lOMoARcPSD|39265684

Notes CRI 202 - Forensic Ballistics

Criminology (University of Iloilo - PHINMA)

Scan to open on Studocu

Studocu is not sponsored or endorsed by any college or university

Downloaded by Janedale Ann Taglinao ([email protected])
 lOMoARcPSD|39265684

Subject Code : CRI 202

Subject Title ; FORENSIC BALLISTICS

BASIC TERMINOLOGIES
BALLISTICS - is defined as the science of motion of projectiles.
Technically: It refers to the “science of firearms identification which involves the scientific examination of ballistics exhibits such as:
fired bullets; fired shells; firearms; and other allied matters, use in perpetrating the crime.
Legally: it is the microscopic examination of fired cartridge cases and bullets together with the recording and presentation of by
means of photography of what is revealed by the microscope.

PROJECTILE – refers to metallic or non-metallic objects propelled from a firearm.

MOTION – refers to movement or mobility of any object.

a) Direct- forward movement of the projectile inside the gun barrel resulting from the expanding forces of gasses produced after
combustion of the gun powder.
b) Rotary- the gyrating action (rotating/spinning), either right or left, of the projectile while passing through a gun barrel.
c) Translational- the straight line movement where every part of the projectile follows as parallel path and no rotation takes place
such as bouncing of a bullet after hitting a resistant surface.
d) Wobbling – due to uneven forces applied to one side and to the other side.
e) Tumbling – due to air resistance and mostly encountered by the bullet fired in rifle.
f) Pulling of Gravity – downward reaction of the bullet towards the earth surface.

SCIENCE- refers to the systematic body of knowledge.

FORENSIC - as applied to ballistics or to any other subject, suggests a relationship to a court of justice and legal proceedings.

FORUM - Latin word which means “marketplace” – where people gather for “public disputation” and “public discussion”.

ETYMOLOGY of the word Ballistics

Balo” or “Ballien” (GREEK) meaning to throw
Ballitae or Ballista (OLD ENGLISH) a gigantic bow or catapult which was used to hurl large objects such as stones at a particular
distance to deter animals or enemy forces.

In 1920 Col. Calvin H. Goddard (Father of the Modern Ballistics) pioneered the introduction of this science in criminology courses in the
different Universities in the United States.

Ballistics Theory
Ballistics is the scientific study of the propulsion and motion of projectiles such as bullets, artillery shells, rockets and guided missiles.
Also includes the study of the destructive action of such projectiles.

The drag of a projectile moving head on is now usually divided into three parts:
1.bow resistance - due to air pressure at the head of the projectile;
2.skin friction - caused by the friction of air moving along the middle portion of the body; and
3.base drag - due to the under-pressure and disturbance of the air behind the base.

BRANCHES OF BALLISTICS
Internal/Interior Ballistics
Transition/Intermediate Ballistics
External/Exterior Ballistics
Terminal Ballistics
Forensic Ballistics

Internal/Interior Ballistics- is that branch of ballistics which treats of the motion of projectile while still inside the firearm
(chamber/barrel) which extends from the breech to the muzzle.

How the Cartridge Works

1.A blow from the firing pinto the primer is the tendency for the priming mixture is to be crushed against the anvil causing its ignition
which refers to percussion.
2. Subsequently, the produced flame travels and passes to vent or flash hole as the canal that connects the priming mixture and
gunpowder causing the rapid and confined burning of the gunpowder known as deflagration at about 0.0000001 seconds.
3.When the powder begins to burn the pressure inside the cartridge rises rapidly thus, producing the expansive force and pressure to
push the bullet to disengage from being crimped at the mouth of the cartridge case for its propulsion from the barrel down the target
of various motions.
4.Almost at once the bullet is pushed from the case mouth, at first the side of the bullet is forced outside to make firm contact with the
bore. Likewise, with the shell, it expanded as the pressure generated within to thwart the gas to leak rearward so that it would be
confined within the chamber of the firearm. Thus, sealing of the barrel due to case expansion and bullet action is known as obturation.
5.But one thing should remember that even how much the shell is expanded following the size of the chamber wall, there is even still
a small amount of expanded gas that would leak in between the body of the shell and the inner surface of the chamber wall. If this
happens, the said phenomenon is known as blowback.
6.The time during which the projectile is influenced by interior ballistics is very short. From the release of the firing pin to the
moment the sound of the shot can be heard as it leaves the muzzle occupies only about 0.01 seconds.

Things Involved in Interior Ballistics

Ignition of the primer (percussion) =Flames is produced = Combustion of the gunpowder (deflagration)= Energy that is generated =

Downloaded by Janedale Ann Taglinao ([email protected])

 lOMoARcPSD|39265684

Force/Pressure developed = Velocity of the bullet (from the chamber to the muzzle) = Rotation of the bullet (left/right)= Engraving of
the cylindrical surface of the bullet(impression of lands and grooves).

The British engineer Benjamin Robins conducted many experiments in interior ballistics. His findings justly entitle him to be called the father
of modern gunnery.

Transitional Ballistics- Transitional ballistics, also known as INTERMEDIATE BALLISTICS, is the study of a projectile's behavior from the
time it leaves the muzzle until the pressure behind the projectile is equalized, so it lies between internal ballistics and external ballistics.

External/Exterior Ballistics- treats of the attributes or movement of the projectile after leaving the gun muzzle. It is extended from the muzzle
of the gun to the target or any attributes to the motion of the projectile while it is in flight and before reaching the target.

Niccolò Tartaglia;
Italian mathematician,in a published work on gunnery, claimed that no part of the path of a projectile could be a straight line and that the
greater the velocity of the projectile the flatter its path. Tartaglia invented the gunner's quadrant used to determine the elevation of
the muzzle of a gun.
Galileo;
proved that in a vacuum a projectile describes a parabolic arc.
Benjamin Robins;
Englishman invented the Ballistics Pendulum, an instrument use to measure the muzzle velocity of any firearm and who was one of the
first to state sound ballistics theories in his new principles of Gunnery in 1742. He became the Father of modern gunnery.
Alfred Lee Loomis;
Invented another instrument use to measure bullet’s speed is the Chronograph

CONDITIONS - refers to the natural laws.

a) Velocity - speed per unit of time ex. M16 - 3,300 ft/sec.
b) Energy - fatal equivalent of a bullet.
c) Yaw - the unstable rotating motion of a bullet.
d) Gyroscopic action - refers to the stillness of its rotating motion and attained its highest momentum or stability in flight and
penetrating power.

Factors Affecting the Gyroscopic Stability of the Bullet

a. Air resistance
b. Poor quality of ammunition
c. Poor quality of barrel

Further, exterior (external) ballistics refers to the attributes and movements of the bullet after it has left the gun muzzle. It includes:
a) Muzzle Blast - Is the noise created at the muzzle point of the gun.
b) Muzzle energy - Energy generated at the muzzle point measured in foot-pound.
c) Trajectory - Refers to the parabola-like flight of the projectile from the time it leaves the muzzle until it hits the target. It is also described as
the actual curve path taken by a bullet during its.
d) Range - It refers to the imaginary straight distance between the muzzle of the gun and the target.
i. Accurate Range- the distance within which the shooter or gunner has control of his shots.
ii. Effective Range - the distance within which the bullet is lethal.
iii. Maximum Range- the distance that a projectile can be propelled from a firearm.
iv. Maximum Effective Range- is the farthest possible distance that a bullet could travel.
e) Velocity - Refers to the rate of speed of the bullet (during its flight) per unit of time usually express is feet per second (ft/sec.)
f) Pull of Gravity - It is the downward reaction of the bullet towards the earth surface due to its weight.
g) Air Resistance - Refers to the force of the air encounter by the bullet in its flight.
h) Penetration - depth of entry on target.

Terminal Ballistics- is that branch of Ballistics which deals with the effects of the impact of the projectile on the target. Refers to the effects of the
impact of the projectile on the target. It extends from its initial contact towards the depths of penetration on the target. Penetration of the bullet is of
prime interest.
a) Terminal Accuracy - It refers to the size of the bullet grouping on the target.
This is so because of some resistance and interventions that make the bullet change its momentum to perform other motions rather than
straight and hit the target partially or totally sideways instead of head on. Due to this effect, keyhole shot instead of spherical entrance
wound might be created.

b) Terminal Energy - Is the energy or force of the projectile when it strikes the target same as striking energy.
The energy of the projectile is affected by three factors such as; gunpowder content, since the more the gunpowder, the more the energy
will be produced. Another is the length of the barrel, as the barrel of the firearm becomes longer it provides and confined a solid mass of
expanded gas pushing the bullet down the muzzle. The third factor is the additional force imparted by the air to accelerate the bullet’s
velocity if its direction goes with the direction of the bullet upon leaving the muzzle point of a gun.

c) Terminal Velocity - Is the speed of the bullet upon striking the target.
This is governed by four factors such as; same with terminal energy, gunpowder content, barrel length plus type and shape of the bullet

d) Terminal Penetration - Is the depth of entry of the bullet in the target.

Hence, when the bullet hit the target perpendicularly, bullet penetration is deeper in soft target than that of the hard target.

SHOTS BALLISTICS
(It deals with the attributes and properties of shots and pellets)
This refers to the study of shots from smooth bore firearms like shotguns and muskets.

Downloaded by Janedale Ann Taglinao ([email protected])

 lOMoARcPSD|39265684

Shotgun - a smooth bore, fired multiple pellets and also it can fire a single slug.
Chilled Shot – shotgun pellets made from lead especially hardened by the addition of a slight amount of antimony.
Shotgun shell or shell - a single unit of ammunition for shotgun, with either pellets or slug as a projectile.
Shots or pellets as projectiles is of two classes based on its size;
Buck shot for the larger one
Drop shot or bird shot for the smaller.

Gauge - it refers to the caliber of shotgun , it is a number of lead pellets or balls of the given bore diameter required to make up one pound
weight.
Choke- is the degree of constriction on the end portion of the shotgun barrel for the purpose of controlling the spread of the shots/pellets after
leaving the barrel. That is the diameter near the muzzle end is slightly smaller than the diameter of the bore of the rest of the barrel.
True cylinder - is refers to a barrel without choke. That is when the diameter of the barrel is the same throughout the bore. Dram Equivalent is
the measurement or the amount of gunpowder in a shot shell.
Cylinder – equal bore diameter all through out the barrel (term sometimes as True Cylinder)
Paradox – contains rifling at the bore a few inch from the muzzle point of the barrel.

CHOKE - When the diameter of a barrel of a shotgun is the same throughout the bore, it is called true cylinder.
The bore of the gun is sometimes constricted near the muzzle end. That is, the diameter near the muzzle end is slightly smaller than the
diameter of the bore of the rest of the barrel. The barrel is said to be choked. The amount of spread in the shot is controlled by the choke.

Kinds Of Shotgun
Action Type
1. Auto-loading or Semi-automatic – these are the same as auto-loading rifles in that the recoil action reloads the gun from the magazine
without any effort on the part of the shooter.
2. Slide or Pump Action – operates as the same manner as slide action rifles, by means of sliding the lever under the barrel.
3. Hinged or Break Open Type – a hinged or break open action shotgun requires the manual insertion of the shells in the chamber by
releasing some sort of catch for the gun hinges to open at the breech allowing the cartridges to be loaded.

Featured Type
1. Single Barreled Shotgun – it is loaded with a single shotgun cartridge, closed, fired and then deloaded by the shooter.
2. Double Barreled Shotgun – it has two barrels arranged either side by side or one on top of the other. Each barrel may have its own
trigger.
Combination Gun is a type of break action shotgun which it consist of two barrels that is an over and under design with one
shotgun barrel and one rifle barrel.
Cape Guns a shotgun that has side by side variation or construction of barrel.
3. Triple Barreled Shotgun - usually two shotgun barrels of the same gauge and a rifle barrel. The most common arrangement was a side
by side shotgun with the rifle barrel below and centered. (Drilling)
Drilling Gun is class of break action guns which contain three barrels, usually two shotgun barrels of the same gauge and a rifle
barrel.
4. Four barreled shotgun - which usually have two smooth bore and two rifle barrel. (Vierling)
5. Sawn-Off Shotgun – it has a custom design and the barrel is usually shortened to conceal the action.

Globally, shotguns are generally not as heavily regulated as rifles or handguns, likely because they lack the range of rifles and are not easily
concealable as handguns are; thus, they are perceived as a lesser threat by legislative authorities. The one exception is a sawed-off shotgun, especially
a Lupara, as it is more easily concealed than a normal shotgun.

Daniel Myron Le Fever is credited with the invention of hammerless shotgun and introduced the first hammerless shotgun in 1878.
Winchester was credited as the inventor of the earliest successful repeating shotgun being the lever-action Winchester M1887 in 1887 at the behest of
the Winchester Repeating Arms Company.

Rodolfo Cosmi produced the first working prototype of his semi-automatic shotgun in 1925, which had an 8 round magazine located in the stock.

