Sometimes the X-ray of a person who has been shot will show a "snowstorm" of lead particles following fragmentation of the round.
A bullet that generates a lead snowstorm:
(1) has an entrance wound consistent with a bullet.
(2) has distintegrated after entry into a very large number of tiny metal fragments.
(3) has no clean exit wound
The presence of a lead snowstorm:
(1) usually indicates that the person was shot with an unjacketed lead bullet shot from a hunting rifle.
(2) can be seen with jacketed bullets fired from an M-193 or M-885 military rifle which tend to fragment after impact.
The presence of a lead snowstorm excludes most firearms.
Because the bullet is highly fragmented the performance of ballistics on the bullet is difficult. If all of the fragments can be collected then the weight of the bullet can be estimated.
Examination of the fragments will exclude a shotgun wound. A shotgun wound will also have a different entrance wound.
Sometimes a bullet fired from a .357 magnum will also fragment, but these pieces are larger and fewer in number than with the lead snowstorm.
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