This document discusses the three phases of ballistics - internal, external, and terminal - and provides details about each. Internal ballistics refers to what happens inside the firearm, such as ignition and the projectile gaining velocity down the barrel. External ballistics is when the projectile exits the barrel and its trajectory is affected by air resistance. Terminal ballistics occurs when the projectile strikes the target, creating temporary and permanent cavities that can immediately incapacitate or cause hydraulic decompression and death.

1. BALLISTICS
• Internal Ballistics - projectile inside the
weapon.
• External Ballistics - projectile in flight.
• Terminal Ballistics - projectile striking
the target.

2. INTERNAL BALLISTICS
• As the powder begins to ignite and
chamber pressure builds, the bullet
is thrust forward to engage the
rifling.

3. INTERNAL BALLISTICS (cont.)
• The pressure builds as more powder
ignites, adding velocity to the
projectile.

4. • As the round travels down the barrel,
it is rotated by the rifling cut into the
barrel.
• The rotation will stabilize the round
once it exits the barrel.
INTERNAL BALLISTICS (cont.)

5. EXTERNAL BALLISTICS
• As soon as projectile exits the bore,
velocity drops and air drag slows
round down.

6. TRAJECTORY
LINE OF SIGHT
RANGE
100 200 300
36 180
Max ordinate
4.6 inches

7. MAXIMUM ORDINATE
Trajectory
Line of Sight
-10
-5
0
5
10
15
20
25
300 Yard Zero -2.5 -1.8 -1 -0.4 0.3 0.9 1.4 1.9 2.4 2.8 3.2 3.5 3.8 4.1 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.5 4.4 4.2 4 3.7 3.4 3 2.5 2 1.4 0.7 0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 210 220 230 240 250 260 270 280 290 300
Yards
4.6 4.6

8. TRAJECTORY (cont.)
LINE OF SIGHT
RANGE
100 200 300
36
• Bullet crosses line of sight on upward
path at 36 yards; crosses again on
downward path at 300 yards.

9. Engagement at
Less Than 36 Yards
LINE OF SIGHT
RANGE
100 200 300
36
• Shots will be below sight picture
• Must aim higher to be accurate

10. BALLISTICS AT CLOSE
RANGES
-3
-2
-1
0
1
2
3
4
5
300 Yard Zero -2.6 -2.4 -2.3 -2.1 -2 -1.9 -1.7 -1.6 -1.4 -1.3 -1.1 -1 -0.9 -0.7 -0.6 -0.5 -0.3 -0.2 0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.7 0.8
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48 50
Trajectory
Line of Sight
Yards

11. Engagement at
50 and 100 Yards
LINE OF SIGHT
RANGE
100 200 300
50
• Shots will be above sight picture
• Must aim lower to be accurate

12. BALLISTICS AT CLOSE
RANGES
-3
-2
-1
0
1
2
3
4
5
300 Yard Zero -2.6 -2.4 -2.3 -2.1 -2 -1.9 -1.7 -1.6 -1.4 -1.3 -1.1 -1 -0.9 -0.7 -0.6 -0.5 -0.3 -0.2 -0.1 0 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.7 0.8
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48 50
Trajectory
Line of Sight
Yards

13. TEMPORARY CAVITY
• Friction causes round to tumble, creating
temporary cavity.
• Shock is transmitted through body fluids.

14. PERMANENT CAVITY
• Tissue crushed and torn by the projectile
will remain open as the permanent cavity.

15. CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
Medulla
Oblongata

16. Hydraulic Decompression
(Bleed Out)
• Heart or vascular structure.
• Target can still effectively fight for 10-
15 seconds.
• Not effective for close range fight,
though will usually lead to death.

17. BRAIN
Cerebrum
Cerebellum
Medulla
Oblongata

18. IMMEDIATE INCAPACITATION
AIMING POINTS FOR THE HEAD
Frontal Shot:
“T-Box”

19. VITAL AREAS OF THE BODY
Base of Throat
Heart and Major
Vascular
Structures
Kidneys
Liver