FORENSIC BALLISTICS

Q and A

Presented by
DR. MARIO C. ROSETE
Member of the National Reviewers in the Philippines, Accreditor, Forensic Specialist, Organizer & Trainer of International & National Forensic Training-Workshop
1. The science of motion of projectile is _____.
a. ballistician
b. forensic ballistics
c. firearms identification
d. ballistics
2. What is the characteristics of a DUM-DUM
BULLET that was invented in INDIA?

a. boat tail bullet

b. incendiary bullet
c. soft and hollow point bullet
d. sharp pointed military bullet
3. The caliber of firearms can be determined by the
bore diameter which is measured from the:

a rifling
b. two opposite grooves
c. two opposite lands
d. lands and grooves
4. The breech end of the chamber of the firearm that
is sealed by a solid flat block of metal against
which the barrel comes into position when the
weapon is closed for firing, which is termed as:

a. Extractor
b. Breech face
c. Head space
d. Breechblock
5. The firearms that propelled projectiles more than
one inch in diameter is called _____.

a. Short arms
b. Small arms
c. Artillery
d. Handguns
6. A SMITH & WESSON type of firearm has a
class characteristics of:

A. 4 Rifling, RHT
B. 5 Rifling, RHT
C. 6 Rifling, RHT
D. 7 Rifling, RHT
 TYPES OF RIFLINGS

1. STEYR TYPE – (4-R-G = L)

2. SMITH AND WESSON TYPE – (5-R-G = L)
3. BROWNING TYPE – (6-R-G2x)
4. COLT TYPE – (6-L-G2x)
5. WEBLEY TYPE – (7-R-G3x)
6. ARMY TYPE – (4-R-G3x)
8. These marks are found on bullets fired from a
Revolver due to a poor alignment of the cylinder
and barrel of a revolver and is common to Home
Made Guns.

a. shaving or stripping marks

b. skid marks
c. pivot marks
d. landmarks
 MARKS ON BULLET
A. Land Marks – caused by lands in the barrel
B. Groove marks – caused by grooves in the barrel
C. Skid marks – caused by the bullet that moves
forward before rifling catch the bullet.
D. Slippage marks – caused by rifling in a worn out,
oversize or oily barrel.
E. Shaving/Stripping marks – this is done with the bullet
when the chamber and the barrel are not aligned.
9. The inventor of gunpowder is credited to _____:
a. Alexander John Forsyth
b. Philip O. Gravelle
c. Van Amberg
d. Roger Bacon
Wu Ching Tsun – the unrecognized inventor of gunpowder.
Roger Bacon (1248) - an English monk and scientist, credited with
the invention of gunpowder (blackpowder).
Constantine Anklitzen (a.k.a. Berthold Schwartz) (1300) - A
German monk was credited for the application of gunpowder
for propelling missile.
10. What is the equipment that measures the pitch of
rifling?

a. Chronograph
b. Helixometer
c. Micrometer
d. Heliometer
 EQUIPMENT USED IN BALLISTICS LABORATORY
1. Vernier Calipers – determines the diameter of bullet and
length of barrel.
2. Chronograph – determines the speed of bullet or the muzzle
velocity of the bullet.
3. Onoscope – used in examining the interior surface of gun
barrel.
4. Taper Gauge – used in determining the bore diameter.
5. Analytical balance (Torsion) – determines the weight of
bullets, shots/pellets, caliber and make of firearm.
6. Bullet Recovery Box – for test firing
7. Comparison Microscope – used to determine the
similarity and dissimilarity two fired bullets or
cartridges.
8. Stereoscope Microscope – used in preliminary
examination of fired bullets and fired shells.
9. Comparison Projector CP 6 – almost the same with
Comparison microscope BUT this equipment has
magnified image that appears on a large screen and
can be observed in a comfortable viewing distance.
10. Measuring Projector MP 6 – determines the width of
lands, width of grooves, diameter and twist of a fired
bullet.
11. The hitting of bullet in sideway to the target is called _____.

a. Keyhole shot
b. Yaw
c. Through and through
d. Oblique wound
12. A cartridge case whose rim diameter is the
same with the diameter of its body.

a. rimmed
b. rebated
c. Semi-rimmed
d. rimless
13. The body of systematized
knowledge is ____.

