Ballistics

• Ballistics is a scientific study of motions of the projectile
• • Ballistic came from the word “ballo” and “ballein” means to throw
• Ballistics is the science of the motion of the projectile and the condition that affects their motion. It is a science in itself for it is an orderly arranged knowledge, which is a product of series of experimentation, observation and testing.
• Ballista is Catapult or gigantic bows that was used to furl missiles or large object at a distance like stone, dead animal or even dead person
• Ballista is also known as the Roman war machine
• Motions refers to the mobility or movement of the projectile from the time it leaves the shell empty, it leaves the gun muzzle and until it reach its target or fall in the ground
• projectile is any metallic on non-metallic ball which is propelled from a firearm. an object that can be fired or launched, such as bullet, artillery shell, or rocket;
• Forensic is application of scientific study for a legal proceedings/court presentation
• Forensic came from the word Fora or forum which means Marketplace
• Projectile, cartride case and slugs are commonly presented physical evidence in court
• Two things that can be found at the crime scene are slugs and bullet
• Slugs can be seen at the location of perpetrator
• Bullet can be seen either in the body of a person or nearby areas
• In ballistics, we have 3 types of motions
• Direct motion is the forward motion of the bullet or shots out of the shell by the action of the expansive force of gases from a burning gunpowder.
• Muzzle is the end of the front end of the barrel where the bullet or pellet exits
• Rotatory motion is the Rotation/twisting movement of the projectile which is caused by the rifflings inside the barrel of the firearm
• Riflings is the lands and grooves of the barrel
• Smooth bore firearms that have no rifling inside their gun barrel
• Rifled bore Firearms that have rifling inside their gun barrel.
• examples of riffled bore are pistols, revolvers and other modern weapons
• Calvin Goddard is the Father of modern ballistic
• translational is the action of bullet once it hits a target and subsequently ricocheted.
• The branches of ballistics are interior ballistic, exterior ballistics, terminal ballistics and forensic ballistics
• interior ballistic motion of projectile while inside the barrel of the firearm
• interior ballistic treats of the motion of the projectile while it is still inside the firearm (chamber/barrel) which extends from the breech to the muzzle.
• The explosion of the bullet is .0002 sec
• The bullets occupies the muzzle of the firearm for only 0.01 sec
• Breech is the rear end of the barrel and part of the barrel at the opposite end of the muzzle
• THE CONDITIONS ATTRIBUTED TO INTERNAL BALLISTICS ARE AS FOLLOWS:

  1. FIRING PIN HITTING THE PRIMER
  2. IGNITION OF THE PRIMING MIXTURE
  3. COMBUSTION OF THE GUN POWDER/POWDER CHARGE OR PROPELLANT.
  4. EXPANSION OF HEATED GAS
  5. PRESSURE DEVELOPED
  6. ENERGY GENERATED
  7. RECOIL OF THE GUN
  8. VELOCITY OF THE BULLET INSIDE THE BARREL
  9. ROTATION OF THE BULLET INSIDE THE BARREL
  10. ENGRAVING OF THE CYLINDRICAL SURFACE OF THE BULLET
• • Jump is another portion of the recoil action characterized as the backward and upward movement of that takes place before the bullet leaves the muzzle
• Nitrate - deep blue specks

  Nitrite - green
• Black powder produces grayish smoke and considerable residue is left in the barrel
• Smokeless powder does not give off huge cloud of smoke like black powder. This is commonly used in modern cartridges and is considered as the most powerful propellants. 
• Nitrocellulose and Nitroglycerine as the major ingredients of the smokeless powder
• Ignition of the priming mixture - The priming mixture (composing of the KCL03, sulfur and carbon) located either at the cavity rim or at the center of the primer upon the striking effect of the firing pin will ignite and such action is known as "Percussion action"
• the “vent” or “flash holes” is the hole in the web or bottom of the primer pocket through which the primer “flash” provides ignition to the powder charge. It is the “opening” or “canal” that connects the priming mixture with the gunpowder
• recoil of the gun is the equal and opposite reaction of the gun against the forward movement of the bullet upon explosion. The backward or rearward movement of the gun in relation to the forward movement of the bullet
• velocity of the bullet inside the barrel is the relative speed of the bullet per unit of time while it is still inside the barrel expressed in feet per second
• Lands is the elevated portion. That portion of the bore remaining after the rifling of grooves have been cut.