Wound Ballistics

Common Misconceptions and Controversies Regarding Ballistics and Gunshot Wounds

“…Generalizations based on velocity alone fail to recognize that in projectile-tissue interactions the actual amount, type, and location of the disruption depends on the efficiency of energy transfer, 131,134,104,152,40,48,83,27,36,155 which is affected by:…”

“…The location, dimensions, shape, structure of penetration, and treatment of each bullet hole must be documented precisely as well as the presence of any unusual features near the hole (soot or powder, small punctate red marks made by powder particles, contiguous and discontinuous skin splits, bruising, an impression made by the gun in a contact wound, etc.). 29,131,133,134 Mandatory reporting laws for gunshot injuries vary from state to state. Thirty states require reporting of all gunshots wounds, 5 require reporting of intentional gunshots only, 5 require reporting of all intentional injuries, and 11 have no mandatory reporting.…”

Preliminary effect of projectile yaw on extremity gunshot wounding in a cadaveric animal model: a serendipitous study

“…These were then compared with bare samples with a zero clothing state (C nil ) as a control. Fabric samples for C min were cut from laundered MTP trousers (250 × 250 mm) 2 Four limbs were prepared for C min and C max clothing states, respectively, compared with four limbs with C nil (i.e. bare limbs) giving a total of 12 limbs.…”

“…With the variables that require control in order to preserve objectivity and scientific rigour, reproducing highquality experiments is arduous for any researcher. With previous studies having explored or commented upon the survivorship burden from conflicts throughout the twentieth century, extremity gunshot wounding (GSW) is often noted to make up the largest proportion of injuries [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8].…”

“…5.45 × 39 mm; mild steel core, 53 grain full metal jacket, Lot number 539-04, made in Russia, 2004; with a core composition of steel; a core tip composition of lead was found, and for the jacket, the composition found to be steel with internal and external copper wash; mean hardness was 814.9 Hv for the core, 3.6 Hv for the core tip and 188.8 Hv for the jacket[9] 2. C min mean thickness = 0.43 mm; mean mass per unit area = 191.14 g/m 2[9] 3 C max mean thickness = 32.26 mm; mean mass per unit area = 7735.17 g/m 2[9] …”