Empty cases???

[Jim in Illinois]

Why do new handguns come with two spent shells in the box? My Glock came with two spent shells. Are these the proof loads or what? Thanks, Jim

[blue2golf]

Correct.  They are proof that your weapon works.  I don't know if every gun makers sends them with their weapons, but Ruger does.

[THA]

The extra cases are there because certain states require them to be on file with the state police.  New Jersey being one of them.  It is just one of the onerous restrictions on our gun rights. 

The cases have nothing to do with "proof loads" or test firing.  These cases are shot just before gun is recorded as complete and are for the LEO of your jurisdiction if required.

[Jim in Illinois]

The extra cases are there because certain states require them to be on file with the state police.  New Jersey being one of them.  It is just one of the onerous restrictions on our gun rights. 

The cases have nothing to do with "proof loads" or test firing.  These cases are shot just before gun is recorded as complete and are for the LEO of your jurisdiction if required.

Thanks, THA

Are you saying that the bullets fired from those two cases are sent to some law enforcement agency to have the lands and grooves recorded for future tracing purposes? If that's the case, I'll just have to buy a replacement match barrel for this handgun. God, do I hate when gun owners are treated like criminals!  Jim

[holeshot308]

The empty cases are the only thing kept with the gun, spent cases are used in some states to match weapons. The cases have as many if not more identification points as a bullet such as firing pin indentation,extractor claw marks,markings from the chamber and even marks left on the case from the ejection port so just dropping in a new barrel won't do much good unless you change the firing pin, extractor and rework the ejection port. Ever seen a smooth polished firing pin under a high power microscope? It looks a 16 penny nail that someone ground the point off of with an old file. Those tool marks are as specific as a fingerprint and just as easy to match to the specific weapon since no two are exactly the same. Those proponents of "micro-stamping" things like firingpins and ammunition are ONLY IN IT FOR THE MONEY! Every gun has its own unique way of micro-stamping every round fired from it and by the way at a crime scene spent cases are a lot easier to find than fired bullets will ever be. This has caused a lot of shooters to"police" their spent brass from the range even if they don't re-load. Makes pretty good sense and may keep you from having to explain to the police how YOUR brass wound up at THEIR crime scene. It's not paranoia when you KNOW someone's out to get you!

[Jim in Illinois]

Thank you holeshot308

You know, other than an occasional speeding ticket I have never been arrested or been in trouble with the police in my life  but it bothers me that the government does this. If my weapon is used it will be as a very last resort.
 We don't have concealed carry in Illinois but I will carry if my wife and I are forced to go into a bad neighborhood or secluded areas like the walking trails. As an overweight 55 year old with arthritis and an artificial knee ( running away is no option)  I'm just no match anymore for a young kid bent on doing us harm and I absolutely WILL protect my wife from harm! If I'm ever forced to use my handgun in self defense situation out on the streets I'll remember to pick up my brass. What scares the hell out of me is the expense of defending myself if some prosecutor decides to turn me into the bad guy for defending myself. After the OJ Simpson trial I also have very little faith in jury's too. Jim...

[holeshot308]

Only one way around this if you think that at night or in low light conditions when bad things happen to good people you'll be able to find all of your spent cases when all you really want to do is get out of the area quickly is simply carry a revolver. If you've ever been in a shooting situation you know that you will probably be moving while shooting so your brass won't just be laying in a nice little pile but probably scattered all over the place. Besides even though I carry a Glock-30 with Glock-21 magazines I know that a good .357 Magnum will do a great deal more damage than my .45 ACP. It's just that I prefer the G-30 but I do have a Ruger SP-101 in .357 with the 2.25" bbl. that is my back-up car gun and even though it only holds five rounds it will disable someone elses car a lot better than the .45 ACP. The .45 will do a lot of damage to a person but the .357 Mag. with FMJ loads will disable a car much better with a couple of rounds into the engine compartment. The idea here is that if they can't chaseyou then they can't hurt you and since their not going anywhere they will still be there when the police arrive.