a. system
b. science
c. scientific
d. motion
14. When two specimens are compared under
the comparison microscope and is being
examined side by side:

a. Positively match
b. Pseudo match
c. Juxtaposition
d. Intermarriage

Intermarriage – the half image of evidence and

test are put as one.
15. In the United States, home-made weapons
are generally referred to as:

a. Freakish device
b. Zip guns
c. Matchlock
d. Flare guns

Paltik - Philippines
16. The color of the point of Tracer Bullet is:
A. Red
B. Blue
C. Black
D. Red and Blue

Armor – Piercing Bullet has

BLACK color on its point.
17. A 12-gauge shotgun has an equivalent
diameter of :

a. .730”
b. .728”
c. .729”
d. .724”
18. A complete unfired unit of ammunition
inserted into the chamber of firearm for
firing is referred to as:

a. Bullet
b. Shell
c. Primer
d. Cartridge
19. Rifling located inside the barrel of a gun is a
combination of:

a. Pitch
b. Twist
c. Lands & grooves
d. Cannelures
20. Class characteristics are determinable even
______ the manufacture of firearm:

a. during
b. after
c. before
d. Before and after
21. The caliber may be determined with the aid
of _____.

a. combined microscope
b. micrometer
c. macrometer
d. Caliper
22. An investigator who recovered a fired bullet
from the crime scene will request the
ballistician to determine:

a. owner of the firearm

b. model of the firearm
c. caliber and type of the firearm used
d. manufacture
23. That science which deals with the motion of
the projectiles at the time it leaves the
muzzle before hitting the target is ____ :

a. terminal ballistics
b. interior ballistics
c. exterior ballistics
d. forensic ballistics
24. That science dealing with the effect of the
impact of the projectile on target is called:

a. exterior ballistics
b. interior ballistic
c. anterior ballistics
d. terminal ballistics
25. That science dealing with the motion of
projectile from the time the firer squeezes
the trigger up to the time it reaches the
muzzle of the barrel is called:

a. posterior ballistics
b. interior ballistics
c. exterior ballistics
d. terminal ballistics
 4 BRANCHES OF BALLISTICS
1. Initial / Internal / Interior Ballistics
2. External / Exterior Ballistics
- Transitional Ballistics
3. Terminal Ballistics
- Wound Ballistics
4. Forensic Ballistics
- Shot Ballistics
26. The tumbling or wobbling of bullet on flight
is _____.

a. Keyhole shot
b. Spinning
c. Yawing
d. Translational movement
27. Cannelures are valuable in firearm
identification because it helps the
examiners to determines the _____.

a. weapon fired a particular bullet

b. type of gun that fired a particular bullet
c. manufacturer of a weapon
d. manufacturer of the bullet
28. A home made gun in the Philippines is
usually does not contain serial nos. Home
made guns in the country is referred to as
_____.

a. Zip guns
b. Paltik
c. Bangbang
d. Danao
29. The bullet weight of Cal .45 is _____.

a. 300 grains
b. 230 grains
c. 320 grains
d. 200 grains

Grain - the smallest unit of weight

31. A primer with two flash holes or vent with the
anvil integral with the cartridge case and is
also called as EUROPEAN TYPE OF PRIMER.
A. Berdan
B. Primer
C. Schwartz
D. Boxer

Take Note:
Boxer = has ONE flash vent or flash hole.
Berdan = has TWO flash vents or flash holes.
Boxer-Berdan = has THREE vents/flash holes
Battery Cup Type = for shotgun ammo
31. When loaded firearm is found in the crime
scene, what is the first thing to be done by
the collector?
A. The FA should be cautiously collected
B. The FA should be properly unloaded
C. The FA should be properly dusted for
fingerprints
D. The FA should be properly marked for
future identification.
32. The term muzzle velocity refers most
accurately to the:

a. Acceleration of the projectile in flight

b. Speed of ammunition
c. Rate of combustion of gunpowder
d. Speed of bullet per unit of time
33. Discharged bullet are initialed at, EXCEPT:

a. base
b. nose
c. ogive
d. side
34. Discharged shell are initialed at what particular
part?

a. Inside or outside of the shell near the mouth

b. Inside or outside the fired shell
c. Outside near the mouth of the shell
d. On the body of the shell near the mouth

Except for .22 Caliber = It should be marked on

the body of the shell near the mouth.
35. Rifling in the bore of small arms is
designed to :

A. To increase the speed of the bullet

B. To decrease the amount of recoil
C. To mark the bullet for purposes of
identification
D. To prevent the bullet from turning and
over and in the air
36. The caliber of the gun is determined in:

