Firearms, the Law, and Forensic Ballistics

Overview

While gun design has undergone only minimal change over the centuries, investigative tools surrounding firearm use have grown significantly in sophistication. Now in its third edition, Firearms, the Law, and Forensic Ballistics has been updated to reflect recently published research and new technology developed since the last volume. Beginning with a discussion of the development of arms and ammunition from the fourteenth century to the present day, this book examines:

• Firearms laws around the world, including legal challenges raised in the U.S. by the Daubert decision
• Firearms manufacturing processes, the mechanisms of various firearms, and the linking of a particular bullet or spent cartridge with a suspected weapon
• The origins and development of new science in firearms, including controversies, pioneers, and an exposé of the "quack" purveyors of pseudo-science
• Internal, external, and terminal (wound) ballistics
• The nature, composition, and analytical detection of discharge residue left on a suspect
• The role of the ballistics expert at all stages of a case, ranging from the scene of the shooting incident, the post mortem examinations, the examination and testing of exhibits at the laboratory, and the presentation of evidence in court
• Recently introduced computer search techniques applied to captured and digitally stored images of marks left on fired bullets and spent cartridge cases
• Manual microscopic comparison work and computer-based searches on digital images of bullet and cartridge case marks to determine if a particular weapon has been fired in previous cases

Written by an expert with more than 50 years of experience using and handling firearms, this text is enhanced with nearly 250 illustrations, making it a premier guide to the fundamentals of firearms and related evidentiary considerations.

Features

• Discusses instrumental and analytical techniques used in the laboratory
• Reviews firearms legislation around the world
• Examines the path of a case from crime scene to courtroom
• Explores the latest scientific developments linking bullets and spent cartridges to suspect weapons
• Provides nearly 250 illustrations

Reviews

'I … was amazed at the encyclopedic knowledge [Tom Warlow] has acquired over a lifetime of work as a forensic scientist. … This book is … an enjoyable read. … Forensic science trainees and death scene investigators will find this text fascinating, and I would certainly recommend that they read this book.'
- www.forensicmed.co.uk

'…the book is more suitable for the novice based in the UK. …the author offers some good advice to the novice, and as well for the advanced reader… .The author's extensive knowledge of the subject matter is clearly demonstrated…'
-Canadian Society of Forensic Science Journal

'This book has clearly been written by a very experienced firearm examiner and it deals with all areas of work that an examiner might encounter… There is a vast amount of information packed into this book and there is something of value for anyone connected with the investigation of crimes involving firearms. The book will be of particular value as an aid to those training in the forensic examination of firearms.'
- in Science and Justice

