1. The form of the chest wound is consistent with a wound produced by the firing of a firearm while the muzzle (barrel) was in hard contact with the chest. The entry defect (hole) is surrounded by what appears to be a larger area of abraded skin. This abrasion is caused by the rubbing of the skin against the hard steel of the gun muzzle.

2. The abraded muzzle imprint surrounding the entry defect appears to reflect the front sight blade at the approximate "2 o'clock" position indicating that the pistol was rotated as indicated in the images shown below.  

This orientation is consistent with holding a gun in the right hand

3. The dimensions shown appear to be consistent with a 2", .38 cal Rossi revolver. The actual bullet hole will usually be approximately the same diameter as the bullet. The stretching of the tissue can make the hole larger than the bullet.

I do not believe that a contact wound with this type of weapon and ammunition would create a "wide open" hole as stated by one of your members. This is not correct. 

Your member does not understand the dynamics of wound ballistics. A contact gunshot wound in the head with a .38 can produce a "wide open" hole but this will not happen in the torso where there is much room for gas expansion.

3. The appearance of defects in the decedent's clothing and from the subsequent tests appear to be substantially similar and are consistent with a contact gunshot wound.

There will always be variations resulting from the way the clothing is actually worn on the body. For example, if the clothing is stretched tightly on the body or worn loosely. Other variable elements are the angle of the muzzle and the hardness of the underlying tissue which can be soft or hard.

4. Regarding the left hand: If the hand was located directly over and around the cylinder gap (the small space between the cylinder and the frame), the hand would most likely have some soot from the shot. But, if the hand was not directly over the cylinder gap and shielded in some way by the clothing, it is possible that there would not be much or any detectable gunshot residue. 

It is also important to note that gunshot residue can easily be wiped or washed off by simple rubbing of the skin against clothing or by the inadvertent actions of medical personnel.

5. Many single, non-perforating gunshot wounds -- even fatal ones -- do not result in significant exsanguination (bleeding outside the body). In this case there was a single chest wound -- the bullet did not exit and the decedent was laying face up on the floor. 

While there was substantial internal bleeding, it can be expected that very little blood would be found on the floor.