Forensic Ballistics Questions and Answers

Q: In ammunition, which of the following denotes a numerical term included in a cartridge name to indicate the nominal bullet diameter ?

The term is caliber.The caliber is the number in a cartridge name that indicates the nominal bullet or bore diameter, as in .38 Special or 9 mm Parabellum. It may be given in hundredths or thousandths of an inch or in millimetres, and it is nominal: the actual bullet diameter can differ slightly.Canting is tilting a firearm sideways while aiming, a cannelure is a groove rolled around a bullet or case (for crimping or lubricant), and bushing is a sleeve fitted in a firearm part. None of them is a diameter.

Q: Which of the following are serial number restoration methods ?List(i) Chemical etching(ii) Electrolytic chemical etching(iii) Magnetic particle inspection(iv) Light and alternate light sources(v) Overstamping

The restoration methods are (i), (ii), (iii), (iv).When a serial number is ground or filed off, the metal beneath the original stamping remains strained to a greater depth. Restoration methods reveal that strained zone:chemical etching dissolves the strained metal at a different rate;electrolytic etching speeds this with an electric current;magnetic particle inspection shows the disturbed magnetic field in ferrous metals;oblique and alternate light sources reveal faint remaining impressions.Overstamping (v) is not restoration but a way of obliterating a number, by stamping other characters over it. Every option including (v) is therefore wrong.

Q: Singeing is found in which type of firing ?

Singeing is found in near-contact range firing.The flame and hot gases from the muzzle travel only a short distance, roughly up to a few centimetres for a handgun. At contact and near-contact range they burn the skin and singe hair and clothing fibres around the entry wound.At intermediate range, the flame no longer reaches the target, but unburnt powder still does and produces tattooing. At mid and long range, neither flame nor powder reaches the skin, and only the bullet marks it.

Q: Which of the following is caused by the carbonaceous material in the discharge residues mainly resulting from incomplete combustion of the propellant ?

The effect is blackening.Blackening, also called smudging or soot deposit, is the layer of carbon particles from incomplete combustion of the propellant that settles around a wound at close range. It is a light deposit that can be wiped away.The other effects have different causes. Scorching (burning) is due to the flame, tattooing is due to unburnt and partly burnt powder grains embedded in the skin, which cannot be wiped off, and 'dustring' is not one of the standard close-range effects.

Q: The term 'Vierling' and 'Drilling' are associated with :

Vierling and Drilling are associated with the shotgun.Both are German names for multi-barrelled combination guns. A Drilling has three barrels, usually two smooth shotgun barrels with one rifled barrel below; a Vierling has four barrels. They are hunting guns built around shotgun barrels.Light and medium machine guns (LMG, MMG) and grenade launchers are military weapons, and these terms are not used for them.

Q: Ratchet mechanism is associated with which type of firearm ?

The ratchet mechanism is associated with the revolver.In a revolver the cylinder has a star-shaped ratchet at its rear. As the hammer is cocked or the trigger is pulled, a pawl (the hand) pushes against the ratchet and rotates the cylinder to bring the next chamber in line with the barrel, where the cylinder stop locks it.Pistols feed from a magazine by slide action, shotguns by break, pump or semi-automatic action, and airguns by a spring or compressed gas, none of which uses a ratchet to index chambers.

Q: In modified Griess test, the positive result is indicated by :

A positive modified Griess test gives an orange-red colour.The test detects nitrite residues from burnt propellant around a bullet hole. Photographic paper treated with sulphanilic acid and alpha-naphthol is pressed against the garment with acetic acid; nitrites diazotise the sulphanilic acid, which couples with the naphthol to give orange-red spots. Their spread helps estimate the firing distance.Green, blue and dark green colours are not what this azo-dye reaction produces. (A blue-black colour is the diphenylamine test for nitrates.)

51.

In ammunition, which of the following denotes a numerical term included in a cartridge name to indicate the nominal bullet diameter ?

A.Canting
B.Caliber
C.Cannelure
D.Bushing

Exam Year(s)

MH SET - 2025, SET Exam - 2025,

Answer: B

The term is caliber.

The caliber is the number in a cartridge name that indicates the nominal bullet or bore diameter, as in .38 Special or 9 mm Parabellum. It may be given in hundredths or thousandths of an inch or in millimetres, and it is nominal: the actual bullet diameter can differ slightly.

Canting is tilting a firearm sideways while aiming, a cannelure is a groove rolled around a bullet or case (for crimping or lubricant), and bushing is a sleeve fitted in a firearm part. None of them is a diameter.

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52.

Which of the following are serial number restoration methods ?

List
(i) Chemical etching
(ii) Electrolytic chemical etching
(iii) Magnetic particle inspection
(iv) Light and alternate light sources
(v) Overstamping

A.(i), (ii), (iii), (iv)
B.(i), (ii), (iii), (v)
C.(i), (ii), (v)
D.(ii), (iv), (v)

Exam Year(s)

MH SET - 2025, SET Exam - 2025,

Answer: A

The restoration methods are (i), (ii), (iii), (iv).

When a serial number is ground or filed off, the metal beneath the original stamping remains strained to a greater depth. Restoration methods reveal that strained zone:

chemical etching dissolves the strained metal at a different rate;
electrolytic etching speeds this with an electric current;
magnetic particle inspection shows the disturbed magnetic field in ferrous metals;
oblique and alternate light sources reveal faint remaining impressions.

Overstamping (v) is not restoration but a way of obliterating a number, by stamping other characters over it. Every option including (v) is therefore wrong.

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53.

