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Assessment of wound characteristics and the identification of various constituents of firearm discharge at autopsy play a key role in the determination of range of fire. In relation to wounds caused by shotguns, identification of the wad within the wound track, or of injury caused by the wad, is typically thought to suggest a fairly close range of fire. We present a case of a fatality due to a shotgun slug wound where the presence of the wad within the decedent's body was proposed by defense at criminal trial to favor accidental close range discharge during a struggle for the weapon—as opposed to the prosecution's contention of intentional firing of the weapon from a greater range and through an intermediate target. We undertook test firing of a shotgun of similar design to that which was fired during the interaction (a 12‐gauge pump‐action shotgun) using shotshells consistent with the slug that was recovered from the body (Winchester Super X brand), which demonstrated that the non‐attached fiber wad present in this shotshell design can accompany the slug over distances of at least up to 22 feet (6.7 m) and even after transit through intermediate targets such as a vehicle headrest. These novel data provide assistance with estimation of range of fire in instances of injuries caused by shotgun slugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are several studies suggesting models for firing distance estimation due to pellet dispersion, but few of them consider the degree of choke of a shotgun. The purpose of this research is to suggest some models for estimation of the firing distance for choked and cylinder bore shotguns. Twelve gauge with full chokes, and 12 and 16 gauge with cylinder bore shotguns were fired with #2 and #5 shots from 75, 100, 300, 500, and 1000 cm distances. Statistically significant pellet dispersion values were found for each shotgun by using #2 and #5 shots for different firing distances. All the data obtained were analyzed with linear regression and four models were constituted. Investigators should use special formulae for each shotgun, degree of choke, and pellet type while determining the firing distance. Therefore, more experimental and comparative studies should be designed for each type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Tucson Police Department, Tucson, AZ, has begun using the Polyshok Impact Reactive Projectile (IRP), a new type of shotgun ammunition that includes a lead bead core that travels within single, plastic-encased projectile. On impact, the core is released to distribute over a small area, thereby disintegrating on impact to reduce the likelihood of exit or collateral damage on missed shots. After a brief review of shotgun slug ballistics and wound characteristics and a discussion of the mechanism of the Polyshok IRP, we report the first death in the United States from this ammunition. Findings included a single entrance wound with plastic ammunition components and small lead particles recovered from the body, the combination of which normally would suggest a close-range shooting with birdshot. However, the characteristics of this ammunition create different patterns than are found with slugs or shot, so that a medical examiner unfamiliar with the Polyshok IRP could draw inaccurate conclusions about ammunition and range of fire. Because the single projectile fired from this ammunition is composed of both plastic and lead, plastic components are likely to be found within the wound at any range of fire, unlike traditional shot or slug ammunition. Also, the small size of lead particles found spread through the wound cavity would ordinarily suggest a small-size shot, whereas the external appearance of the wound (a single entrance with no dispersion of shot) and the pattern of tissue destruction are more consistent with the patterns of injury associated with shotgun slugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the legal status of modified shotguns in Turkey by examining the cases submitted to the Aydın Regional Criminal Laboratory between January 2006 and August 2008. A total of 351 shotguns used in crimes were examined. These guns were evaluated in respect of their type, size, caliber, fitness for use, and legal classification. Eleven percent of these shotguns had been modified and it was found that 55% of the modified shotguns were classified according to law 6136 and qualified as a pistol and 45% were classified according to law 2521 and qualified as nonstandard shotguns. Within the Turkish criminal justice system, a nonstandard shotgun attracts a less stringent sentence than a pistol. It would therefore appear that this sentencing structure is considered when modifying shotguns in Turkey. This is clearly a loop-hole in the legislation that could perhaps be investigated and closed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]