SAFETYLIT WEEKLY UPDATE

We compile citations and summaries of about 400 new articles every week.
RSS Feed

HELP: Tutorials | FAQ
CONTACT US: Contact info

Search Results

Journal Article

Citation

Harruff RC. J. Forensic Sci. 1995; 40(5): 801-804.

Affiliation

King County Medical Examiner Division, Seattle/King County Department of Public Health, WA, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1995, American Society for Testing and Materials, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

7595324

Abstract

A series of 89 contact shotgun wounds of the head were evaluated to compare the extent of wounding produced by different gauge shotguns. Twelve gauge shotguns were the most common, accounting for 69% of the cases, followed by 20 gauge (18%), .410 caliber (10%), and 16 gauge (3%). The mouth was the most common entry site, used in 62% of cases. Comparison of contact intraoral shotgun wounds revealed statistically significant differences between 12 gauge and 20 gauge wounds. Whereas the extent of internal destruction was similar with both gauges, intraoral 12 gauge shotgun wounds caused bursting of the head with lacerations of the face, forehead, and scalp in 74% of cases, while only 9% of 20 gauge wounds produced a similar extent of external disruption. The external head remained fully intact in 55% of 20 gauge intraoral wounds. To account for the threshold effect for head bursting between 20 gauge and 12 gauge shotgun blasts, commercial shotshell and reloading data were analyzed. While there was considerable overlap between the two gauges, a common 12 gauge load would generate 50% more kinetic energy and 40% greater volume of gas than a common 20 gauge load. Comparison of shotgun blasts at entry sites outside of the mouth showed similar differences. Wounds from .410 shotguns were similar to those from 20 gauge weapons, and 16 gauge shotguns produced wounds intermediate between 20 and 12 gauge.


Language: en

NEW SEARCH


All SafetyLit records are available for automatic download to Zotero & Mendeley
Print