Tattooing (Stippling)
Definition
Punctate, non-wipeable haemorrhagic specks around an entry wound, caused by unburnt and partly burnt powder grains impacting the skin. A close- to intermediate-range sign.
- Cause
- Unburnt and partly burnt powder grains
- Appearance
- Punctate, non-wipeable haemorrhagic specks
- Range indication
- Close to intermediate range
- Distinguishing feature
- Cannot be wiped or washed off (unlike soot)
Common questions
How is tattooing distinguished from soot deposition (fouling) at a gunshot wound?+
Soot is a loose surface deposit of smoke and unburnt powder that can be wiped away and indicates very close range, typically contact to a few inches. Tattooing consists of individual powder grains embedded in the skin itself, so it persists after cleaning and can be seen at somewhat greater distances than soot, up to roughly two to three feet depending on the firearm and ammunition.
Can the pattern of tattooing be used to estimate firing distance?+
Yes, within limits. The density and spread of the stippling pattern generally increases with distance up to the point where powder no longer reaches the skin, so test firing the same firearm and ammunition combination at known distances is used to build a comparison pattern for range estimation in a given case.
Related terms
- Abrasion Collar
- The rim of abraded, dried skin surrounding a gunshot entry wound, produced by the bullet stretching the skin inward before perforation. Width...
- Country-Made Firearm (Katta)
- Locally manufactured, usually smooth-bore, single-shot weapon common in Indian murder cases. Low chamber pressure, inconsistent ammunition, atypical wound patterns.
- Gunshot Residue (GSR)
- Microscopic particulate residue containing antimony, barium and lead deposited on the shooter's hand, face and clothing at discharge. Collected by adhesive lift...
- Rifled Firearm
- A firearm whose bore has spiral grooves that spin the projectile for stability (rifle, handgun). The rifling leaves class-characteristic land-and-groove marks on...
- Smooth-Bore Firearm
- A firearm with an unrifled barrel (e.g. shotgun, country-made katta). Fires pellets or shot; produces dispersion patterns rather than a single projectile...