What is the Purpose of the Spent Shell Casing included with a New Handgun Purchase???

[.460V & XVR Magnum Man]

I have heard a few different reasons why a spent shell casing is enclosed in the case with a new handgun from the factory. I know someone here will have the right answer. A couple months ago I got my .460XVR and it sure looked like it had been shot more than the one casing that came with it from the factory. And replies will be appreciated, as this is kinda been a mystery to me. Thanks

 

[nosaintsfanatic]

spent shell

I am no expert, but I did sleep in a Holiday Inn last night.

As far as I know, the spent shell casing is just to show you that the gun was test fired at S&W. And yes I think they di fire it more than one time, they fire the gun three times.

If I am wrong, someone with more knowledhe than me will correct me, but I think that is right.

Chris
S&WCA#2122

 

[shermbob]

The firerd caseing is a balistic finger print to your gun. It is requred in some states for sale. New York being one that I know for sure.
shermbob

 

[snw19_357]

I'm no expert (and slept in my own bed last night) but I believe there are some states that require them to be turned in to LE when the gun is sold, with the proud owners info... In case they find a casing at a crime scene, they have the fired case from your pistol on file.

 

[Spotteddog]

And while I'm not 100% sure of it?
I have heard that the program since implemented has failed to connect one gun, to one criminal, during one crime? Although I'm sure the Brady bunch would disagree. They'd likely point to all the crimes the program had "prevented"?

 

[jag312]

In the States that require it, the cartridge case is entered into the Integrated Ballistics identification System (IBIS) or the National Integrated Ballistics Identification Network (NIBIN). All it does is clog up the system with useless information. The systems were designed for the entry of firearms associasted with crimes, not all the firearms that are manufactured.

Also, it is perfectly legal to install a new firing pin and to polish the breech face of a semi-auto pistol, and how many criminals remove the spent cartridge cases from a revolver and leave them at the scene for the cops to collect?

I would tell you what I think of this whole scheme, but the language I would use may offend some people.

 

[1066]

jag312 is absolutely correct on this one. This is a total waste of resources that could be better spent on real criminals instead.

Check out this fact sheet from NRA:

NRA-ILA :: "Ballistic Fingerprinting" -- The Maryland Example:Costing Taxpayers Without Benefiting Law Enforcement

If you go to NRA and search for "Ballistic Fingerprinting" you will find more info on this subject.

 

[nosaintsfanatic]

spent shell

See I was wrong, that is why I said I wasn't an expert. I had always just assumed it was for the reason I stated. You learn something new every day. Thanks for everyone correcting my ignorance.

Chris
S&WCA#2122

 

[.460V & XVR Magnum Man]

Thanks for the info, I was pretty sure the reason just wasn't to "test" the gun. As my .460XVR had been fired in all the 5 cylinders I was thinking where are the other 4 cases. The factory must have ran all 5 rounds thru it, it was sure dirty for a just a couple rounds. Thanks

 

[David LaPell]

Here in NY, other than just a way to harrass gun owners, it serves no real purpose other than to waste taxpayer money on yet another useless program. So far as a cost of $4 Million at last count, it has had only one conviction. On paper and according to that chowderhead running the government in Albany, well, it is supposed to give each gun a ballistic fingerprint. (What most don't realize also, is that there is the fired casing, but for those guns that the NYSP has to fire in Albany in case the manufacturer doesn't include the fired brass, it also gives them a fired bullet to compare the rifling to.

 

[yukonb]

Its called CoBis - COmbined Ballistic Identification System. As far as I know there has been no success in NY on any major crime and it costs about 4 million a year to maintain the program. It only collects info from legal guns ( owned by Honest Citizens) that are purchased new. Its a total waste of time and money and only inconviences the honest guns owners.

 

[kennyb]

Thanks for the info, I was pretty sure the reason just wasn't to "test" the gun. As my .460XVR had been fired in all the 5 cylinders I was thinking where are the other 4 cases. The factory must have ran all 5 rounds thru it, it was sure dirty for a just a couple rounds. Thanks

hmmm...look at the price of the brass to reloadthey may packet the extra four rounds to sell

 

[ecam8000]

I thought it was to start me handloading.

 

[kennyb]

ahhhh.....handloading....the cost of factory rounds for the 460 and 500 is exactly what provoked me into reloading!its a great hobby and i can reload say a 500 mag.now for under fifty cents a round...nuff said!

 

[Jim McCoin]

Here in the peoples republic of california, the clowns in sacramento think every firing pin is unique and a fired case can be used to track down the owner of a specific pistol, that's a joke.

On CNC machinery with proper lubrication the tool wear is so slight that there are probably thousands of firing pins so alike that no differance can be found.

The same goes for barrels, the barrel on my M36 would be no different than one made a hundred units before or after, unless the tooling were changed.

I say this after spending years in CNC machine shops.

Thanks for giving me the opportunity to vent on this subjest.

Jim