Empty shell case that came with my new pistol

[seldomseen]

I purchased a new CZ pistol this week and while going through the case that it came in, I discovered under the foam lining, a small envelope with a type written sticker on it that shows the make, model, caliber, serial number, gun type, and collector. It also has a signature line complete with ink written signature and the date on it. Of course inside this envelope is a fired shell casing. The shipping box that it arrived in has a sticker on one end that says New York compliant. I am quite sure that this is part of the ballistic fingerprinting that we have heard so much about recently. My question is do I need to keep this casing? My first reaction was to throw it away, but after thinking about it for a day or so, I thought that I should get opinions from gunowners that may be more informed about ballistic fingerprinting. One person that I talked to today, told me that I should throw it away and replace the barrel on the gun. Is this necessary? Seems a little drastic considering I haven't even fired the pistol yet. Another told me not to send the warranty card in, as this will match a name and address to the serial number and the shell casing that the manufacturer kept. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[riverdog]

I toss the aluminum Blazer cases and put the brass cases in my can for brass to be reloaded.

 

[Nightcrawler]

Some gun companies are doing this; they have to in order for their pistols to be sold in certain states, like New York, and Maryland, I believe.

 

[BamBam]

Hmmmm.......
First thing I'd do would be to lap the barrel.

 

[griz]

Keep the case for reloading and throw away the envelope.

Like Nightcrawler said, they have to include the case for sale in NY and Maryland. The chain of evidence rules make me wonder how useful that case would be in a real trial.

 

[Mauserlady]

We get them with all ours purchased here in Cali also. I keep em as memento's of the first fired from my newest purchase. Must be a girl thang...

 

[MikeK]

Reload it or toss it and be thankful you don't live in a state like MD where they're filed at a cost of over $5 million so far. Number of crimes solved as a result - ZERO. Now, with the good chief Moose's endorsement they want to do this for long guns also.

 

[BlackArrow]

Wow, more Bidness for the entrapanear!

WWW.howtogetaroundanotherstupidlaw.com Some enterprising individual will sell you all you need to defeat another STUPID FEEL GOOD LAW. That's 21,310 gunlaws and counting Sheeple...... ba, ba.

 

[DeputyVaughn]

First thing I would do is a little filing on the extractor till it didn't match the marks on the shell provided. Then maybe a little work on the chamber with some fine emory cloth (just enough to change the markings). After making sure the fired cartridges didn't match the one provided for comparison, I'd distroy the provided cartridge so it couldn't be used against me in the future. A little fire lapping of the barrel and the job is done. As far as I can tell none of this is forbidden in the laws of states that require balistic fingerprinting unless it is done to distroy evidence of a crime committed or to be committed. Heck I usually tune the extractor of a semi-auto early in the life of a gun anyway to improve function and reliability.

Then again I might just throw the cartridge away and forget all about it. Hard to say when you don't live in a state that has such stupid laws.

Scott

 

[Hkmp5sd]

I'd go to the range and pick up two cartridge cases off the ground (one each from different guns) and replace the ones in the envelope. I'd then save them and if your state ever passes that stupid law, I'd duly turn in the envelope to be entered into the database.

 

[ed dixon]

Don't think they'd want that case after the fact. Might as well just promise --real hard-- that you're a good guy.

 

[Jack19]

Hkmp5sd


hahahahahahahaha, excellent idea

 

[rick458]

If you practice enough like you should you will change the wear/mark pattern on the breech face, extractor, ejector, and chamber will change over time. Only the case from the pistol at the time the crime occurred would have relavent markings. Guns are like people they change with age. As for picking up somebody else's case and kep it for turning in why on earth would you want HOMEY's gangsta style case . I KNOW my firearms have not been used in a crime . Food for thought.

 

[Ed Straker]

Used to be, some guns came with a target from the factory test-fire...

 

[Kahr carrier]

I wouldnt worry about it I would either throw it away or keep it and just put it away with the gun box and literature.

 

[WhoKnowsWho]

My Sig 225 came with the test fire target!

I kept the shell casing with my Charles Daly 1911, I'll probably reload it once I get my setup done.

 

[ajacobs]

You don't need to do any filing or changing or worrying about turning in the waranty card. IF you have the casings they are not on record anywhere. They keep them in those 2 states and then register them into the computer and save the cases. NO ONE HAS YOUR FIGERPRINT ON FILE IF YOU HAVE THE CASES. So don't worry.

 

[JerryN]

You should save the case. If you ever use that gun to commit a crime, mail the case to your state police headquarters with an explaination of the crime. They will bring the case to your house, compare it to your gun, and if they match, they will arrest you for said crime.

See how helpful BF can be?

 

[bogie]

I agree - you don't need to do ANYTHING to change the Ballistic Tireprinting of the piece, other than shooting it a few hundred times (doh!). I suggest that you send the brass, along with a letter of explanation about why it doesn't work, to your congresscritter.

 

[griz]

A simple question for the guys who are suggesting the first thing you should do when you find that case is to try and alter the "ballistic fingerprint" (I’m already getting tired of this misleading term) of the gun.

Why? What is the purpose of changing it for a law abiding gun owner?

 

[Kaylee]

Why? What is the purpose of changing it for a law abiding gun owner?

Principle.

 

[ajacobs]

I think you all are missing the point, You are correct in that you can certainly do all of those things to change the fingerprint but he doesn't have to as his was not scanned into the computer becuase he does not live in the two offending states and he has his brass. Secondly I would not recomend sending handgun brass to you congress men givin x-ray machines and explosive detecting machines surely in their mailrooms by now.

 

[Chipperman]

Drill through the web of the case and wear it around your neck as a pendant.

The cops will be able to see the case when you walk by. They can then say, "Hey Fred, don't the marks on that case match the ones from that shooting last Friday?"
"Gee willakers Charlie, you're right!"
"Lets haul 'em in for booking, Fred."

See how helpful this is?

 

[45R]

Just playing devils advocate, but why would a law abidding citizen worry about BF?

 

[buford1]

I use them for reloading, but what really upsets me Is they used 45 colt in my casull, 38 sp in my 357, 44 sp in my 44 mag.