AFTE Store - Ballistics and the Firearms Examiner

A young girl was admitted to the Emergency Room at a local hospital suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. According to her father, they were walking about the property which they had just rented, she slumped to the ground, then, he heard what sounded like a gunshot in the distance. Further investigation produced a suspect shooter (shooting at birds up in a tree) and a 22 caliber rifle. The question at hand then became, could a 22 LR caliber projectile travel the 0.5-0.75 mile distance from the shooter to the victim? And would a 22 caliber projectile have enough remaining velocity and energy to produce a wound? Ballistic tables from ammunition manufacturers were used along with ‘Hatcher’s Notebook’ to resolve these questions in the affirmative. No criminal charges were filed.