ABSTRACT
Wounds produced by shotguns and smooth bore weapons typically appear very different from wounds caused by rifles and handguns. This distinctive appearance results from several differences between these weapons. The number of projectiles and distance from muzzle to target contribute to a distinct but more variable shot pattern when compared to a single projectile from a rifle or handgun. Entrance wounds may range from a neat circle to dispersed individual shot defects dependent on range of fire. Contact wounds may include considerable tearing at the entrance site due to massive gas expansion from the muzzle. Stellate wounds may be present on the hard and soft surfaces because of the highly pressurized gases that exit the muzzle of the shotgun. The intraoral discharge of the shotguns often creates stretch-mark changes radiating from the mouth and extensive damage to the brain and skull.