Here are the following gauges of the common shotgun and their equivalent in the measurement of the bore in the barrel:
GAUGES BORE DIAMETER
4 .935
8 .835
10 .775
12 .729
16 .662
20 .615
28 .550
.410 not a true gauge .410

The unit of measurement used in shotgun is expressed in Gauge. This is determined by the number of solid lead balls of pure lead, each with
diameter of the barrel that can be prepared from one pound of lead. As applied to shotgun, Gauge indicates the bore diameter which is equal to the
diameter of the lead ball whose weight in pound is equal to the reciprocal gauge index. Example – 12 gauge indicate the bore diameter which is equal
to each lead ball weighing 1/12 of a pound.

WOUND BALLISTICS
It is the study of the effects of projectile to human body.

Gunshot Wound (GSW)

It is an open wound produced by the penetration of bullet slug within the tissues of the body. The bullet which was propelled from the gun as well as
the flame from the heated expanded gases in short range fire is the one that produces injury.

The damage of the tissue around the bullet’s path produced by a shock wave when the bullet travels through the body of the victim is known as
TISSUE QUAKE.
Three Basic Kinds of GSW Distinguished by the Proximity of the Weapon
1. Contact – gun muzzle pressed against, or within an inch or two, of the body.
2. Close discharge – 6 inches to 2 ft.
3. Distant Discharge – over 2 ft. or 3 ft.

Downloaded by Janedale Ann Taglinao ([email protected])

 lOMoARcPSD|39265684

Range of Fire - an important aspect of forensic ballistics.

1. Muzzle Pattern – indicates contact wounds and are often observed in suicide cases. The whole charge (projectile, wads, if any, smoke, unburnt
or semi-burnt powder particles and hot gases) enter into the target. No burning, blackening and tattooing are observed. Instead, they are
observed inside the hole through careful examination. The edges are found ragged (torn in star shape) and the wound is like an exit
wound.
2. Scorching – caused by the flame or hot gases not by the hot projectiles as is commonly believed. It is also known as burning or charring.
3. Blackening – caused by the deposition of smoke particles by all types of powders at close ranges. Being light particles, they soon lose their
velocity and get deposited on any material available in the path.
4. Tattooing (a.k.a. peppering) – caused by the embedding of unburnt and semi-burnt powder particles into the surface of the target.

Other GSW Characteristics

1. Pink Coloration – caused by absorbed carbon monoxide in the skin and flesh.
2. Dirt Ring – deposited by some projectile (which carry greases on them) around the wound. Existence of this indicates the entrance side of a
firearm injury & does not indicate range.
3. Contusion – caused by the impact of the projectile to the skin from reddish dark to bluish black. It takes the form of a belt around the wound .
It is of uniform in thickness.
4. Foreign Materials – Their presence not only permits the identification of the firearms injury but they also permit a fairly reliable guess of
firearm.

Factors influencing entrance and exit gunshot wounds

1. Kind of weapon - The higher power the weapon is the more destructive to the tissues of the body.
2. Caliber of the weapon - The higher the caliber of the wounding bullet, the greater will be the size of the wound of entrance, hence, greater
destruction to the tissues.
3. Shape and composition of the missile - The conical shape free end (pointed nose)of the bullet slug has more penetrating power but less tissue
destruction, while bullet slug with hemispherical free end (round nose) had less penetrating but more destruction to the tissues.
4. Range of fire - the injury is not only due to the missile but also due to the pressure of the heated expanded gases, flame and articles of
gunpowder within the closest distance. However, in long range fire, the characteristic effect of the bullet alone will produce the injury.
5. Direction of fire - The direction of fire determines whether the injury is an entry wound or exit wound and therefore affects the characteristics
of the injury.
6. Part of the body involved - When the bullet hit the soft tissues of the body; the bullet penetrates and usually without any change in direction,
however upon hitting the bones and other hard body structures the bullet may fracture the bones causing further injury or may deflect to
another direction.

Description of the wound of entrance is based on the distance of the body from the fired gun
1. Contact fire. This is burst due to the explosion of the powder which produces the heated and expanded gases. There is burning of the tissues
because it is within the flame zone; singeing of the hair; and particles of gunpowder in and around the wound of entrance; skin is separated
from the underlying tissues in the affected area and the blasted tissues are cherry red in color because of the presence of carbon monoxide;
pressure of the bullet will caused caving-in or excavation of tissues and the contusion collar is seen around the wound of entrance. The size
of the wound is rather small.
2. Near contact up to six inches distance. There is bursting of tissues, burning and blackening of the skin as in contact fire but the particles of
gunpowder are present inside as well as around the wound of entrance. The shape of the wound maybe lacerated or slit-like and the size is
larger than the diameter of the missile. The excavation of tissues due to the pressure of the penetrating bullet slug but it can be severe as in
contact fire.
3. Distance above six inches up to 24 inches. The size of the wound gradually approximates the size of the missile. The farther the target, the
lesser the burning or blackening of tissues, gun powder tattooing, singeing of the hair and excavation of tissues and lesser until they
disappear beyond the 24 inches distance.

Differentiation between gunshot wound of Entrance and Wound of Exit

Differential points Wound of Entrance Wound of Exit
1. Size of the wound  smaller than the missile  bigger than the missile
2. Edge of the wound  Inverted  Everted
3. Shape of the wound  Round or oval  no definite shape
4. Contusion collar  present in contact  absent
5. Gunpowder tattooing  and near contact fire  absent
6. Presence or absence  always present  maybe absent if the slug lodged inside the body
7. Protrusion of tissue  Absent  maybe present
8. Paraffin test  + in contact and near fire  negative

MUZZLE TO TARGET DISTANCE

1. A halo of soot around the hole is usually 12 – 18 inches.
2. A halo with specks usually 18 – 25 inches.
3. Specks only 25 – 36+ inches. GUNSHOTS HOLES or WOUNDS CATEGORIES

1. Contact wound – the muzzle point is directly touching the target when the gun is fired.
2. Close Range – when the gun is fired, the muzzle point is near closely at the target.
3. Distant – there is vast range or gap between the muzzle and the target and brings great problems to
the analyst in determining the approximate muzzle to target distance.

GUNPOWDER RESIDUE ANALYSIS

Powder is never totally burned when a gun is fired. Residues are thrown out quite some distance ( as well as backward in a cloud-like formation). By
analyzing the presence or absence of powder residue thrown out forward towards the target, the analyst can determine muzzle to target distance.
Distances and angles can also be determined by analyzing the halo, tattooing, or spotting around the bullet hole in a target’s garment.

Infrared photography - will usually reveal even the most minute traces of powder residue
.
TEST FOR THE PRESENCE OF GUNPOWDER RESIDUE
1. Paraffin Test or Dermal Nitrate Test is an oldest test in existence and was designed to check for the residue on the hands. The hands were
coated with paraffin or wax, and then the paraffin was tested with DIPHENYLAMINE,
2. Griess Test - Peter Griess (1858) designed the test to assist with the measurement of distances and angles. The examiner presses a photographic
paper onto the surfaces near the target, then sprays the paper with Sodium Rhodizonate.
3. Harrison Gilroy Test is the test that does not check for nitrate at all, but for antimony, barium, and lead using the same paper color change
indicator.
4. Marshall and Tiwari Test are used to determine the firearm’s distance, both tests are for the nitrates.

Downloaded by Janedale Ann Taglinao ([email protected])

 lOMoARcPSD|39265684

5. Walker Test a chemical test for the presence of nitrates in unburned or partially burned propellants. This test gives the prober valuable
information about the range which the weapon was fired.

FORENSIC BALLISTICS
Refers to the product of the application of the ballistics to law.
Forensic - As applied to ballistics or to any other subject, suggests a relationship to a court of justice and legal proceedings.
Forum (LATIN) - meaning a “market place” where people gathered for public disputation or public discussion.

Forensic Ballistics is defined as the study of the motion of the projectile as applied to law or simply the science of firearm identification by means of
the ammunition fired through them.

Ballistic fingerprinting - is the identification of the gun that fired a bullet from an analysis of the unique marks that every gun makes on the bullet
and on the shell, that a firearm, being harder than a bullet and cartridge case, every time you fire a cartridge on it, its Signature and Thumb
mark (Fingerprint) leaves on its fired bullets and cartridge cases.

Firearms Identification is discipline mainly concerned with determining whether a bullet or cartridge case was fired by a particular weapon.

Scope of Forensic Ballistics

1. Field Investigations – Conducted by the first officer in the case in the field when they investigate a case or cases wherein firearms have been used.
The routine job of the investigating officer involves the Recognition (process of identifying physical evidences), Collection (collecting pieces of
evidences), Marking (placing information for identification), Preservation (wrapping or packaging physical evidences), Transmittal (transmit
ballistics exhibits to respective department).

2.Technical Examinations of Ballistics Exhibits – the job performed by the firearm examiners in the laboratory.
a) Marking of the evidence firearm
b) Test firing of evidence firearms
c) Photomicrography under the bullet comparison microscope
d) Preparation of comparative charts
e) Making of reports on the findings and observations

3.Legal Proceedings/Court Trial – the Ballistics Report of the firearm examiner and the Ballistics Exhibits such as; firearms, fired bullets, fired
cartridge cases and allied matters are presented during the trial of the case in a court of justice.

HISTORY ON FIREARMS AND AMMUNITIONS

Origin of Firearm
In the 13th Century, the development of firearms followed the invention of gunpowder in Western Europe. It was Berthold Schwartz and Roger
Bacon are both credited with gunpowder invention. Most reference books credit Roger Bacon, English monk and Scientist with the invention of
gunpowder in 1248, and Berthold Schwartz, a German monk, with the application of gunpowder to the propelling of a missile in the early 1300s.
This powder is what we now call “Black Powder”.

It is also often stated that gunpowder was first invented by the Chinese, and its use as a propellant long before its advantages became recognized in
Europe. It may also assume the Arabs with their advanced knowledge of chemistry at that time.

In 1247, One of the earliest recorded uses of firearms in a war far was that of an attack on Seville, Spain. In 1346, Cannons used by King Edward II
of England at Crecy. Cannons were first use at the Battle of Crecy but it wasn't until 1300 that the first basic gun was developed.

In 1335, Mohammad II of turkey in his famous conquest of Constantinople. First firearms were inefficient, large, and heavy and were not capable of
being carried by an individual soldier; hence, the development of cannons preceded that of small arms weapons by almost 50 years.

In 1350, the first "hand cannon" allowed for portability. Ballistics dates back to the famous French artist Leonardo da Vince (1500 A.D.) as can be
gleaned in his sketch of steam-powered cannon through the hand cannons and primitive muskets like the matchlock, wheel-lock, and flintlock
firearms. To increase the reliability of lighting gunpowder, flint replaced matches in 1517. Reverend Alexander John Forsyth of Scotland invented the
first primer powder in 1805.

The man never satisfies himself. He is always trying to improve himself and his surrounding. He created some rule crude or primitive weapons which
were subsequently developed into sophisticated firearms of modern times. Firearms are a type of weapon. They are designed to kill or wound and so
are less likely to have legitimate purposes. Thus, unlike knives and clubs which do have more varied purposes, firearms are always considered
weapons. "Firearm" - means a barreled weapon from which any shot, bullet, or projectile can be discharged and that is capable of causing serious
bodily injury or death to a person.

HISTORY OF THE FIRST FIREARM

1.Firelock developed in the 14th century as a simple smoothed bore tube of iron, closed at breech end except for an opening called a touchhole and
set into a rounded piece of wood for holding under the arm. The tuber was loaded shot and powder and the fired by inserting a heated wire into the
touchhole.
2.Matchlock developed in 15th century which was the same as that of firelock, except that the slow match was clamped on the top of the device
called serpentine-an S shaped metal pivoted to the center. A spring device dropped a lighted match directly into the gun powder.
3.Wheel Lock developed at about 1515 by Leonardo da Vinci which is consisted of a spring-driven wheel which when released by the trigger
brought a peace of iron pyrite into contact with a rotating steel wheel and the resulting spark ignited the gunpowder.
4.Flintlock developed from the end of 17th century to the middle of 19th century. The striker plate was L shaped, the bottom limb of the L was used
as a cover for the priming pan to protect the powder from moisture until the upper limb was struck by the flint of the hammer. But the flintlock
superseded by the percussion cap
5.Percussion cap introduced in 1830 by Joshua Shaw is placed over a hollow metal called "nipple" at the rear end of the gun barrel. Nipple is a
hollow tube where flame passes as a result of the ignition of priming mixture in the percussion cap to burn gunpowder inside the firearm.

Origin of Firearms
1247 – Earliest recorded firearms in warfare was an attack in Seville, Spain.
1346 – History showed that cannons were used by King Edward III of England in Crecy.
1453 – Mohammed II of Turkey used cannons in his famous conquest of Constantinople.

