FORENSIC BALLISTICS OVERVIEW

RESOURCE PERSON: ROMER S. DAGUNO

POLICE COLONEL
 When patrol fails to prevent a crime or
apprehend the criminal while he is committing it, the
police must rely upon investigation and detective
management .

 Mobile Car Patrol

 Motorcycle Patrol
 Foot Patrol
 Air Patrol
 Sea Patrol
 Horse Patrol
 PNP’s MAIN INVESTIGATION OFFICES

NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS
DIRECTORATE FOR INVESTIGATION AND DETECTIVE MANAGEMENT
(DIDM)

SUPPORT UNITS
TERRITORIAL POLICE OFFICES CIDG CRIME LAB

POLICE REGIONAL OFFICE – RIDMD RCIDU RCLO

POLICE PROVINCIAL OFFICE – PIDMB CIDT PCLO

CITY POLICE OFFICE - CIDMB

MUNICIPAL POLICE STATION – INVESTIGATION SECTIONS

 FID
FIREARMS IDENTIFICATION DIVISION
 SCOPE OF DISCUSSION

 FORENSIC BALLISTICS

 BRANCHES OF BALLISTICS

 PROPER COLLECTION OF FIREARM EVIDENCE

 LETTER REQUEST FOR BALLISTICS EXAMINATION

 PROBLEMS IN FIREARMS IDENTIFICATION

 RA 10591 IRR
BALLISTICS – is the science that deals with the motion of
projectiles and the conditions governing that motion.
THE THREE (3) BRANCHES OF BALLISTICS

1. Internal Ballistics
2. External Ballistics
3. Terminal Ballistics
IBIS – is a machine that is used to photograph the markings on
bullets and cartridge cases after they have been fired through a gun.
COLLECTION OF FIREARMS EVIDENCE
WHAT’S ON A GUN?
COLLECTING A REVOLVER
FIRED OR MISFIRED
CARTRIDGE
PACKAGING FIREARMS EVIDENCE
 MARKING A REVOLVER

Cylinder Barrel
Frame

RSD-1
RSD-1

RSD-1
 MARKING A PISTOL

Frame / Lower Receiver Barrel Slide

RSD-2
RSD-2
RSD-2

Magazine
Assembly
CARTRIDGE OR AMMUNITION – IS A COMPLETE UNFIRED UNIT.

CARTRIDGE CASE OR FIRED SHELL

BULLET – PROJECTILE; SLUG; SHOT

COMPONENTS OF AN AMMUNITION OR A CARTRIDGE
 CARTRIDGES OR AMMUNITIONS

CAL.45 PISTOL
(Full Metal Jacket) 5.56mm commonly
Shotgun Shell
used for rifles
(Full Metal Jacket)

Wad Cutter
Black Talon
 MARKING THE CARTRIDGE CASES

Do not mark here

RSD-4 RSD-5 RSD-6

Mark here on the PERIPHERY

of the cartridge case.
 MARKING THE FIRED BULLETS
Mark here on the Ogive or
Nose of the bullet.

