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Revision as of 22:15, 8 November 2006

A contact shot is defined as a gunshot wound incurred while the muzzle of the firearm is in direct contact with the body at the moment of discharge. Contact shots are often the result of close range gunfight, suicide or execution. Some slaughterhouses use contact shots with firearms to stun or kill livestock before slaughter.

Terminal effects

Wounds caused by contact shots are very devastating, as the body absorbs the entire discharge of the cartridge, not just the projectile. Even a blank cartridge can cause lethal wounds if fired in contact with the body, so that powerheads, which are intended to fire at contact range, are often loaded with blanks.

Characteristics

In the field of forensic ballistics, the characteristics of a contact shot are often an important part of recreating a shooting. A contact shot produces a distinctive wound, with extensive tissue damage from the burning propellant. Unlike a shot from point-blank range, the powder burns will cover a very small area right around the entry wound; often there will be a distinct pattern, called tattooing. Star-shaped tattooing is often caused by the rifling in the gun barrel, and distinct patterns may also be made by flash suppressors, or muzzle brakes. The shape of the tattooing may help identify the firearm used.

In many cases, the body's absorption of the muzzle blast will act as a suppressor, trapping the propelland gasses under the skin and muffling the sound of the shot.

See also

References

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