Differences in Gunpowder Tattooing on Pig Head Wounds Caused by a .380 Pistol and a .38 Revolver – A Forensic Research in South Brazil

Aims: To analyse the differences in gunpowder tattooing on pig head wounds caused by a .380 pistol and a .38 revolver.

Study Design: Observational prospective cross-sectional.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Forensic Dentistry, Brazilian Dental Association – Section of Rio Grande do Sul, between March and July 2017.

Methodology: A .38 revolver (Rossi®, São Leopoldo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil) and a .380 pistol (Bersa®, Buenos Aires, Argentina), and their respective ammunition (CBC®, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil), were used to produce gunshot wounds in the head of 4 Large White adult pigs in South Brazil. The firearms were positioned by systematically modifying the distance between the muzzle and the target – from 5 to 20 cm. Photographs were taken from each gunshot wound using a standard scale. The gunpowder tattooing area and perimeter were measured and registered for comparison between firearms. Qualitatively, the visibility of the tattooing surface was directly compared between firearms.

Results: The tattooing surface produced by the firearms varied considerably within the distances between 5 and 20 cm. In specific, the tattooing surfaces increased proportionally with the distances. More visible and well-defined tattooing surfaces were produced by the pistol.

Conclusion: In practice, forensic investigators may find clues of the shooting distance by analysing the tattooing surface in gunshot wounds.