Handbook of Firearms and Ballistics

Brian Heard began his career as an examiner in firearms and ballistics with the Metropolitan Police Forensics Firearms Laboratory at New Scotland Yard, London, UK. He rose to the level of Deputy Head of the Laboratory before joining the Royal Hong Kong Police as a ballistics officer. He is currently the officer in charge of the Ballistics and Firearms Identification Bureau for the Royal Hong Kong Police. He appears regularly in court as an expert witness in cases involving firearms, ammunition, tools and toolmarks, and has undertaken the research, development and implementation of improved techniques for the collection, examination and interpretation of gunshot residue particles via a scanning electron microscope. He also lectures to police training establishments and related organisations on all aspects of forensic ballistics, forensic firearms and toolmark examinations, gunshot residue analysis and the use of these techniques in criminal investigations. His personal interests include rock climbing and he has previously published a book on rock climbing in Hong Kong.

History of firearms; history of ammunition; ammunition components and ammunition types and calibres; headstamp markings on ammunition; weapon types and operation; rifling types and identification; proof marks; history of forensic firearms examination; basic concepts of comparison microscopy and striation matching; mathematical proof of positive striation matches; range of fire estimations; accidental discharge; ballistics; gunshot residue examination; gun handling tests; restoration of erased numbers; qualifying the expert witness; cross examination techniques; firearms technology.