FIREARM INVENTORS AND CONTRIBUTORS

Col. Calvin H. Goddrd, - U.S. Army - Father of Modern Ballistics

Downloaded by Janedale Ann Taglinao ([email protected])

 lOMoARcPSD|39265684

Horace Smith – Founded the great firm Smith and Wesson and pioneered the making of the breech loading rifles.
Daniel B. Wesson – An associate or partner of Smith in revolver making.
John M. Browning – Wizard of the modern firearms and pioneered the breech loading shot rifle.
John T. Thompson – pioneered the making of Thompson Submachine Gun (SMG) 1920
Gordon Ingram – designed the Prototype Ingram sub-machinegun during the late 1940.
David “Carbine” Williams – Maker of the first known” Carbine”
Alexander “John” Forsyth – Father of the “percussion ignition”
Elisha King Root – Designed the machinery for making Colt firearms
Eliphalet Remington – One of the first rifle makers
John Mahlon Marlin – Founder of Marlin Firearms Company
James Wolfe Ripley – Stimulated the development of the Model 1855 rifle musket
Samuel Colt (1814-1862) – produced the first practical revolver
Henry Derringer – an American gunsmith. He is best known for inventing and giving his name to the derringer pistol and soon to the whole class
of firearms including rifles and pistols.
John C. Garand – He designed and invented “Garand Rifle: a Semi-Automatic US Rifle, Caliber .30 M1, the world’s first self- loading rifle
usedduring both WWII and Korean war.
Richard J. Gatling – developed the hand-wranked machinegun. A development of the Duver Gatling type of machinegun
Oliver F. Winchester – One of the earliest rifles and pistols makers
Eugene Stoner – Chief Engineer and one of the top designers of AR15/M16 Armalite Rifle
George Lugger – he designed the 9mm Parabellum Cartridge
Uziel Gal – invented the Uzi submachine gun, in the 1950s and used by the Israeli army for the first time during its Sinai Campaign in 1956.
Mikhail Kalashnikov – invented the AK 47 Cal.30.
ArmaLite – The home of manufacturing company becomes almost a generic term. It happens with the colt produced M16, which has been
designed and develop at Armalite. The Armalite business was form by Charles Dorchester and George Sullivan in 1950.
Fedor Tokarev- Designed the service pistol of the Soviet forces.
Glock – established in 1996 and owned by Engineer Gaston Glock of Deutsch-Wagram, Austria.
Arms Corporation of the Philippines (Armscor) – Founded in 1952 - owned by the Squires Bingham Co. Inc, by Don Celso Tuason. Don
Tuason's oldest son Demetrio "Bolo" Tuason is the president and CEO of the company.
Daniel Myron LeFever – Credited with the invention of hammerless shotgun and introduced the first hammerless shotgun in 1878. This gun was
cocked with the external cocking levers on the side of the breech. He patents the first truly automatic hammerless shotgun in 1883.
Rodolfo Cosmi – He produced the first working prototype of semi-automatic shotgun in 1925, which had an 8 round magazine located in the
stock. While it reloaded automatically after each shot like a semi-automatic it had a break action to load the first shell.
Hiram Percy Maxim - inventor of the Maxim Silencer.

IMPORTANT DATES IN FIREARM HISTORY

1313 – Gunpowder as a propellant. The age of gunpowder began with its first use as propellant for a projectile.
1350 – Small Arms. Gunpowder was first used only in cannons. It was not only until the middle of 14th century that portable hand firearms were
introduced. These guns were ignited by a handheld hotwire or lighted match.
1498 – Riflings. The first reference to rifled barrels happened around this year. Although its importance as an aid to accuracy was recognized by
some, it took many years before rifling was generally used.
1575 – Cartridge. Paper cartridges were developed. This combined both powder and ball about 1575. This greatly speeded loading and reduced
the hazards of carrying loose powder.
1807 – Percussion System. Alexander John Forsyth discovered that certain compounds detonated by a blow could be used to ignite the charge in
a firearm, forming the basis for all later percussion and cartridge developments.
1835 – Samuel Colt patented the first practical revolver in which the cylinder rotated by cocking the hammer.
1836 – Pinfire Cartridge. The pinfire cartridge developed by LE FAUCHEUX was probably the first self-exploding cartridge to come into
general use.
1845 – Rimfire Cartridge. In France, FLOBERT developed “bullet breech cap” was in reality the first rimfire cartridge.
1858 – Center-fire Cartridge – The Morse cartridge marked the beginning of the rapid development of the center-fire cartridge.
1884 – Automatic Machine Gun – HIRAM MAXIM built the first fully automatic gun, utilizing the recoil of the piece to load and fire the next
charge.
1885 – Smokeless Powder – In France, VIEILLE developed the first satisfactory smokeless powder known as “Powder B" or “Poudre B" short
for poudre blanche (white powder), a new propellant that lacked the smoke characteristics of blackpowder, but was more powerful.
1889 - Alexandre Lacassagne, professor of forensic medicine at the University of Lyons, France, was the first to try to individualized bullets to a
gun barrel. His comparisons at the time were based simply on the numbers of lands and grooves.
1898 - Paul Jesrich, a forensic chemist working in Berlin, Germany, took photomicrographs of two bullets to compare, and subsequently
individualize the minutiae.
1902 - the first court case involving firearms evidence took place when a specific gun was proven to be the murder weapon. The expert in the case,
Oliver Wendell Holmes, had read about firearm identification, and had a gunsmith test-fire the alleged murder weapon into a wad of cotton
wool. A magnifying glass was used to match the bullet from the victim with the test bullet.
1910 - Victor Balthazard, professor of forensic medicine at the Sorbonne, used photographic enlargements of bullets and cartridge cases to
determine weapon type and was among the first to attempt to individualize bullet to a weapon.
1920 - Charles E. Waite, was the first to catalog manufacturing data about weapons.
1920’s - Calvin Goddard, with Charles E. Waite, Phillip O. Gravelle, John H. Fisher, perfected the comparison microscope for use in bullet
comparison.
1925 - Goddard wrote an article for the Army Ordnance titled "Forensic Ballistics" in which he described the use of the comparison microscope
regarding firearms investigations. He is generally credited with the conception of the term "forensic ballistics," though he later admitted it to be
an inadequate name for the science.
1926 - The Case of Sacco-Vanzetti, which took place in Bridgewater, Massachusett, was responsible for popularizing the use of the comparison
microscope for bullet comparison. Calvin Goddard’s conclusions were upheld when the evidence was re-examined in 1961.
1929 – The St. Valentine's Day Massacre led to the opening of the first independent scientific crime detection laboratory in the United States.
1974 - The detection of gunshot residue (GSR) using electron microscopy with electron dispersive X-ray Technology.
1991 - Wals Automation Inc. in Montreal, launched the development of an automated imaging system called The Integrated Ballistics
Identification System for comparison of the marks left on fired bullets, cartridge cases, and shell casing. This system was subsequently
developed for the US market in collaboration with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms.
1992 - The FBI contracted with Mnemonic Systems to developed Drugfire, and automated imaging system to compare marks left on cartridge
cases and shell casings. The ability to compare fired bullets is subsequently added.
1999 - A memorandum of understanding is signed between the FBI and ATF, allowing the use of the National Integrated Ballistics Network
(NIBIN), to facilitate the exchange of firearms data between Drugfire and IBIS.

Downloaded by Janedale Ann Taglinao ([email protected])

 lOMoARcPSD|39265684

FIREARMS
Legal Definition of Firearm based on Sec 877 Revised Administrative Code
Firearms or arms as herein used, includes rifles, muskets, carbines, shotgun, pistol, revolvers, and all other deadly weapons, to which a bullet, ball,
shot, shell, or other missiles maybe discharge by means of gun powder or other explosives. This term also includes air rifle, except such of being of
small caliber and limited range used as toys. The barrel of every firearm shall be considered a complete firearm for all purposes based on Sec 877
Revised Administrative Code

Legal Definition of Firearm based on Republic Act No. 10591, an “Act Providing for a Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition and
Providing Penalties for Violations thereof” was signed into law on May 29, 2013.
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.

Technical Definition of Firearm

Firearm is an instrument used for the propulsion of projectile by means of the expansive force gases coming from burning gunpowder. (FBI manual
of Firearms Identification).

(l) 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 this Act, the barrel, frame or receiver is considered a firearm
(v) Loose firearm refers to an (1. unregistered firearm), an (2. obliterated or altered firearm), firearm which has been (3. lost or stolen), (4. illegally
manufactured firearms), registered firearms (5. in the possession of an individual other than the licensee) and those with (6. revoked licenses) in
accordance with the rules and regulations.
(w) Major part or components of a firearm refers 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.
(x) Minor parts of a firearm refers 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.

Antique firearm refers to any:

(1) firearm which was manufactured at least seventy-five (75) years prior to the current date but not including replicas;
(2) firearm which is certified by the National Museum of the Philippines to be curio or relic of museum interest;
(3) any other firearm which derives a substantial part of its monetary value from the fact that it is novel, rare, bizarre or because of its association
with some historical figure, period or event.

SEC. 9. R.A. 10591 Licenses Issued to Individuals. – Subject to the requirements set forth in this Act and payment of required fees to be
determined by the Chief of the PNP, a qualified individual may be issued the appropriate license under the following categories;
Type 1 license – allows a citizen to own and possess a maximum of two (2) registered firearms;
Type 2 license – allows a citizen to own and possess a maximum of five (5) registered firearms;
Type 3 license – allows a citizen to own and possess a maximum of ten (10) registered firearms;
Type 4 license – allows a citizen to own and possess a maximum of fifteen (15) registered firearms; and
Type 5 license – allows a citizen, who is a certified gun collector, to own and possess more than fifteen (15) registered firearms.

SEC. 10. R.A. 10591 Firearms That May Be Registered. – Only small arms may be registered by licensed citizens
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:
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;
b) Revolver – is a hand-operated firearm with a revolving cylinder containing chambers for individual cartridges.
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
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.

CLASSIFICATION OF FIREARMS
(According to Interior Barrel Construction)
1) Smooth Bore Firearms - Firearms that have no rifling (lands and grooves) inside their gun barrel.
2) Rifled Bore Firearms - Firearms that have rifling inside their gun barrel.

(According to Wounding Power)

1) Low Velocity Firearm – These are firearms with muzzle velocity of NOT more than 1,400 feet per second.
2) High Velocity/Power Firearm – These are firearms with muzzle velocity of more than 1,400 feet per second.

(According to Power)
1) High Powered- includes whose with bores of bigger in diameter including but not limited to cal. .40, .44, .45 and also lesser cal but considered
high powered such as cal. 357 and .22 magnum and other firearms with firing capability of fully automatic and by burst of two or three.
2) Low Powered- includes lesser in diameter such as rim-fire handgun, including but not limited to cal. .380 or cal. .32 and other firearms of
similar firepower.

(Nature of the Magazine)

1) Cylindrical Revolving Magazine Firearm – The cartridge is located in a cylinder magazine that rotates at the rear portion of the barrel.
2) Vertical or Horizontal Magazine – The cartridge is held one after another vertically or horizontally and also held in place by a spring side to
side or end to end.

(According to the Caliber of the projectile propelled)

1. Caliber .22 – revolvers, pistols, rifles 7.Caliber .357 – revolvers (magnum)
2.Caliber .25 – pistols, rifles 8.Caliber 9mm – pistols
3.Caliber .30 – carbines, M14, Garand, AK47 9.Caliber .44 – magnum revolvers
4.Caliber .32 – automatic pistols and revolvers 10.Caliber .45 – pistols, revolvers
5.Caliber .380 – pistols 11.Caliber .50 – machine guns/pistol, revolvers
6.Caliber .38 – revolvers/super .38 pistol

Downloaded by Janedale Ann Taglinao ([email protected])

 lOMoARcPSD|39265684

(According to the Manner of Feeding)

a. Muzzle Loading Firearms - these are firearms on which the ammunition is feed through the muzzle. Examples - Muskets, Mortars & etc.
b. Clip Loading Firearms – it is a firearm wherein ammunition are hold together on a clip as a unit, serving as its magazine. Example - Garand
Rifle.
c. Magazine Loading Firearms - these are firearms which are feed by the use of magazine. Examples - M16, M14 etc.
d. Breech Loading Firearms – firearms which are loaded on its breech. Example - Howitzer.
e. Link or belt – these are weapons designed to receive cartridges in belt or link. The closed link type includes Caliber .50 Machine Gun and the
open link type includes LMG M 60.

(Firing Mechanism)
Single Action is a weapon in which pressure upon the trigger releases the hammer that must be manually cocked.
Double Action is a type in which pressure upon the trigger both cocks and releases the hammer. Actually this gun can be operated both through
(1.) cocking the hammer first and squeeze the trigger or directly (2.)squeeze the trigger to cock the hammer.
Double-Action-Only (DAO) is a firearm which the trigger system cocks and releases the hammer to fire the gun after each shot. This type
sometimes called hammerless firearm

(According of Mechanical Construction)

1. Single shot firearms - types of firearms designed to fire only one shot every loading.
2. Repeating Arms - A type of firearms designed to fire several loads (shot) in one loading.
3. Automatic F/A - type of firearms that constitutes a continuous firing in a single press of the trigger and while the trigger is pressed.
4. Slide Action type - types of firearms in which loading takes place by back and forth manipulation of the under/over forearms of the gun. (pistol
/ slide action shotgun)
5. Bolt Action Type - Type of firearms in which reloading takes place by manipulating the bolt back and forth.
6. Lever type (Break type) - loading takes place by lever action on the firearms.