Table of contents

• The Beginnings
• Blowpipes, Air, and Gas Guns
• Percussion Ignition
• Modern Rim-Fire and Center-Fire Cartridges
• Smokeless Powders and Modern Arms
• Firearms Legislation and the Definition of a Firearm
• History of Weapons Legislation in Britain
• Legislation and Gun Control
• Firearms and Crime
• The Firearms Consultative Committee
• The European Weapons Directive
• Legislation in the U.S.
• Marks and Microscopy – The Emergence of a New Science: Firearms Manufacturing Processes and their Implications Concerning the Daubert Challenge
• The Pioneers
• Experts and Charlatans—The American Experience
• Court Battles—The English Experience
• The Recent "Daubert Challenge"
• Processes Used in the Manufacture of Firearms
• Mechanisms and Design Aspects of Firearms
• Hinged Barrel Designs
• Hammer Shotguns
• Accidental Discharge
• Repeating Arms
• Magazine Systems
• Bolt-Action Weapons
• Lever-Action Rifles
• The Revolver
• Accident by Design, Manufacture, or Wear
• Safety Catches and Internal Safeguards
• Decocking Devices and Alternative Designs
• Hazard Indicator Devices
• Trigger Pulls
• Blow-Back and Locked Breech Designs
• Gas-Operated Arms
• Gas and Air Weapon Designs
• Crossbows
• Automatic Arms
• Internal Ballistics
• Basic Principles
• The Efficiency of Energy Transfer
• Powders and Pressures
• Control of Powder Burning Rates
• Drachms and Drams
• The Residues of Combustion
• Primer Formulations
• Gunshot Residue Analysis
• The Transfer of Marks to Missiles and Cartridge Cases
• The Microscopy of Air Weapon Missiles
• Recoil and Barrel Flip
• Choke Boring of Shotguns
• Gauges and Bore Sizes
• External Ballistics and Cartridge Loadings
• Basic Principles
• Bullet Stability and Instability
• The Bullet’s Flight
• Bullet Shape, Sectional Density, and Ballistic Coefficient
• External Ballistics and Their Calculation
• Accuracy
• Fin and Aerodynamic Stabilization
• The Question of Range
• The Spent Bullet Myth
• Secondary Ejecta
• The Behavior of Shotgun Cartridge Wadding
• Sabot Loadings
• Choke Boring—Shotgun Pellet Spread and Velocity
• Pellet Deformation within the Bore
• Choke Operation
• Soft and Hard Shot—Shotgun Pellet Ballistics
• Steel Shot Loadings
• Alternative Non-Lead Materials
• Pellet Sizes and Weights
• The Propensity for Ricochet
• Gunfire and the Sounds Made during the Flight of Missiles
• Terminal/Wound Ballistics and Distance Firing
• Mass, Momentum, and Kinetic Energy
• Incidence of Ricochet
• Consequences of Impact and Penetration
• Armor-Piercing Ammunition
• Explosive Anti-Armor Munitions
• Ballistic Body Armor and Screening Materials
• Shotgun Missile Injuries
• Pistol Bullet Injuries and Expanding Bullets
• High-Velocity Wound Effects
• Range Determination of Single-Missile Injuries
• The Scene of the Shooting Incident
• The On-Call Rota System
• Arrival at the Scene
• Scene Examination
• Initial Examination of the Body
• X-Ray Examination
• The First Samples and Observations
• The Wound Sites
• Arrow and Crossbow Bolt Injuries
• Blank-Operated Tool and Humane Killer Injuries
• The Wound Track
• Examination of Postmortem Exhibits Back at the Laboratory
• Examination of Exhibits at the Laboratory
• Initial Examination of Firearms
• Trigger Pulls and Mechanical Tests
• Firing Range Tests
• Incomplete, Defective, and Converted Arms
• Recovery of Serial Marks
• Examination of Ammunition
• Tear Gas and Irritant Loadings
• Electric Shock Devices and Stun Guns
• Recovered Cartridge Cases, Bullets, Pellets, and Wadding
• Examination of Bullet- or Pellet-Damaged Items
• Analysis of Bullets, Fragments, and Shotgun Pellets
• Comparison Microscopy
• Image Capture, Data Storage, and Computer Searches
• The Electron Microscope
• Analysis of Firearms Discharge Residues
• Laboratory Reference Collections
• Presentation of Evidence to the Courts
• The Prosecution Witness
• The Defense Expert
• Proof Marks and the Proof of Firearms
• UK Proof Markings Updated to include 2006 Marks and Specifications
• Austrian Proof Marks
• Belgian Proof Marks
• Chilean Proof Marks
• Czech Republic Proof Marks
• French Proof Marks
• German Proof Marks
• Finnish Proof Marks
• Hungarian Proof Marks
• Italian Proof Marks
• Spanish Proof Marks
• Yugoslav Proof Marks
• The Russian Federation
• Denmark
• Austro-Hungarian Empire
• India
• Military Arms
• Hunting Weapons
• Israel
• Australia
• Irish Proof Marks
• Swedish Proof Marks
• Swiss Proof Marks
• Slovak Republic Proof Marks
• American Proof Marks
• Choke Markings

• Appendix

Author

Tom Warlow has more than 50 years of experience using and handling firearms and was for nine years a member of the statutory Firearms Consultative Committee, which advisedthe U.K. Government on firearms and firearms legislation as well as providing an annual report to Parliament. He was a casework reporting officer for more than 25 years in the national Firearms Unit in the U.K., a division with oversight of 50 million persons in England and Wales and covering 43 police force areas. Mr. Warlow has a keen interest in gun sports.