A firearm is a specially designed and manufactured device designed to mechanically hit a target at a distance with a projectile that receives directed movement due to the energy of a powder or other charge.

Gunshot damage is the damage that occurs as a result of a shot from a firearm.

Firearms are divided into types (civilian, service, military), according to the length of the barrel (long-barreled, medium-barreled and short-barreled), according to the cutting of the barrel (rifled, smooth-bore). Small-caliber weapons are called weapons with an internal bore diameter of 5-6 mm, medium-caliber - 7-9 mm, large-caliber - 10 mm or more.

A cartridge for a military weapon consists of a firearm (bullet), a cartridge case, a charge of gunpowder and a primer. A cartridge for hunting weapons consists of a brass, plastic or cardboard sleeve, a projectile covered with a wad, gunpowder covered with a cardboard gasket and a wad, and a primer. The projectile in a hunting cartridge can be shot, buckshot, special bullets. Hunting cartridges are loaded with black powder. Wads are made from felt, cardboard, plastic, etc. Capsules in hunting cartridges are similar to combat ones.

The damaging factors of a shot are divided into the main ones (bullet, shot, buckshot, wad, fragments of an exploding projectile) and additional ones (pre-bullet air, powder gases, soot, powder particles, microparticles from the barrel, primer, gun grease).

When a bullet impacts an object, secondary projectiles can be formed: fragments of an obstacle, fragments of clothing, fragments of bones. In some cases, the muzzle end and moving parts of the weapon, buttstock, fragments of an exploding weapon can be affected.

Due to the high speed and hence the high kinetic energy of a firearm, it is capable of causing damage in any part of the outer ballistic trajectory. Additional factors can cause damage only at a certain distance when flying out of the weapon's barrel. If the damage is inflicted within the reach of additional factors of the shot, they speak of a close distance of the shot, and outside of their action, when the damage is inflicted only by the bullet, it is said to be not close.

With a gunshot wound, through, blind and tangential bullet wounds can form.

A through bullet wound is called a wound that has an input and output gunshot wounds connected by a wound channel. Penetrating wounds arise from the action of a bullet with high kinetic energy, or when wounding thin parts of the body or only soft tissues.

A typical entrance gunshot wound is small in size, round in shape, in the center of it there is a skin defect (minus-tissue), which has the form of a cone, the apex facing inward, the edges are uneven, with short radial ruptures of the surface layers of the skin that do not extend beyond the belt of deposition, surrounding defect. If the bullet penetrates the body at an angle close to a straight line, then the width of the belt of deposition along its entire perimeter is the same and amounts to 1–3 mm. If the bullet penetrates the body at an acute angle, then the girdle will be wider on the side of the bullet flight, since in this place the contact area between the skin and the bullet is the largest. The belt of sedimentation looks like a dark narrow strip along the edge of the skin wound. The outer diameter of the belt of sedimentation is approximately equal to the caliber of the firearm. The surface of the belt of deposition is contaminated with the metal of the bullet surface. Hence the other names: pollution belt, metallization belt, rubdown belt.

Exit gunshot wounds are more variable in shape, size and nature of the edges. They usually do not have a sedimentation belt and a metallization belt. The defect in the area of ​​the exit wound is either absent or has the shape of a cone with its apex facing outward.

The main distinguishing feature of the entrance gunshot injury on the flat bones of the skull is a chip of the inner bone plate, forming a funnel-shaped defect, opened in the direction of the bullet's flight. Output gunshot injury is characterized by a chipping of the outer bone plate.

When a through wound is formed, it is necessary to differentiate the inlet from the outlet. Differential diagnosis should be based on a comparative assessment of the entire set of morphological features.

Inlet features:

1) the shape of the hole is round or oval due to the presence of a defect, occasionally crescentic or irregular;

2) the shape of the defect is cone-shaped with an inward-facing apex, sometimes irregularly cylindrical or similar to an hourglass;

3) dimensions - a defect in the dermis is always smaller than the diameter of the bullet; a defect in the epidermis approximately equal to the diameter of the bullet;

4) wound edges - the edges of the defect in the dermis are often finely scalloped, sometimes even and sloping;

5) the belt of deposition is usually well-defined, 1-3 mm wide, its outer diameter is approximately equal to the diameter of the bullet;

6) there is a wiping belt either on the skin or on clothing; when injured through clothing, the edges may be contaminated with threads of clothing;

7) metallization of the edges is usually available according to the rubdown belt; may sometimes be absent in wounds through thick clothing;

8) the imprint of the fabric of clothing in the form of small abrasions is not found.

Exit signs:

1) the shape of the hole is irregularly stellate, slit-like, arcuate, often without tissue defects, sometimes round or oval with a slight tissue defect;

2) the shape of the defect (if any) is cone-shaped with the apex facing outward;

3) size - often larger than the size of the inlet, sometimes equal to it or less than it;

4) edges - usually uneven, often turned outward;

5) the belt of deposition is often absent, sometimes well expressed due to the impact of the edges on the clothes;

6) wiping belt, as a rule, is absent, the edges may be contaminated with threads of clothing;

7) metallization of the edges - often absent;

8) an imprint of the fabric of clothing in the form of small abrasions is sometimes found around the hole or near one edge of it.

The wound channel can be:

1) rectilinear;

2) broken - with an internal ricochet from the bone or fascia, the bullet abruptly changes direction, resulting in the formation of bone fragments, secondary projectiles;

3) girdle - meeting dense tissues along a tangent trajectory, the bullet describes an arcuate trajectory;

4) intermittent - during the flight, the bullet consistently damages different parts of the body (thigh - thigh, arm - torso, etc.) and forms two wound channels;

5) step-like - due to the displacement of organs (for example, intestinal loops) after a bullet lesion.

Blind is called such a bullet wound, in which the firearm remained in the body. Blind wounds are usually caused by bullets with low kinetic energy due to its low initial speed, unstable flight, design features that lead to its rapid destruction in the tissues, a large distance to the target, preliminary interaction of the bullet with an obstacle, damage to a large array of dense and soft tissues in the body , internal rebound, for example in the cranial cavity.

