The effect of the home shooting percussion pistol on skull substitute bones

Soud Lek. 2010 Oct;55(4):54-5.

Abstract

The aim of this paper was to determine if the saloon percussion pistol, considered to be a non-lethal weapon, can in fact be dangerous to life even if the neucranium is hit elsewhere than the so-called "locus minoris resistentiae" areas. In the face of specialist opinion that states that life-threatening or serious injury can occur only after a shot to the sensitive parts of the head (eyes, ears, sinus, nasal and oral cavity), it was experimentally determined on replacement materials that if the gun is loaded with just 100mg of gun powder a 4.5mm calibre bullet always penetrates the cranium. Saloon percussion pistols can be dangerous to life in situations that nobly expected till now.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Forensic Ballistics*
  • Humans
  • Models, Structural
  • Skull / injuries*
  • Wounds, Gunshot / pathology*