Сharacteristics of the projectile trajectory after breaking through obstacles (biological material and triplex) fired from the «Horhe» non-lethal pistol and «Saiga» rifle

BACKGROUND: When conducting forensic and medico-criminalistic examinations in cases of gunshot injury, when establishing the possible relative position of the shooter and the victim, the direction of the release of fragments of the obstacle, its particles and the projectile is of great expert importance. The effect of projectile trajectory normalization by forensic experts has not been previously described - in the literature available to us there are only indications of changes in the projectile trajectory when breaking through an obstacle. Little knowledge of the topic, the lack of scientific developments on this study for more than 50 years prompted us to conduct an experimental study.

AIMS: Study of the deviation of the emission of particles of obstacles, represented by biological material (pig skin) and laminated glass (triplex).

MATERIAL AND METHODS: A series of experimental shots were carried out with projectiles fired from a traumatic pistol “Jorge” and a carbine “Saiga” (a semi-shell bimetallic bullet with a lead core of a 5.45×39 mm cartridge), it was noted that when breaking through both biological material and triplex glass located under angles of 40–60º with respect to the line of sight, with a pre-obstruction distance of 100–200–1000 cm. Shots were fired from a distance of 1–2 m into a biological barrier, from 10 m ― into a triplex. The resulting damage was studied using visual, measuring, macroscopic, photographic analysis.

RESULTS: The study showed that there is a discrepancy (change) in the trajectory of movement from the aiming line of secondary projectiles, which arose after the destruction of the barrier and the firearm, and its parts, formed as a result of the penetration of the barrier by a bullet. The deviation was fixed at a different value depending on the angle of inclination of the barrier.

CONCLUSION: The results obtained can be taken into account when setting up various ballistic experiments, as well as in reconstructing the circumstances of the incident during forensic, medical-forensic and forensic ballistic examinations.