Tangential bullet wounds occur if the bullet does not penetrate the body and forms an open wound channel in the form of an elongated wound or abrasion. The entrance end of the wound is rounded, with a defect in the skin and small radial skin ruptures that do not go beyond the semicircular sedimentation. The greatest depth of the wound at its input end. The general shape of the wound is in the form of a gutter, thinning towards the exit end.

Tissue damage is accompanied by the transfer of a part of its energy by the bullet. The resulting sharp fluctuation of tissues increases damage along the wound channel and causes new ones in places remote from it. This effect is more pronounced when a bullet passes through a full stomach, brain (hydrodynamic effect).

Passing through clothing, skin and other formations, the bullet moves the embossed tissue along the wound channel. There is a "skid" of the tissue in places that are unusual for the location.

Damage caused by bullets fired from modern models of hand-held small-caliber combat firearms has certain morphological features: more often than when fired from medium-caliber weapons, blind wounds are formed, in a gunshot wound there can be many metal fragments of a destroyed fragmented bullet, exit gunshot wounds are very extensive, and often represented by one or more small lesions. These features of damage depend on the ability of the bullets fired from these weapons to give all or almost all of their kinetic energy to the affected tissues. This is due to the high muzzle velocity of the bullet, combined with its low stability in flight, as the center of gravity of the bullet is shifted towards its tail. As a result, the head of the bullet in flight performs rotational movements of large amplitude.

Shot at close range

When fired at close range, tissue damage is caused by the main and additional damaging factors.

Additional factors of a shot within close range have a different effect depending on the distance between the muzzle of the weapon and the object being struck. In this regard, a point-blank shot is distinguished, when the muzzle of the weapon at the time of the shot is in contact with the surface of clothing or a damaged part of the body, and three conditional zones, when the muzzle at the time of the shot is at some distance from the object being struck.

I - zone of predominant mechanical action of powder gases.

II - a zone of pronounced action of shot soot, powder grains and metal particles.

III - zone of deposition of powder grains and metal particles.

In the I zone of a close shot, the entrance gunshot wound is formed due to the bursting and concussive action of powder gases and the penetrating action of a bullet. The edges of the wound may be torn. If there are no ruptures, then the wound is surrounded by a wide annular sedimentation (a bruising effect of gases). The effect of powder gases in zone I is limited to skin damage and does not extend into the depth of the wound channel. Around the wound there is an intense deposition of dark gray, almost black soot and powder grains. The area of ​​deposition of soot and powder grains increases as the distance from the muzzle of the weapon to the target at the time of the shot increases. According to the area of ​​soot deposition, the thermal effect of powder gases may appear in the form of shedding of vellus hair or clothing fibers. Around the entrance wound, when using ultraviolet rays, splashes of gun grease in the form of multiple luminescent small spots can be detected. The length of zone I depends on the power of the weapon used: for a Makarov pistol, this zone is about 1 cm, for a Kalashnikov assault rifle with a caliber of 7.62 mm - up to 3 cm, for a rifle - about 5 cm, AK-74U - up to 12–15 cm.

In the II zone of a close shot, the wound is formed only by a bullet. Soot, powder grains, metal particles, splashes of gun grease are deposited around the entrance wound. As the distance from the muzzle of the weapon barrel to the object being struck increases, the area of ​​deposition of additional factors of the shot increases, and the intensity of the soot color decreases. For many samples of modern handguns II, the close shot zone extends up to 25–35 cm. Soot and powder grains fly in the direction opposite to the direction of the shot, settling within a radius of 30–50 cm, and sometimes even 100 cm.

In the III zone of a close shot, the wound is formed only by a bullet. Powder grains and metal particles are deposited around it. When fired from a Makarov pistol, these particles can be detected at a great distance - up to 150 cm from the muzzle, from a Kalashnikov assault rifle - up to 200 cm, from a rifle - up to 250 cm. On a horizontal surface, particles are found at a distance of up to 6–8 m. increasing the distance, the number of powder grains and metal particles reaching the target becomes less and less. At extreme distances, as a rule, single particles are detected.

Point-blank shot

When fired point-blank at a right angle to the body surface, the pre-bullet air and part of the powder gases, acting compactly, pierce the skin, expand in all directions in the initial part of the wound channel, exfoliate the skin and forcefully press it against the muzzle end of the weapon, forming a bruise in the form of its imprint, stamp. Sometimes there are breaks in the skin. Together with powder gases, soot, powders and metal particles rush into the wound channel. Penetrating into the wound channel, powder gases interact with blood and form oxy- and carboxyhemoglobin (bright red color of tissues). If the powder gases reach the hollow organs, then, sharply expanding, they cause extensive ruptures of the internal organs.

Signs of a point-blank shot:

1) the inlet on clothing and skin - star-shaped, less often - angular or rounded;

2) a large defect in the skin, exceeding the caliber of the firearm, as a result of the penetrating action of powder gases;

3) detachment of the skin along the edges of the entrance gunshot wound, ruptures of the edges of the skin as a result of the penetration of powder gases under the skin and their explosive action;

4) abrasion or bruising in the form of a stamp - an imprint of the muzzle end of the weapon (punching mark) due to the sticking of skin on the barrel, exfoliated by powder gases that have penetrated under the skin and expanded (an absolute sign);

5) extensive ruptures of internal organs as a consequence of the explosive action of powder gases that have penetrated into cavities or hollow organs;

6) skin ruptures in the area of ​​the exit wound in case of damage to thin parts of the body (fingers, hand, forearm, lower leg, foot) as a result of the explosive action of powder gases;

7) the presence of soot only along the edges of the entrance wound and in the depth of the wound channel due to a tight stop, making it impossible for them to penetrate into the environment;

8) light red coloration of the muscles in the area of ​​the entrance wound due to the chemical action of powder gases, which causes the formation of oxy- and carboxyhemoglobin.