RSD-7 RSD-8
RSD-9

Do not mark here

Mark here on the

RSD-10 base of the bullet.
 LAND & GROOVE MARKS

GROOVE LAND
DEPRESSED AREA ELEVATED AREA
 IMAGE UNDER THE BULLET COMPARISON

JUXTAPOSITION INTERMARRIAGE POSITION

EVIDENCE TEST
EVIDENCE TEST
 PROBLEMS IN FIREARM IDENTIFICATION

1. Given a firearm, to determine whether or not the FA is serviceable.

2. Given a FA and fired bullets, to determine whether or not the fired bullets were fired
from the subject firearm.

3. Given a FA and fired cartridge cases, to determine whether or not the FCCs were fired
from the subject firearm.

4. Given FCCs, to determine whether or not they were fired from one and the same FA.

5. Given FBs, to determine whether or not they were fired from one and the same FA.

6. Given a fired bullet, to determine the caliber and other characteristics of the subject FB.

7. Given a FCC, to determine the caliber and other characteristics of the subject FCC.

8. Given a cartridge, to determine whether or not it is a misfired cartridge.

 LETTER REQUEST FOR LABORATORY EXAMINATION
EVIDENCE SUBMITTED

1. One (1) caliber .45 Colt Pistol with serial number 123456 now marked as “RSD-1”.

2. One (1) caliber .38 Homemade Revolver without serial number now marked as “RSD-2”.

3. One (1) 9mm Beretta Pistol with defaced serial number now marked as “RSD-3”.

4. Two (2) magazine assemblies for caliber . 45 now marked as “RSD-4” and “RSD-5”
respectively.

5. One (1) magazine assembly for 9mm Pistol now marked as “RSD-6”.

6. Four (4) cal .45 fired cartridge cases now marked as “RSD-7”, “RSD-8”, “RSD-9” and
“RSD-10” respectively.

7. Two (2) cal .38 misfired cartridge now marked as “RSD-11” and “RSD-12” respectively.

8. One (1) 9mm slightly deformed fired bullet now marked as “RSD-13”.

9. Two (2) cal .45 fired bullet now marked as “RSD-14” and “RSD-15” respectively.
 IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS OF RA NO.10591, OTHERWISE
KNOWN AS THE “COMPREHENSIVE FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION
REGULATION ACT”
 Section 3. Definition of Terms

3.1 Accessories - refer to parts of a firearm which may enhance or increase the
operational efficiency or accuracy of a firearm but will not constitute any of the major or
minor internal parts thereof such as, but not limited to, laser scope, telescopic sight and
sound suppressor or silencer;

3.2 Ammunition - refers to a complete unfired unit consisting of a bullet, gunpowder,

cartridge case and primer or loaded shell for use in any firearm;

3.2.1 Bullet – The projectile propelled through the barrel of a firearm by means of the
expansive force of gases coming from burning gunpowder;

3.2.2 Cartridge Case – A container, usually metal and cylindrical in shape, to be loaded
with a primer, powder charge and bullet. After loading, it becomes a complete cartridge,
of which the case is but one element. It is commonly made of brass, although some
modern cartridge cases are made of steel, aluminum, or other materials;

3.2.3 Gun Powder - refers to any explosive powder used to propel projectiles intended
for firearms; and

3.2.4 Primer - also called an “igniter”, refers to a device used for the purpose of setting
fire to ignite the gun powder.
3.21 Firearm - refers to any handheld or portable weapon, whether a small arm or light
weapon, that expels or is designed to expel a bullet, shot, slug, missile or any projectile
which is discharged by means of expansive force of gases from burning gunpowder or other
form of combustion or any similar instrument or implement. For purposes of the law, the
barrel, frame or receiver is considered a firearm;

3.25 Full Automatic or Fully Automatic – refers to the firing mode and action of a
firearm in which discharge of the entire magazine load with a single pull of its trigger is
continuous until the triggering device is disengaged;

3.44 Light Weapons are: Class-A Light weapons which refer to self-loading pistols, rifles,
carbines, submachine guns, assault rifles and light machine guns not exceeding caliber
7.62MM which have fully automatic mode; and Class-B Light weapons which refer to
weapons designed for use by two (2) or more persons serving as a crew, or rifles and
machine guns exceeding caliber 7.62MM such as heavy machine guns, handheld under
barrel and mounted grenade launchers, portable anti-aircraft guns, portable anti-tank
missile and rocket systems, portable launchers of anti-aircraft missile systems, and mortars
of a caliber of less than 100MM;
 3.48 Major Parts or Components of a Firearm - refer to the barrel, slide, frame,
receiver, cylinder or the bolt assembly. The term also includes any part or kit
designed and intended for use in converting a semi-automatic burst to a full
automatic firearm;

3.50 Minor Parts of a Firearm- refer to the parts of the firearm other than the major
parts which are necessary to effect and complete the action of expelling a projectile by
way of combustion, except those classified as accessories;

3.59 Small Arms - refer to firearms intended to be primarily designed for individual use
or that which is generally considered to mean a weapon intended to be fired from the
hand or shoulder, which are not capable of fully automatic bursts of discharge, such as:

3.59.1 Handgun is a firearm intended to be fired from the hand, which includes:

a) Pistol - is a hand-operated firearm having a chamber integral with or permanently

aligned with the bore which may be self-loading; and

b) Revolver - is a hand-operated firearm with a revolving cylinder containing chambers

for individual cartridges.
3.59.2 Rifle - is a shoulder firearm or designed to be fired from the shoulder that
can discharge a bullet through a rifled barrel by different actions of loading, which
may be classified as lever, bolt, or self-loading; and

3.59.3 Shotgun - is a firearm designed, made and intended to fire a number of ball
shots or a single projectile through a smooth bore by the action or energy from
burning gunpowder.
Daghang Salamat!