powder.
  4. Percussion - evolved in the 19th century,
      consisted of a hammer that was locked and when
      released, struck a cap containing a volatile
      "primer" that ignites on impact, sending a flame
      through a small tube into the barrel chamber. 

Acetone - The simplest ketone. A solvent for gun powder.A highly flammable,water-soluble solvent.
Action - the action of the gun consists of all the moving parts that facilitate
the loading,firing,discharging of the empty case and unloading of the gun.
Action, revolver - a firearm,usually a handgun with a cylinder having several chambers so arrange as to rotate
around an axis and be discharge successively by the same firing mechanism.
Action, semi-automatic - a repeating firearm requiring a separate pull of the trigger for each shot fired and
which uses the energy of discharge to perform a portion of the operating or firing cycle (usually the loading
portion).
Actuator - part of the firing mechanism in certain automatic firearms that slides forward and back in preparing
each cartridge to be fired.Also called trigger actuator.
Ammunition - one or more loaded cartridges consisting of a primed case,propellant and with one or more
projectiles.
Anvil marks - microscopic marks impressed on the  forward face of the rim of a rimfire cartridge case as it is
forced against the breech end of the barrel by the firing pin.These marks are characteristic of the breech under
the firing pin and have been used to identify firearm.
AP - abbreviation for armor-piercing ammunition.
Apogee - the maximum altitude a projectile will reach when shot in the air.
Assault rifle - automatic weapon designed to be fired by one man.Ammunition is fed from a magazine.
Automatic - a firearm capable of ejecting a cartridge casing following  discharge and reloading the next cartridge
from the magazine.
Automatic action - a firearm design that feeds cartridges,fires, and ejects cartridge cases as long as the trigger
is fully depressed and there are cartridges available in the feed system.
Auto-safety - a locking device on some firearms designed to return to the on or safe position when the firearm is
opened.
Azo dye - a result of the Griess test where nitrates from gunpowder residues are converted to an orange-red
dye.
Ball ammunition - military small arms ammunition with full metal jacket bullets,also known as hard ball.
Ballistics - the study of a projectile in motion,following the projectile travel from primer ignition to barrel exit,to
target entry and until motion is stopped.
Ballistics,exterior - The study of the motion of the projectile after it leaves the barrel of the firearm.
Ballistics,Interior - the study of the motion of the projectile within the firearm from the moment of ignition  until it
leaves the barrel.
Ballistics,terminal - the study of the projectiles impact on the target.
Barium - alkaline earth metal with chemical symbol Ba,atomic number 56.Present as barium nitrate in the primer.
Barium nitrate - a common oxidizer of the primer compound used in gun cartridges.
Barrel - that part of a firearm through which a projectile travels under the impetus of powder gases,compressed
air, or other like means,may be rifled or smooth.
BB - air rifle projectile of 0.177 in. diameter or a shotgun pellet of 0.18 in. diameter.
BBB shot - shotgun pellet of 0.19 in. diameter.
Beretta - is an Italian firearms manufacturer.It is the oldest active firearms manufacturer in the world.
Beveling - (external or internal) defects that occur when a projectile passes through a flat bone.The perforation
in the bone is typically larger and more cone shaped as the bullet passes from the entrance through the bone to
the exit.
Bipod - is an attachment for a weapon that creates a steady plane for whatever it may be attached.
             A two-legged rest or stand as for rifle or machine gun.

Black powder - the earliest form of propellant.It is a mechanical mixture of potassium nitrate or sodium
nitrate,charcoal and sulfur.
Blasting cap - a small explosive charge triggered by lighting a safety fuse or applying an electric current used to
detonate high explosives.
Blunderbuss - is a muzzle-loading firearm with a short,large caliber barrel which is flared at the muzzle and
frequently throughout the entire bore and used with shot and other projectiles of relevant quantity and/or caliber.
Bolt action - is a type of firearm action in which the weapons bolt is operated manually by opening and closing of
the breech (barrel) with a small handle most commonly placed on the right hand side of the weapon for (right
hand users).
                     A firearm in which the breech closure is in line with the bore at all times.It is manually reciprocated
to load,unload and cock and is locked in place by breech-bolt lugs and engaging abutments usually in the
receiver.
Bore - the interior of a barrel,forward of the chamber.
Bore brush - A brush usually having brass,nylon,or plastic bristles which is used to clean deposits from the bore
of a firearm.
Bore diameter - in a rifled barrel,it is the minor diameter of a barrel which is the diameter of a circle formed by
the tops of the lands.In a shotgun,it is the  interior dimensions of the barrel forward of the chamber but before the
choke.
Brass - a slang term sometimes used for fired cartridge cases.
Breech - the part of the firearm at the rear of the bore into which the cartridge of propellant is inserted.
Breech block - the locking and cartridge head-supporting mechanism of a firearm that does not operate in line
with the axis of the bore.
Breech blot - the locking and cartridge head-supporting mechanism of a firearm that operates  in line with the
axis of the bore.
Breech face - that part of the breech block or breech bolt that is against the head of the cartridge  case or shot
shell during firing.
Breech face markings - negative impression of the breech face of the firearm found on the head of the cartridge
case after firing.
Breech-loading weapon - is a firearm in which the cartridge or shell is inserted or loaded into a chamber integral
to the rear portion of a barrel.
Broach - rifling tool consisting of a series of circular cutting tools mounted on a long rod.The rifling is cut in on
pass of the broach through the gun barrel.
Browning arms co. - is a maker of firearms founded in Utah in 1927.
Buckshot - lead pellet ranging in size from 0.20 in. to 0.36 in. diameter.
Bullet - is a projectile propelled by a firearm,sling,or air gun.