When fired point-blank at a certain angle to the body surface, part of the powder gases, soot, powder has a damaging effect on the skin surface near the wound, which leads to the formation of unilateral skin ruptures and eccentric deposition of soot and powders near the edges of the entrance gunshot wound.

Shot at close range

A sign of a shot from a short distance is the absence of deposits of soot and powders around the inlet. The bullet forms a wound with the features described above.

However, there are cases of soot deposition on the inner layers of clothing and the skin of the body, covered with multilayer clothing (Vinogradov phenomenon). A similar phenomenon of a shot from a short distance must be preceded by the conditions:

1) the speed of the bullet at the moment of impact must be high, not less than 450 m/s;

2) the distance between the layers of clothing is 0.5–1.0 cm.

During the flight, small zones of air turbulence form around the side surface of the bullet, in which soot can spread along with the projectile. This soot, at the moment of formation of a hole in the surface layer of clothing by a bullet, reaches the deep layers of clothing or skin and is fan-shaped fixed around the inlet in them.

shot wound

After the shot, the shot charge usually flies as a single compact mass over a distance of one meter, then individual pellets begin to separate from it, after 2–5 m the shot charge completely crumbles. The range of the shot is 200–400 m.

A point-blank shot causes a significant amount of internal damage, such as the complete destruction of the head. When fired at point-blank range, extensive skin defects, an imprint of the muzzle of the 2nd barrel, soot in the depths of the wound channel, and light red staining of the muscles are observed. With a loose stop and a very close distance, skin burns are observed from the pronounced thermal effect of black powder.

When shots are fired within one meter, one entrance gunshot wound is formed with a diameter of 2-4 cm with uneven scalloped sooty edges. At a distance of 1 to 2-5 m, the main entrance gunshot hole of a similar size and nature is formed, around which there are separate round wounds with a small skin defect, raw and metallized edges. As the shot distance approaches 2–5 m, the number of such wounds increases. At distances exceeding 2–5 m, only separate small round wounds are formed from the action of single pellets. Shot wounds are usually blind.

When shot with a hunting shotgun cartridge, damage can be caused by wads, some of which (for example, felt ones) fly up to 40 m. Wads have a mechanical, and in some cases, local thermal effect.

Automatic burst wounds

Due to the high rate of fire, the mutual position of the weapon and the victim during the automatic burst practically does not change. When shot at close range, this can lead to the formation of connected (double or triple) wounds. Gunshot injuries caused by automatic burst bullets have a complex of the following distinctive features: multiplicity, one-sided, and sometimes close to each other location of input gunshot wounds, their similar shape and size, parallel or somewhat divergent direction of wound channels, as well as properties of input wounds, allowing their occurrence when fired from one distance. When firing in a short burst at a distance close to the stop, the wounds are located next to one another, when firing in a long burst from an insufficiently firmly fixed weapon, they are scattered. When fired in bursts from a short distance, the body is hit by one, less often by two bullets.

An explosion is a pulsed release of a large amount of energy as a result of physical or chemical transformations of matter.

In forensic practice, the most common injuries are from explosions of explosives. During the explosion, a detonation wave occurs, which is a chemical process of converting a solid explosive into gaseous products.

Instantly expanding, gases create powerful pressure on the environment and lead to significant destruction. At a short distance from the center of the explosion, they have a thermal and chemical effect. They are conditionally called explosive gases. Continuing to expand, they form a shock wave, at the front of which a pressure of up to 200–300 thousand atm is created. As the distance from the explosion center increases, the surface of the shock wave front gradually increases, while its velocity and pressure decrease.

As a result of detonation, individual particles can detach from the mass of the explosive, which, together with the shell and other elements of the explosive device, scatter at a separation speed of about 1000 m/s.

Explosive gases and a shock wave can destroy various obstacles, forming fragments of secondary projectiles.

The damaging factors of the explosion include:

1) explosive gases, explosive particles, explosion soot;

2) shock wave;

3) fragments and particles of an explosive device - fragments and parts of a fuse, fragments of an explosive device shell;

4) special damaging agents: elements of mechanical action (balls, rods, arrows, etc.), chemical substances, thermal substances (phosphorus, napalm, etc.);

5) secondary projectiles - fragments of destroyed barriers, surrounding objects, parts of clothing and footwear, destroyed and torn off parts of the body.

Damage resulting from the action of these factors is called blast injury.

Explosive gases act mechanically, thermally and chemically. The nature of the mechanical action depends on the magnitude of the charge and the distance from the center of the explosion. Explosive gases destroy skin at a distance of 2 times the explosive charge radius, and textile fabrics at a distance of 10 explosive charge radii. The destructive effect is expressed in extensive defects and crushing of soft tissues.

Skin ruptures from the action of explosive gases are observed at a distance of 10, and textile fabrics - 20 explosive radii. Explosive action is expressed in ruptures of the skin and stratification of soft tissues.

The damaging effect of explosive gases on the skin is observed at a distance of up to 20 charge radii. It manifests itself in the form of precipitation and intradermal hemorrhages, sometimes repeating the shape of the folds of the victim's clothing.

The thermal effect of gases is expressed in the form of hair loss and rarely superficial skin burns, and the chemical effect is in the formation of oxy-, sulfo-, meth- and carboxyhemoglobin in destroyed soft tissues.

Explosive particles are capable of local mechanical (small abrasions, bruises, superficial wounds), thermal and chemical effects (burns). Explosion carbon black usually impregnates the superficial layers of the epidermis.

The consequences of the action of the shock wave are similar to injuries from blows with a blunt solid object with a wide flat traumatic surface. A pressure drop in the front of the shock wave of 0.2–0.3 kg/cm2 can lead to rupture of the eardrums, 0.7–1.0 kg/cm2 can cause fatal damage to internal organs.