Singeing is found in which type of firing ?

A.Near-contact range firing
B.Mid-range firing
C.Long distance firing
D.Intermediate-range firing

Exam Year(s)

MH SET - 2025, SET Exam - 2025,

Answer: A

Singeing is found in near-contact range firing.

The flame and hot gases from the muzzle travel only a short distance, roughly up to a few centimetres for a handgun. At contact and near-contact range they burn the skin and singe hair and clothing fibres around the entry wound.

At intermediate range, the flame no longer reaches the target, but unburnt powder still does and produces tattooing. At mid and long range, neither flame nor powder reaches the skin, and only the bullet marks it.

Discuss in Forum

54.

Which of the following is caused by the carbonaceous material in the discharge residues mainly resulting from incomplete combustion of the propellant ?

A.Scorching
B.Dustring
C.Blackening
D.Tattooing

Exam Year(s)

MH SET - 2025, SET Exam - 2025,

Answer: C

The effect is blackening.

Blackening, also called smudging or soot deposit, is the layer of carbon particles from incomplete combustion of the propellant that settles around a wound at close range. It is a light deposit that can be wiped away.

The other effects have different causes. Scorching (burning) is due to the flame, tattooing is due to unburnt and partly burnt powder grains embedded in the skin, which cannot be wiped off, and 'dustring' is not one of the standard close-range effects.

Discuss in Forum

55.

The term 'Vierling' and 'Drilling' are associated with :

A.LMG
B.MMG
C.Shotgun
D.Grenade Launcher

Exam Year(s)

MH SET - 2025, SET Exam - 2025,

Answer: C

Vierling and Drilling are associated with the shotgun.

Both are German names for multi-barrelled combination guns. A Drilling has three barrels, usually two smooth shotgun barrels with one rifled barrel below; a Vierling has four barrels. They are hunting guns built around shotgun barrels.

Light and medium machine guns (LMG, MMG) and grenade launchers are military weapons, and these terms are not used for them.

Discuss in Forum

56.

Ratchet mechanism is associated with which type of firearm ?

A.Shotgun
B.Airgun
C.Revolver
D.Pistol

Exam Year(s)

MH SET - 2025, SET Exam - 2025,

Answer: C

The ratchet mechanism is associated with the revolver.

In a revolver the cylinder has a star-shaped ratchet at its rear. As the hammer is cocked or the trigger is pulled, a pawl (the hand) pushes against the ratchet and rotates the cylinder to bring the next chamber in line with the barrel, where the cylinder stop locks it.

Pistols feed from a magazine by slide action, shotguns by break, pump or semi-automatic action, and airguns by a spring or compressed gas, none of which uses a ratchet to index chambers.

Discuss in Forum

57.

In modified Griess test, the positive result is indicated by :

A.Green-blue colour
B.Dark blue colour
C.Orange red colour
D.Dark green colour

Exam Year(s)

MH SET - 2025, SET Exam - 2025,

Answer: C

A positive modified Griess test gives an orange-red colour.

The test detects nitrite residues from burnt propellant around a bullet hole. Photographic paper treated with sulphanilic acid and alpha-naphthol is pressed against the garment with acetic acid; nitrites diazotise the sulphanilic acid, which couples with the naphthol to give orange-red spots. Their spread helps estimate the firing distance.

Green, blue and dark green colours are not what this azo-dye reaction produces. (A blue-black colour is the diphenylamine test for nitrates.)

Discuss in Forum

58.

The Indian Arms Act was enforced in

A.1955
B.1959
C.1961
D.1964

Exam Year(s)

UGC NET - 2012,

Answer: B

The Indian Arms Act was enforced in 1959. It replaced the earlier Arms Act of 1878 and regulates the manufacture, possession, sale and carrying of arms and ammunition.

1955, 1961 and 1964 are not the year of this Act. The Arms Rules followed in 1962. The Act also fixes licensing for firearms and punishments for illegal possession, so it is the law that a forensic ballistics examiner meets when a weapon is seized. The 1878 Act, which it replaced, belonged to the colonial period, and 1959 is the date after independence that the question wants.

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59.

The bore of the 12 bore gun is

A.0.723"
B.0.727"
C.0.729"
D.0.731"

Exam Year(s)

UGC NET - 2012,

Answer: C

The bore of a 12 bore gun is 0.729 inch. A bore number is the number of lead balls, each fitting the bore, that make a pound, and for 12 bore the diameter works out to 0.729 inch.

The values 0.723, 0.727 and 0.731 inch are close to it but are not the standard figure, so they are the distractors. Bore numbers work backwards, so a larger gauge number means a smaller bore, and a 12 bore is therefore larger than a 16 bore or a 20 bore gun. The standard fixes 0.729 inch for the 12 bore for this reason, while the neighbouring values in the options are only near misses.

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60.

Ballistic coefficient of a projectile is represented by

A.\(W/dn\)
B.\(\sqrt{\dfrac{W}{d^{2}n}}\)
C.\(MV^{2}\)
D.\(\dfrac{W}{d^{2}n}\)

Exam Year(s)

UGC NET - 2012,

Answer: D

The ballistic coefficient of a projectile is W divided by d squared times n, that is \(\dfrac{W}{d^{2}n}\), where W is the weight, d the diameter and n a form factor of the nose. It measures how well a bullet keeps its velocity against air resistance.

\(W/dn\) takes the diameter to the first power, which is wrong. The square-root form is not a ballistic coefficient, and \(MV^{2}\) has the form of kinetic energy (without the half), not of a coefficient.

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