A. Its barrel length

B. The circumference of its barrel
C. The size of the ammunition used
D. The diameter of bore, measured from two
opposite lands.
37. A homicide was committed with the use of a
shotgun, all parts of the exploded shell have
been recovered by the investigator of the
crime. In order to identify the shell with the
gun that fired, the laboratory should be
given:

a. the cap, wads and pellets

b. the cap and the wads
c. the cap and the pellets
d. the shot shell only
38. Of the following, the most accurate statement concerning the
identification of an unknown firearm by means of ballistics is
that:
a. Most pistols which have left lead have at least eight lands.
b. The width of the grooves in pistol can be determined by the
angle of lead.
c. Pistols with the same number of lands can be differentiated by
the direction of the lead.
d. The angle lead is the angle which the land from the width of
the groove.
39. Paraffin test is conducted purposely to:

a. detect whether a witness is telling the

truth.
b. discover whether the deceased person
was poisoned.
c. estimate the approximate time of
death of the deceased
d. determine whether a suspect has fired
a gun recently
40. The term double action with reference to
revolver means most nearly that:

A. the revolver has both safety and

automatic firing action.
B. pressure upon the trigger both cocks and
releases the hammer.
C. the revolver can fire with or without
automatic shell ejection.
D. the shell of a fired shot is ejected and fresh
cartridge is pushed from the magazine at
the same time.
41. The pitch of rifling of a Pistol or
Rifle barrels is called _____.

A. land
B. groove
C. lead
D. one complete turn of bullet
inside the barrel
42.Identifying markings or imprint are NOT
left on a shell by the :

a. Firing pin
b. ejector
c. extractor
d. hammer
43. It is the part of the mechanism in a
firearm that withdraws the spent cartridge
or shell from the chamber is :

a. ejector
b. primer
c. striker
d. extractor
44. A revolver found in the crime scene must
be picked up by _____:

A. Inserting a pencil or ballpen in the

barrel.
B. Placing a piece of wire or string
through the trigger guard.
C. Grasping the handle with a handkerchief.
D. Grasping the barrel with clean cloth.
45. The part of a .45 caliber automatic pistol found at the scene of the
crime is normally marked for identification in the:
A. receiver
B. magazine
C. slide
D. Barrel
The 3 main parts of Pistol:
1. Slide 2. Receiver 3. Barrel

The 2 main parts of Revolver:

2. Frame 2. Cylinder

The 4 main parts of Rifle:

3. Frame 2. Bolt 3. Barrel 4. Receiver
46. The type of bore found on sawed-off
shotgun is usually a :

a. rifled bore
b. choke bore
c. full choke bore
d. smooth bore
47. The maximum distance from the muzzle at
which a firearm discharge will usually
produce detectable powder pattern on a
target is about:

a. 6 to 10 inches
b. 6 to 10 feet
c. 6 to 10 yards
d. 6 to 10 meters
48. When an automatic pistol is used in the crime scene, the
____:

a. empty shell remain within the chamber.

b. empty shell in most cases is found at the scene
c. empty shell is rarely found at the crime scene.
d. empty shell is usually disposed by the perpetrator.
49. Before FA is test fired, what SOP that should
be done first?

A. Swab the inside barrel

B. Mark the parts of FA to be used
C. Prepare the bullet recovery tube
D. The firer should be a marksman
50. Bullet length of Cal .45 is _____
a. .662 inches
b. .46 inches
c. .62 inches
d. .36 inches
LENGTH OF BULLET
Cal .22 = .36 in
Cal .25 = .46 in
Cal .32 Short Colt = .48 in
Cal .32 Long Colt = .62 in
Cal .32 Auto Colt Pistol = .46 in
Cal .380 = .46 in
Cal .45 = .662 in
51. A policeman arriving at the scene of a crime
found a revolver, in reference to this, he
should be most careful:

a. to see that it is not loaded

b. to put on the safety lock
c. not to handle it unnecessarily
d. to mark it readily on the barrel
52. The term “MAGNUM” originated in :

a. United States
b. France
c. England
d. Italy

Magnum .44 – was known to be the most powerful

handgun in the world.
Magnum .50 – NOW, the most powerful handgun in the
world manufactured in Israel.
53. The chemical eating away of the bore of an
arm due to rusting or the action of salts
deposited from the cap or gunpowder is:

a. Pressure
b. Extractor
c. Corrosion
d. Priming Composition
54. The mechanical wear and tear of the bore
of an arm due to sliding friction when the
bullet passes through is:

