ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Published Online: 1 January 1985
Page Count: 13

Pellet Patterns Fired by Sawed-Off Shotguns
Wray, JL
fellows in Forensic Medicine, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, DC

Bottemiller, KW
fellows in Forensic Medicine, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, DC

Nickels, ML
fellows in Forensic Medicine, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, DC

Moreau, TS
fellows in Forensic Medicine, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, DC

Rowe, WF
Associate professor, George Washington University, DC

(Received 30 March 1984; accepted 1 May 1984)

Abstract

To determine the effect of barrel length on pellet patterns fired by sawed-off shotguns, 00 buckshot, No. 2 shot, and No. 7½ birdshot cartridges were fired from 12-gage single-shot Harrington and Richardson shotguns with the barrel lengths progressively shortened to 152 mm (6 in.). The spread of the 00 buckshot pattern was found to increase as the barrel length of the firing weapon decreased. The spread of the pellet patterns increased or tended to remain constant as the barrel length decreased when other types of cartridges were fired from the shotguns; this depended on the brand of ammunition.

Keywords:
criminalistics, ballistics, shotguns

Paper ID: JFS10974J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS10974J
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