The lungs on the side facing the center of the explosion are more likely to suffer. In the parenchyma of the lungs, hemorrhages are observed mainly in the region of the apexes, the hepatic surface and in the root zone. Under the pleura of the lungs, multiple punctate hemorrhages are visible, located in accordance with the intercostal spaces.

Passing from the air into the liquid media of the body, the shock wave, due to the high density and incompressibility of these media, can increase the speed of its propagation and lead to significant damage. This phenomenon is called an inward explosion.

Fragments and parts of an explosive device have different energies depending on their mass and density, the power of the explosion and the distance from its center. Therefore, shrapnel damage is very variable.

Depending on what factors had a damaging effect, three distances are distinguished:

1) very close (contact explosion or contact) - detonation products, shock wave and fragments act;

2) relatively close - damage is formed from the combined action of a shock wave and fragments;

3) not close - only fragments act.

Damage from secondary projectiles can occur at any of the three ranges.

A point-blank shot in forensic medicine and criminology is understood as a shot in which the muzzle of the weapon barrel (or compensator) comes into contact with the surface of the body or clothing. At the same time, it can be tightly pressed against the target or only touch it, in particular at an angle.
When fired at point blank range or at very close range, a significant part of the powder gases rushes after the bullet into the hole made by it. Spreading in the thickness of the subcutaneous soft tissues, powder gases lift the skin towards the entrance of the bullet and tear it from the inside to the outside. In this case, a torn input lesion of a star-shaped, cruciform, fusiform or irregularly rounded shape is formed.

In the formation of torn inlets when fired at point-blank range and at very close range, in addition to powder gases, a column of compressed air plays a significant role, which is pushed out by the bullet at the moment of firing from the pre-bullet space of the weapon's bore. This column of compressed air and some of the propellant gases escaping from the barrel of the weapon before the bullet takes off can cause a number of injuries even before the bullet penetrates the target (tears in clothing, skin, etc.).
The nature of skin breaks when fired at point-blank range largely depends on the affected part of the body. If a bone is located directly under the skin (for example, on the head), then the entrance gunshot hole often looks like an extensive lacerated cruciform or stellate wound with a length of rays - tears of 2-5 cm. entrance holes with a tissue defect significantly larger than the diameter of the bullet. In the formation of such damage, in addition to the firearm, compressed air from the pre-bullet space of the barrel drip and powder gases expelled by the bullet at the time of the shot play a significant role in the formation of such damage.

On clothes, when shot at close range or at very close range, torn inlets are also formed, which, depending on the nature of the weave of fabric threads, have a cruciform, T-shaped or linear shape.
An unconditional sign of a point-blank shot is an imprint on the skin (stamp mark) of the muzzle end of the weapon, which was in close contact with the skin. The mechanism for the formation of the imprint of the muzzle end of the weapon is that when fired at close range, the powder gases that burst in after the bullet lift the skin from the inside outward, press and hit it against the muzzle end of the barrel or other protruding parts of the weapon, for example, the barrel casing of pistols, about the compensator for submachine guns. In some cases, the formation of a stamp mark, apparently, can also be associated with strong recoil with poor fixation of the weapon in the shooter's hand.
The imprint of the muzzle end of the weapon on the skin is an abrasion, which is usually poorly visible immediately after being wounded. After some time, as the skin dries, the stamp mark begins to protrude distinctly, acquiring the appearance of a parchment stain.

The imprint of the muzzle end of the weapon has an important medical and forensic value. According to him, in addition to the distance of the shot, it is sometimes possible to judge the type of weapon used, as well as the position in which it was pressed against the body at the time of the shot.
The signs of a shot almost point-blank and from a very close distance also include the smoothing of the pile with powder gases, which, in combination with smoky, is observed around the inlet on strong fleecy fabrics such as a soldier's overcoat cloth. The deposition of soot on the skin when shot at close range is usually observed only along the very edge of the gunshot wound in the form of a narrow dark gray ring. The bulk of the soot and powder rush after the bullet into the wound channel, where they can be relatively easily detected in the initial part of the wound channel, especially on the inside of the exfoliated skin flap in the area of ​​the entrance gunshot wound.

If the shot was fired at an incomplete stop or from a distance almost point-blank, then around the gunshot injury on the skin and on clothing there is a distinct deposition of soot in an area with a diameter of 3-5 cm or more.
A point-blank shot from a weapon with a compensator, for example, from a PPSh or PPS machine gun, is accompanied by the deposition of additional soot areas around the inlet on the affected object, corresponding to the location of the compensator windows.
A shot from a distance from almost point-blank to 5-8 cm with cartridges filled with smokeless powder can sometimes be accompanied by singing of fleecy clothing and skin hairs due to exposure to powder gases, burning powders and red-hot soot particles. Thermal effects are clearly manifested when shot at close range with cartridges loaded with black powder. In the area of ​​input damage in such cases, smoldering or ignition of clothing, as well as skin burns of II and III degrees, can be observed.

Powder gases emitted from the bore of a weapon contain a significant amount of carbon monoxide. When fired at point-blank range or at very close range, it sometimes combines with the coloring matter of the blood, forming carboxyhemoglobin, which gives the blood and muscles in the area of ​​​​the gunshot wound a bright red-pink color.

An important issue resolved by the forensic medical examination is the determination of the distance of the shot. In forensic medicine, three shot distances are distinguished:

- point-blank shot;

- shot at close range;

- Shot at close range.

Point-blank shot

- when the muzzle end of the weapon (barrel or compensator) is in direct contact with clothing or the skin of the body. In this case, the muzzle end can be pressed against the body very strongly or only slightly touch it, be directed perpendicularly or at a different angle. With different contact options, the nature of the damage will be different.

Signs that characterize a point-blank shot:

1) soot and powders in the circumference of the wound (loose, leaky stop), bullet channel. When fired from an angled weapon, gases are partially directed outside the inlet, and soot particles cover the skin area located from the side of the open angle. By the location of the soot, you can determine the position of the weapon at the time of the shot;

2) rupture of the edges of the inlet is a variable sign, it depends on the caliber of the weapon, the size of the powder charge. The so-called cruciform ruptures occur more easily where the bone is close under the skin;

3) the imprint of the muzzle (braking device) - "stamp mark" - an absolute sign, but inconsistent;

4) pronounced chemical effect of gases, determined in the wound channel3.

