Clothing from a gunshot victim is examined. Around a hole in the shirt there is a greasy, dark grey ring encircling the fabric defect, which does not flake off. What does this finding indicate?

• A The bullet passed through this hole leaving it, that is, it is an exit hole
• B The shot was fired from intermediate range, since the ring is powder residue
• C The hole marks the point of entry, the ring being bullet wipe from lubricant and bullet surface material ✓
• D The garment burned from muzzle flash

Explanation

Bullet wipe, also called the grease ring, is a grey metallic ring deposited on fabric where the entering bullet transfers its lubricant, barrel fouling and surface oxides. It surrounds the entrance hole and helps locate the entry even when the skin wound is obscured or the body decomposed. Powder residue would appear as scattered specks rather than a continuous greasy ring, and exit holes lack this deposit unless the bullet carries material from earlier passage.

Reference: Knight's Forensic Pathology, 4th ed.

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Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.