NCJ Number
148716
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 39 Issue: 3 Dated: (May 1994) Pages: 612-623
Date Published
1994
Length
12 pages
Annotation
The wound ballistics caused by the 9mm with Action Safety bullet highlights the unusual entrance wound and wounding capacity of this novel ammunition.
Abstract
Understanding of atypical wounds is important, because specialty ammunition creating atypical gunshot wounds of entrance can create confusion and may be misinterpreted by pathologists unfamiliar with the terminal ballistics of these projectiles. Manufactured by Geco division of Dunamit Nobel, the 9mm with Action Safety bullet consists of a nonjacketed solid copper alloy bullet body without a conventional lead core. The large deformation well and part of the smaller central channel is filled with a hard plastic core and post that crates a round-nose bullet. The internal ballistics and unique design allow the plastic nose cap and post to separate from the copper alloy base while still in the barrel. The radiolucent nose cap leaves the bullet's path but can still penetrate tissue giving the appearance of a separate but smaller entrance wound. The sharp leading edge of the deformation well and relative high velocity of the bullet body creates a punched-out entrance wound with minimal marginal abrasion. When the plastic nose cap or fragments of the plastic post impact the person, test firings may allow an inference regarding the distance between the muzzle and the target even in the absence of soot deposition or stippling. Photographs, figures, table, and 24 references (Author abstract modified)