• Leigh Hlavaty, Jeffery Amley, Kelly Root, Sarah Avedschmidt, Andrea Jaworski, and LokMan Sung.
• Wayne County Medical Examiner's Office, 1300 E. Warren Avenue, Detroit, MI.
• J. Forensic Sci. 2020 Mar 1; 65 (2): 500-507.

AbstractWhen interpreting firearm injuries, the distinction between gunshot wounds and shotgun wounds is important, and separation of these categories is typically straightforward. However, .410 bore firearms can make the classification difficult. Shotguns and revolvers that can fire the same .410 bore ammunition are readily available. This study investigates the soot and gunpowder deposits and pellet patterning of these two types of weapons using cartridges specially designed for .410 bore revolvers and standard birdshot pellet ammunition. For both ammunition types, the revolver had more prompt pellet dispersion and positive detection of gunpowder at greater distances compared to the shotgun. Additionally, .410 bore slugs are of similar caliber to many common bullets. In comparing the .410 bore slugs to equivalent bullets, some morphologic differences may be imparted on the skin by the slugs, but the greatest insight into the weapon remained with the retained projectiles.© 2019 American Academy of Forensic Sciences.

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