FBI Ammunition & Ballistics 3

Question 1

What critical lesson did the 1986 FBI Miami Shootout teach regarding ammunition selection?

Accepted Answer

It revealed that inadequate bullet penetration and terminal performance can leave an armed subject able to continue fighting even after being hit

Answer

It demonstrated that agents needed rifles rather than handguns in all field situations

Answer

It showed that bullet placement on the body is irrelevant if ammunition is powerful enough

Answer

It established that semi-automatic pistols were inferior to revolvers for FBI use

Question 2

What is 'ballistic gelatin' and why is it the FBI standard for ammunition testing?

Accepted Answer

A calibrated 10% gelatin block that replicates the density and resistance of human soft tissue for standardized penetration testing

Answer

A gelatin used to preserve bullet fragments as evidence

Answer

A protective coating applied to bullets to prevent corrosion in storage

Answer

A compound injected into bullet wounds to preserve forensic evidence

Question 3

What does 'muzzle energy' measure in firearms ballistics?

Accepted Answer

The kinetic energy of the projectile as it exits the barrel, measured in foot-pounds

Answer

The acoustic energy of the muzzle blast in decibels

Answer

The gas pressure at the muzzle at the moment of bullet exit

Answer

The felt recoil force experienced at the shooter's hands

Question 4

What is 'windage' in the context of long-range shooting and external ballistics?

Accepted Answer

The lateral displacement of a bullet's path caused by a crosswind

Answer

The increase in apparent bullet weight due to air resistance drag

Answer

The rotational velocity of a bullet's spin in flight

Answer

The vertical drop of a bullet caused by gravitational acceleration

Question 5

What specifically distinguishes a 'jacketed hollow point' (JHP) from a standard hollow point bullet?

Accepted Answer

The metal jacket ensures reliable feeding in semi-automatic firearms while the hollow point cavity promotes controlled expansion

Answer

The jacket allows the bullet to penetrate soft body armor reliably

Answer

The jacket causes the bullet to travel at supersonic speed without spin decay

Answer

The jacket reduces barrel wear by preventing lead-on-rifling contact only

Question 6

In FBI ammunition protocol testing, what conditions are used to evaluate 'barrier blind' performance?

Accepted Answer

Bullets are tested after passing through standard barriers such as auto glass, wallboard, plywood, and heavy clothing before entering gelatin

Answer

Bullets are fired at angled steel plates at 25 yards

Answer

Bullets are evaluated only for performance in bare gelatin at standard range distances

Answer

Bullets are assessed by their performance against Level IIIA body armor panels

Question 7

What is the relationship between a bullet's ballistic coefficient (BC) and wind deflection at long range?

Accepted Answer

A higher BC reduces wind deflection because the bullet resists air resistance more efficiently and retains velocity

Answer

A higher BC increases wind deflection because the bullet retains more energy

Answer

BC has no measurable effect on wind deflection; only bullet diameter matters

Answer

A lower BC reduces wind deflection because the bullet decelerates faster and spends less time in the wind