The wounding potential of free-falling bullets

BACKGROUND: It was aimed in this study to clarify the wounding potential of free-falling bullets fired at 90° or close to right angles.
MEHTOHDS: In this study, 9x19 mm and 7.65x17 mm bullets, which are commonly used among civilians, were used. The muzzle velocities of these ammunitions were measured. According to the muzzle velocity data, the free-falling motion and strike velocity of the 9x19 mm and 7.65x17 mm bullets were simulated using the EBV4® External Ballistics Software at angles of 65°-90° with firings at 5° intervals. The simulation results were compared with critical velocity of tissues. In addition, the judicial records and press reports on this type of wound were examined and evaluated in light of the literature.
RESULTS: The strike velocity and kinetic energy of free-falling bullets, which were fired into the air at 5° intervals between 65°-90°, were measured. The average strike velocity and kinetic energy of 9x19 mm bullets were 92.25 m/sec and 34.05 J and of 7.65x17 mm bullets were 79.66 m/sec and 14.91 J, respectively. As a result of the archives examination, 65 such wounds were detected between 2000 and 2012, and 27 of them resulted in death.
DISCUSSION: According to these results, the strike velocity of free-falling 9x19 mm and 7.65x17 mm bullets, which were fired into the air, exceeds the threshold and critical velocity limits of skin and flat bones, and the kinetic energy of the bullets is able to cause significant wounding. Even though the symptoms and features of these types of wounds may not be similar to those of ordinary gunshot wounds in the first medical examination, the first responders should be aware of the possibility of gunshot wounds, and they should take into account the criminal investigation phase during the treatment process; the necessary precautions should be taken in order to preserve the evidence.

Serbest Düþme Hareketi Yapan Mermi Çekirdeklerinin Yaralama Potansiyelleri

AMAÇ: Bu çalýþmada dik ve dike yakýn atýþ sonrasý serbest düþme hareketi gerçekleþtiren mermi çekirdeðinin hedef üzerinde hayati yaralanmalara neden olabilme potansiyelinin ortaya konulmasý hedeflendi.
GEREÇ VE YÖNTEM: Çalýþmada 9x19 mm ve 7,65x17 mm çapýndaki mermilerin namlu çýkýþ hýzlarý ölçüldü ve bu hýzlar EBV4® Dýþ Balistik Yazýlýmý kullanýlarak yatayla 65 derece ila 90 derece arasýnda beþer derecelik aralýklardaki atýþlarla simüle edildi. Mermilerin serbest düþme hareketleri ve düþüþ hýzlarý incelendi. Elde edilen sonuçlar, dokularýn eþik hýz deðerleriyle karþýlaþtýrýldý. Ayrýca adli ve basýn kayýtlarý incelenerek Türkiye’de oluþan bu tip yaralanmalarýn analizi yapýldý ve literatür eþliðinde deðerlendirildi.
BULGULAR: Havaya 65 ila 90 derece arasýnda beþer derecelik aralýklarla yapýlan atýþlar neticesinde serbest düþme hareketi yapan mermi çekirdeklerinin ortalama isabet hýzý ve kinetik enerji deðerlerinin 9x19 mm çapýnda mermi için 92,25 m/sn ve 34,05 J olduðu; 7,65x17 mm çapýnda mermi için 79,66 m/sn ve 14,91 J olduðu saptandý. Yapýlan arþiv taramasýnda 2000-2012 yýllarý arasýnda Türkiye’de 65 adet bu tip yaralanma tespit edildi ve bunlarýn 27 tanesinin ölümle sonuçlandýðý anlaþýldý.
SONUÇ: Elde edilen bulgular havaya yapýlan atýþtan sonra serbest düþen 9x19 mm ile 7,65x17 mm çapýndaki mermilerin isabet aný hýzlarýnýn cilt ve yassý kemik için eþik hýz ve kritik hýz sýnýrlarýný aþtýðý ve kinetik enerji deðerlerinin ciddi yaralanma oluþturabileceðini göstermektedir. Ýlk müdahale anýndaki muayene bulgularý ateþli silah yaralanmasýna benzer özellik göstermese de bunlarýn ASY olabileceði ihtimali unutulmadan deðerlendirilmeleri ve tedavileri yapýlýrken adli boyutu göz önüne alarak delilleri koruyacak þekilde davranýlmasýna dikkat edilmelidir.