Is This Something New?

[bluefish]

My son called to tell me his friend just bought a new .40 cal. handgun and it had a package with a shell casing fired from the gun. There was a letter saying this was so the gun could be traced if it was ever used in a crime.
I've not purchased a new handgun for a while so I was wondering how long this has been in effect?

 

[coastie]

Does'nt make any sense, unless they actually fired 2 casings from the gun, I mean what good would it do anyone if the buyer has the casing???When I bought my Springfield Armory XD .45 ACP, it also had the first shell ever fired through it, but I assumed that it was just to "prove" its been test fired.

Well, I guess they probably took a picture of it....damn.

 

[maeqFREEDOMfree]

my XD 40 also came with one. they said (in the packaging) that it was to test the pistol bla bla but the first thing i thought was that they did it for tracing it. all the more reason to do what you can to aquire arms that are off the books.

 

[coastie]

Anyone know if there's a new law requiring this? And fuck that, I'll buy guns however I choose, as its my right to do so....

Does'nt make sense for firearms manufacturers to do this. Oh well, as I've said before, there's only one way they'll get my guns....

 

[bluefish]

I assume they keep the bullet for comparison but it just sounded strange when he told me that. Hopefully its only to show that its been test fired, or maybe they will do that until they get their bullet codeing bs passed.

 

[madengr]

It's a state law. In some states the FFL is required to forward the casings to the state. Most states don't have this absurd law.

 

[ChickenHawk]

It's a state law. In some states the FFL is required to forward the casings to the state. Most states don't have this absurd law.

Last I heard it was just Massachusetts that had that ridiculous law.

 

[Doktor_Jeep]

Sounds like he got a Springfield.

 

[maeqFREEDOMfree]

Glock did the same thing when my dad bought his G 27 .40 cal came with 2 spent casings

 

[Doktor_Jeep]

I think this is for tracing data - a measure the manufacturers take on for covering their asses or maybe proof that the gun was tested.

If some states want to keep a spent casing on record to trace a gun, then the time and money is wasted.

The face of the firing pin changes over time, so a gun that is shot often will not be traceable. Cleaning the bore with a nice stainless brush and good compound will also change the signature of the rifling, as well as more shooting.

The trace of rifling and firing pin shape only works on true "crime guns" that are seldom shot otherwise because the user of it tried to ditch it or hides it. Usually such guns exist in an urban environment where there are no shooting ranges. It's not like the gangsta is going to cap a rival over some drug turf then go to the indoor range on the corner and shoot a couple hundred rounds and clean the thing afterwards.

 

[jason43]

It's a state law. In some states the FFL is required to forward the casings to the state. Most states don't have this absurd law.

MD has it too from what I've heard. Also heard that they have spent millions of dollars on setting it up and that it has never resulted in a conviction. There are simply too many bullets for them to compair against.

Pointless...

 

[madengr]

What's funny is that the ATF deems the lower receiver the controlled item (i.e. it has the serial number and requires FFL transfer). However in many guns the lower receiver never touches the round.

So I could buy a AR-15 lower through an FFL, then buy several untraceable upper receivers, barrels, bolt carrier group parts, and swap them out in 20 seconds (upper or BCG). This combination of parts would generate a multitude of untraceable bullets or cases, even though they were fired from the same "serial number" on file with the FFL.

Thus another stupid, pointless, "feel good" law.

 

[mad212]

My son called to tell me his friend just bought a new .40 cal. handgun and it had a package with a shell casing fired from the gun. There was a letter saying this was so the gun could be traced if it was ever used in a crime.
I've not purchased a new handgun for a while so I was wondering how long this has been in effect?

Some states require that this is sent in when you purchase your gun, thank god Florida isn't one of them. You can just chuck it if your dealer didn't take it, doesn't serve you any good.