Why the spent casing?

[terryg]

Why did they ship a spent shell casing in a sealed envelope with my new Ruger SR9c? I assume it must be the first (perhaps only) shot fired from the assembled product - part of QA. But why? Is this required? If not, is it something that only Ruger does or is it a general gun industry convention? Just curious ...

t

[ELB]

Some states require a spent casings from new pistols be turned in to the state for inclusion in a database, supposedly so they can track down the gun and owner from spent casings left behind at crime scenes. I assume it is easier for manufacturers to ship the casing with all pistols, rather than try to figure out which pistols are going to end up in which states.

I'm sure this works preventing or solving actual crime just as well as every other gun registration scheme...

[Tamie]

It's for the gestapo if you live in a police state.

(ELB beat me to it.)

[terryg]

Some states require a spent casings from new pistols be turned in to the state for inclusion in a database, supposedly so they can track down the gun and owner from spent casings left behind at crime scenes. I assume it is easier for manufacturers to ship the casing with all pistols, rather than try to figure out which pistols are going to end up in which states.

I'm sure this works preventing or solving actual crime just as well as every other gun registration scheme...

No way!!!! I seriously thought it was probably part of the QA process. "See, we shot it once so we know it won't blow up on you."

Wow! If they want a spent casing, I'm surprised those states (let me guess, Kalifornia?) don't want the recovered lead intact for ballistics purposes ...

[Pawpaw]

You learn something new every day! I thought it was supposed to be some sort of QC thing.

Sounds like more "feel good" legislation to me. I think it would take maybe 10 minutes to change the way any given weapon marks the casing.

[ELB]

...Wow! If they want a spent casing, I'm surprised those states (let me guess, Kalifornia?) don't want the recovered lead intact for ballistics purposes ...

I believe they do in certain places. This article alludes to that...

http://reason.com/archives/2009/01/01/b ... ballistics" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[C-dub]

In Texas, I think they only do this for handguns. I don't recall being aware of this being done for my rifle.

[Excaliber]

You learn something new every day! I thought it was supposed to be some sort of QC thing.

Sounds like more "feel good" legislation to me. I think it would take maybe 10 minutes to change the way any given weapon marks the casing.

You're absolutely correct. Anyone with a little crocus cloth can easily make enough polishing changes to make the stored casing useless for future identification.

Furthermore, although multiple states have spent untold millions on the administrative costs associated with keeping these records and samples on file, unsurprisingly no crime has ever been solved through these records.

Some states are abandoning the programs because the total waste of large sums of money can't be defended when schools and emergency services are being cut.

Others are so politically blinded they continue the waste.

[mgood]

I'm sure it is nothing but feel-good legislation. If they actually recover a spent casing at a crime scene and track it to a registered firearm, I bet the guy who registered it no longer owns it, what'd'ya wanna bet?
But yeah, that's exactly what it's about.

And every firearm is test fired before it leaves the factory. That's the law. Nearly every time someone says they have a gun that's "never been fired," it has been fired, before they ever got it.

[Pawpaw]

In Texas, I think they only do this for handguns. I don't recall being aware of this being done for my rifle.

I don't think they do it at all in Texas. I've bought 3 handguns in the last 1-1/2 months and I have the fired casings for all 3.

[RPB]

Firing pin microstamping
See:
http://losttarget.blogspot.com/2007/10/ ... -here.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[terryg]

Firing pin microstamping
See:
http://losttarget.blogspot.com/2007/10/ ... -here.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I can only shake my head. To give this any more thought would require me to increase my blood pressure medicine...

[cougartex]

It's called COBIS for "Combined Ballistic Identification System" I don't know which states actually use it but that is what the spent casing is for.

[texjames]

It's called COBIS for "Combined Ballistic Identification System" I don't know which states actually use it but that is what the spent casing is for.

Makes ya proud to be Texan don't? How do people in them other states live with that stuff ?

[MoJo]

A little termonology - - - Sausages have "casings" - - - Ammunition has "cases"