The work in the ballistics division involves the identification & comparison of firearms, ammunition and parts thereof. The work includes-

• Examination of the arms and ammunition recovered under Arms Act and other provisions of Law
• The "stoichiometry" of the firearm and its working condition
• Restoration of erased marking on the firearm
• To determine whether the spent cartridge / bullet / percussion cap / pellet / wad have been fired through firearm in question or not
• To find out whether the ammunition is live or not
• Examination of target materials having suspected bullet/pellet/shot holes
• Determination of range and direction of firing
• Examination of GSR in hand swabs in suicide, homicide and deaths due to encounter
• Examination of place of occurrence and reconstruction of crime scene
• Measurement of wound ballistic parameters

• Pre-requisites of registration of Ballistics cases in FSL
• The name of the deceased, sex, and age are to be invariably mentioned in case of Biological / P.M. materials
• Seals on exhibits must be affixed with the specimen lac seal
• Control samples should be sent wherever necessary
• The sealed exhibits then prepared should accompany the following documents-

  
  Forwarding Memo duly filled in -

  • Legible copy of the P.M. examination / injury report duly attested.
  • The firearm should be packaged in a cardboard box, envelope, or paper bag separately from the ammunition and / or magazine
  • The cartridges, cartridge cases, and / or bullets found at the crime scene should be packaged separately and placed in paper envelopes or small cardboard cases
  • Keep notes on the condition of the weapon as found and the steps taken to render it as safe as possible without damaging potential evidence.