Dictionary definition of “lead snowstorm”

lead snowstorm

n. the appearance of bullet fragments in an X-ray of a body. Subjects: English, Medical, Police

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Citations: 1982 Ellen Debenport @ San Antonio, Texas (UPI) (Oct. 14): The bullet that tore into the back of Federal Judge John H. Wood Jr. severed his spinal cord, then exploded into “a thousand fragments” hitting most of the major organs in his body, a medical examiner testified today.…“It shows what we call a lead snowstorm, which is classic from a high-velocity projectile.” 1992 Evan Marshall, Edwin J. Sanow Handgun Stopping Power (January ) p. 180: The Remington .357 Magnum 125-grain S-JHP produces a lead snowstorm inside the body. This load typically launches six to seven 5-grain missiles that spin off at a 45-degree angle from the main bullet path after about 3 inches of penetration. 2001 Reed Irvine, Cliff Kincaid Accuracy in Media (Aug. 31) “Media Monitor: Destruction of X-rays”: The head x-ray showed what appeared to be a lot of small metallic fragments inside the skull. It looked like what is called a “lead snowstorm,” small fragments of a bullet that has disintegrated when fired into the head. 2006 Kara D. Machado Eureka Reporter (California) (Sept. 15) “Forensic pathologist and Nolan Graham’s wife testify in murder trial”: While conducting the internal autopsy, Comfort testified she found fragments of the rifle bullet throughout the body, which forensic pathologists commonly refer to as a “lead snowstorm.”

Posted 19 Sep 06 | Permalink | Tell a Friend