a. Ejector
b. Single action
c. Erosion
d. Potassium Nitrate

Metal Fowl – left by bullets inside the barrel

55. When the mechanism is so arranged that it
will fire continuously while the trigger is
depressed is called:

a. Double action
b. Caliber
c. Automatic
d. Trigger
56. The distance that the rifling advances to
make one complete turn inside the gun
barrel is called:

a. Gauge
b. Breech End
c. Pitch of rifling
d. Velocity
57. Weapon in which pressure upon the trigger
releases the hammer that must be
manually cocked is called:

a. Automatic
b. Repeating arms
c. Single action
d. Ejector
58. What is the kind of cartridge according to
shape that is usually used for rifles?

a. Rebated
b. Straight
c. Tapered
d. Bottle neck
59. Cane guns and Knife pistols are classified
as _____.

a. Home made guns

b. Freakish devices
c. Special guns
d. Improvised guns
60. The only sure method of determining the
velocity of bullet is by the use of :

a. Micrometer
b. Taper Gauge
c. Caliber
d. Chronograph
61. The person who first used parrafin wax:

a. Gonzales
b. Itturiuz
c. Vallejo
d. Yaranon
62. What do you call the curve path of a bullet
towards the target?

a. Target
b. Trajectory
c. Motion
d. Velocity
63. He is a doctor of medicine in Medical Corps
in the first world war who had transferred to
the Ordnance Corps and considered the
Father of modern Ballistics:

a. Lt. Van Amberg

b. Capt. Edward C. Crossman
c. Col. Calvin H. Goddard
d. Philip O. Gravelle
64. The most important single process in
barrel manufacture from the standpoint of
the identification expert is:

a. reaming operation
b. rifling operation
c. boring operation
d. grinding or machining
65. That part of a mechanism in a firearm which
causes empty shells or cartridge cases to be
thrown from the gun is called:

a. extractor
b. ejector
c. hammer
d. trigger
66. This process of combustion results in the
solid powder being converted into gases
rapidly, and at a high temperature, and it is
the expansion of these gases which causes
the explosive force which propels the bullet
or shot charge along the barrel. This force
is known as:

a. energy
b. pressure
c. velocity
d. high intensity
67. The smallest pistol in the world is

a. Kolibri
b. Roste Type
c. Colt type
d. Webley type

Kolibri is and auto pistol with caliber 2.7 MM, 5

shots, in 1914.
68. An instrument used for the propulsion of
projectile by the expansive force of gases
coming from burning powder is:

a. Helixometer
b. Firearm
c. Stereoscopic microscope
d. Comparison microscope
69. A knurled ring or serrated groove around
the body of the bullet which contains
lubricant in order to minimize friction
during the passage of the bullet inside the
bore is:

a. jacketed bullet
b. wad cutter bullet
c. cannelure
d. plated bullet
70. The bouncing off or deflection of a bullet
from its original trajectory is:

a. range
b. fouling
c. key hole shot
d. ricochet
71. Occurs when a cartridge fails to explode on
time or there is a delayed in explosion due
to faulty functioning of the primer or faulty
ignition of the propellant is:

a. misfire
b. recoil
c. hang-fire
d. velocity
72. A type of bullet that contains a mixture,
such as PHOSPHORUS or other material, that
CAN SET FIRE upon impact is called:

a. boat tail bullet

b. tracer bullet
c. incendiary bullet
d. ball type
73. A short barreled rifle with a barrel not
longer than 22 inches.

a. Gatling guns
b. Pistolized shotgun
c. carbine
d. muskets
74. A type of weapon designed to propel
projectile by means of compressed air is :

a. Springfield armory
b. Marlin Rifle
c. carbine
d. Air rifle
75. A 5.59 mm is equivalent to:
a. .22 caliber
b. .32 caliber
c. .30 caliber
d. .25 caliber
EQUIVALENT:
Cal .45 = 11mm
Cal .38 = 9 mm
Cal .32 = 7.65 mm
Cal .30 = 7.63 mm
Cal .25 = 6.35 mm
76. Armalite business was formed by:

a. Charles Dorcester
b. George Sullivan
c. A and B
d. Neither A and B
77. Colt firearms was invented by _____ on July
1814.

a. Horace Smith
b. Samuel Colt
c. Daniel Wesson
d. George Luger
 INVENTORS AND MANUFACTURERS
 Henry Derringer – pocket pistol
 John Garrand – invented the Garrand Rifle – the first self-

loading rifle which was developed in 1931.

