SAFETY IN BULLET RECOVERY PROCEDURES - A STUDY OF THE BLACK TALON BULLET

Bullets or bullet fragments that are recovered during forensic autopsy and examined later as evidence may present hazards to both pathologis ts and forensic scientists due to sharp edges or jagged projections cr eated by the deformation or fragmentation of a bullet upon impact with its target. The recent introduction of the Black Talon bullet has inc reased this hazard by its design, which produces a controlled expansio n upon target impact that raises six sharp edges from its copper jacke t. We describe the appearance of the bullet along with methods for det ection and recovery that can be applied as universal precautions of sa fe bullet handling.