Recently, I worked temporarily at the coroner's office in a large metropolitan area. This office did investigations and autopsies on anyone who died violently, unexpectedly, or under suspicious circumstances. During my time, there were perhaps two dozen gunshot deaths. I have made some observations. Keep in mind that these are subjective observations on a small number of dead victims.
1. There is a wide variety of bullets. Projectiles of all types were recovered from the bodies--from .32 to .45 pistol rounds, rifle slugs, and shotgun pellets. There were no .22's. I can't say for sure what the calibers were because the recovered slugs were measured and investigated elsewhere.
2. Hollowpoints work. For the pistol rounds, about 1/4 - 1/3 were hollowpoints. Every single one that was removed from a body was well-expanded. Some had passed through heavy clothing or other obstacles before lodging itself into the deceased.
3. If you want to kill someone, use a shotgun at close range. Pistol and rifle rounds often went right through the victim, leaving neat holes, both entrance and exit. Victims often died after being being shot multiple times with a pistol or after someone at a hospital tried to save them. Shotgun wounds left huge, nasty holes and no exit wounds. This was true even of light birdshot. Those hit with a shotgun were immediately killed.
4. Life is precious and fragile. I was amazed at the number of car accidents, freak accidents, overdoses, falls, heart attacks, suicides and homicides that happen every day. People die of the most stupid and unexpected reasons. I would look upon the recently deceased and know that just 24 hours before, I might have talked to him on the street, or done business with her in a store. I knew that at that moment, their families were mourning, or even just getting the news that their loved one had died.
Go hug your family and protect them well.
Humbly, Poplin
1. There is a wide variety of bullets. Projectiles of all types were recovered from the bodies--from .32 to .45 pistol rounds, rifle slugs, and shotgun pellets. There were no .22's. I can't say for sure what the calibers were because the recovered slugs were measured and investigated elsewhere.
2. Hollowpoints work. For the pistol rounds, about 1/4 - 1/3 were hollowpoints. Every single one that was removed from a body was well-expanded. Some had passed through heavy clothing or other obstacles before lodging itself into the deceased.
3. If you want to kill someone, use a shotgun at close range. Pistol and rifle rounds often went right through the victim, leaving neat holes, both entrance and exit. Victims often died after being being shot multiple times with a pistol or after someone at a hospital tried to save them. Shotgun wounds left huge, nasty holes and no exit wounds. This was true even of light birdshot. Those hit with a shotgun were immediately killed.
4. Life is precious and fragile. I was amazed at the number of car accidents, freak accidents, overdoses, falls, heart attacks, suicides and homicides that happen every day. People die of the most stupid and unexpected reasons. I would look upon the recently deceased and know that just 24 hours before, I might have talked to him on the street, or done business with her in a store. I knew that at that moment, their families were mourning, or even just getting the news that their loved one had died.
Go hug your family and protect them well.
Humbly, Poplin