ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Page Count: 7

Gunshot Entrance Wound Abrasion Ring Width as a Function of Projectile Diameter and Velocity
Randall, B
Forensic pathologist and pathologist, Laboratory of Clinical Medicine, P.C., SD

Jaqua, R
Forensic pathologist and pathologist, Laboratory of Clinical Medicine, P.C., SD

(Received 7 October 1989; accepted 26 February 1990)

Abstract

The relationships between gunshot entrance wound abrasion ring widths versus projectile diameter and velocity, using foam-backed deer hides as targets, were investigated. At a fixed velocity, abrasion ring width increased with increasing projectile diameter but decreased in proportion to the central defect diameter. For fixed-diameter projectiles, very slow and high velocities produced minimal abrasion width. Maximal abrasion width occurred at intermediate velocities.

The authors postulate that abrasion width is a function of the ratio of projectile velocity and the maximum deformation velocity of the target skin. The largest abrasion width occurs when the ratio is one. Using a projectile velocity known to produce maximum abrasion width at an initial warm temperature, then decreasing the target deformation velocity by cooling, produced the expected results of decreasing abrasion width.

Keywords:
criminalistics, wound ballistics, abrasion rings, gunshot wounds

Paper ID: JFS13014J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS13014J
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