Classification of Bullets
Forensic Ballistics: Ammunition & Terminal Effects
1. Classification by Construction
| Type | Characteristics |
|---|---|
| Lead (Plain) | Solid lead alloy; used for target practice/revolvers. |
| Full Metal Jacket (FMJ) | Lead core encased in a harder metal (copper/brass) to reduce barrel fouling. |
| Hollow Point | Cavity in the nose; designed to expand on impact to maximize energy transfer. |
| Soft Point | Jacketed bullet with an exposed lead tip to allow controlled expansion. |
2. Classification by Purpose
- Armor-Piercing: Contains a hardened core (steel/tungsten) to penetrate metal or protective plating.
- Tracer: Contains pyrotechnic chemicals (e.g., phosphorus) to create a visible path during flight.
- Incendiary: Designed to ignite flammable targets upon impact.
- Frangible: Designed to disintegrate into powder upon hitting a hard surface to minimize ricochet risk.
3. Forensic High-Yield Pearls
- Class Characteristics: Include caliber, number of lands and grooves, and direction of rifling twist. These help narrow down the *type* of firearm used.
- Individual Characteristics: Microscopic striations (ballistic “fingerprints”) produced by imperfections in the gun barrel, used to match a specific bullet to a specific weapon.
- Terminal Ballistics: The study of how different bullet types interact with human tissue (e.g., expansion vs. penetration), which is critical for interpreting gunshot wounds.
- Wadcutter: Specifically designed with a flat nose to cut clean holes in paper targets, making them distinctive in forensic scene reconstruction.