Mankind has been fascinated by

the idea of launching a projectile at

animals for thousands of years.
Gunpowder was first used in China
over 1000 years ago, but was
primarily used in firecrackers and
only rarely in military weapons.
The use of gunpowder migrated to
Europe in the 14
th
century. Once it
was established that projectiles
launched with gunpowder had a
devastating effect on armored
knights, its use in weaponry was
vastly accelerated.
History of Firearms
Gunpowder is made from a
mixture of sulfur, charcoal, and
saltpeter (potassium nitrite).
1 mole of solid gunpowder, when
ignited, will produce 6 moles of
gashence, a big whooooosh!
Add this amount of expanding gas
to a small metal tube and it will
drive a projectile out at high
speed in a specific direction. The
firearm was born.
So, Why Gunpowder?
Modern methods of
manufacturing have refined
gunpowders original
ingredients to produce the
maximum amount of expansion
with the least amount of
residue (leftover powder.)
The manufacture of modern
powders is standardized
enough that gunpowder residue
can be analyzed by methods
which identify specific
components, which can be used
in forensic analysis.


Modern Gunpowder
Modern firearms are manufactured
in a variety of shapes and sizes to fit
multiple purposes. The proliferation
of guns in the U.S. has made the
forensic scientists job very difficult.
The sheer numbers of guns and the
astonishing variety of makes keeps
the scientists very busy.
Today, virtually any military gun
(including automatic weapons) can
be found used by gang members,
drug traffickers, paramilitary
survivalists, or the average
citizen.

Forensic Analysis of Firearms
Handguns were conceived as an
easily-toted method for self-
defense. As such, handguns are
compact to make them easy to
hide and carry. They are heavily
controlled and regulated in most
states for these reasons.
Since no one is guaranteed a
perfect shot, handguns must be
able to provide more than one
shot.
The two most common handgun
types are double-action revolvers
and semi-automatic pistols.

Types of Firearms: Handguns
Rifles differ from handguns in
the length of the barrel and the
presence of a butt stock. They
are harder to carry, are poorly
concealable, and more loosely
regulated than handguns.
However, they are much more
accurate and shoot more
powerful cartridges than
handguns.
Military rifles can be semi-
automatic or automatic
(repeated firing with a single
pull.)
Types of Firearms: Rifles
Shotguns have a similar external
appearance to rifles, but differ in
the lack of rifling inside the barrel,
which is the basis for their legal
definition.
A shotgun shell may contain one
large projectile (called a slug), a
few pellets of large shot, or many
tiny pellets. Shotguns are
available in single shot (break
action), double barrel, pump
action, and semiautomatic.
Types of Firearms: Shotguns
Automatic pistols, like the Uzi,
are used by some crime
syndicates but are too expensive
for the average criminal.
Air guns (BB guns) shoot a
projectile by using compressed
air, instead of gun powder. A
chamber of compressed CO2 is
attached. In most states, air guns
are not regulated as firearms,
despite both homicides and
suicides involving these
machines.
Other Types of Firearms