NCJ Number
66209
Journal
Forensic Science Society Journal Volume: 19 Issue: 3 Dated: (JULY 1979) Pages: 159-163
Date Published
1979
Length
5 pages
Annotation
FOCUSING ON THE INCREASING USE OF AIR WEAPONS IN ENGLAND AND WALES, THIS ARTICLE ILLUSTRATES THE VARIOUS PELLET COMPARISON TECHNIQUES, DISCUSSES LOADING MARKS, AND EXPLAINS THE FIREARMS RULES OF 1969.
Abstract
TO INCREASE THE KNOWLEDGE OF FIREARMS EXAMINERS WHO ARE EXPECTED TO PROVIDE THE COURTS WITH ALL AVAILABLE INFORMATION ON SUCH WEAPONS, THE FOLLOWING PELLET COMPARISON METHODS ARE DISCUSSED: THE CONVENTIONAL COMPARISON MACROSCOPE, THE MOST WIDELY USED METHOD OF PELLET AND BULLET COMPARISON; THE PERIPHERY CAMERA, WHICH PROVIDES A CONTINUOUS PHOTOGRAPHIC RECORDING OF 360 DEGREES OF THE OUTER PERIPHERY OF CYLINDRICAL OR NEAR CYLINDRICAL OBJECTS; AND THE TALYROND 200, DESIGNED TO MEASURE TO A HIGH DEGREE OF ACCURACY ERRORS OF GEOMETRIC SHAPE OF CIRCULAR OBJECTS. IN ADDITION, IF THE NOSE AND SKIRT OF AIR RIFLE PELLETS ARE DISTORTED AS A RESULT OF IMPACT, LOADING MARKS ON THE BASE OF THE PELLET CAN OFTEN ASSOCIATE A PELLET WITH A PARTICULAR WEAPON, ALTHOUGH IT CANNOT BE ESTABLISHED THAT THE PELLET WAS ACTUALLY DISCHARGED BY THAT WEAPON. THE POSSIBLE DANGERS OF INADEQUATE PACKING OF PELLETS PRIOR TO THEIR RECEIPT AT THE LABORATORY ARE ALSO BRIEFLY DISCUSSED. FINALLY, THE FIREARMS RULES APPLY TO AN AIR RIFLE, AIR GUN, OR AIR PISTOL CAPABLE OF DISCHARGING A MISSILE WITH KINETIC ENERGY IN EXCESS OF 6 FT. LB., OR 12 FT. LB. IN CASE OF AN AIR WEAPON OTHER THAN AN AIR PISTOL. (WJR)