Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Visualization of the powder pocket and its influence on staining in firearm barrels in experimental contact shots

  • Original Article
  • Published:
International Journal of Legal Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The powder pocket or soot cavity is a morphologic characteristic of a close contact shot. In a research project concerning staining inside the barrel, the influence of the powder pocket on these traces was investigated.

According to the ‘triple contrast method’, thin pads containing a mixture of acrylic paint, radiocontrast agent and blood were glued on plastic boxes which were coated with a 3–4-mm-thick silicone layer. The containers filled with 10 % ballistic gelatine, were stored for at least 60 h at 4 °C. Thirty-three contact shots were realized using different pistols and 22 lr, .32 auto, .38 special and 9-mm Luger with different barrel length using subsonic, non-deforming ammunition.

The documentation comprised endoscopy, high speed video and computer tomography (CT) of the target models. Using image analysis, the ballooning of the silicone coat was studied (lateral view projection).

High-speed video confirmed the actual comprehension of the behaviour of muzzle gases in contact shots. The powder cavity rises in about 1.5 to 2 ms, preceding the maximum of the temporary cavity, and the powder pocket’s collapse takes 2.5 to 3 ms.

The size of the silicone dome increased with decreasing barrel length. Comparing semi-automatic pistols of 4 in. barrel length in the calibres, .32 auto and 9-mm Luger, there were no significant differences of the powder pocket size. Material transport was observed, against and perpendicularly to the shooting direction. CT showed undermining and gas inclusions inside the powder pocket. A correlation between amount and pattern of the staining inside the barrel and the volume of the powder pocket was not observed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Regneri W (2006) Diagnostik bei Suizid mit Schusswaffen. Endoskopie von Waffenläufen und DNA-Analyse als komplementäre Methoden, Dissertation, Universität des Saarlandes, Homburg

  2. Schyma C, Madea B, Courts C (2013) Persistence of biological traces in gun barrels after fatal contact shots. Forensic Sci Int Genet 7(1):22–27

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Karger B, Billeb E, Koops E, Brinkmann B (2002) Autopsy features relevant for discrimination between suicidal and homicidal gunshot injuries. Int J Legal Med 116:273–278

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Pollak P (2007) Schussverletzungen. In: Madea B (ed) Praxis Rechtsmedizin. Befunderhebung, Rekonstruktion, Begutachtung. Springer, Heidelberg, pp 134–149

    Google Scholar 

  5. Perdekamp MG, Pollak S, Thierauf A (2010) Medicolegal evaluation of suicidal deaths exemplified by the situation in Germany. Forensic Sci Med Pathol 6:58–70

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Druid H (1997) Site of entrance wound and direction of bullet path in firearm fatalities as indicators of homicide versus suicide. Forensic Sci Int 88:147–162

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Pollak S (2005) Rechtsmedizinische Aspekte des Suizids. Rechtsmedizin 15:235–249

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Faller-Marquardt M, Bohnert M, Pollak S (2004) Detachment of the periosteum and soot staining of its underside in contact shots to the cerebral cranium. Int J Legal Med 118(6):343–347

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Puppe G (1908) Atlas und Grundriss der gerichtlichen Medizin. JF Lehmann’s, München, pp 301–305

    Google Scholar 

  10. Di Maio VJM (1999) Gunshot wounds. Practical aspects of firearms, ballistics, and forensic techniques, 2 edn. CRC Press, Boca Raton, pp 140–151

    Google Scholar 

  11. Schyma C, Madea B (2010) Schussspurensicherung. Praktischer Umgang mit Schuss-und Schmauchspuren. Rechtsmedizin 20:123–136

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Schyma C, Lux C, Madea B, Courts C (2015) The ‛triple contrast’ method in experimental wound ballistics and backspatter analysis. Int J Legal Med 129(5):1027–1033

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Schyma C, Brünig J, Madea B, Jackowski C (2016) Die Endoskopie des Waffenlaufes. Rechtsmedizin 26:224–229

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Hofmann E (1881) Lehrbuch der Gerichtlichen Medicin. 2.Auflage Urban & Schwarzenberg, Wien und Leipzig, pp 279-290

  15. Vibert CA (1893) Précis de médecine légale (3e édition revue et corrigée). JB Baillière et fils, Paris, pp 207–222

  16. Strassmann G (1931) F. Strassmanns Lehrbuch der gerichtlichen Medizin. 2.vollständig umgearbeitete Auflage. Enke, Stuttgart, pp 238–256