Shot at close range

- this is a shot within the action of additional factors (traces) of the shot. Additional traces of a shot can be found on average up to 1 m. The ratio of individual components, such as soot and powder, allows you to more accurately determine the distance of the shot.

Shot at close range

shot outside the range of additional shot marks. If, within a close shot, the ratio of the distribution of soot, powders, and the action of gases allows one to navigate quite accurately in the shot distance in centimeters, then when shooting from a close distance, only in rare cases can an expert talk about a certain shot distance (for example, in the case of a blind wound ). Sometimes the lack of additional traces can be caused by a shot through an obstacle, which can mislead the investigator and the expert as to the distance of the shot.

In some cases, an expert may assist the investigation in determining the type (system) of the weapon used. The type of weapon can be determined by the nature of the damage, by the muzzle imprint (“punching mark”), by the penetrating ability of the bullet, by the bullet, by the size of the gunshot wound and bone damage, by the shape and size of the powder grains, by the specific location of the shot soot deposits.

If there are several gunshot wounds found on the corpse, the expert resolves the issue of whether these wounds were caused by one shot or several. The number of wounds can be more than the number of bullets, and vice versa. The first possibility usually occurs when a bullet, having pierced one part of the body, then penetrates into others.

The location of the wounds with the corresponding movements of the limbs along the same line makes it possible to identify the possibility of their infliction by one bullet. Several wounds from one bullet can also be observed in cases where the bullet is torn apart before penetrating the body, which often occurs when shot from a sawn-off shot, as well as with ricochets and defeats through an obstacle.

This is often recognized by the peculiar shape of the entrance holes, which do not usually have a rounded contour, as well as by the detection of individual parts of the bullet in the tissues. Another possibility is the detection of several bullets at one entrance hole. This is observed when a bullet breaks inside the body when fired from a sawn-off shotgun.

When multiple gunshot wounds caused by several shots are found, it is advisable to examine clothing or skin areas with inlets in ultraviolet rays in order to detect gun grease. When shot from a cleaned and lubricated channel in the area of ​​​​the inlet, more weapon grease is found from the first shot than from subsequent ones.

In some cases, a forensic medical examination reveals signs that are characteristic of causing damage to one's own or an outside hand. Forensic practice shows that injuries to certain and most dangerous areas of the body (right temporal region, heart, mouth), observed when shot at close range and from a distance of several centimeters, most often occur with the action of one's own hand.

A reliable sign of the action of one’s own hand is the special additional devices installed during the inspection of the scene of the incident: for a shot from a hunting weapon, a rope, stick or finger of the lower limb is adapted, from which shoes are first removed). Under the action of one's own hand on the hand in which the weapon was located, abrasions, blood splashes, particles of brain matter, the smallest bone fragments, as well as traces of soot are revealed.

Concepts - distance and shot distance.

shot distance- this is a qualitative characteristic, which is manifested by the presence or absence of products associated with a shot in the area of ​​​​the entrance gunshot wound or on clothing, as well as some morphological features of the entrance gunshot wound.

Shot distance- this is an absolute value, defined in units of measurement - centimeters, meters, kilometers, etc.

In forensic practice, the concept of a shot distance is used.

There are the following shot distances:

• - distant distance;
• - close distance;
• - point blank: dense and loose (Fig. 7).

Rice. 7

The infliction of gunshot damage outside the range of products accompanying the shot, only by a bullet, indicates a shot from a long distance.

In case of causing damage within the reach of additional factors of the shot, but without contact between the muzzle and the target, one speaks of a close shot distance.

If at the time of the shot the muzzle of the barrel was in close or loose contact with the target surface (skin, clothing), they speak of point-blank range.

The mechanism of formation of a gunshot wound at different distances of the shot.

When fired from distant distances only the bullet has a damaging effect. It has a predominantly mechanical effect. Depending on the kinetic energy, when in contact with the surface of the skin, the bullet has either a penetrating, or a wedge-shaped or bruising effect. A bullet with high kinetic energy, when fired from a long distance, forms a typical entrance gunshot wound - small, round or oval in shape, in the center of its skin defect: “minus” tissue, uneven edges, with short, not extending beyond the belt of deposition, radial breaks in the superficial layers of the skin. The outer diameter of the belt of precipitation (Fig. 8) is approximately equal to the caliber of the firearm (bullet diameter). The surface of the belt of precipitation is contaminated with the metal of the surface of the bullet, hence the other names - the belt of contamination, the belt of metallization, the belt of rubbing.

Rice. eight

After initial contact with the skin, after 0.0005 s, a penetrating projectile transfers a significant amount of energy to the soft tissues. At the point where the projectile passes from a less dense medium (air) to a more dense one (soft tissues), a temporary pulsating cavity is formed, which reaches its largest size after 0.005 s, then gradually pulsates with decreasing amplitude, and decreases by 0.08 second. The pulsating cavity begins to form during the passage of the bullet. Temporary pulsating cavity- this is a wave-like process in the soft tissues around the wound channel, which occurs at the moment of energy transfer to them by a firearm during the formation of damage. It is expressed by a sharp increase, and then a sharp decrease in pressure in the tissues and has the following properties:

• - significantly exceeds the diameter of the bullet,
• - accompanied by a wave-like process of pressure change in the zone of this "cavity",
• - accompanied by the formation of vacuum cavities in the tissues - the phenomenon of cavitation;
• - forms a significant area of ​​soft tissue microdamage around the wound channel.

