Penetration Depth of Projectiles Fired from a Replica of Colt Navy of 1851 in 20% Gelatin Blocks Correlated with Fatal Injuries Assessed in an Autopsy of a 78‐Year‐Old Man

• Published in: Journal of forensic sciences 2015-09, Vol.60 (5), p.1365-1368
• Main Authors: Smędra‐Kaźmirska, Anna, Barzdo, Maciej, Jurczyk, Agnieszka P., Berent, Jarosław
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Ammunition; Autopsies; black powder weapon; fatal injuries; Firearms; Forensic Ballistics; forensic science; Gelatin; gelatin blocks; Humans; kinetic energy; Male; Models, Biological; Murders & murder attempts; penetration depth; Suicide; Wounds, Gunshot - pathology
• ISSN: 0022-1198; 1556-4029
• DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.12749

Pursuant to the Polish Weapons and Ammunitions Law, muzzle‐loading black powder weapons, manufactured before 1885, or their replicas, as well as suitable projectiles, can be possessed legally without registration and special licenses. The aim of the study was to assess the penetration depth of projectiles fired from a black powder weapon, replica of Colt Navy of 1851, in 20% gelatin blocks and to compare the obtained results with the actual injuries found on autopsy of a 78‐year‐old man who had committed suicide. In the experiments, we used the black powder weapon and ammunitions, as well as gelatin blocks serving as a soft tissue model. We ascertained that solid spherical projectiles fired from black powder weapons cause extensive injuries, especially in the initial segment of the wound canal. Additionally, based on the presence and location of the wad in the wound canal, the distance from which the shot was fired can be determined.