NCJ Number
11391
Journal
Journal of Police Science and Administration Volume: 1 Issue: 3 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1973) Pages: 269-273
Date Published
1973
Length
5 pages
Annotation
RESULTS OF TESTS RUN IN 1972 BY THE INSTITUTE OF FORENSIC SCIENCES ON VARIOUS TYPES OF COMMERCIALLY LOADED .38 SPECIAL, 9MM. LUGER, AND .45 ACP AMMUNITION.
Abstract
BULLETS WITH A BROAD CROSS SECTION OF SHAPE, JACKETING, CONSTRUCTION AND VELOCITY WERE EXAMINED IN ORDER TO DETERMINE THEIR RESPECTIVE LOSS IN KINETIC ENERGY WHEN PASSING THROUGH AN OBJECT SUCH AS THE BODY OF AN INDIVIDUAL. IT HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN DISCOVERED THAT THE SEVERITY OF A WOUND IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE AMOUNT OF KINETIC ENERGY EXPENDED BY THE BULLET IN THE BODY. BULLETS WERE TEST FIRED INTO GELATIN BLOCKS TO SIMULATE PENETRATION OF THE HUMAN BODY. RESULTS OF THE TESTS ARE PRESENTED IN TABULAR FORM AND DISCUSSED. THE AUTHORS POINT OUT THAT THE CHOICE OF A PARTICULAR CARTRIDGE FOR USE BY AN INDIVIDUAL OR DEPARTMENT DEPENDS NOT ONLY ON THE CAPABILITIES OF THE AMMUNITION BUT ALSO ON THE WEAPONS TO BE USED, THE OFFICERS' TOLERANCE TO RECOIL, AND, IN MANY AREAS, PUBLIC RELATIONS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)