The time of existence of a pulsating cavity can exceed the time of passage of a bullet through the entire wound channel by tens of times. The dimensions of the cavity, the duration and number of pulsations, the amount of pressure on the surrounding tissues depend on the amount of energy absorbed by the tissues. Firearms with a speed of 400 m / s lead to two pulsating movements of the temporary cavity with a duration of 0.02 s, at 730 m / s - to five pulsations with a duration of 0.2 s, and at 990 m / s - to eight movements duration 0.25 s.

In case of bullet wounds from far and in the 3rd zone of close range (outside the zone of action of soot), inflicted through clothing, on the skin or on the second layer of clothing, a gray soot deposit may form (Fig. 9), similar to soot from a close shot (phenomenon Vinogradov). It occurs when there is a free gap of 1-5 cm between a thin layer of clothing and the body or between two layers of clothing, and there is a sufficient amount of soot on the surface of the bullet. In this case, the bullet leaves a significant part of the soot and other contaminants at the edges of the hole in the first layer of clothing, mainly in the form of a wiping belt. Due to the rarefaction of air behind the bullet and the sharp oscillatory movements of the edges of this hole, particles of soot and other contaminants break off from the edges of the hole, rush after the bullet and settle around the inlet on the second layer of fabric or on the skin. Small scraps of thread fibers from the edges of the first hole are attached to these particles. The method of color prints in these deposits reveals traces of metal, similar to the metal of the wiping belt.

Rice. nine Sign of Vinogradov: a) rubdown belt on the first layer of clothing; b) deposition of soot on the second layer of the barrier (shooting distance 10 m)

These deposits differ from the soot of a close shot by a paler shade, small size (its diameter is 1.5–3.5 cm), a jagged or radiant peripheral border, and sometimes the presence of a narrow light gap along the edges of the hole. Their main difference is the absence of traces of a close shot on the first layer of clothing.

When fired from close range acting: bullet and additional factors of the shot. Additional shot factors within close range have a different effect depending on the distance between the muzzle of the weapon and the target. When fired at close range, they distinguish three zones(Fig. 10), which differ in the action of various products accompanying the shot and infliction of various amounts of damage in the area of ​​the entrance gunshot wound:

I -- zone predominant mechanical action of powder gases;

II -- zone pronounced action of shot soot, powders and metal particles;

III -- zone deposits of powders and metal particles.

Schematic representation of close shot zones

AT I zone close shot, the entrance gunshot wound is formed due to the explosive and concussive action of powder gases, the penetrating action of the firearm. The action of powder gases is often limited by a skin rupture that does not extend into the depth of the wound channel through which the firearm passes. If ruptures are not formed, then the wound is formed by the action of the projectile. The skin around the wound is surrounded by a wide annular abrasion due to the concussive effect of gases - the ring of "air precipitation". Around the wound there is an intense deposition of dark gray, almost black soot and powders. The area of ​​deposition of soot and powders increases as the distance from the muzzle of the weapon to the target at the time of the shot increases. According to the area of ​​soot deposition, the thermal effect of powder gases can manifest itself in the form of scorching of fluffy hair or clothing fibers. Around the entrance wound, when using ultraviolet rays, multiple small luminescent drops (spots) can be detected - splashes of gun grease. The length of zone I depends on the power of the type of weapon used, for example: for a Makarov pistol, this zone is about 1 cm, Kalashnikov assault rifle caliber 7.62 mm - up to 3 cm, for a rifle -- about 5 cm.

In II zone a close shot wound is formed only by a bullet. Soot, powders, metal particles, spray drops of gun grease are deposited around the entrance wound. As the distance from the muzzle of the weapon barrel to the object being struck increases, the area of ​​deposition of additional factors of the shot increases, and the intensity of the soot color decreases. For many samples of modern firearms, the II close-range zone extends up to 25-35 cm. Soot and powders also fly in the direction opposite to the direction of the shot, settling on the shooter, the people around him and objects within a radius of 30-50, and sometimes 100 cm. Taking into account the fact that the nature of deposits of soot, powders and metal particles depends on many factors, in order to determine the distance of a shot in each case, experimental shooting is carried out in a ballistic laboratory in compliance with the conditions of the incident and its results are compared with the nature of the damage under study.

AT III zone a close shot wound is formed only by a bullet. Powders and metal particles are deposited around it. When fired from a Makarov pistol, these particles can be detected on the target at a great distance - up to 150 cm from the muzzle, Kalashnikov assault rifle - up to 200 cm, rifles - up to 250 cm. On a horizontal surface, particles are found at distances up to 6-8 m. As the distance increases, the number of powders and metal particles reaching the striking object becomes less and less. At the limiting (max) distances, as a rule, single particles are detected.

When fired point blank at a right angle to the surface of the damaged part of the body (Fig. 11), the pre-bullet air and part of the powder gases emitted in front of the bullet from the bore, acting compactly, pierce the skin and, expanding in all directions in the initial part of the wound channel, begin to destroy the subcutaneous fat. The main volume of powder gases after passing the bullet continues to destroy fatty tissue, exfoliates the skin and hits it with force on the muzzle end of the weapon, forming a “stamp-imprint” (stamp mark) of the muzzle.

Rice. eleven

Sometimes the strength limits of the skin are exhausted and its gaps are formed in the radial directions. Together with powder gases, shot soot, powders and metal particles rush into the wound channel. Penetrating into the wound channel, powder gases interact with blood-rich tissues and form carboxyhemoglobin, carboxymyoglobin, methemoglobin and other compounds in them. If powder gases with high pressure reach cavities and hollow organs, then, expanding sharply, they can cause extensive ruptures in the tissue of internal organs.

The described mechanism is the basis for understanding the essence of the following morphological features of a point-blank shot:

• - a large defect in the skin, as a result of the penetrating action of powder gases;
• - detachment of the skin along the edges of the entrance gunshot wound, ruptures of the edges of the skin as a result of the penetration of powder gases under the skin and their explosive action;
• - abrasion or bruising in the form of a stamp-imprint of the muzzle end of the weapon due to impact and pushing on the muzzle of the barrel of the skin, exfoliated by penetrating under the skin and expanding powder gases,
• - extensive ruptures of internal organs - a consequence of the explosive action of powder gases that have penetrated into cavities or hollow organs;
• - skin ruptures in the area of ​​the exit wound in case of damage to thin parts of the body (fingers, hand, forearm, shin, foot) as a result of the explosive action of powder gases;
• - the presence of soot only in the cavity of the wound channel due to a tight stop, making it impossible for them to penetrate into the environment;
• - bright red color of the muscles in the area of ​​the entrance wound due to the chemical action of powder gases.

