Criminal Investigations: Forensic Ballistics

Forensic ballistics is the science that deals with reconstructing the facts related to a crime involving the use of a firearm, studying the weapon itself, the motion of the bullets, and their effects upon impact with the target. In the forensic context, the term “ballistic investigation” refers to the complex set of technical examinations related to firearms or evidence directly connected to their use.

Ballistics, with specific reference to the motion of projectiles, is divided into:

• Internal Ballistics: which studies the motion of the projectile inside the firearm until it exits the barrel;
• External Ballistics: which studies the motion of the projectile through the air until impact on the target;
• Terminal Ballistics: which studies the effects of the projectile when it hits the target and represents the field of medico-legal investigation.

The ballistic investigation involves:

• The search, documentation, collection, and preservation of ballistic evidence;
• The examination of the technical-functional characteristics of firearms and the verification of any tampering, alterations, or malfunctions;
• The comparative examination of bullets, casings, and their parts;
• Identification of the caliber of fired bullets, determination of unfired rounds in the magazine, and detection of gunshot residues;
• Interpretation of environmental and testimonial evidence documented during the site inspection;
• Reconstruction of trajectories, event dynamics, and positioning of the victim and the shooter;
• Determination of shooting distance and estimation of bullet velocity;
• Examination of damage caused to environments, objects, and any vehicles present;
• Evaluation of the time of death and/or injury of the victim, the cause, and the means used;
• Estimation of the victim’s survival time and their ability to perform actions or move independently after being wounded;
• Identification of the person who fired the weapon;
• Continuous research and experimentation;
• Digital processing of ballistic data;
• Management and updating of ammunition samples.