Fired Cases that Come with Gun

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glockfan2

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Once upon a time I asked a gun-shop about the 2 empty brass that comes with all new guns. I was told that it was to show that gun had been fired, and only that. A couple of days ago I read that the FBI was using a recovered bullet to identify which gun it came from by using the files the keep on new handguns sold. Evidently these rounds that are fired by manufacturer are used to keep track of guns and who they belong to. Has anyone else heard of this?
 
2 empty brass with new handguns

When buying a new handgun there are 2 empty brass that comes with gun. They tell you that is to show that weapon has been fired and works. However I read a news article within the last week about a shooting and it said that a bullet was recovered from the scene and was sent to FBI and ATF for them to check with their records to find out who bought the gun. This would lead me to believe that those shots test fired were sent to a federal agency as a means of tracking who has what guns (almost like gun registration). Can anyone shed any light on this?
 
That only applies to owners of Glocks. :)

Seriously, some states require the fired case as part of the gun's registration process. As far as I know, there is nothing that goes to the FBI or ATF, but I'm not going to swear to it. There are folks here on THR that are much more knowledgeable about it than me.
 
i believe only one state requires a spent brass case to be on file with the police dept( NJ or NY i believe).....


and if recall correctly, a spent brass case has yet to be usefull in helping to solve a crime.
 
Some States like Massachusetts have a law requiring a fired case from a new handgun being submitted for registration, Supposedly their Law Enforcement folks can then match these with ones found at the scenes of shootings. Revolvers and single shot handguns are not exempt, and it is considered bad manners for bad-guy shooters to pick up their brass or "seed" the crime scene with brass from gun ranges.
 
Mass has no such registry for fired cases. I believe it's either Maryland or Virginia that has a registry for fired cases,cost some rediculus amount of money to maintain and as of this date hasn't solved a single crime. They also have a one gun a month program as well.
Never heard about the FBI keeping a data base so more than likely gun shop fairy tale.
 
NY and Maryland have fired case databases.
In NY it's called COBIS, and in the 10 years it's been in use (and $40 million dollars spent) there have been 2 "hits" but no arrests let alone convictions. I hear in the new state budget the governor proposes doing away with it as a waste of money.
And it makes it a PIA to buy a new semi auto handgun on line. If there's no fired case the FFL dealer has to have it tested by the State Police, adding another cost to the gun. BTW - change the firing pin and extractor, polish the bolt face, and you've defeated the system.
 
Bubbles and mbopp have the answer. MD and NY do keep fired cases for each handgun sold. The manufacturer provides them and the dealer forwards them to the state upon sale.

The FBI does not keep records of firearms sales.
 
Mass has no such registry for fired cases. I believe it's either Maryland or Virginia that has a registry for fired cases [...]They also have a one gun a month program as well.
Never heard about the FBI keeping a data base so more than likely gun shop fairy tale.
No way no how in Virginia. We're one of the more gun friendly states. (OC no permit, SBR/MG/Supressors)
And the one-gun-a-month repeal is on its way to the governor as we speak :D
 
a majority of the glocks are made for leo use.the dept armorers use it to keep on file via digital computer images of the catridge base for tracking purposes for shooting investigations.my local pd fires all guns takin into custody and enters the rear of the cartridge into some sort of database
 
Come to think of it the last pistol that I purchased which was a few weeks ago had no fired case. BTW my previous comment on the state requirement for empty cases did include the word "or" not "and". I was 90% certain it was Maryland,but in the recesses of my mind Virginia kept popping up. My apologies to those of you in Virginia.
 
Criminals could easily thwart this by switching firing pins and exreactors before using their guns in a crime. Or better yet use a revolver that does not eject the empties.
This is a silly law.
 
In NY the fired case requirement applies to semi-autos and revolvers. Yes - stupid.
What prevents someone from going to a range, picking up spent brass, and planting them at a shooting?
And I've got brass that's been reloaded so many times the headstamp is barely visible, can anyone definitively say this came from my gun?
 
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