Due to the design features of the muzzle end of the barrel of some types of weapons (windows-holes for the removal of powder gases, obliquely cut muzzle end, etc.), individual signs of a point-blank shot may be absent.

When fired at stop at a certain angle (loose stop) to the surface of the damaged part of the body, the bulk of the powder gases, soot, powder penetrates into the wound channel, some of these additional factors of the shot have a damaging effect on the skin surface near the wound. This leads to the formation of unilateral skin ruptures and an asymmetric deposition of soot and powders near the edges of the entrance gunshot wound.

In some cases, an eccentric, butterfly-shaped, three- or six-petal arrangement of soot near the edges of a gunshot wound (Fig. 12) is determined by the design of the muzzle of some weapons (the presence of a muzzle brake, a flame arrester, etc.).

Rice. 12

b - Entrance gunshot wound when fired at "point-blank range" from 7.62-mm AKM - "eccentric" soot deposition.

c - Inlet gunshot hole on clothing when fired at point-blank range from a 5.56-mm M-16 rifle - "six-petal" soot deposits

Morphological features of typical entry bullet gunshot wounds formed at different shot distances weapons without muzzle brakes, flame arresters and other devices.

All entry gunshot wounds inflicted by a bullet with high kinetic energy at different firing distances have similar morphological features: the shape of the wound is round or oval, the “minus tissue” defect, and the circular band of deposition. However, depending on different shot distances, different shot factors can act on the target, which determine the presence or absence of additional damage.

At long range shot, the entrance gunshot wound (Fig. 13) has the following differential morphological features:

• - defect "minus fabric",
• - the absence of factors of a close shot (soot, powders, metal particles) on the skin around the wound.

Rice. thirteen

When fired corresponding 3rd close range zone

• - the shape of the wound is round or oval less than the diameter of the bullet,
• - defect "minus fabric",
• - circular belt of sedimentation and wiping (contamination) of the edge,
• - the presence of factors of a close shot around the wound at considerable distances, in the form of single unburned powders that have penetrated the skin, visible to the eye, as well as metal particles in the skin, detected by X-ray.

When fired corresponding 2nd close range zone, the entrance gunshot wound has the following differential morphological features:

• - the shape of the wound is round or oval less than the diameter of the bullet,
• - defect "minus fabric",
• - circular belt of sedimentation and wiping (contamination) of the edge,
• - the presence of close shot factors on the skin around the wound in the form of gray-black soot of varying intensity, the introduction of single unburned powders visible to the eye, as well as metal particles in the skin, detected by x-ray.

When fired corresponding 1st close range zone, due to the mechanical action of powder gases, the entrance gunshot wounds have a significant variability in shape and have the following differential morphological features (weapons without muzzle brake devices, flame arresters, etc.):

• - the shape of the wound is linear or stellate with a round or oval “minus tissue” defect in its central part when the edges are brought together, without skin detachment,
• - the size of the defect "minus the fabric" is less than the diameter of the bullet,
• - a circular belt of air precipitation on the skin around the wound,
• - a circular belt of shedding and rubbing (contamination) of the edge around the “minus tissue” defect,
• - the presence of close shot factors on the skin around the wound in the form of gray-black soot, the introduction of single unburned powders visible to the eye, as well as metal particles in the skin, detected by x-ray.

Shot point blank is determined by the following morphological features of the entrance gunshot wound (weapons without muzzle brake devices, flame arresters, etc.):

• - the shape of the wound is round, corresponds to or exceeds the diameter of the bullet, with radial linear breaks in the edges (subject to the underlying bone, for example, on the head), with an average length of 0.5-1 cm to 3.5-5 cm, depending on the type of weapon.
• - stamp-imprint (stamp mark) of the muzzle of the barrel of a firearm,
• - the edges of the wound are uneven, crushed,
• - the presence of factors of a close shot in the cavity of the wound channel in the form of an overlay of grey-black soot with the presence of unburned powders and metal particles.

Shot in position loose stop gives the following morphological features of the entrance gunshot wound (weapons without muzzle-braking devices, flame arresters, etc.):

• - the shape of the wound is irregularly rounded or oval, corresponds to or exceeds the diameter of the bullet (in terms of the minimum diameter), with radial linear ruptures of the edges located asymmetrically.
• - destruction of subcutaneous fat with skin detachment,
• - a fragment of a stamp-imprint (stamp mark) of the muzzle of the barrel of a firearm,
• - defect "minus tissue" in the center of the wound when the edges are brought together,
• - circular belt of sedimentation of the edge,
• - the presence of asymmetrically located factors of a close shot around the gunshot wound in the form of an overlay of grey-black soot with the presence of unburned powders and metal particles.
• - the presence of factors of a close shot in the cavity of the wound channel in the form of an overlay of grey-black soot, unburned powders and metal particles.
• - bright red staining of muscles and soft tissues in the initial section of the wound channel due to the chemical action of powder gases.

Bullet with low kinetic energy at long range shot, forms an entrance gunshot wound, similar to a wound from the action of a stabbing object, and has the following differential morphological features:

• - the shape of the wound is slit-like or star-shaped, larger than the diameter of the bullet,
• - no “minus fabric” defect,
• - slight edging of the edges,
• - absence of factors of a close shot (soot, powders, metal particles) on the skin around the wound,
• - blind, short wound channel.

Characteristics of exit gunshot wounds.

