Citation

Haag LC. Am. J. Forensic Med. Pathol. 2015; 36(1): 16-22.

Affiliation

From the Forensic Science Services, Carefree, AZ.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/PAF.0000000000000105

PMID

25594572

Abstract

Full metal-jacketed rifle bullets with lead cores and open bases can experience deformation of their cylindrical shapes as they yaw during the penetration of soft tissues. The amount of deformation depends upon the strength of the bullet and the velocity in soft tissue when they go into yaw. The yaw behavior of a bullet in soft tissue depends upon its design (length, ogive shape, ogive length, center of gravity, and pre-impact stability) as it penetrates soft tissue. The yaw characteristics of common spitzer-type military rifle bullets are relatively well known and quite reproducible when fired into suitable soft tissue simulants. This, in turn, results in a relationship between the amount of deformation of the bullet's shank and impact velocity with soft tissue. The specific relationship between impact velocity and bullet deformation must be worked out through empirical testing, but this relationship can be of critical importance in determining impact velocity, which, in turn, relates to range of fire.

Language: en