CHAPTER I : FIREARMS
Definition 1
Historical outfit 1
Gradual development of firearms 2
CHAPTER II : CLASSIFICATION OF FIREARMS
Introduction 13
Bore and Calibres 14
Choke 15
Teschner Calibre System 16
Calibre 17
Types of Choke 17
Choke Markings 19
Manufacturing Process 20
Musket 20
Shotguns 21
Pistols 25
Revolvers 29
Rifles 32
Sub-Machine Guns (Carbines) 37
Sten Gun 38
Thompson Sub-machine Gun 40
0.30" U. S. Carbine 40
Light Machine Guns 40
Medium Machine Guns 40
Heavy Machine Guns 41
Tank Machine Guns 41
Air Craft Machine Guns 41
Anti-Tank Rifles 41
Recoilless Gun 42
Guided Missiles 42
AIR Guns/Rifles/Pistols 42
Rubber Bullets and Bullet Launcher 43
Caseless Cartridge 44
Silencer 47
CHAPTER III : AMMUNITION
Introduction 48
Composition of Ammunition 48
Propellant 48
Manufacturing Process 50
Smokeless Powder 51
Bulk Powder 52
Dram Equivalent 53
Dense powder 53
Fibrous Shotgun Powder 53
Gelatinished Shotgun Powder 53
Progressive Powder 54
Degressive Powder 54
Constant Burning propellant 54
Semi-smokeless Powder 55
Primer 55
Percussion Caps 57
Projectiles 58
Elongated Projectiles (Bullets) 60
Cannelure 63
Swaged lead Bullet 63
Shotgun Projectiles 64
Manufacture of Shots 64
Plated Shots 64
T. T. Shots 68
Types of Projectiles in Ball Cartridges 68
Wads 70
Functions of wads noted in items (b) to (d) 72
Turn over 72
Lubricants 73
Cartridge Case 73
Manufacturing Process 73
Pinfire Cartridge Shells 75
Rimfire Cartridge Shells 75
Centre-fire Cartridge Shells 75
Shape of the Shell 75
Signal Cartridges 76
Clips and Chargers 76
Magazines 77
Belt-Feed 77
Accelerator Cartridge 77
Duplex Ball 78
Tandem Bullet 78
Standard Loads for smokeless Powders only 79
CHAPTER IV : INTERNAL BALLISTICS
Introduction 80
Common Defects-Causes and Effects 80
Burning of the Propellant 84
Combustion 85
Deflagration 85
Detonation 85
Burning of Propellant-A function of Geometry of Gun Powder 85
Pressure 85
Combustion of Propellant Charges 86
Black Powder 86
Smokeless Powder 87
muzzle Velocity 89
Barrel Length and velocity 89
Twist v. Muzzle Velocity 92
Density of Loading and Air Space 94
Strength of Barrel and Other Parts 94
Obstructions 95
Faulty metal 96
Burnt barrel 96
Rusting or corrosion 96
Remedy 98
Erosion 99
Recoil, Jump and Vibration 101
Elements of recoil 102
Measurement of recoil 105
Calculation of recoil 105
Recoil can be described in the following way 106
Recoilless gun 108
Cutts Compensator 108
Weaver Choke 108
Hangfire 109
Precautions 109
CHAPTER V : EXTERIOR BALLISTICS
Introduction 110
General Consideration 110
Why the path traced by a bullet has the shape of a parabola? 111
Vacuum Trajectory 112
Calculation of Remaining Velocity 115
Air Resistance 116
Ballistic Coefficient 117
Bullet Drop 117
Wind Deflection 118
Gyroscopic Drift 119
Twist v. Stability 120
Canting 120
Shooting up/down 122
Velocity of falling shot 123
Velocity of falling bullet 124
Escape Velocity 125
Maximum horizontal and vertical range of shot pellets 126
Ricochet 127
Critical angle for bullet ricochet for the
bullet and the surface 128
Relationship between the angle of incidence and ricochet 129
Stability in flight after ricochet 130
Lethal effects of ricochet bullet 130
CHAPTER VI : WOUNDS BALLISTICS-FIREARMS INJURIES
Introduction 133
Stopping Powder 133
Injuries and Quantity of Energy of Projectiles 135
Shock Wave 135
Cavitation Effect 136
Misconceptions in Firearms Injuries 137
The bullet after hitting the bone may bounce back through
the same hole 137
If the wound of entrance is higher on the body as compared to the
wound of exit, then the position of the assailant was at
a higher level than the victim 137
Of the two wounds, communicating with each other, the wound of
