title: Ricochet Behavior on Glass-Critical Ricochet Angles, Ricochet Angles, and Deflection Angles.
abstract: For shooting scene reconstruction purposes, knowledge about the ricochet behavior of bullets provides valuable information. In this study, the critical ricochet angles of four cartridge types were established on plain float glass. The estimates of the critical ricochet angles varied between cartridge types and were 21.0° for .32 Auto FMJ bullets, 15.8° for 9 mm Luger FMJ bullets, 17.6° for .45 Auto FMJ bullets, and 21.3° for 9 mm Luger, Action NP bullets. The corresponding ricochet and deflection angles per incidence angle varied depending on the state of the ricocheted bullets. The mean ricochet angles are always lower than the corresponding angles of incidence, and the mean ricochet angles for the FMJ bullets with undamaged jackets are lower than those of bullets where the jacket is either damaged or the bullet partially ricocheted and partially perforated. Mean ricochet angles are lower for undamaged FMJ bullets than for undamaged Action NP bullets.
authors.affiliation: Netherlands Forensic Institute, PO Box 24044, 2490 AA, The Hague, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Erwin J A T
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Mattijssen
authors.affiliation: Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, Forensic Investigation, PO Box 1025, 1000 BA, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: K Dieter H
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Pater
authors.affiliation: Netherlands Forensic Institute, PO Box 24044, 2490 AA, The Hague, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Reinoud D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Stoel
keywords: bullet trajectory; critical ricochet angle; deflection; firearms; forensic science; glass; ricochet