Exit gunshot wounds are formed at the moment of exit of the firearm from the tissues (Fig. 14), they are more variable in shape, size, and have the following morphological features:

• - the shape of the wound is linear (slit-like) or stellate,
• - the absence of a belt of sedimentation,
• - no “minus fabric” defect.

Rice. fourteen Exit gunshot wound: a) before matching the edges, b) after matching the edges

The belt of rawness at the exit wound occurs under special conditions - when the body area in the area of ​​the exit wound is pressed against a dense barrier at the time of the lesion. This leads to the impact of the edges of the exit wound on the surface of the barrier and the formation of abrasions. For the formation of sedimentation of the edges of the exit wound, it is enough to have such an obstacle as a waist belt. Differential diagnosis of input and output gunshot wounds is based on a comparative assessment of the entire set of differential morphological features.

Morphological signs of entry and exit bullet wounds on the skin when shot from a short distance are reflected in table No. 5:

Table 5

A close distance is understood as such a distance when not only a bullet affects the body, but also additional factors of a shot (pre-bullet air, thermal effect of a powder charge - gases, powder grains, soot particles, powder gases, soot particles, unburned powders, metal particles, gun grease, primer particles). There are three zones:

1st zone (3-5 cm) - a zone of pronounced mechanical action of powder gases, the entrance wound is formed due to the bursting and bruising action of powder gases, pre-bullet air and the penetrating action of a bullet. The edges of the wound have ruptures, a wide ring of settling ("ring of air settling") due to the action of pre-bullet air; deposition around the wound of soot of dark gray (black) smokeless powder and black or dark brown smoke powder; particles of incompletely burned powders; scorching of vellus hair or clothing fabric fibers (thermal action of powder gases); traces of gun grease.

2nd zone (20-35 cm)- deposition of soot together with particles of powder grains and metal particles, the wound is formed only by a bullet. Around the wound is the deposition of soot, powders, metal particles, gun grease.

3rd zone (150 cm)- deposition of powder grains and metal particles, the wound is formed only by a bullet, around the wound is the deposition of powders, metal particles.

Shot from a short distance (outside the range of additional factors of the shot).

At the same time, such a distance is understood when only a bullet acts on the body, and additional factors of the shot are not detected. A typical entrance gunshot wound is small, rounded, with a skin defect in the center, which is always smaller than the bullet diameter; the edges of the wound are uneven with breaks, the presence of a belt of sedimentation, the surface of the belt of sedimentation is often contaminated with dirty-gray metal. With the wedge-shaped action of the bullet, the wound is linear in shape and there is no tissue defect ("minus-tissue").

In some cases, when shooting from a short distance, one can detect soot deposits on the inner layers of clothing or skin in the absence of it on the surface layers of clothing (Vinogradov phenomenon), gray soot, similar to soot from a close shot.

The main conditions for the occurrence of such a deposit are the presence of several layers of clothing spaced 1-1.5 cm apart and a high bullet speed of over 500 meters per second. The differentiating feature is the deposition of soot at some distance from the edge of the damage and the radiative appearance of soot deposition (the length of the rays is not more than 1-1.5 cm), the absence of gunpowder grains on the object.

Determination of the direction of the shot.

To determine the direction of the shot, a preliminary study of the situation of the scene as a whole and the detected injuries of gunshot origin is carried out. So, for example, the place where the shot was fired from can be determined by the footprints of the shooter, the location of the shells ejected from the weapon; as well as bullet holes (that is, by sighting).

Sighting methods can be divided into four groups: visual, subject, subject-visual and computational-graphic. The use of this or that method is determined by the investigator based on the nature of the damage, the characteristics of their location, as well as other circumstances.

Visual sighting is carried out in two cases:

When a through damage is found in a sufficiently thick barrier (for example, a wall or a door);

When a gunshot wound occurs in several thin obstructions located close to each other (for example, double-glazed window frames or double doors).

With visual sighting, the direction of the shot is determined by viewing the gunshot damage “through the light”. Such observation in the direction of the projectile helps to determine the location of the latter, and in the opposite direction - to establish the place from which the shot was fired. So, for example, by looking through the gunshot wounds in the window panes of the apartment where the corpse was found, several windows located opposite the indicated damages of the windows of the neighboring house (from where the shot could have been fired) are determined.

In the second case (that is, when a gunshot wound is found in several thin obstacles located close to each other), the location of the shot is determined by observing along the line passing through both damages, in the direction opposite to the movement of the projectile. Moreover, both damages should be examined simultaneously. In order to locate the shooter, surveillance may be conducted through a paper tube. If the distance between damaged objects is small, it is entered into both damages. After such a sighting, a section of the terrain with objects visible through the opening of the tube is subject to fixation by photographing.

Subject sighting is carried out on "blind" gunshot injuries, as a rule, in confined spaces (rooms). Its essence lies in the fact that a rod (branch, ramrod) is inserted into the indicated damage, along the axis of which a twine is stretched to the plane closing the space (for example, a wall, floor or ceiling). Thus, in accordance with the specific situation of the scene of the incident, the following facts can be established by means of objective sighting:

a) the trajectory of the projectile;

b) the location of the shooter;

c) the possible position of the firearm at the time the shot was fired.

Object-visual sighting is carried out at the scene of the incident in the presence of through, as well as "blind" gunshot injuries and combines the features of both visual and objective sighting methods.

Conclusion

Summing up the work done, I want to note once again that when fired at close range, tissue damage is caused by the main and additional damaging factors (powder gases; individual unburned grains of gunpowder (powder); soot, etc.), while with shots from a short distance, damage is caused only by the main damaging factor, i.e. directly by a projectile (bullet, shot, buckshot).

The actions of additional damaging factors when firing at close range are directly dependent on the distance. The effect of additional damaging factors is most fully reflected in point-blank shots.

Knowledge about the mechanism of formation of gunshot damage at different shot distances is of great practical importance in the investigation of crimes, as it allows you to recreate the picture of the incident. For example, to establish that there is a staged suicide using a firearm, in the absence of signs of point-blank shooting.