What is characteristic of a contact bullet wound?

A characteristic of a contact bullet wound is that it leaves charring and black splotches around the entrance. This phenomenon occurs due to the close proximity of the firearm when it is discharged. The hot gases and burning materials that exit the muzzle of the gun can cause thermal injuries to the skin, resulting in charring, which is often accompanied by soot deposition. These visible marks around the bullet entry point are significant in forensic investigations as they help to determine the distance from which the gun was fired.

The other options do not accurately describe the typical features of a contact bullet wound. Severe bruising, while it may occur in some cases, is not a defining characteristic. A contusion ring may be seen with certain types of wounds but is not specifically associated with contact wounds, which have more distinctive signs due to the nature of the discharge. Lastly, the assertion that there are no visible injuries is incorrect, as the marked evidence at the wound site is a crucial aspect of the analysis of contact wounds.