Ballistics: Forensic Science

For most of us we have heard the word ballistics throughout our lives. In most cases from television shows, like CSI, Law & Order, or The First 48, but what is ballistics? Ballistics is the part of Forensic Science that handles firearms and how they are used, why they are used, and why they are used repeatedly in the practice of murder. Many people have no idea that when a victim is shot the wound and the circumstances of the victim can say a lot about the nature of the firearm that was used. Especially, if the firearm has been left at where the crime occurred, which happens if the criminal panics. A weapon can provide a lot of important information about the individual who committed the crime. Although, there are four types of ballistics,

When the bullet crosses the line of sight the first time, that is the near zero. The near zero and zero travel in opposite directions as the elevation is adjusted. The near zero gets closer, if you zero your firearm at a more distant range, if an individual brings the zero closer to themselves, the near zero becomes further away from you until they cross. Furthermore, mid-range is when the bullet path is the highest above the line of sight. Mid-range is not quite half way to the target, it is nearby the target because when the bullets speed decreases it falls at an extreme angle. Also, there is point blank range, which is the highest range an individual can hit a target of a certain size without adjusting their sight. A lot of times people will use the phrase “point blank” to mean “really close”, but it doesn't mean that in ballistics. For example, lets say you are hunting a coyote. You know exactly where you want your shot to hit, but you have figured out that any shot not more than four inches high or low is okay. Point blank range is the highest range for which this is accurate (Firearms Advantage,