title: Possible influences on bullet trajectory deflection in ballistic gelatine.
abstract: The influence of the distance to the top and bottom of a gelatine block and to bullet tracks from previously fired shots on a bullet's trajectory, when passing through ballistic gelatine, was studied. No significant difference in deflection was found when trajectories of 9mm Luger bullets, fired at a 3.5cm distance to the top and bottom of a gelatine block and to bullet tracks from previously fired shots, were compared to trajectories of bullets fired 7cm or more away from any of the aforementioned aspects. A surprisingly consistent 6.5° absolute deflection angle was found when these bullets passed through 22.5 to 23.5cm of ballistic gelatine. The projection angle, determined by the direction of the deflection, appeared to be random. The consistent absolute angle, in combination with the random projection angle, resulted in a cone-like deflection pattern.
authors.affiliation: IRM Bern, Bühlstrasse 20, 3012 Bern, Switzerland. Electronic address: fabiano.riva@irm.unibe.ch.
authors.forename: Fabiano
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Riva
authors.affiliation: Netherlands Forensic Institute, Laan van Ypenburg 6, 2497 GB Den Haag, The Netherlands. Electronic address: w.kerkhoff@nfi.minvenj.nl.
authors.forename: Wim
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kerkhoff
authors.affiliation: Netherlands Forensic Institute, Laan van Ypenburg 6, 2497 GB Den Haag, The Netherlands. Electronic address: a.bolck@nfi.minvenj.nl.
authors.forename: Annabel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bolck
authors.affiliation: Netherlands Forensic Institute, Laan van Ypenburg 6, 2497 GB Den Haag, The Netherlands. Electronic address: e.mattijssen@nfi.minvenj.nl.
authors.forename: Erwin J A T
authors.initials: EJAT
authors.lastname: Mattijssen
keywords: Ballistic gelatine; Bullet trajectory deflection; Terminal ballistics