  17. Mueller B, Walcher K (1938) Gerichtliche und soziale Medizin einschliesslich des Ärzterechts. Ein Lehrbuch für Studenten und Ärzte. Lehmanns, München-Berlin, pp 190–195

  18. Simonin C (1947) Médecine légale judiciaire. Librairie Maloine, Paris, p 112

  19. Domenici F (1950) La medicina legale per il medico pratico. Wassermann, Milano, pp 110–119

  20. Thali MJ, Kneubuehl BP, Dirnhofer R, Zollinger U (2002) The dynamic development of the muzzle imprint by contact gunshot: high-speed documentation utilizing the “skin-skull-brain model”. Forensic Sci Int 127(3):168–173

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Verhoff MA, Karger B (2003) Atypical gunshot entrance wound and extensive backspatter. Int J Legal Med 117(4):229–231

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Pollak S, Rothschild MA (2004) Gunshot injuries as a topic of medicolegal research in the German-speaking countries from the beginning of the twentieth century up to the present time. Forensic Sci Int 144(2–3):201–210

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Grosse Perdekamp M, Vennemann B, Kneubuehl BP, Uhl M, Treier M, Braunwarth R, Pollak S (2008) Effect of shortening the barrel in contact shots from rifles and shotguns. Int J Legal Med 122(1):81–85

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Grosse Perdekamp M, Arnold M, Merkel J, Mierdel K, Braunwarth R, Kneubuehl BP, Pollak S, Thierauf A (2011) GSR deposition along the bullet path in contact shots to composite models. Int J Legal Med 125(1):67–73

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Hejna P, Šafr M, Zátopková L, Straka L (2012) Complex suicide with black powder muzzle loading derringer. Forensic Sci Med Pathol 8(3):296–300

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Karger B (2014) Forensic ballistics. Injuries from gunshots, explosives and arrows. In: Madea B (ed) Handbook of forensic medicine. Wiley Blackwell, Chichester, pp 328–366

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  27. Pircher R, Bielefeld L, Geisenberger D, Große Perdekamp M, Pollak S, Thierauf-Emberger A (2014) Muzzle imprint mark: a patterned injury which may be constituted of intradermal blood extravasations. Forensic Sci Int 244:166–169

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Große Perdekamp M, Glardon M, Kneubuehl BP, Bielefeld L, Nadjem H, Pollak S, Pircher R (2015) Fatal contact shot to the chest caused by the gas jet from a muzzle-loading pistol discharging only black powder and no bullet: case study and experimental simulation of the wounding effect. Int J Legal Med 129(1):125–131

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Saukko P, Knight B (2004) Knight’s Forensic Pathology, 3rd edn. Arnold, London, pp 245–277

Download references

Acknowledgments

This research work was funded by the SNF (Swiss National Science Foundation, project 310030E-147628/1). The technical assistance of Andreas Mangold (VKT, Pfullingen, Germany) is also gratefully acknowledged.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Bern, Bühlstr. 20, 3012, Bern, Switzerland

    C Schyma, K Bauer, J Brünig & N Schwendener

  2. Criminal Investigation Service of the Cantonal Police Department of Bern, Nordring 30, 3013, Bern, Switzerland

    R Müller

Authors
  1. C Schyma
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. K Bauer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. J Brünig
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. N Schwendener
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. R Müller
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to C Schyma.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interests

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interests.

Electronic supplementary material

Supplementary Figure 1

Semi-automatic pistol Walther, calibre 7.65-mm Browning. The images show the expansion of the powder cavity at 0.4, 0.8, 1.2 and 2.0 ms. The view is slightly hampered by muzzle gases. (GIF 432 kb)

High resolution image (TIFF 11288 kb)

Supplementary Figure 2

CT images of boxes where the paint pad was placed under the lid (*). Undermining and gas inclusions are visible under the silicone coat and inside the box. Above shot with Ruger revolver using 38 special lead round nose bullet, below shot with Beretta 92 FS semi-automatic pistol using 9-mm Luger full metal jacketed bullet. Scale 5 cm. (GIF 51 kb)

High Resolution image (TIFF 4488 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Schyma, C., Bauer, K., Brünig, J. et al. Visualization of the powder pocket and its influence on staining in firearm barrels in experimental contact shots. Int J Legal Med 131, 167–172 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-016-1419-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-016-1419-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation