Journal Published Online: 01 September 1994
Volume 39, Issue 5

Inappropriate Use of .38 Special Ammunition in .30-30 Rifles

CODEN: JFSCAS

Abstract

Modern firearms are designed to fire ammunition of a specific caliber. We report two gunshot fatalities where .38 Special handgun ammunition was used inappropriately in .30-30 Winchester lever-action rifles. In both cases the recovered wad-cutter bullets were abnormally elongated and unusually striated. In one instance, the cartridge case was expanded and split. Ballistic tests using .38 Special ammunition in a .30-30 Winchester rifle created deformed bullets similar to those recovered from the body. The test fired cartridge cases expanded and jammed in the chamber. While the .30-30 rifle chamber configuration accepts .38 Special wadcutter ammunition, its narrower barrel squeezes larger caliber lead bullets out like toothpaste.

It behooves forensic pathologists to not make hasty determinations of the caliber and weapon type based on a casual inspection of the recovered bullet.

Author Information

Ward, ME
Office of the Medical Investigator, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM
Conradi, S
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina
Lawrence, CH
NSW Institute of Forensic Medicine, Glebe, NSW, Australia
Nolte, KB
Office of the Medical Investigator, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM
Pages: 7
Price: $25.00
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Stock #: JFS13702J
ISSN: 0022-1198
DOI: 10.1520/JFS13702J