Forensic Pros

Forensic ballistics and firearm investigation begin when the bullets, cartridges, a weapon, or any combination of the above found at a crime scene. With the evidence, a crime laboratory will explore for clues on some things that might cause a suspect or possible to prove that the things were used in the crime. By contrast, the markings on the bullets or cartridges found at the scene with those discharged from the suspect’s weapon, a ballistics expert will typically confirm if the rounds came from a similar weapon. Just the act of cycling a cartridge through the weapon without firing it will leave permanent scratches on the case that is distinctive to the weapon.

If so, simply push it inwards hiding the red. Now, your safety is on. Next, flip the gun upside down so the magazine port is facing you. Slide a shell into the port with the golden rim on the bottom. See below.

Since guns are essential to the study of forensic ballistics to be so productive but there are not just a single types of Firearm. A firearm is lethal barreled weapon of any description, from

I think the interesting thing about working with firearm evidence is learning about different types of weapons, identifying different markings on bullets and learning about the bullet trajectory and distance. The challenging part would be examining bullets that are broken or mutilated.

Firearms that are left behind at a crime scene can be extremely helpful. This evidence includes not only the firearm itself but also the ammunition used in the firearm, componets that make up the firearms, and the residue that comes out when the

Some people like to shoot guns for hunting, some like to shoot them for recreation. Whatever the reason, when using guns, there are steps you need to take to be safe, whether shooting or storing them.

Let us start on how to collect and process expended projectiles and cartridge casings. When collecting expended casings, projectiles and remnants of shotgun ammunition each one should be numbered, photographed and measured for placement in a crime scene sketch (Tina Young, 2011). Each one collected should be placed in a pillbox or coin envelope then those should be placed into bigger envelopes or bags (Tina Young, 2011). If a projectile is stuck in a wall the section of the wall where the projectile is located should be removed (Tina Young, 2011). If a firearm found at a crime scene the best way to link it to the crime or other crimes is to test fire it into a water tank or ballistic gel. Once this has been done, the forensic tech can then compare the bullet and casing using a microscope. (Tina Young, 2011). If the firearm is not located then the casing or bullet can be ran through the National Ballistic Database. Now that we have talked about rendering firearms safe and also how they should be processed, now we can look at what information can be gained from the firearm and the cartridges and

The prosecutors firearm identification testimony for the case was poorly executed which allowed Waite to reexamine the bullets from the case and what he found was the rifling markings did not match up with the bullets that were test fired from Steielow’s gun. They determined that Stielow was not guilty due to the conclusion that his firearm was not used in the crime. Following this case Waite was inspired to develop a systematic process for documenting ballistics information to avoid making mistakes in later cases. After this Waite began to travel to different firearm manufacturers to document the process of creating the firearms to study the different characteristics in each.

Place your towel flat on your work surface before proceeding (this is to help prevent oil, grease, powder residue, and your firearm from damaging the work surface). The first step in disassembly after making the weapon clear and safe is to separate the upper receiver group from the lower receiver group. Locate the takedown pin, which is located just above the safety, and the pivot pin, which is located at the front of the lower receiver. With your number 2 punch depress the takedown pin from the left side. You should feel a noticeable click when the takedown pin overcomes the force of the takedown pin detent. Repeat for the pivot pin, being careful not to push the pin all the way through the receiver. The takedown pin and pivot pins should now be partially extended on the right side of the lower receiver. Lay the firearm on its left side so it lies flat on your work surface. Grasp the takedown pin from the right side and pull till it fully extends out the right side of the receiver. Again, you should feel a noticeable click when the detent pin engages the takedown pin at the fully extended position. Now repeat by grasping and pulling the pivot pin till it fully extends out the right side of the receiver. Next, while holding the lower receiver group, grasp the upper receiver group and slide it clear of the lower receiver group. At this point the lower receiver group disassembly is complete, so sit it to one side

Ballistics Expert: Provide important analysis at crime scenes as to which gun was used, where

Then the bullets can be placed into a marked container for identification purposes. Then to transport the bullet to the crime laboratory, I’d wrap the bullet in tissue paper and placed in an envelope or pillbox. I would have to be careful with the handling and packaging of the bullet, because I would have to be careful to preserve any trace evidence that might be present on the bullet.

Our group decided to choose how to clean a Heckler & Lock USP handgun as our topic for the technical documentation. For this assignment, we all agreed on making an instruction for this topic. Actually, we had two guns to give instruct at first, one gun was rifle and one gun was handgun. During the process, we changed the topic only to the handgun because it was more able to give a detail instruction for a specific gun. We chose this topic because this topic would help people to become more educated on handgun maintenance. With many people who own guns, it was very essential if they do not know how to maintain the guns.

According to (“Investigations”, 2007) the first step to safely handling firearms found at a crime scene is to take pictures of the firearm. The second step is to take measurements and pictures of the firearm. The third step is to pick up the firearm while wearing gloves. The fourth step is to secure the firearm by turning on the safety, if there is one. The fifth step is to remove the ammunition, or bullets left in the firearm. The sixth step is to place the unused ammunition or bullets into a paper bag, label and seal the bag. The seventh step is to take the firearm and place it into a separate paper bag than the ammunition and bullets, and properly label and seal the paper bag. All used ammunition, bullets, and casings found should be placed

“Firearms and Tool marks Bullets and casings found at the crime scene can be positively matched back to a gun in the possession of a suspect, location of where it’s been brought etc” Schiro, G. (2015).

Many individuals do not realize that when you fire a handgun or a rifle there are small imprints left on the shell casings from the fired weapon. This is made by the grooves from the inside of the barrel called rifling. These grooves can leave microscopic marks on the casings. For many years if you did not have a witness to a murder, you did not have a case. Ballistic Fingerprinting has given new hope to the unsolved mysteries of yesterday and today.