Fired cases with new handguns

[351 WINCHESTER]

I have heard that every new handgun sold has 2 fired cases. Every new handgun I've bought only has 1. Where is that other fired case and why?

 

[thefish]

If I had to guess, mabye the manufacturer keeps it as a record the firearm was operational?

 

[CoRoMo]

I think it's almost always just one shell.

http://www.ruger.com/service/FAQs.html#Q8

Why does Ruger ship a fired cartridge case with every pistol and revolver?

Certain states require that all newly manufactured pistols and revolvers be accompanied by a cartridge case that has been test fired from that gun at the factory. The case must be placed in a sealed container bearing certain information concerning this test cartridge. At the time of retail sale in those jurisdictions with the requirement, firearms dealers must forward the test cartridge to a designated destination such as their State Police Laboratory. As independent Ruger Distributors have nationwide markets without territorial restrictions, we have decided to include a fired cartridge case with all new Ruger pistols and revolvers to minimize the possibility of inadvertent non-compliance with these laws. Retail customers located in states that do not require a fired cartridge case may be assured that the fired cartridge case they receive with the firearm at the time of retail purchase is proof that your new Ruger firearm has undergone our normal test firing procedures during manufacture.

I've purchased a couple handguns before that came to me brand new, and did not have any spent shells in the box. Go figure.

 

[mbopp]

Maryland and NY (COBIS) require fired cases for "gun DNA" AKA "gun fingerprinting."
News flash - in the proposed NY budget, COBIS is dead along with microstamping.

 

[allaroundhunter]

I have never heard of 2 fired cases. Typically it is just one for the states that require it for those useful databases that have never even helped solve a crime...

 

[Inebriated]

I got two with my Glock... none with the Sigs.

 

[Roan]

It depends on manufacturer. All of my new CZ firearms came with at least two.

Recently, I did a factory tour of FN and we saw them very specifically only fire one round. In FN's case, the round fired is at vastly higher chamber pressure than factory ammo and is enclosed in a metal box in case the weapon can't handle the pressure. The goal isn't for accuracy or function verification, but to ensure that the weapon will hold up to standard pressures. It's a safety measure to ensure that your new toy doesn't explode. It has nothing to do with firearm fingerprinting (the spent bullet isn't recovered and the single casing goes with the weapon where it can be lost or discarded by the recipient) or with accuracy.

 

[mgmorden]

Not all gun manufacturers include the case to jurisdictions where it's not required. SC doesn't require it so I haven't got one with everything, but I have with some a few guns. Only ever got 1 case though - never 2. I just toss them in the tumbler with the rest of the brass and reload them .

 

[MMCSRET]

Not all states require a fired case with each new hand gun. I was looking at the Rossi site and some of their new offerings and noticed a suffix on model numbers, I asked around and couldn't find a reason for it as the guns were identical except for the model # on the box. I finally called Rossi to ask; seems the suffix "FC" on the model # means fired case. These models are for shipment s to states that require the fired case be included with a new gun. I found it interesting; and asinine!!! Not on Rossi's part but on the several states that require it.

 

[FROGO207]

Roan what you described is called "proof testing" a firearm.

 

[old4x4]

I got one with my 629PC. It went right into the tumbler to be reloaded with the others. Stupid if you ask me. There should be at least 25 with every gun!

 

[youngda9]

I think it's out of the NY budgget because it's cost millions and hasn't been used to solve a single crime IIRC. Seems there is a tiny drop of sanity in their new budget...

 

[Pat M]

COBIS was killed today in NY when the governor signed this year's budget. They also tried to slip micro-stamping into the budget bill, but that too was removed (for now).