Contact shot

Wounds caused by contact shots are devastating, as the body absorbs the entire discharge of the cartridge, not just the projectile.In the field of forensic ballistics, the characteristics of a contact shot are often an important part of recreating a shooting.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.In many cases, the body's absorption of the muzzle blast will act as a silencer, trapping the propellant gases under the skin and muffling the sound of the shot.
Effects of a contact shot from a .38 Special caliber gun on a folded cloth. Gunshot residue is visible as dark marks around the tears in the fabric.
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