entrance is always smaller than the wound of exit 138
The bullet travels in straight line from the wound of
entrance to the wound of exit 138
A bullet emerging from the muzzle of the weapon is so hot that
it will burn the body tissues on impact at close range 138
The bullet shot from a high velocity rifled weapon at a very high
spin rate essentially drills its way into the target 138
There exists a relationship between the survival time and
the severity of the wound which could be ascertained
from an examination of the injuries 139
Whether accidental deaths can be caused due to discharge of
projectiles while cleaning the gun 139
Nature of Gunshot Injuries 139
Abrasion 139
Contusion or rupture 139
Laceration 139
Combination of abrasion, Contusion and laceration 139
Fracture 140
Compression 140
Bleeding 140
Incised wound 140
Stab/punctured/perforating wound 140
Firearms Injuries 140
HAS THE INJURY BEEN CAUSED ON ACCOUNT OF PENETRATION OF PROJECTILES
Examination of the Margins of the wound/Entrance
wound and Fabrics 142
Spot test for lead 142
Walker test for Nitrite 143
Principle 143
Experimental procedure 143
Observation and inference 144
Modified Walker Test 144
Experimental Procedure 144
Detection of Nitrate in presence of
Nitrite and vice versa 145
Thin Layer Chromatography 146
Observation and inference 146
Spot Test 147
Discharge Residue Detection by Flourescence 147
OUT OF THE WOUNDS COMMUNICATING WITH EACH OTHER WHICH ONE IS THE WOUND OF ENTRANCE AND WHICH IS THE WOUND OF EXIT
Sampling Technique 150
Reagent 150
Procedure 150
Result 150
WHAT WAS THE TYPE OF WEAPON THAT CAUSED THE INJURY?
WHETHER THE INJURY WAS SUICIDAL, HOMICIDAL AND ACCIDENTAL IN NATURE
Test for identifying Shooter's Hand 152
Visual examination 152
Paraffin test 152
Rust Stain Detection 154
Gunshot Residue Test 154
Sampling Technique (Swabbing) 155
Washings of the Hand 156
Analytical Technique 156
Detection of Gunshot Particles by S.E. M. 157
Development of Latent Fingerprint on Fired Shell 157
Experimental Arrangement 158
HOW MANY ROUNDS HAVE CAUSED THE INJURIES TO THE VICTIM
Number of Bullets in a victim's body 159
Number of entrance holes 160
Types of shots 161
Penetration of shots in different regions of the body 161
WHAT WAS THE DISTANCE FROM WHICH FIRING TOOK PLACE?
Wounds caused by Machine-guns 168
Airgun/air rifle injuries 169
Blank cartridge injuries 170
CHAPTER VII : SPHERICAL PROJECTILES INJURIES
Introduction 171
Contact Shot 171
Near Contact Shot 172
Range between 1 to 3 yards (0.9 to 2.75 metres) 172
Range between to 3 to 6 yards 173
Range between 6 to 10 yards 173
Pattern between 10-40 yards/10-35 metres 173
Range beyond 40 yards/35 metres 174
Range evaluation from percentage of Pellets 175
Wounding power and Casualty Criteria 175
Pattern of other weapons/Buck Shots 178
Pattern from sawn off barrel 179
Range estimation from wads 180
CHAPTER VIII : COUNTRY-MADE/ZIP GUNS
Introduction 183
Type of weapon 183
Materials for Construction 183
Barrel Design 183
Firing Mechanism 184
Fitting of various parts of the weapon 184
Muzzle velocities and Energy Conclusion 186
Conclusion 186
CHAPTER IX : SURVIVAL TIME AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES OF VICTIMS OF FIREARMS INJURIES
Embolism of missile 189
Activities after Firearms Injuries 189
Prolonged Survival 190
Bullet-proof Protective Vests 191
CHAPTER X : ACCIDENTAL DISCHARGE CASES
Introduction 192
Ten Commandments 193
CHAPTER XI : GUN-SHOT INJURIES-ILLUSTRATIVES CASES
Introduction 195
Case No. 1 195
Case No. 2 199
Case No. 3 200
Case No. 4 202
Case No. 5 203
Case No. 6 206
Case No. 7 207
Case No. 8 208
Case No. 9 209
CHAPTER XII : RANDOM NOTES
Introduction 211