(Methods of Operation /Actuation of Firearm)

1.Blowback System - a system of operation for self-loading firearms that obtains energy from the motion of the cartridge case as it is being pushed
to the rear of the firearm cause by expanding gas from the ignition of propellant or powder charge.
2.Locked breech System – a system design for a breech-reloading firearm's action. The stored energy, drives forward the slide and loads the next
charge making the firearm ready for the next cycle of firing. Examples;.45 caliber pistol firing, the barrel and the slide are locked together. After
firing, the slide moves back and unlock. The source of power for the movement of a firearm to self load is the recoil
3.Gas Operated System – firearms that have a gas cylinder and piston. Examples are Garand rifle, M16 Armalite Rifle.
4.Recoil Operated – these are firearms that use recoil energy to operate.
5.Manually Operated - firearms wherein the cycle of operation is manually accomplished. Examples are Shotgun, Rifles & etc.

CLASSIFICATION OF FIREARMS
1) Artillery - Refers to those type of firearms that propels projectile with more than one inch diameter.
Cannon -as the first European firearm.
Howitzer -is the cannon used to deliver shells along a parabolic trajectory.
Bazooka - refers to a lightweight rocket launcher and the first artillery weapon to use rockets as offensive missiles.
Gustav Gun -the largest gun ever used in combat by the German during the siege at Sevestapol in April 1942.

2) Small Arms - Are firearms that propels projectile with less than one inch diameter and it can be handled, moved and operated by one man.
A. Machine guns - Machine gun is a type of firearm that is primarily designed for military use. A type of weapon which fires or designed to
fire automatically or semi-automatically.
Sub Machine Gun (grease gun) - Is a light, portable form of machine gun, utilizing a pistol size ammunition, having a shoulder stock
that may or may not be folded and designed to be fired with both hands.

B. Shoulder Arms are those types of firearms that were normally fired from the shoulder.
Rifles- A shoulder weapon designed to fire a projectile with more accuracy through a long rifled bore barrel, usually more than 22
inches. It has usually a muzzle velocity of 2,500 feet per second and a range of 3,000 feet.
Carbine - A short barrel rifle, with its barrel rifle, measuring not longer than 22 inches. It fires a single projectile though a rifle-bore
either semi-automatic or fully automatic, for every press of the trigger.
Muskets - is an ancient smoothbore and muzzle loading military shoulder arms designed to fire a shots or a single round lead ball.
Shotgun - A smooth bore and a breech loading shoulder arms designed to fire a number of lead pellets or a shots in one charge.
a.Cylinder – equal diameter
b.Choke – reducing diameter
c.Paradox – contains rifling a few inch from the muzzle point.

C. Handguns - those type of firearms that are designed or intended to be fired using one hand.
Pistol - In early firearm history, all handguns are generally called as pistols. There were three classes of pistols in the period. The
single shot pistol, the semi automatic and the revolving pistols now known as the revolver.
Revolver - Revolver is a type of firearm designed to position cartridge into position for firing with the aid of a rotating cylinder
serving as its chamber.
Kinds of Revolver (based on their construction or mechanism)
1. Revolver with the barrel firmly fixed to the frame and the revolving cylinder may swing out to the side for the purpose of
loading or extraction of the spent shell.
2. Revolver with the barrel hinged to the frame and the revolving cylinder may be broken (break action)to load by releasing
the barrel latch.
3. Revolver with the barrel firmly fixed to the frame and the revolving cylinder may be removed by taking out the cylinder
pin on which it rotates.

MISCELLANEOUS TYPES OF GUN

1. Cane gun, knife pistols, cellphone gun, etc. - devices principally designed for other purpose to which a gun mechanism is incorporated also
called as Freakish gun.
Freakish gun - a tool in which firearm mechanism is attached to prevent easy identification.
Zip Gun - refers to Home-made gun used in U.S. by juvenile delinquent. (Paltik in the Philippines)
2. Flare gun - designed for tracing or sending signals or locating enemy troops.
3. Gas gun - generally referring to all gun designed from firing tear gas.
4. Harpoon guns - refers to a barbed spear in hunting large fish.
5.Liberator - U.S. government made smooth bore gun used in Europe during war designed to fire an automatic colt pistol cartridge caliber .45.
6. Multi –Barreled gun - refers to all types of gun containing a number of barrels.
7. Paradox gun - a type of gun which contains lands and grooves a few inch from the muzzle point.

Downloaded by Janedale Ann Taglinao ([email protected])

 lOMoARcPSD|39265684

8. Tools - are those devices which resembles a gun designed but are generally used for construction of furniture.
9. Traps - refers to gun used for trapping animals that are fired to woods.

AMMUNITION
Legal Definition:
Ammunition refers to loaded shell for rifles, muskets, carbine, shotgun, revolvers and pistols from which a ball, shot shell or other missiles maybe
fired by means of gun powder or other explosive. The term also includes ammunition for air rifles as mentioned elsewhere in the code. (Chapter
VII, Sec.290 of NIRC as well as Sec 877 RAC)

Technical Definition - Ammunition refers to a group of cartridge or to a single cartridge.

Cartridge is a complete unfired unit consisting of bullet (ball), primer (cap), cartridge case (shell) and gunpowder (propellant).

Section 3 RA 10591 (b) Ammunition refers to a complete unfixed unit consisting of a bullet, gunpowder, cartridge case and primer or loaded shell
for use in any firearm.

ETYMOLOGY OF THE WORD CARTRIDGE

“Charta” ( Latin word) -meaning a “paper”
“Cartouche” ( French word ) - a rolled paper
It was about the turn of the 16th century that the term “cartridge” comes to use.
KING GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS – of Sweden, is credited with inventing the first paper cartridge in 1635.

A. General types of Ammunition

a) Dummy (fake) model - a type of ammunition which merely resembles the genuine one. It is a carefully made replica of a cartridge, usually
of tool steel and dimensioned to be used by weapon’s instructor and repairman when checking the functioning of the weapon.
b) Drill Ammunition (without gun powder)- is a type of an ammunition that is completely inert, without explosives and are use in mill
training to practice loading and manipulation of the gun. It is sometimes called “dummy” although in the strict sense there is a difference.
c) Black Ammunition (without bullet)- an ammunition without a bullet, containing gunpowder designed to generate a loud noise to indicate
firing. This type of ammunition is used for theatrical performances or film making, training dogs and military training.
d) Live Ammunition- is the term applied for the complete unit of unfired cartridge.

Classification of Ammunition
According to its effect
1. Penetrators - pierce targets using a single bullet,
2. High explosives - burst before hitting their target, fragmenting into thousands of penetrating pieces or becoming a high-speed jet of molten
metal
3. Carrier projectiles - break open near the target to deliver leaflets, radar-deceiving materials, or submunitions (small ammunition).

According to the Location of the Primer

a) Pin-Fire - is a type of cartridge in which the ignition cap (primer) is concealed inside the cartridge case and has a pin resting upon it.
b) Rim fire - is a type of cartridge in which the priming mixture is located at the hallow rim of the case can be fired if the cartridge is tuck by
the firing pin on the rim of the case (cavity rim).
c) Center fire - it refers to a cartridge in which primer cup (ignition cap) is centrally placed in the base of the cartridge case and the priming
mixture is exploded by the impact of the firing pin and with the support of the anvil.
There are two (2) Primer Ignition Systems for center fire cartridges:
a) Boxer Type. This is one which has only a single, centrally located flash hole.
b) Berdan Type. These are cartridges designed to have two (2) flash holes.

According to Head Types:

1. Rimmed Cartridge Cases. These are cartridge cases having an extractor flange that is larger than the diameter of the cartridge case body.
Letter " R" is added after the case numbers in the metric system of caliber designation.
2. Semi-rimmed Cartridge Cases. These are cartridge cases having an extractor flange that is slightly larger in diameter than the cartridge
case body and also have a groove around the body of the case just in front of the flange. The metric designation for these cartridges is " SR".
3. Rimless Cartridge Cases. These are cartridge cases having an extractor flange whose diameter is the same as that of the cartridge case body
and also have a groove around the body of the case in front of the flange. In the metric system of caliber design, no letter is used for this type
of cartridge case.
4. Rebated cartridge case. It has an extractor flange that is smaller than the diameter of the case. A groove around the body of the case is
present in front of the flange. The metric designation is " RB".
5. Belted Cartridge Case. It has a pronounced, raised belt encircling the cartridge case body in front of the groove in the body. The diameter of
the extractor flange is immaterial. The metric designation is " B ".

According to Shape
a)Straight- where the whole body that extends from the point just above the extracting groove ‘til outside the mouth have the same in diameter. This
is the majority used in handgun.
b)Tapered type - used in rifle and machine gun ammunition. This type is called because the body measurement is gradually narrowed from bottom
to top.
c)Bottleneck or also called necked type since this type possesses neck that is apparently similar to bottle’s neck that holds the bullet in place.

Shotgun Ammunition
Shotgun Shell. Refers to a single unit of ammunition for shotgun. It consists of a tubular case, (either paper, plastic, or metal) with a metallic base,
containing the primer, powder or propellant, wads, and shots of pellets.
Parts of a Shotgun Shell
1.Tubular case – case usually made up of paper, plastic or metal
2.Metal base - containing primer, powder or propellant
3.Wads – base wad, over-powder wad, filler wad, closing wad
Over-powder and filler wad - serve to seal the gun bore to prevent the gas pressure from leaking around the shot charge. The wads are very
important because they serve to identify the gauge and type of ammunition used. Among the wads, the closing wad has printed on its
outside face, letters and figures which give all or part of the following information:(.Name of manufacturer, Brand name of shell,
Amount of powder, Amount of shot, and Size of shot)
4. Shots charge or pellets – term in shotgun projectile.
Buckshot. These are comparatively large lead balls formed in molds, without hardeners alloyed with the lead.
Drop shot. These are smaller lead balls which is formed by pouring molten lead alloy through perforated pans of selected sizes located
at the top of a shot tower.

Downloaded by Janedale Ann Taglinao ([email protected])

 lOMoARcPSD|39265684

BULLETS
“Boullette” (French word of a Bullet) - meaning a small ball.
This term is generally used when we are referring to projectile fired from any small arms, which has a variety of form, especially during the earlier
history. In a more technical sense, bullet refers to a metallic or non-metallic cylindrical ball propelled from a firearm it is sometimes called as shots
or slugs.
General Types of Bullets
Lead Type – is a type of a bullet that is basically composed of lead metal. Its used was due to its density; having a good weight is a small size
and easy for casting.
Jacketed Type – Is a type of bullet consisting of the regular lead core, coated with a copper alloy in order to prevent lead fouling of the barrel
and is generally used in pistols and other high power guns

According to their Maximum Effect to their targets

1. Ball Type – Is a type of bullet, which is intended for anti-personnel and general use.
2. Armor piercing – is a type of military bullet designed to penetrate light steel armor. Its mechanical construction makes it capable of
penetrating through some light vehicles.
3. Explosive Bullet - Is a small bullet containing a charge of explosive, which will detonate upon impact.
4. Incendiary Bullet –Type of military bullet used to cause fire in a target, generally designed to use by aircraft armament in order for the fuel
tanks to ignite.
5. Tracer Bullet – a type of military bullet capable of leaving visible marks or traces while in flight giving the gunner the chance to observe the
strike of the shot or make adjustments in the event of a miss
6. Dum-Dum bullet - bullet made in India designed in inflict greater damage.
7. Expanding bullet - bullet such as hallow point (open point) and soft point design to fragment/expand upon impact. Also called mushroom
bullet.
8. Baton Round - wood bullet originated in Hongkong designed for riot and later replace by rubber bullet.
9. Multiple Bullet - Duplex (2) bullets or Triplex (3) bullets in one chartridge.
10. Discarding Sabot - also known as accelerator bullet, designed for greater velocity.
11. Flechette - a number of needle like projectile in one cartridge.
12. Frangible - design for aerial shooting for practice.
13. Streamline/Boat tailed bullet - a bullet design to reduce drag.
14. Wad-Cutter Bullet is a cylindrical bullet design having a sharp shouldered intended to cut a target paper clearly to facilitate easy and
accurate scoring. This is designed for target shooting practice.
15. Explosive Bullet - is contains a high charge of explosive designed to explode upon impact on the hard target. This is likewise known as a
fragmentary bullet.
16. Sabot is a centerfire rifled cartridge consists of a copper jacketed bullet that is of a smaller caliber than the rifle it is fired in. This smaller
bullet is surrounded by hard plastic sleeve or adaptor that allows it to be fired in a larger caliber firearm.
17. Glaser Safety Slug is the specific bullet which is designed to break apart scattering numerous small lead pellets throughout the target. Each
of the small pellets will create its own wound track and cause an enormous amount of bleeding.
18. Gas Check Bullet is use to prevent the melting of the base of the lead bullet intended to be fired at a higher velocity and have their gases
protected with a small copper cups.
19. Hydra-Shock is a type of expanding bullet used in commercial ammunition made by Federal Cartridge.They are meant to provide more
reliable expansion and deeper penetration.
20. Spitzer Bullet is a European conical bullet that has no meplat. Meaning, this bullet has a tip which is purely pointed and designed for military
rifle.

