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The features of the rifled gun-inflicted entrance wounds are determined by type of weapon, target material, muzzle-target angle, etc., as well as distance of fire. Nonetheless, the entrance wounds have been classified according to only one factor, distance of fire.
Poplin and suede were fired with .45-caliber pistol, .38-caliber revolver, .25caliber pistol and M16A1 rifle at various muzzle-target distances. The results made the author possible to classify the entrance wounds by the characteristics of wounds as follows.
1. Underblasted wound - An entrance wound which is produced when fired at fast contact with a small caliber handgun on target of considerable mechanical strength. The front surface resembles a simple wound from long range shot. The undersurface surrounding the exit hole shows effects of gaseous blast, flame, smoke and gunpowder residues.
2. Blasted wound - Variable degrees of damage to target due to gaseous blast is accompanied. Degree and shape of damage are dependent on the difference between mechanical strength of target material and gaseous explosive power.
3. Tattooed wound - Fouling around the entrance hole, concentric or eccentric, is noticed due to flame, smoke and/or gunpowder residues.
Implied in the type of patterned wound, blasted wound and tattooed wound are caused by close range shot and near range shot, respectively.
4. Simple wound - Only effect by bullet, penetration wound, can be found.
Distances of fire, correspondent to the types of the entrance wounds, were provided in accordance with the type of weapon and target material tried in the experiment.
The above classification of the entrance wounds was applied retrospectively to the cases of gunshot deaths autopsied by Forensic Medicine Section, the ROKA Scientific Investigation Lab.
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