What's the purpose of the "fired shell casing"?

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walker944

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I guess I fell asleep somewhere a few years ago and missed what the heck the deal is with the fired shell casing that is included with many new guns. I usually purchased used handguns, and don't recall seeing the fired shell with any of them.

So what's the deal? Is is required for handguns only? Is it required in certain states? I don't believe they are required in Texas. What is it supposed to prove? My guess is it's just another dumba$$ liberal state law imposed on gun manufacturers which doesn't really prove or disprove a thing! Anything to do with liabilty of the gun maker?
 
I never heard of it before. Presumably it's supposed to act as proof that the firearm has been tested at the factory. I'd be more impressed with a shot target and the make and type of ammo that shot it.
 
my 2 cents

just a spent case from testing ..... marketing ploy maybe ..... or just a free once fired brass too get you started reloading !!

never can tell about these gun makers ... but hey I will take it an pass it on if I ever sell the gun ... Guess I am recycling a tactic !!:D
 
It is required for new handguns in MD and NY. Those states have set up a cartridge case ID system that can compare a crime case with their files and (maybe) identify the original purchaser of the handgun.

The system is not foolproof or perfect and to my knowledge has been useful in only one case in MD. (That might have been a fake, since it happened when the legislature was about to cancel the program, and the police already knew the "perp".) The system also has no record on used guns.

Anyway, since most makers test fire their guns anyway, many chose to just include a fired case with all guns rather than try to segregate those going to the two states.

Jim
 
Massetuchetts & other states to require a spent case be stored from a hand gun .
millions spent pushing the legislation thru & to this day has never had a hand in solving a crime !!!so most handgun manufactures include one now , maybe a CYA situation.

GP100man
 
I'd be more impressed with a shot target and the make and type of ammo that shot it.
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Interesting that you say this...when I bought my CZ 75b a few months ago from another forum member it had the factory target included in the box. I thought that was pretty interesting.

I like the "once fired shell reloader starter kit" concept!! LMAO
 
A pistol's firing pin and breechface will leave marks on the primer and base of a case that are as individual as the rifling on a fired bullet. It's also possible that the chamber walls of the barrel will leave marks on the case. It's possible to ID the specific gun from a fired case and it has been used although it's infrequent. I'm guessing that Federal agencies would use the procedure much more often than state or local police.
 
I'm guessing that Federal agencies would use the procedure much more often than state or local police.
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You got that right. The Lab for agency I work for can't do it. It's mostly the gigantic agencies and the federal level like NCIS and other with TV shows named after them that can do that type of checking.
 
It is required for new handguns in MD and NY. Those states have set up a cartridge case ID system that can compare a crime case with their files and (maybe) identify the original purchaser of the handgun.
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Jim - How is the spent primer & casing data provided to MD & NY? Do you have to give them the casing that the factory included in the box? I'm assuming the data is linked to the buyer. How is the casing data linked to subsequent buyers when the gun is sold to someone else? Just curious about the tracking processs...
 
I live in the People's Republic of Maryland. It is required for new handgun purchases here. The gun shop turns them into the State Police. They are not required when you purchase a used handgun. It is a complete waste and has never solved any crime, to my knowledge.

If the gun maker does not ship a fired case, then the gun can't be bought, or your gun dealer has to get a 'manufactorer' to fire the gun and provide a case.

Some places like CDNN just won't ship to Maryland rather than put up with all the rules and regs. I was all set to buy a used HK P7 from them, but when they found I was in MD, that was the end of the deal.

I'm hoping to get out of here in the next few years.
 
Keltec P32's require a fired casing to break down the slide mechanism if you were to strip it for whatever reason.

Allows you pull the slide pin out without scratching it. A screwdriver would surely scratch it.
 
I'm not a criminal and none of my guns will be used in a crime. But I don't like big brother and if I'm ever forced to live in one of those socialist states, the first thing I'll do to a new pistol is polish the chamber, charge holes, and lightly drag a file accross the breech face, recoil shield. Then do a trigger job including new firing pin. even though no one else will know, it'll make me feel better knowing I circumvented their stupid law and gave 'em the finger.
 
Some states (MD and NY come to mind) have a "ballistic finger print" data base of scans of cartridge casings from new guns. The casings are included for such states. These new gun casings are useless, because by the time a gun may leave a fired casing at a crime scene, the microscopic characteristics of the firing chamber may have changed due to wear,tear, erosion or corrosion, polishing, overzealous or careless cleaning or just plain fouling.

Systems like ATF NIBIN compare fired casings from a crime scene to casing from another crime scene, or to a gun found in possession of a criminal suspect, may produce useful evidence. Systems that try to trace back to the first legal owner are useless.
 
Omaha-BeenGlockin asks Just how would they find spent casings from my revolver??

California will require all automatics to have microstamping of the owners name and ID number on fired casings; Washington D.C. will continue to outlaw automatics , but they will pass a law requiring all revolver users to eject their cylinders at any crime scene. That is as simple and logical as any gun law can get.
 
Walker944,

MD and NY have a two stage handgun purchase system; the buyer fills out an application which is sent to the state police (who do the NICS check as well). Once the state police notify the dealer that the transfer has been approved, the dealer completes the transaction and sends the papers back. If the gun is new, the cartridge case is sent along. It is then scanned and the data stored with the gun information and the information on the buyer.

Hey, guys, rant and rave all you want, but if you live in states that have the system, you go along or you don't buy a new gun. That is the reality. I get a bit tired of reading insane rantings about what you would or would not do, or how you would move or how you would tell "them" this or that. Garbage!

Jim
 
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