CARTRIDGE CASE
Cartridge Case - is the metallic or non-metallic tabular container usually of brass (70% copper and 30% zinc) designed to unite the bullet,
primer and the gunpowder into one unit. It is also known as shell or casing.
Functions of the Cartridge Case
1. It locates the bullet properly relative to the bore of the firearm.
2. It is used to carry the means of ignition.
3. It provides gas seals at the breech against an unwanted escape of propellant gas upon firing.
4. Serves as waterproof container for the propellant or powder charge.
5. Acts as the insulator between the propellant and the hot walls of the chamber in a rapid firing of firearms.

Parts of the Cartridge Case

1. Base - the bottom portion of the cartridge case which contains the head stamp marking on the base of the shell
2. Rim - is the part of the cartridge designed to limit the forward movement of the cartridge to chamber.
3. Extracting grooves- is the circular groove near the rim of the shell designed for automatic withdrawal of the case from the chamber.
4. Primer Pocket - is that part of the shell which provides the means for the primer to be put in the central position. Its function is extended to: (a)
hold the primer in place; (b) to provide means to prevent the escape of gas; (c) to provide solid support for primer anvil.
5. Body- is the cylindrical part of the shell which house the gunpowder.
6. Shoulder- that part of the cartridge case which support the neck of the cartridge which is evident in a bottleneck type.
7. Cannelure- is the cylindrical groove in the outer surface of the cartridge case designed to secure the shell to the chamber as well as prevent
bullet from being push down to the powder charge. In some instance it is even being utilized for identification.
8. Neck - is that part of the shell which is actually occupied by the bullet. This is obvious in a bottleneck type of shell but not with the straight
type.
9. Crimp - is the cylindrical groove on the mouth of the shell designed for two purposes: One (1) is to hold the bullet and prevent it from being
pull out from the shell and Two (2) to offers resistance to the bullet out of the neck to ensure burning of the gun powder.
10. Mouth – that part responsible for holding the bullet.
11. Vent or Flash hole - is the hole at the bottom of the primer pocket as the passage way for the priming mixture to impart an ignition to the
propellant charge.

PRIMER (also called CAP)

Primer – is that portion of the cartridge which consists of a brass or gilding metal cup.
Priming Cup – that part that contains a highly sensitive priming compound or highly sensitive mixture of chemical compound, That when struck by
the firing pin would “Detonate or Ignite”. It is also known as the percussion cup.

Alexander John Forsyth – a Scotch Presbyterian minister, chemist and a hunter and a well-authority to firearm who is credited for being the first to
conceive the idea of using detonating compound for igniting powder charges in a small arms by “percussion” and in 1807 he obtained a patent for
this idea.

PRIMER (also called CAP) may either be Berdan or Boxer type.

A. The Berdan is a type of primer construction, which was designed in 1860s by Colonel Hiram S. Berdan of the U.S Army Ordinance

Downloaded by Janedale Ann Taglinao ([email protected])

 lOMoARcPSD|39265684

Department. Berdan primer cup contains only the priming mixture, with two vents or flash hole and placed upon at the top of both sides
of the primer cup.
B. The Boxer on the other hand, was developed by Col. Edward M. Boxer of the Royal Laboratory at Woolwich Arsenal in the year 1866. It
contains only one vent or flash hole and centered on the top of the primer cup.
C. Battery Cup Type – usually used for shotgun shell, which is simply a variation of the Boxer type.

Parts of the Primer

1. Primer Cup - Is the brass gilding metal cup which contains the priming mixture, the disc and the anvil.
2. Priming Mixture - Is the highly sensitive chemical compound that ignites by the mechanical blow of the firing pin. Also called percussion
powder.
3. Anvil - Is that portion of the primer which provides solid support and absorbs the blow of the firing pin causing friction that would initiate
ignition.
4. Disc - Is a thin paper or foil which is pressed over the priming mixture in order to protect it from moisture attack.

Composition of Priming Mixture

1. Corrosive Primer – contains potassium chlorate which when ignited, produces potassium chloride. Potassium chloride draws moisture from the
air and this moisture speeds the rusting and corrosion in gun barrel.
2. Non-corrosive Primer – because of the advances in “primer” chemistry over the years have produced new composition in which the potassium
chlorate has been eliminated by the substitution of other chemicals. These newest primers are of the non-corrosive type and have practically replaced
the corrosive type.
Typical Mercuric Primers
Potassium Chlorate (45%) – acts both as an initiator and fuel
Antimony Sulfide (23%) – is the frictional element and fuel
Fulminate of Mercury (32%) – act as a initiator

Three Basic Types of Modern Primers of a Center-fire Cartridge

A.Boxer Type Primer is invented by Col. Ellie Munier Boxer, a British Army officer, who identified that the Anvil is a separate piece of metal in the
primer and contains one vent or flash hole located at the center of the upper portion of the primer. Boxer primer was patented in June 29, 1869.
B.Berdan Type Primer is introduced by Col. Hiram Berdan of the United States Army. He stated the fact that the Anvil is not an integral part of the
primer but of the cartridge case and having two vents or flash holes situated at both sides of the upper portion of the primer. Berdan type was patented
in March 20, 1866.
C.Battery Cup Type is usually used for shotgun shell, which is simply a variation of the Boxer types.

GUNPOWDER
Gunpowder (also called as propellant or Power Charge) is that mixture of chemicals of various compositions designed to propel the projectile by
means of its expansive force of gas when burned. Deflagration is the process of rapid and confined burning of the propellant.

Roger Bacon – an English monk and scientist, credited for the invention of gunpowder in 1248.
Berthold Schwartz (real name CONSTANTINE ANKLITZEN) – A German monk, recognized for the application of gunpowder to the propelling of
a bullet in the early 1300.

Classification of Gunpowder
A. Black powder – first gunpowder to be discovered by Roger Bacon and Berthold Schwartz, the English and the German monks respectively, is the
oldest among the propellant with the following characteristics.
Characteristics of a Black powder
1.It consists of irregular grains, which depending on the manufacturing process.
2.Have either dull or shiny black surface.
3.When fired, it produces large volume of grayish or white smoke and considerable residue left in the barrel. In burning, it gives off a large
amount of gas.
4.Quick flash
Composition of Black Powder:
a.Potassium Nitrate/ Saltpeter……………………………. 75%
b.Charcoal……………………………………………….. 15%
c.Sulphur…………………………………………………. 10%

B. Semi-Smokeless Powder – in the late 1890’s and early 1900’s semi-smokeless powder began to be used as a substitute for black powder. It is
essentially a powder having some of the ingredients of black powder and some of smokeless powder.
Characteristics of Semi-Smokeless Powder
1.Medium rate flash with less smoke than the black powder.
2.The residue does not harden and cake in the barrel to some undesirable extent as with black powder.
3.Composed of black irregular grains, usually duller in appearance than black powder grains.
Composition of Semi-Smokeless Powder
a. Sulphur
b. Potassium nitrate
c. Charcoal
d. Nitrocellulose

C. Smokeless Powder – the most powerful among the propellant. This type of powder commonly use now in modern small arms ammunition.
Nitrocellulose and Nitroglycerine as the major ingredients, mixed with one or more minor ingredients such as centralite, Vaseline esters, inorganic
salts and etc.
Characteristics of Smokeless Powder
1.Relatively slow burning with little smoke with minute residue in the barrel.
2.It is a true chemical compound
3.Smokeless powder grains have perfectly definite shape such as; small squares, flakes, sticks, spheres, pellets or perforated cylindrical grains.
4.Manufactured principally from nitrated cotton which is called “NITROCELLULOSE”
Composition of Smokeless Powder
a. Nitrocellulose…………………………………………. 60 parts
b. Nitroglycerine………………………………………… 35 parts
c. Vaseline…………………………………………………. 5 parts

Personalities Contributed for Gunpowder

Christian Friedrich Schonbein – first introduced the GUNCOTTON or NITRATED COTTON, a nitrocellulose- based material and principal

Downloaded by Janedale Ann Taglinao ([email protected])

 lOMoARcPSD|39265684

ingredient of smokeless powder in 1846. He also promoted its use as a blasting explosive.
Paul Vieille – a French engineer working on behalf of the French government, invented a good smokeless powder for rifles in 1884 which is called
POUDRE B, made from gelatinized guncotton mixed with ether and alcohol.
Alfred Nobel – developed a smokeless gunpowder called BALLISTITE in GREAT BRITAIN in 1887.
Sir Frederick Abel and James Dewar – responsible for the modification of ballistite which eventually became known as CORDITE.
Hudson Maxim – obtained a patent for smokeless powder in USA in 1890.

Main Classes of Smokeless Powder

1.Single-Based Propellant contains only pure nitrocellulose.
2.Double-Based Propellant– are those having nitrocellulose and nitroglycerine as their major ingredients, mixed with minor ingredients such as;
centralite, Vaseline phthalate esters and inorganic salts. This is commonly used in handgun and rifle cartridges.
3.Triple-Based Propellant – combination of nitroglycerin, nitro-guanidine and nitroglycerine as ingredients. Commonly used in artillery guns.
4.High Ignition Temperature Propellant – is a type of propellant in which the main constituent is from RDX(Royal Demolition eXplosive) group of
high explosives. This is a caseless cartridge.

Other Related Terms:

a) Oxidation - the combination of oxygen with other substances to produce new substance.
b) Combustion - the rapid combination of oxygen with another substance accompanied by the production of noticeable heat and light.
c) Explosion - a chemical or mechanical action resulting in the rapid expansion of gases.
d) Detonation - the creation of a supersonic shock wave within the explosive charge. An extremely rapid oxidation reaction accompanied by a
violent disruptive effect and an intense, high speed shock wave.

Classification of Explosive
a) Low Explosive - an explosive with a velocity of detonation less than 1,000 meters per second e.g. black powder and smokeless powder.
b) High Explosive - an explosive with a velocity of detonation more than 1,000 meters per second e.g. dynamite and RDX
c) Primary high explosive - a high explosive that is easily detonated by heat or shock or friction e.g. primers. (lead azide, lead Styphnate)
d) Secondary High explosive - relatively insensitive to heat, shock or friction. It has to be detonated by a primary explosive e.g. Dynamite,
TNT (trinitrotoluene) PETN (pentaerythritol) and RDX (cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine) and tetryl.

ARMS MANUFACTURING PROCESS RELATED TO FIREARMS IDENTIFICATION

How the Barrel is Made
All barrels, regardless of the type of weapon for which they are made for, are being manufactured from a solid piece of metal. The metal is
carefully selected, for its chemical and metallurgical structure, thus assuring a high quality product after the various machine operations and heat
treatment are completed.
Characteristics of a Barrel Steel
1. Machinability – the ability of the steel to be easily cut and shaped.
2. Durability – ability of the steel to last a long time.
3. Strength – the quality or state of being strong.

Steps in Making Gun Barrel

a. Drilling – is the first step and the most difficult among the process. A Special Deep-Hole Drill is used through the center of which the
lubricating oil is forced under pressure. The interior surface at this stage bears numerous scars and scratches resulting from the irregular
cutting of the drill and the metal chips which mark the finish.
b. Reaming – this is the next step to remove the scars and scratches left by the drilling operations in the entire length. The reamer removes the
metal from the entire surface due to its size which is slightly larger in diameter than that of the drill. In shotgun barrels which should have
some degree of choke, choke cutter or reamer is used to finish the muzzle end. This completes the bore operations on a shotgun. If the barrel
is to be rifled, it is done by means of several rifling methods.
c. Rifling Process
1. Broach Gang – a tool having a series of cutting edges of slightly increasing height used to cut the spiral grooves in a barrel. All grooves
are cut with a single pass of the broach.
2. Broach Single – A non-adjustable rifling cutter which cuts all the grooves simultaneously, and is in a series of increasing dimensions
until the desired grooved depth is achieved.
3. Button - a hardened metal plug called a “button” affixed to a long rod with a rifled cross section configuration. Similarly to the broaching
system the “button” is pulled or pushed through the barrel and twisted only once forming all spiral grooves to the desired depth and
twist in a single pass.
4. Hook Cutter – A cutting tool which has a hook shape and only cuts one groove at a time. A number of passes are made through a groove,
removing only a little metal each time, until the desired groove depth is attained.
5. Scrape - A cutting tool which cuts two opposing grooves at a time. This method is practically the same as the hook-cutter type, but it uses
a different form of cutting edge.
6. Swage (hammer forging) – An internal mandrel with rifling configuration which forms rifling in the barrel by means of external
hammering.
7. Electro Chemical Rifling – is formed by wet-etching the interior part of barrel under an electric current which dissolve the metal to
create grooves in the barrel.
Types of Riflings (lands and grooves)
1)Steyer Type (4 RG=L)
2)Carbine Type (4RG2X). 3)Smith and Wesson(5RG=L)
4)Colt(6LG2X)
5)Browning(6RG2X)
6)Webley(7RG3X)
7)Winchester(6RG3x)
8)Army Type(4RG3X)

d. Lapping – This is the polishing operation in which lead plug closely fitting the inside of the barrel is drawn back and forth on a rod carrying
with it a polishing compound. This operation polishes both the land and groove areas of the barrel and remove many of the larger
imperfections resulting from the cutting operations.
e. Chambering Process – This is the final step in making gun barrel. Chambering or cutting away of the breech end of the barrel where the
cartridge or shotgun shell is to fit.

