Bullets
Composed of a full or partial metal "jacket" around a lead alloy core
Shape depends on caliber and tip type (pointed, flat, hollow, soft)
General caliber classification
Small (.22, .25)
Medium (.32, .38, .357, 9mm)
Large (.40, .41, .44, .45, .50)
Common<unk> gun gauges
12-gauge = bore diameter of .729 inches
20-gauge = .615 inches<unk> gun pellets, small to large
Birdshot <unk> shells) - many small pellets, large kill spread
Buckshot - fewer but larger pellets
Slug, sabots - single large solid slug
Composed of a full or partial metal "jacket" around a lead alloy core
Shape depends on caliber and tip type (pointed, flat, hollow, soft)
Small (.22, .25)
Medium (.32, .38, .357, 9mm)
Large (.40, .41, .44, .45, .50)
12-gauge = bore diameter of .729 inches
20-gauge = .615 inches
Birdshot <unk> shells) - many small pellets, large kill spread
Buckshot - fewer but larger pellets
Slug, sabots - single large solid slug
Examples: .223 or 30/06 Springfield
Very high kinetic energy
Little deformity when fired
Cavitation is principle mechanism of destruction, the dissipation of energy radially away from the bullet as it travels through tissue
Large zone of tissue injury even away from tract
Examples: .22 long rifle or .45 pistol
Relatively low kinetic energy
Deform from friction
Crash injury is principle mechanism of damage given projectile tumbling and fragmentation
Very high kinetic energy at close range
Shells contain several to several hundred hundred pellets
Spread of pellets and rapid energy transfer makes these weapons dangerous at close range
Gun shot wounds
Electrical injuries
Dirty bomb
Cement burn
Spider bites
Lizard bites
Mammalian bites
Airbag injuries