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forensicsfirearms

Terms in this set (36)

firearms identification
a discipline mainly concerned with determining whether a bullet or cartridge was fired by a particular weapon
grooves
the cut or low-lying portions between the lands in a rifled bore
rifling
the spiral grooves that are formed in the bore of a firearm barrel that are designed to import spin to the projectile when it is fired
bore
the interior of a firearm barrel
lands
the raised portion between the grooves in a rifled bore
claiber
the diameter of the bore of a rifled firearm; usually expressed in hundreths of an inch or millimeters
gauge
size designation of a shotgun, originally the number of lead balls with the same diameter as the barrel that would make a pound
breechblock
the rear part of a firearm barrel
ejector
the mechanizm in a firearm that throws the cartridge or fired case from the firearm
extractor
the mechanism in a firearm by which a cartridge of a fired case is withdrawn from the chamber
distance determination
the process of determining the distance between the firearm and a target
greiss test
a chemical test used to develop patterns of gunpowder residues around bullet holes
choke
an interiro constriction placed at or near the muzzle end of a shotgun's barrel for the purpose of controlling shot dispersion
cartridge
also called a "round"; made up of a case, primer, powder, and bullet
bullet
the projectile which contains the propellant or gunpowder. Shaped or composed depending on purpose
powder
also known as "propellant" or "gunpowder". found inside the bullet casing itself; highly reactive/flammable-but does not explode- rather it forms gases which project/push the pullet our of the cartridge and gun barrel.
flash hole
when primer is ignited the gases released go through this small opening towards the gunpowder
primer
a volatile chemical compound that ignites when struck by firing pin of gun; detonates the propellent/gunpowder in a cartridge
cartridge case
is left behind and is NOT propelled when the gun has been fired
caliber
the diameter of the bore of the bullet measured from end to end, usually expressed in hundreths of an inch (.22 cal) or millimeters (9mm)
shotgun shell
made up of a shot, wad, powder and primer
shot
may be a single metal projectile--this is called a 'slug' . or may contain numerous round metal pellets
wad
made of plastic or paper' seperates the powder from the shot; holds shot togetehr as it is projected through the shotgun barrel
ammunition
also known as 'propellent' or gunpowder'. found inside the shotgun shell casing itself: highly reactive/flammable- but does not explode-rather it forms gases which project/push the shot out of the shell and shotgun barrel
grooves
the spirals that are pressed into the bore (inside of the barrel)
lands
unaltered, rased surfaces inside the barrel
cut rifling
produces sharp edges on the lands and grooves
polygonal rifling
done with an old hammer, older method; produces rounded edges on lands and grooves, difficult to identify
handguns
designed to be shot using one or two hands; have short barrels with spiral grooves
revolvers
casings stay in weapon, less parts, type of handgun
pistols
many small parts, used by the military, cases are ejected, type of handgun
rifles
have long barrels with thick walls that have spiraling grooves (was the first weapon to have grooves), longer ammunition and longer range
shotgun
have long barrels with SMOOTH THIN walls
center fire
handgun and rifle ammunition made up of bullet, gunpowder, cartridge case, primer
gauge
shotguns are classified by ____, not caliber
breechface striation
from contact with the rear wall of the firing chamber, are impressed upon the rear of the cartridge cases
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