Breechface Manufacture
Another stage of firearm manufacturing which is very important in identifying the firearm is the finishing operations on the breechface of the
weapon. This is that portion of the firearm from which the cartridge case and the primer are forced backwards when a cartridge is fired in the

Downloaded by Janedale Ann Taglinao ([email protected])

 lOMoARcPSD|39265684

chamber. As this occurs, the base of the cartridge case will be imprinted with the tool markings on the breechface of the firearm. This happens
because the base of the cartridge case is softer than the breechface of the firearm. “Therefore, when the soft surface comes in contact with a hard
surface under tremendous pressure, it is the soft surface that is left or engraved with the toolmark from the hard surface.

Types of Characteristics in Firearms

Class Characteristics - are those properties or attributes of a firearms which can be determined even before the manufacture of the gun. This is true
for such characteristics are considered to be a manufacture’s designs or specifications and security.
The following are the Class Characteristics of Firearms:
a) Bore diameter (caliber or gauge) it is diameter to which the bore was reamed. The distance measured between two opposite lands inside the
bore in a hundredths or thousandths of an inch. In most express in either caliber in inch or in millimeters.
b) Number of lands and grooves - the number of lands and grooves inside the barrel of a given firearm are always the same or equal. It may
run from 3 to 8, but the most in the modern firearm are five and six.
Lands - are the elevated portion of the bore of the firearm.
Grooves - are the depressed portion of the bore between the lands.
c) Width of the lands - is dependent upon the bore diameter of the gun, grooves, width and number. The lands are the remainders of the
circumference after subtracting all the grooves width.
d) Width of the Grooves - is measured as the shortest distance between the two dies or edge of a grooves.
e) Direction of Twist - rifling inside the barrel of the gun is either twisted to the left or to the right which cause bullet to rotate as it passes
through the bore, in order to ensure gyroscopic stability in its flight.
f) Pitch of Rifling - it is the measure of the twisting of the lands and grooves. It refers to the measure of the distance advance by the rifling in
order to make a complete turn inside the barrel.
Rate of Twist- Is the expression for one complete turn of the rifling on a certain length of the barrel. We say the twist rate is 1:12 when
there is one complete spiral groove in 12 inch of the barrel.
Fast Twist - When the number of inches of the barrel required for a complete turn is small, like 1:7;
Slow Twist – When a greater number of inches in the barrel is necessary to have one complete turn, like 1:14;

g) Depth of the Grooves - the groove’s depth if measured on a radius of the bore. Grooves are usually few thousandths of an inch deep, which
equal to the height of the lands.

Types of Rifling
1) Steyer Type - is the type of rifling having four (4) lands and grooves, right twist and the width of the lands grooves. (4 RG=L)
2) Carbine Type - rifling having (4) lands and grooves, right twist, the width of the grooves is two (2) times the width of the lands (4RG2X).
3) Smith and Wesson - rifling having (5) lands and grooves, right hand twist , the width of the land and grooves are equal. (5RG=L)
4) Colt - type of rifling having six (6) lands and grooves, left twist, the width of the grooves is twice (2) the width of the lands. (6LG2X)
5) Browning - type of rifling having (6) lands and grooves, right hand twist, the width of the grooves is twice the width of the lands. (6RG2X)
6) Webley - Rifling having seven (7) lands and grooves, right hand twist, the width of the groove is three time larger than the boarder of the lands.
(7RG3X)
7) Winchester - Rifling having six (6) lands and grooves, right hand twist, the width of the grooves is three time larger the width of the lands.

Individual Characteristics - are meant for those characteristics which are being determined only after the firearm was already been manufactured.
They are the product of machine imperfections and some later due to the used of the firearms.
Two Types of Markings (Individual)
1) Impression type – those markings caused by direct pressure contact. (ex. Breechface mark)
2) Striated mark – those markings caused by sliding contact. (ex. Minute striations on the cylindrical surface of the bullet)

Marks Found on Fired Bullets

a) Land Marks - marks left on a fired bullet caused by its contact to the elevated portion (lands) of the bore of the firearm. It appears as slight
depressions or scratches the cylindrical surface of the fired bullet.
b) Groove Marks - marks found on a fired bullet caused by the grooves of the barrel which is the same number as that of the landmarks.
c) Skid Marks - Marks that are generally found on fired bullet from a revolver. It is more or less located at the anterior portion of the fired bullet
due to its forward movement from the chamber to the barrel of the gun before it initially rotates.
d) Stripping Marks - marks found on those bullet fired from a “loose-fit” barrel wherein the rifling are already been badly worn-out.
e) Worn-out - can be cause by either chemical reaction brought about by rust (corrosion) or through excessive use (erosion)
f) Shaving Marks - marks commonly found on bullet fired from a revolver cause by its forward movement to the barrel that is poorly aligned to
the cylinder.
g) Slippage Marks - marks found on fired bullets passing through either on oily or oversize barrel.

Marks Found on Fired Shells

1) Firing Pin Mark - mark generally found at the base portion of the cartridge case more specifically near center of the primer cup in a center fire
cartridge or at the rim cavity of a rim-fire cartridge. Considered as one of the most important marks for identification of firearms using fired
shell.
2) Breech Face Mark - mark found at the base portion of the shell cause by backward movement to the breech face of the block of the firearm.
This is also one of the important marks in shell identification.
3) Extractor Marks - usually found in a striated form, are those created by the extractor of most auto-loading or repeating firearms. The extractor
is a small part sometimes resembling a hook that is used to remove a cartridge or cartridge case from the chamber of a firearm.
4) Ejector mark - mark generally found on cartridge case fired from an automatic firearms. It is located near the rim of the case cause by the
throwing of shell from the firearm to the area of shooting.
5) Shearing Mark - sometimes called “Secondary Firing Pin mark” found in the primer near the firing pin mark.
6) Magazine Lip Mark - marking found at the two sides of the rim cause by the magazine lips during the loading of the cartridge into the
magazine for firing.
7) Chamber Mark - mark mostly found around the body of the fired cartridge case cause by the irregularities of nips inside the walls of the
chamber.

PRELIMINARY FIREARMS INVESTIGATION (C.S. SEARCH) PROCEDURE AT THE CRIME SCENE

The following procedures are mandated by no less than the PNP Investigative Manual with some modification:

Steps to be followed upon arrival at the crime scene:

It must be noted that the first priority upon arrival at the crime scene is to save life if possible. At present, when a crime is committed, it becomes a
practice for the officer in charge to call for SOCO assistance to ensure a more systematic approach in locating, recognizing, packing, preserving and
transmittal of physical evidence.
The following steps must be observed upon arrival at the crime scene:
a) Record the date and time of arrival including the weather condition

Downloaded by Janedale Ann Taglinao ([email protected])

 lOMoARcPSD|39265684

(if information was obtained through telephone call, note accurately the time the call was received before leaving).
b) Look for living person immediately at the place
(witness, victim, suspect if possible)
c) If an injured person is at the scene, arrange for medical attention, identification or removal. The scene should be disturbed only to the
extent necessary to have medical aid rendered to the injured or have a doctor examine a deceased victim. Each alteration should be accurately
recorded. It’s but proper to take photographs for recording purposes.

PROCEDURE AT THE CRIME SCENE

1. Recording
The investigator begins the process of recording pertinent facts and details of the investigation the moment he arrives at the crime scene. (He
should record the time when he was initially notified prior to his arrival). He also writes down the identification of persons involved and what he
initially saw. He also draws a basic sketch of the crime scene and takes the initial photograph (if a photographer is available, avail his services). This
is to ensure that an image of the crime scene is recorded before any occurrence that disturbs the scene. As a rule, do not touch, alter or remove
anything at the crime scene until the evidence has been processed through notes, sketches and photograph, with proper measurements.

2. Searching for evidence

Each crime is different, according to the physical nature of the scene and the crime or offense involved. Consequently, the scene is processed in
accordance with the prevailing physical characteristics of the scene and with the need to develop essential evidentiary facts peculiar to the offense. A
general survey of the scene is always made, however, to note the locations of obvious traces of action, the probable entry and exit points used by the
offender(s) and the size and shape of the area involved.
In rooms, buildings, and small outdoor areas, a systematic search of evidence is initiated (In the interest of uniformity, it is recommended that
the clockwise movement be used.) The investigator examines each item encountered on the floor, walls, and ceiling to locate anything that may be of
evidentiary value.
The following are the methods of Crime Scene Search:
A. Strip Search Method - Applicable when the shooting incident took place in a small closed area. In this method, the area is blocked out in
the form of a rectangle.
B. Double Strip Method - Applicable when shooting incident took place in a bigger area. The double strip or grid method of search is a
modification of the Strip Search Method. Here, the rectangle is traversed first parallel to the base then parallel to a side.
C. Wheel Method - In this method of search, the area is considered to be approximately circular. The searchers gather at the center and
proceed outward along radii or spokes.
D. Spiral Method - In this method, the three searchers follow each other along the path of a spiral, beginning on the outside and spiraling in
toward the center.
E. Zone Method - In this method, one searcher is assigned to each subdivision of a quadrant, and then each quadrant is cut into another set of
quadrants.

3. Collection of Evidences
Great care should be exercised when collecting physical evidences. Be sure that you “don’t MAC” the evidence.
M – mutilate the evidence
A – alter the very nature of the evidence
C – contaminate the evidence
HOW TO COLLECT FIREARM(S) AT THE SCENE OF THE CRIME
At the scene, the firearm should be picked up by the investigator using a handkerchief or small string or small wire inserted through the “trigger
guard” of the firearm.
1) Be sure that in picking up the suspected firearm, the muzzle point of the barrel is not pointed towards the person picking it up, nor it is
pointed to any one in the vicinity.
2) If it is a revolver and is in full cocked position, there’s always the danger of a little amount of” jarring” when picking up as the gun might
fire, causing additional shooting or accident. A piece of crumpled paper or carton may be placed just in front of the hammer after which
the trigger should be checked. This is done to prevent accidental or unnecessary firing.

4. Marking of Physical Evidences

Marking of physical evidences – like fired bullets, fired shell, firearms or other objects or items is very significant on the part of the investigator
that he can readily identify these evidences during the trial of the case in court at the witness stand. If these physical evidences cannot be readily
identified during the trial, they become “inutile” thus serve no evidentiary value at all.

1. Physical evidences like fired bullets, fired shells, firearms and allied items should be properly marked or labeled for future identification as they
are collected. This procedure is very important because:
a) The officer may be called to the witness stand several weeks, months or years after the commission of the crime to identify objects
collected at the scene.
b) The officer cannot completely rely on his memory because of several other cases in between.
c) Defense may require that the complete chain of possession or custody of the ballistics exhibits be established.

2. Identification is easily determined by means of a “mark” or label which has been placed on the physical evidence
The following steps are used when marking physical evidence or ballistics exhibits:
a) Use a distinctive mark such as initials of the recovering officer.
Do not use “X” for marking because “X” is a universal mark and that is hard or difficult to distinguish one “X” from other “X”.
b) Record the mark used and the position of the marks present on the object.
c) Record the serial number or other distinctive marks present on the object.
d) Mark the object itself, taking care not to damage or alter it.
e) Always mark the container in which the object is placed even the object itself is already marked.
f) When tags are used, mark corresponding entry in the tag and attach it securely to the object.

HOW AND WHERE TO MARK FIRED BULLETS

Fired bullets should be marked with the following: (Initials of the Recovering Officer, Date of Recovery, and Order or Manner of Recovery) (I-D-O)
Fired Bullets should be marked on the following parts: (Nose, Anterior, and Base)

The field investigator can do this by the use of STYLUS, SCRIBER, SHARP KNIFE, or any pointed instrument. In cases wherein the nose or
anterior or anterior portion of the fired bullet is badly damaged or deformed, the markings should be placed at the base portion of the bullet.