 R-J Gatling – invented Machine gun
 John Thompson – Designed the Thompson Machine Gun in

1920
 Fedor Tokarev – designed the service pistol of Soviet Forces.
 Carl Walter – designed a small caliber automatic pistol in

1866.
 Oliver Winchester – led the Winchester Company
78. Cal .223 refers to how many millimeters?

a. 5.56mm
b. Armalite
c. M16 A1
d. Rifle
79. A case when two specimens are examined
under the comparison microscope and
erroneously drawn a conclusion and actually
no identity exist, this matching is called:

a. photomicrograph
b. pseudomatch
c. microphotograph
d. striagraph
80. The portable material used in marking
metal objects as evidence.

a. engraver
b. stylus
c. shaver
d. pointer
81. Those characteristics which are
determinable only after the manufacture
of the firearm and is beyond the control of
men.

a. Forensic Ballistics
b. Class characteristics
c. Rifling characteristics
d. individual characteristics
82. The mechanism of a FA that
releases the hammer.

a. Firing pin
b. Sear
c. Ejector
d. Extractor
83. Firearms which propel projectile of LESS
THAN ONE INCH in diameter are generally
classified as:

a. artillery
b. small arms
c. Cannons
d. recoilless rifle

Note: Under R.A. 10591 small arms is now class

A-light & artillery is class B-light
84. The actual pattern or CURVED PATH traveled
by a bullet in flight is :

a. velocity
b. Trajectory
c. Penetration
d. pressure generated
85. It is the study of firearms Identification by
means of the ammunition fired through
them:

a. Ballistics
b. Forensic Ballistics
c. Terminal ballistics
d. Interior ballistics
86. That part of a firearm controlled by the
trigger causing the firing pin to strike the
primer which causes the firing of the gun.

a. slide
b. disconnector
c. ejection part
d. hammer
87. What do you call the metal located inside
an “armored-piercing bullet?”

a. lead core
b. polygonal bullet
c. tungsten
d. wad
88. The other name of Slide action type of
firearm.

a. Pump action
b. Single action
c. Shotgun
d. Musket
89. Capacity to lift one pound at the height of
one foot.

a. muzzle velocity
b. foot pound
c. muzzle energy
d. energy
90. What type of Cartridge according to rim
where a protruding metal around the body
of the cartridge case near the rim?
a. rimmed
b. rimless
c. rebated
d. Belted
91. Velocity of the bullet is being measured in

a. foot pound
b. lbs. / sq. inch
c. feet per second
d. millimeter
92. Every ballistics evidence collected should be
marked with the following, except:

a. initials
b. Weather condition
c. date
d. time
93. What is that part of a cartridge case where
in the flame coming from the priming
composition passes through?

a. shell head
b. Vent/flash hole
c. primer pocket
d. anvil
94. It is considered the most powerful handgun
in the world?
a. magnum .357
b. magnum .44
c. magnum .50
d. magnum .41
95. Percussion is a means of ignition of a propellant charge by
mechanical blow against the primer or percussion cap. Low
power gives muzzle velocity of _____.
a. 1850 ft/s
b. 1925 ft/s
c. 2500 ft/s
d. Over 2500 ft/s

High power = 1925 to 2500 ft/s

High intensity = 2500 ft/s and above
96. A type of cartridge according to location of primer
where pin extends radially through the bead of the
cartridge case into the primer. This is now obsolete.
a. Pin-fire
b. Rim-fire
c. Center-fire
d. Percussion

Rim-fire = priming mixture is placed in the cavity formed in the rim

of the head of the cartridge case.
Center-fire = the center cup is forced into the middle portion of the
head of the cartridge case.
97. When a cartridge fails to explode on time or
delayed in explosion.

a. misfired cartridge
b. hang-fire
c. tapered cartridge
d. rebated cartridge
98. What is the equipment in measuring the
velocity of the bullet in flight?

a. Omoscope
b. helixometer
c. chronograph
d. micrometer
100. The sound created at the muzzle of the
firearm after explosion is called.
a. suppressor
b. muzzle blast
c. compensation
d. choke
An act providing for a
comprehensive law on firearms &
ammunition & providing penalties
is?
a. Republic Act No. 8294
b. Presidential Decree No. 1866
c. Republic Act No. 10591
d. All of These
Thanks…The End
DR. MARIO C. ROSETE
Reviewer