Effect of Choke on velocity 211
Widening of the Pattern of a full choke 211
Light weight 12 bores 211
Best Length of Barrels for shot-guns 211
Report from Different barrel Lengths 211
Weight of Trigger Pulls in shot guns 212
Single Trigger Action 212
Weight of Gun Stock 212
Chamberless Gun 212
Difference between the Barrels of Revolver and Pistol 212
Effect of oil in a Barrel on Pattern or Groupings 212
Effect of oil in Chambers 212
Shot Cartridges in Long Chambers 213
Long Cartridge in Shorter Chamber 213
Gas-tight Cartridge 213
Best Shot size 213
Mould Shot 213
Over Bore 214
Skeet and Trap Shooting 214
Keyhold shots 215
Cartridge Storage Life 215
Can Revolver Cartridge be fired through a Pistol
and vice versa 215
CHAPTER XIII : LABORATORY INVESTIGATION OF FIREARMS CASES
Introduction 216
Proof Testing of Firearms 216
Resuscitation of Serial Numbers 217
Technique 217
Cast Iron and Cast Steel: Solution 218
Wrought, Drawn, Forged Iron and Steel 218
Identification from Fired Cartridges and Projectiles 218
Firing pin and breach-face imprints 218
Extractor marks 219
Drag marks 220
Chamber marks 220
Unusual marks 220
Characteristics of marks found on bullets 220
Mismatching of ammunition 225
Unusual marks on fragmented bullets 225
Bullets fired through non-rifled barrels 226
Identification from fired shots/pellets 226
Identification from fired airgun slugs 228
Identification from proof mark 228
Recovery of fired shots/projectiles 228
Bullet recovery box 228
Water recovery tank 230
Comparison 230
Measuring velocities 230
Experimental arrangement 233
Calculation of exact MV 234
Pattern Testing 235
Evaluation of Target Groups 236
Mean point of Impact 237
Study of Injury Report 238
Distinguishing a Fired Shot from Unfired 240
Systematic Recording of Date pertaining to firearms Examination 241
Equipment 245
CHAPTER XIV : SCENE INVESTIGATION OF A FIREARMS CASE
Introduction 249
Interrogation of the Complainant eyewitnesses and the suspect 250
Perception 250
Observations 250
Inconsistency due to time gap 250
Expression 250
Survey of the whole crime scene 250
photography at the scene of Crime 251
Overall photography 251
Photographs of the deceased/victim 251
Photographs of articles of physical evidence 251
Photographing the environs 251
Preparation of the Sketch map 252
Sketch of the locality 252
Sketch of the ground 252
Sketch of the details 252
General Rule for Sketching 253
Choice of Scale 254
Signs 254
Equipments for Drawings 255
Instructions for Collecting, Identifying and Preserving
and Packing Firearms Evidence 258
Hints on Forwarding of Exhibits 260
CHAPTER XV : EXPERT OPINION AND EVIDENCE-GENERAL
Who are experts ? 262
Expertise 262
Clarity 262
Relevancy 263
Reliability 264
CHAPTER XVI : GENERAL OBSERVATION AS TO EVIDENCE ABOUT FIREARMS
Identification 266
Mukhtiar Singh v. State of Punjab 266
Kartar Singh, Mukund Singh v. State of Punjab 266
Ramesh v. State of U. P. 266
Kalu v. State of U. P. 267
Weapon's idea from size of the injury 268
Weapon's idea from the type of injury 269
Accidental discharge cases 270
Reconstruction of crime scene 271
Necessity of Expert's evidence 271
Importance of photographs for presentation of evidence 272
CHAPTER XVII : SPECIFIC CASES OF FALLACIES AND CONFLICTS
Case No. 1: (Bakhtawar Singh v. State of Rajasthan) 276
Post-mortem Report (Jagga Singh) 276
Injury Report (Balbir Singh) 277
Discussion 278
Case No. 2 : (Modan Singh and Sampuran Singh v.
State of Rajasthan) 279
Test of Expert Report 280
Academic Discussion 280
Case No. 3 : (State of U. P. v. Sugher Singh) 281
Discussion 283
Case No. 4 : (Raza Pasha v. State of M. P.) 283
Discussion 286
SUBJECT INDEX 286
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