HOW AND WHERE TO MARK FIRED CARTRIDGE CASES

Similarly with the fired bullets, the fired cartridge case should be marked with the following: (Initials of the Recovering Officer, Date of Recovery,
and Order or Manner of Recovery) (I-D-O)
Fired cartridge case should be marked on the following parts: (Inside, near the open mouth or Outside, near the open mouth)

Downloaded by Janedale Ann Taglinao ([email protected])

 lOMoARcPSD|39265684

WHERE AND HOW TO MARK SUSPECTED FIREARM

The suspected firearm, besides noting down its pertinent features in connection with the collection of the physical evidences, should be marked with
the following:(Initials of the Recovering Officer, Date of Recovery, and Order or Manner of Recovery) (I-D-O)
REVOLVER PISTOL RIFLE SHOTGUN
1.Frame 1. Frame or receiver 1.Frame 1. Frame
2.Cylinder 2. Slide 2.Barrel 2. Barrel
3.Barrel 3. Barre 3.Bolt 3. Stock/Bolt

Besides markings these main parts of the firearm, a “tag” may be made and filled up with the following entries:
1) Type of firearm – revolver, pistol, rifle, shotgun etc. 5) Date of recovery
2) Make or model of the firearm 6) Name of victim (if known)
3) Caliber of the firearm 7) Name of suspect (if known)
4) Serial number (most important) 8) Other features of value

5. Preservation of Physical Evidences

Physical evidences like firearms, fired bullets, fired shells and the like, should be properly preserved for future identification and
presentation during the litigation of the case.
Fired bullets and fired shells, should be wrapped in tissue paper and sealed in pill box, match box, vial or any similar container. The
container should also be properly labeled. Each article of evidence should be placed in a separate container, and each container should be
accordingly marked or labeled for future reference. Use a container which will not easily break, or one which is large enough for the
evidence to be removed and replaced easily. Do not use a container that is too much large for the specimen.
Wrapping or Packaging Materials
The investigating officer should exercise care and resourcefulness in securing wrapping or packaging materials that he can use to
preserve his physical evidences. He should always bear in mind the value of preserving the evidentiary value of his ballistics exhibits.
Materials Ideal for Packaging Physical Evidences:
1) Typewritter ribbon tin can 5) Envelopes
2) Match box 6) Plastic container
3) Cotton 7) Plastic wrapper
4) Cleansing tissue or box

6. Transmittal of the Physical Evidences

Once the officer has collected and marked all the physical evidences, he has to transmit these ballistics exhibits to their respective
departments and submit the same to the DUTY DESK OFFICER or to the duly designated receiving officer in their office. The officer on
the case must be duly aware of this CHAIN OF POSSESSION OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE. He must be able to state the following:
1) Who recovered the evidences
2) Who received the exhibits from him
3) When where the exhibits submitted
4) Date and time received
5) Was a receipt issued and by whom
6) It is important to establish where the evidences were at all times
7) There must be no unknown gap as to the whereabouts of the exhibits
8) The officer must be able to impress to the judge or court that all the evidences have been properly protected and preserved until
their presentation before the court.

FORENSIC FIREARM IDENTIFICATION

Forensic Firearms Examination is a highly technical task which need thorough examinations. For the experts to be able to give his
opinion to a certain area, like in forensic ballistics he should conduct examination in such a manner that the result will give justice for all,
and a person to be called an expert aside from their qualifications, he should have undergone research, training/schooling and lastly good
experience in his field.

PRINCIPLE OF FIREARMS IDENTIFICATION

Studies have shown that no two firearms, even those of the same make and model, will produce the same unique marks on fired
bullets and cartridge cases. Manufacturing processes, use, and abuse leave surface characteristics within the firearm that cannot be exactly
reproduced in other firearms.

BASIC PRINCIPLE:
1.Firearms identification is actually a refined tool mark identification.
2.The natural wear and tear of the tools is involved.
3.When a soft surface comes in contact with the hard surface, the soft surface is left with impressions or scratches from any irregularities
on the hard surface.
4.The fact that no two things are absolutely identical.
5.Principles of firearm identification states that “no two barrels of firearms are microscopically identical as the surface of their bore
possesses individual characteristics.
6.These scratches or striations vary from gun to gun and it can be said that “no two guns will leave the same scratches or impressions on a
fired bullets and shells.

TYPES OF PROBLEMS: There are seven (7) types of problem in Firearms Identification, namely:
Type 1 – Given a fired bullet: to determine the caliber and type of firearm from which it was fired.
Type 2 – Given a fired cartridge case: to determine the caliber and type of firearm from which it was fired.
Type 3 – Given a fired bullet and a suspected firearm: to determine whether or not the bullet was fired from a suspected firearm.
Type 4 – Given a fired cartridge case and a suspected firearm: to determine whether or not the cartridge case was fired from a suspected
firearm.
Type 5 – Given two or more fired bullets: to determine whether or not they were fired from one and the same firearm.
Type 6 – Given two or more fired cartridge cases: to determine whether or not they were fired from one and the same firearm.
Type 7 – Given a suspected firearm: To determine if the suspected firearm is serviceable.

TECHNIQUES OF EXAMINATION
1. Physical – Evidence bullets, cartridge cases and suspected firearm once submitted by the requesting party will be physically examined to
determine its markings or initials made by the investigator for identification purposes. If no identifying marks were found the
firearms examiner will, before anything, affix his own identifying markings or initials derived form the names of the requesting party,
victim or suspect in that order of priority.

Downloaded by Janedale Ann Taglinao ([email protected])

 lOMoARcPSD|39265684

Bullets of different class characteristics will be segregated from one another especially the determination of caliber, number of lands
and grooves, twist of rifling, etc. to facilitate its easy final microscopic examination.

Cartridge cases will also be segregated to determine the caliber, type and make of firearm from which they were fired. Misfired or
dud cartridges will also be taken into consideration. Although they may not have any ballistics probative value, yet, they may give a
clue to the solution of a crime.

2. Test Firing – The firearm is test fired before a bullet recovery box in order to obtain test bullets and test cartridge cases for comparison
with the evidence bullets and cartridge cases, respectively,. But before firing, the cartridge will be marked at the side of the case and
on the nose portion of the bullet with letter “T” (to represent test) followed by the last two digits of the serial number of the firearm
of the test to be made (eg) T-77-1, T-77-2, and T-77-3 in their order of firing to distinguish the number 1 test from the number 2 or 3
as the case may be.

3. Microscope Examination – After the recovery of the test bullets and cartridge case, they will be compared with the evidence cartridge
cases under the Bullet Comparison Microscope to determine whether or not the have the congruency of striations or the same
individual characteristics.

BULLET COMPARISON MICROSCOPE

*Is the most and widely and reliable instrument in Firearms Identification is the Bullet Comparison Microscope. With this instrument, the
firearm examiner can make a complete examination and comparison of the so called CLASS and INDIVIDUAL CHARACTERISTICS
that appears on the fired bullets and fired cartridge cases.

Under the microscope the two fired bullets or fired cartridge cases can be examined in a juxtaposition and whatever the observation and
findings obtained during the examination can be photograph for court presentation and also to give the court a better understanding and
good appreciation of how he came to that conclusion.

Every examiner, no matter how experienced or expert he may be, has had the experience of spending many hours in the attempt to get
the satisfactory and convincing matching in cases where there was every reason to believe that it was the gun that fired the evidence bullet
or shell. Obtain matching as many as possible, because convincing one’s self

FINDINGS/CONCLUSION
Findings are the bases of conclusion. A conclusion cannot be made without the findings. A good conclusion is always based on good
findings. In comparative examination of the evidence bullet that are found on the periphery running from the forward shoulder to the base
portion (these are surface of the barrel), are discernible with the test bullet or if they have the congruency, correspondence or intermarriage,
then the evidence bullet and the test bullet were fired from one and the same firearm.

Clip or magazine markings may also give visible markings. Like the ejector or extractor markings if considered single may not be a
basis for conclusion. This only serves as corroborative characteristics but certainly lacks legal significance. This is so because the case may
have these markings even if they were unloaded from the firearm without firing. As a rule, the point of the examination and comparison is
at the area of the primer proper where breechface markings together with the firing pin impression are located. Primers are softer metals
and receive more prominent striation than any other portion of the base.

Conclusion is the opinion gathered from the finding. This is the end result of the examination and should be taken seriously as it involves
the life and liberty of the suspect.
A. When the evidence and the test bullets or cartridge cases have the same individual characteristics, the competent examiner will
conclude that they were fired from one and the same suspected firearm.
B. If they have different individual characteristics, certainly, the evidence bullets or cases were not fired from the suspected firearm.
C. Where the evidence has no prominent or minor striations that the three tests, it calls for uncertainty and doubt for a positive or negative
conclusion. Only those evidence bullets or cases that have the same individual characteristics may be taken of photomicrograph for Court
presentation.

In the comparative microscopic examination of the evidence bullet/shell with the test fired bullet/shell a firearms examiner will
arrive at one of three the conclusions:
1.Identification signifies a match between two ammunition components (bullet, shell) or a match between an ammunition components and
firearm with respect to its class and individual characteristics.
2.Exclusion represents a non-match between the examined items of evidence either class or individual characteristics. The possibility of an
association between the items is excluded.
3.No Conclusion indicates that the ammunition components could neither be identified nor eliminated as having been fired by a particular
weapon based on the quantity and quality of microscopic markings.

Requirements for a Positive Identification

In order to derive a concrete and reliable conclusion of positive identification, there should be a prominency, consistency, and or
significance of the impressions on both questioned and standard specimen being compared.
1.Prominent is standing out or projecting beyond a surface or line, readily noticeable.
2.Consistent means possessing firmness. The impression or striation found on the evidence bullet or cartridge case appearing in every test
bullets and cartridge cases.
3.Significant is when the markings have meaning or capable of being interpreted by the Firearms Examiner or Ballistician.

BALLISTICS REPORT WRITING

Ballistics report writing involves six points of investigation, one of which is to ascertain whether a particular firearm submitted for
ballistics examination is in working condition or not. This constitutes the examination of the said firearm, whether it was recently fired or
not is subject to the examination of the Chemistry section.

*When a firearm is submitted for examination,

It is important to note whether the condition of the firearm is serviceable or not.

Downloaded by Janedale Ann Taglinao ([email protected])

 lOMoARcPSD|39265684

*The examination of pellets is the hardest examination because of the absence of the land and groove marks. The usual findings include:
1) The gauge of the shotgun as determined by the presence of the wad which shows the gauge;
2) Kind of shot shells.
*If a hole is caused by a bullet, the findings should be: the hole could have been caused by the bullet. This is the Chemist’s job. If the
finding is insufficient, nothing is accomplished.

Purposes of Writing an Investigation Report

1) To provide a permanent record of information obtained in the course of an investigation.
2) To communicate the information obtained in an investigation.
3) To provide other investigators with a basis for continuation of an investigation.
4) To enable the supervisor-officer reviewing the work of the investigator in determining whether the investigation is properly
developed or not;
5) To provide the proper authorities with a permanent record of facts of the crime: the perpetrator; names and addresses of witnesses; the
nature and location of physical evidences; and other matters pertaining to the crime.

The Important Principles in Report Writing

1. Accuracy – is achieved by relating the information, which was gained through physical senses to an investigation. An investigator
should be able to distinguish the following:
a) Fact from hearsay;
b) Fact from opinion;
c) Fact from conclusion.
2. Completeness – is achieved by narrating the facts discovered during the course of the investigation. When in doubt, the investigator
must report the following:
a) What information is lacking?
b) What efforts should be made to obtain the information?
c) Why was the information not obtained?
d) What must be done to obtain the lacking information?
3. Brevity – is achieved by excluding from the report the unnecessary details, but at the same time achieving completeness by including all
relevant, pertinent and essential information. A lengthy report does not mean the investigator did a good job.
4. Impartiality – is achieved by, as a rule, reporting facts without any addition or deduction. The investigator should not conceal any
information and should remain unbiased in the course of an investigation or examination.
5. Fore – refers to the front part of the report; is achieved by arranging the contents of the report in such a way that it is easy to identify
any section, part or items of the materials presented and their visual arrangements.

SCIENTIFIC EQUIPMENT GENERALLY USED IN FIREARMS INVESTIGATION AND IDENTIFICATION

The following are the list of equipment that are generally used in a typical Ballistics Laboratory:

A. Bullet Comparison Microscope

The Bullet Comparison Microscope is the most important scientific equipment in a typical Ballistics Laboratory. It is used for comparing
evidence bullets or shells and test bullets or shells to determine whether or not they were fired from a suspected firearm.

It is designed to permit the firearm examiner to differentiate two fired bullet or shell, by simultaneously observing their magnified image in
a single microscopic field. Fired bullet and shell are examined and compared in either INTERMARRIAGE (half of the same image of the
evidence bullet/shell and half of the same image of the test bullet/shell of the same direction,
the same magnification, and the same level or plane are merge into one image to look for the congruency of stations or the same markings)
and in JUXTAPOSITION (critical side by side comparison at the same time, direction, magnification, image
and level or plane to find the same feature, structure of striations to the specimens under observation).

During the 1920’s forensic science began to play a role in many major cases. Calvin Goddard became known as a major forensic scientist
during this time. His passion for ballistics and justice led to his most famous invention, the comparison microscope. As he made a name for
himself in this field, he is known as the “FATHER OF THE MODERN BALLISTICS”. He was called upon to solve many challenging
cases including the Sacco and Vanzetti Case and The St. Valentines Day Massacre.

B. Sterioscopic Microscope
It is generally used in the primary examinations of fired bullet and shells to determine the relative distribution of the
class characteristics or for orientation purposes. It does not have any other camera attachment and no photomicrograph can be taken for
court presentation. It can also be used in the closed-up examination of tampered serial numbers of firearms. • In the middle of 19th century,
Francis Herbert Wenham of London designed the first successful stereomicroscope. The first modern stereoscopic microscope was
introduced in the United States by Cycloptic.

C. Shadowgraph
It contains a series of microscopic lenses of different magnifications that can be used in examining fired bullets or fired shells to
determine the class characteristics and also for orientation purposes. This instrument contains a large circular ground glass, and a diameter
about 14 inches, wherein the observation and comparison of class characteristics is done similarly
with the bullet comparison microscope, it can take photomicrographs of the observations and comparisons made in the circular ground
glass.

