Majority of the crimes involve the use of deadly weapons, such as guns and knives. They are very essential for someone who’s conducting a forensic examination as these items allow them to trace the origin of the gun and even reconstruct what could have possibly happened.
Fired ammunition component examination involves different stages and different scopes. Normally, a firearms specialist will have to deal with guns and their properties, as well as the components of the fired ammunition. Most of all, they need to relate their findings to that of the incident or the events leading to the crime.
One of the most significant features of fired ammunition component examination is to establish the relationship between the incident and the firearms found. He makes use of a comparison microscope so he can compared the bullets found at the crime scene as well as the bullets used for test fire. It is normal for a firearms specialist to be present during examination or autopsy of the corpse, as well as the crime scene, so he can obtain information such as how many shots were fired and the projectile motion of the ammunition.
How to Investigate Components of the Fired Ammunition
When you want to investigate the sequence of events involving firearms, you need to conduct an examination of the components of the fired ammunition. Forensics has introduced 4 stages:
Examination and Comparison of the Cartridge Case and the Bullet
Toolmarks occur once an ammunition is fired from a gun or the weapon has been reloaded. These are studied or examined in this particular stage. The number of marks as well as their nature depends on the make of the weapon or even the ammunition being used. The examination will try to establish a connection between the components of the ammunition involved and that of the supposed weapon. This will also help you identify if there have been other shooting incidents prior to the crime you are currently handling.
Examining Technical Aspects
There are some criminal investigations where you need to analyze a weapon for any defect or technical problem to determine if one is capable of using it for a shooting incident. This will also help reconstruct the various circumstances surrounding the incident, if the action was deliberate or there was only a wrongful handling of the ammunition.
Ballistics Investigation
All types of ballistic investigations shall be performed, including external and internal ballistic, target ballistic, and transient ballistic.
Reconstructing the Sequences of Events
There can be two types of reconstructions. One is referred to as partial, where the scope is only limited to the firing of the gun. Whether there was human intervention is not determined. In full reconstruction, the results of the examination shall then be compared to the statements given by the suspect, victim, or witness.
Using Comparison Microscope
A comparison microscope permits a person to compare two objects side by side. This is to help establish any pattern as well as confirm their origin. In this case, a firearms specialist can make use of the comparison microscope so he can compare two bullets side by side. The components of fired ammunition may obtain unique microscopic marks so they can only be identified to a particular firearm. A more special type of comparison microscope is referred to as ballistics comparison microscope. These are actually two microscopes that are connected through an optical bridge attached to their optical paths. The insides of the gun barrel contain grooves that will allow the ammunition to rotate once bullets start to travel along it. When it comes to forensic examination, you need to compare a pair at a time the cartridge case and the fired bullets side by side. This is to eliminate or confirm if the two items came from only one firearm. For more information about the use of a comparison microscope, http://www.comparison-microscope.com can help.
The relationship between the firearm and the cartridge case and the bullet derived from the crime scene makes up for an essential lead because forensic experts can then associate the firearm to a specific person who can either be the suspect they are looking for or an individual who can help them gather information that may lead to unlocking the mystery of the crime. It is also a common process to conduct a test fire on the gun being recovered. The bullet will also be compared to those recovered from the crime scene. The matching will help investigators conclude that they have found the right gun used during the crime.
When it comes to fired ammunition component examination, you need the help of a comparison microscope. Comparison-microscope.com contains all the information you need about the microscope and how it becomes invaluable in the field of forensics.
