shotguns & evidence

[superlightr]

Does a shotgun discharge leave any markers back to the gun?

clearly bullets from guns do leave tale tale markings etc but do shotguns?

Clearly the wad and shot is likely to be traceable to a manufacturer of the cartridge but any links to the gun that fired it?

Why? just curious. honest.

[wedg1e]

I suppose if you could ID the cartridge from the wad, then the firing pin marks might prove 'that gun fired that type of cartridge', but not much else...?

[Sheepy]

If the cartridge can be found, it can be proven to have been fired by a certain gun (this is true for all firearms). However I don't think that the pellets can be traced back.

Sheepy

[r988]

No I dont think so, planning a hit?

[ErnestM]

Shotgun pellets routinely are subject to chemical analysis when found at a crime scene. The reason why is that the pellets may be able to be traced to unfired rounds found on the accused. As commercial ammunition is made in batches, all ammunition in a certain box will have near identical chemical properties including shotgun pellets

If there are irregularities in the barrel of the gun, pellets may pick up striations. Lead slugs certainly will.

There is not normal "lands and grooves" as associated with a rifled barrel, however.

ErnestM

[superlightr]

no, but was 'accused' by someone that I had damaged their caravan which was parked in a field.

Clearly not me a I knew/saw it was there and have never fired even remotly in its direction.

[timmy30]

ErnestM said:

There is not normal "lands and grooves" as associated with a rifled barrel, however. ErnestM

That's right it's the rifling of a rifle barrel that leaves the tell tale scoring on the lead bullet. A shotgun has no such rifleing and so you can't do a normal ballistic match in that sense.

Of course there is nothing to stop you from switching over the barrel on a rifle after you fired it. It is only the barrel that can be traced rather than the gun. And the barrel only matches to the gun via the printed serial number, so I guess you could put a new barrel on your rifle, fire it for whatever reason, then simply replace the original barrel and dump the fired one.

[pesty]

timmy30 said:

Of course there is nothing to stop you from switching over the barrel on a rifle after you fired it. It is only the barrel that can be traced rather than the gun. And the barrel only matches to the gun via the printed serial number, so I guess you could put a new barrel on your rifle, fire it for whatever reason, then simply replace the original barrel and dump the fired one.

make sure you dont leave the spent bullet casing behind because they can id it from teh firing pin marks left. oh and if its a automatic rifle marks left on the shell by the ejector mecanism can be id'd

Oh and when you get rid of teh old barrel make sure you bend it or cut it in half just in case its found

[timmy30]

Of course the thing about a rifle is you can happily be 1km away from whatever your shooting, shotguns aren't much use for anything further than about 50m away.

[B17NNS]

Would quite like to get into clay shooting.

Any idea how to go about it?

[superlightr]

opps The Rules.

smacked wrists.

[pesty]

B17NNS said:

Would quite like to get into clay shooting. Any idea how to go about it?

me too, always fancied having a go.

[NJW 77]

pesty said:

B17NNS said: Would quite like to get into clay shooting. Any idea how to go about it? me too, always fancied having a go.

www.basc.org.uk/content/shootingopport

Just remember which end to hold

[denisb]

Apparently police riot shot gun's can't be traced back via forensics.

I am sure it's just a coincidence and not designed to protect them!

[ZR1cliff]

Hmmmm,threads on shotguns and evidence and if you had a bullet who would you shoot??

[fish]

WHen used at close range you should be able to identify which barrel the shot came from assuming you have significently different chokes on the gun. For instance my #1 barrel is 1/4 choke and my #2 is 3/4 choke therefor when shotting a burglar I should use the secound barrel first then shoot the first barrel into the ceiling as a warning shot. Forensics are then likely to confirm my #1 barrel went in the ceiling and my #2 into the burglar. The normal way to use a double triggered gun is #1 then #2.

I was told this by a QC!! He also sid make sure you kill him and that he has finger prints on a weapon eg kitchen knife...

[timmy30]

fish said:

WHen used at close range you should be able to identify which barrel the shot came from assuming you have significently different chokes on the gun. For instance my #1 barrel is 1/4 choke and my #2 is 3/4 choke therefor when shotting a burglar I should use the secound barrel first then shoot the first barrel into the ceiling as a warning shot. Forensics are then likely to confirm my #1 barrel went in the ceiling and my #2 into the burglar. The normal way to use a double triggered gun is #1 then #2. I was told this by a QC!! He also sid make sure you kill him and that he has finger prints on a weapon eg kitchen knife...

The things you learn on PH.......

[Vee-X]

fish said:

WHen used at close range you should be able to identify which barrel the shot came from assuming you have significently different chokes on the gun. For instance my #1 barrel is 1/4 choke and my #2 is 3/4 choke therefor when shotting a burglar I should use the secound barrel first then shoot the first barrel into the ceiling as a warning shot. Forensics are then likely to confirm my #1 barrel went in the ceiling and my #2 into the burglar. The normal way to use a double triggered gun is #1 then #2. I was told this by a QC!! He also sid make sure you kill him and that he has finger prints on a weapon eg kitchen knife...

would those same forensics people not work out from the gun chokes that the order of the gun was opposite to normal? or is this a simple thing to swap?

[r988]

Vee-X said:

fish said: WHen used at close range you should be able to identify which barrel the shot came from assuming you have significently different chokes on the gun. For instance my #1 barrel is 1/4 choke and my #2 is 3/4 choke therefor when shotting a burglar I should use the secound barrel first then shoot the first barrel into the ceiling as a warning shot. Forensics are then likely to confirm my #1 barrel went in the ceiling and my #2 into the burglar. The normal way to use a double triggered gun is #1 then #2. I was told this by a QC!! He also sid make sure you kill him and that he has finger prints on a weapon eg kitchen knife... would those same forensics people not work out from the gun chokes that the order of the gun was opposite to normal? or is this a simple thing to swap?

You have two seperate triggers so its not that difficult, and I guess QC's really are worth the extra dosh


>> Edited by r988 on Monday 5th September 17:31