D. CP-6 Comparison Projector

Similar to bullet comparison microscope in which two fired bullets of shell can be compared simultaneously by projecting the image on a
large screen and is observed at a vertical and comfortable viewing. With the use of this equipment there is absolutely no strain of any kind.
No eyestrain is experienced by the examiner because the magnified image appears on a large screen and is observed at a vertical and
comfortable viewing distance as well as no backstrain from stooping over the microscope several hours a day. With this method, what can
be seen on the screen can be photographed by any kind of camera. The instrument was invented by William Howard Livens, an engineer
and British army

Downloaded by Janedale Ann Taglinao ([email protected])

 lOMoARcPSD|39265684

E. Bullet Recovery Box

It is used to obtain test fired bullets or test fired shells for examination and comparison to the questioned bullets or shell. Several designs of
bullet recovery box are now adopted, for as long as it could meet the desired result in test firing and retrieved the fired bullet undamaged.
This is commonly filled with cotton but sometimes water tank, sawdust with oil, sand,
waste threads, darak (powdered rice husk), banana trunks or rubber strips can be used and separated by cardboard.

In test firing suspected firearms, it is a standard procedure to use ammunition that are of the same caliber, make or brand and manufactured
in the same year as that of the evidence bullet or shell. The purpose of this is primarily to subject the suspected firearm to the same
conditions under which it was alleged to have been at the time of the commission of the crime.

Water is one means to obtain test bullets and shells because the microscopic marks on the cylindrical or peripheral surface of the bullets are
preserved for good use. The same is true with cotton. But in test firing in a water tank, one fires the gun in a vertical position which
sometimes causes water to be splashed into the face of the one firing the gun.

F. Helixometer
This is the type of instrument used in measuring “pitch of riflings” of firearms. This instrument is generally used in highly advanced
ballistics laboratories or commercial agencies.With this instrument, it is possible to measure the angle of twist in a rifled pistol or revolver
barrel. It is used in inserting the telescope and aligning it with the axis of the bore. The scope is mounted in a rotatable bearing, with a
graduated disc which permits reading circular measurements to three minutes of an arc. • This instrument was invented by John H. Fisher.

G. Caliper
This is an instrument used in making measurements such as bullet diameter, bore diameter, barrel length, and other important details.

H. Micrometer
Similar in use as calipers but it can only measure the diameter of bullet.

I. Analytical or Torsion Balance

This is used for determining weights of bullets or shotgun pellets-for possible determination of type, caliber, and make of firearms from
which they were fired.

J. Onoscope
A small instrument sometimes used in examining the internal surface of the gun barrel. It has a tiny lamp at the terminal portion and this is
inserted inside the bore for internal examinations.

K. Taper Gauge
Used primarily for determining the bore diameter of firearms.

L. Electric Gun Marker

Used in the laboratory for marking fired bullets, fired shells, and firearms submitted for examination.

M. Chronograph
Used primarily for determining the speed of the bullet or the muzzle velocity of the bullet.

NEW WEAPON ON THE WAR ON CRIME

A. IBIS – a computerized identification system that stores ballistics information on bullets and cartridge cases submitted as evidence
in connection with a crime. It also stores test-fired bullets and cartridge cases and can cross-search and match the known with
the unknown in an attempt to identify a cartridge case or bullet. The computer electronically compares and catalogs bullets and
shells located at the crime scene.
B. Bulletproof – is a field-proven automated bullet image analysis system. It captures the image of the microscopic features found
on the surface of a fired bullet in a highly repeatable manner. The markings or signatures are analyzed by the computer and can
be compared to those of other fired bullets or to an entire database if fired.

C. Brasscatcher – an automated cartridge case image analysis system. It incorporates the exacting forensic science software required
to extract the marking of signature from an expended cartridge case, similar in operation to Bulletproof. It has the ability to
automatically search the database of cartridge cases and rank in descending order the most likely hits.

D. Drugfire – developed by the Federal Bureau of Investigations and Mnemonic Systems Inc., is a new computerized technology
that will allow the Forensic Firearm Examiner to associate previously unrelated firearms involved in different cases. This is a
data-based driven multi-media system designed to increase the effectiveness of Forensic Firearm Examiner in searching open
case expended cartridge and bullet files. This system also integrates a forensic database, audio, video, digital imaging, and
telecommunications to aid the examiner in his quest to associate unrelated cases.

RELEVANT JURISPRUDENCE
Proclamation No. 1081 was the document that contained a formal proclamation of martial law in the Philippines by President Ferdinand
Marcos, as announced to the public on September 23, 1972. Marcos’s concrete response to these challenges. In its effort to legitimize the
military government and to undermine the use of firearms of both insurgents and secessionist movements, Marcos promulgated the
following state policies under the martial law regime
General Order No.06 - prohibition to use unlicensed firearms
General Order No.07 - authorizing uniformed personnel to carry firearms
General Order No.07-A - inclusion of other government agents to the authorization order
General Order No.22 - laid down the guideline on the classification of firearms

Presidential Decree 1866, Codifying the laws on illegal/unlawful possession, manufacture, dealing in, acquisition or disposition, of
firearms, ammunition, or explosives or instruments used in the manufacture of firearms, ammunition or explosives, and imposing stiffer
penalties for certain violations. Police authorities can go after manufacturers of illegal firearms, curtail the proliferation and sale of illegal

Downloaded by Janedale Ann Taglinao ([email protected])

 lOMoARcPSD|39265684

firearms of ammunition in the market and address critical public safety concerns at that time.

Ferdinand Marcos signed Presidential Decree 1866 on June 29, 1983, providing for the general rules on possession, manufacture, and
trade of firearms and ammunition as well as the corresponding penalties for violations. Similarly, it also provides for the rules that govern
men and women in uniform as far as firearms possession and use are concerned. The existing law on firearms, PD 1866, states that a
civilian is allowed ownership of only one long arm and one short arm, this ruling was “relaxed” during the time of former President Estrada.
Despite the absence of implementing rules and regulation (IRR), the gun groups still view Executive Order 164 issued by President Estrada
in February 2000 as a general repeal not only of the one-long, one-shot rule but also a repeal of the ban regarding civilian ownership of
high caliber firearms.

In the Philippines, gun ownership remains a privilege. Hence, the state has within its power the authority to issue stringent measures on
civilian possession. The Revised Administrative Code (RAC) of 1917, particularly Section 877 to 906, provided the first legal definition
of a firearm and granted the Police Constabulary regulatory powers over it. This law provides that the barrel of any firearm shall be
considered a complete firearm. Moreover, Section 878 of RAC requires the license of firearms, Section 879 justifies the issuance of
service firearms to state security forces and deputized officers, Section 883 requires all individuals who wish to start a business of firearms
dealing must secure a license from the government, and Section 887 allows private individuals to possess firearms for self-protection.

National Emergency Memorandum Order No. 6, issued in 1990, requiring the re-registration of all civilian firearms, the inventory of all
government-issued firearms. The subsequent Executive Order 22 (1993) mandated the surrender of the licensing of all loose firearms and
the establishment of a central records unit.

The RA 7166, an act providing for synchronized national and local elections and for electoral reforms, authorizing appropriations therefor,
and for other purposes. Synchronized Election Law, passed in 1991 provided for the legal basis of a gun ban during the election period.
Executive Order 171 (2003) issued by Former President Arroyo, however, reversed the EO 164 ruling on the matter of gun caliber but was
silent on the number of guns that may be owned by civilians. Nevertheless, it was the PN that issued a cap of ten firearms per civilian. This
law prohibits paltiks from being licensed. The paltik is effectively a ghost gun; an unregistered weapon bearing no serial numbers.

Republic Act 8294. An act amending the provisions of presidential decree no. 1866, as amended, entitled “codifying the laws on
illegal/unlawful possession, manufacture, dealing in, acquisition or disposition of firearms, ammunition or explosives or instruments used
in the manufacture of firearms, ammunition or explosives, and imposing stiffer penalties for certain violations thereof, and for relevant
purposes” Republic Act 8294, amended PD 1866 and was signed into law on June 6, 1997, and Republic Act 9516 (Illegal possession of
explosives), signed on December 22, 2007. RA 8294 increased the penalties for illegal possession of firearms, and included in the
definition of ünlicensed firearms” those with an expired license and/or those with a license but are used without authorization in the
commission of a crime. This law states that “illegal possession of firearms has a penalty of prision correctional in its maximum period and
fine of not less than fifteen thousand pesos (Php 15,000.00). Legally, guns cannot be brought outside the home without a permit to carry
(PTC) which issued only by the Chief PNP, except during the election period when issuance of the PTC rests with the Commission on
Election (COMELEC). The reality, however, paints a different picture, as penalties seem to pose little deterrence for illegal gun holders.

Republic Act (RA) No. 10591, otherwise known as “An Act Providing For A Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition and
Providing Penalties For Violations Thereof,” was signed into law by the President of the Philippines on May 29, 2013. Loose firearm refers
to an unregistered firearm, an obliterated or altered firearm, firearm which has been lost or stolen, illegally manufactured firearms,
registered firearms in the possession of an individual other than the licensee and those with revoked licenses in accordance with the rules
and regulations. This law recognizes the right of its qualified citizens to self-defense when it is the reasonable means to repel the unlawful
aggression under the circumstances, the use of firearms, and only small arms may be registered by licensed citizens or licensed
juridical entities for ownership, possession, and concealed carry.

PENALTIES FOR UNLAWFUL ACTS UNDER THE NEW FIREARMS LAW OF THE PHILIPPINES

The following are the unlawful acts punished by:

Unlawful Acquisition, or Possession of Class-B light weapon;

Reclusion Perpetua
Planting of evidence by a public officer or employee
Arms Smuggling. – The penalty of reclusion perpetua
Class-B Light weapons
Refers 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 underbarrel and mounted grenade launchers, portable anti-aircraft guns, portable
anti-tank guns, recoilless rifles, portable launchers of anti-tank missile and rocket systems, portable launchers of anti-aircraft missile
systems, and mortars of a caliber of less than 100MM.

Reclusion Temporal to Reclusion Unlawful Acquisition, or Possession of three (3) or more small arms or Class-A light weapons
Perpetua
Unlawful Manufacture, Importation, Sale or Disposition of Firearms or Ammunition or Parts
(that is, from 12 years and 1 day to
Thereof, Machinery, Tool or Instrument Used or Intended to be Used in the Manufacture of
40 years)
Firearms, Ammunition or Parts Thereof.
Class-A Light weapons
Refers to self-loading pistols, rifles and carbines, submachine guns, assault rifles and light machine guns not exceeding caliber
7.62MM which have fully automatic mode.

Reclusion Temporal Disposition, Sale or Transfer of government-issued firearms, ammunition or major parts of
(that is, from 12 years and 1 day to firearms or light weapons by any law enforcement agent or public officer to private
20 years) individuals.

Prision Mayor in its maximum Unlawful Acquisition, or Possession of Class-A light weapon
period Unlawful Acquisition, or Possession of a major part of a Class-B light weapon

Downloaded by Janedale Ann Taglinao ([email protected])

 lOMoARcPSD|39265684

(that is, from 10 years and 1 day to Unlawful Acquisition, or Possession of ammunition for a Class-B light weapon;
12 years) Planting Evidence – any person who shall willfully and maliciously insert; place, and/or
attach, directly or indirectly, through any overt or covert act, any firearm, or ammunition, or
parts thereof in the person, house, effects, or in the immediate vicinity of an innocent
individual for the purpose of implicating or incriminating the person, or imputing the
commission of any violation of the provisions of this Act to said individual.

Prision Mayor in its medium Unlawful Acquisition, or Possession of a Small Arm

period
(that is, from 8 years and 1 day to 10 Unlawful Acquisition, or Possession of a major part of a Class-A light weapon
years)
Unlawful Acquisition, or Possession of an ammunition for a Class-A light weapon

Prision Mayor in its minimum Acquisition or Possession of a major part of a small arm
period
(from 6 years and 1 day to 8 years Acquisition or Possession of an ammunition for a small arm or Class-A light weapon.

Prision Mayor in its minimum

period
Tampering, Obliteration or Alteration of Firearms Identification
(that is, from 6 months and 1 day to
8 years)

Absence of Permit to Carry Outside of Residence. – The penalty of prision correccional

(From 6 months and 1 day to 6 years) and a fine of Ten thousand pesos (P10,000.00) shall be
imposed upon any person who is licensed to own a firearm but who shall carry the registered
Prision Correccional firearm outside his/her residence without any legal authority therefor.
(that is, from 6 months and 1 day to
6 years) Illegal Transfer/Registration of Firearms
Any public officer or employee or any person who shall facilitate the registration of a firearm
through fraud, deceit, misrepresentation or submission of falsified documents shall suffer the
penalty of prision correccional.

Failure to Notify Lost or Stolen Firearm or Light Weapon – A fine of Ten thousand pesos
(P10,000.00) shall be imposed upon any licensed firearm holder who fails to report to the
FEO of the PNP that the subject firearm has been lost or stolen within a period of thirty (30)
days from the date of discovery.
Fine Only
A fine of Five thousand pesos (P5,000.00) shall be imposed upon any person holding a valid
firearm license who changes residence or office address other than that indicated in the
license card and fails within a period of thirty (30) days from said transfer to notify the FEO
of the PNP of such change of address.

Downloaded by Janedale Ann Taglinao ([email protected])