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This is a silly observation but I wonder why GLOCK included two (2) empty cartridge cases in a small envelope with my new Glock 23. The envelope has model/serial number caliber, Date, and technician name on it.

In some states, you have to give the government fired shells when you register the weapon. They're supposed to be used to find you if you do a drive-by shooting or something. The system doesn't work, BTW.

- Jim

It really just depends on where you live as to what you do with them. I just bought a Ruger revolver and while reading the manual (I know) I came across the rationale for the cases. Since laws very state to state, the company supplies all new guns with a shell(s) to be used for the above stated purposes. The other part of the rationale is to show some QA on their part...ie "see, we shot it first and it didn't blow up"....

Me, I shredded them.

The used cases are evidence that some kind of functional test or "proof load" was performed. It's probably easier to send the casings with the guns than try to store them as QC files. In the past, many "high end" guns had targets sent with them to show their grouping.

Two free cases! You could reload them.

i recommend keeping the cases. You might get an offer you can't refuse to transfer to Maryland or another state that has this requirement (I don't know which other states do).

- Jim

seamusTX wrote:i recommend keeping the cases. You might get an offer you can't refuse to transfer to Maryland or another state that has this requirement (I don't know which other states do).

- Jim

If you're not a licensed dealer but just John Q. Public selling his used pistol over the Internet, would sending the cases along to an MD dealer still preserve the legal chain of custody?

I have no idea.

- Jim

HankB wrote:If you're not a licensed dealer but just John Q. Public selling his used pistol over the Internet, would sending the cases along to an MD dealer still preserve the legal chain of custody?

The cases probably have never had a legal chain of custody. If they did it was lost as soon as it left the manufacturing plant. If you did turn the cases in they would still have to do ballistics testing to match the gun. The best they could provide the police is a good starting point for their investigation.

The cases are a government mandated manufacturer provided way for you to give up your fifth amendment right against self incrimination. Lose them or reload them.

Anygunanywhere

The cases can come in handy if you think you have a light strike issue with your gun. You can use them to compare with recently shot cases.

This appears a bit unusual to me in that I have never purchased a new gun that had two cartridge cases.

stash wrote:This appears a bit unusual to me in that I have never purchased a new gun that had two cartridge cases.

It's not really out of the ordinary.

If you buy used guns, you'll almost never see those two empties.

It also depends on where you've lived. Some manufacturers ship them with all new guns. Some only include them in lots being shipped to states that require them. If you live in a state that doesn't require them (like Texas) and happen to favor the guns made by the guys who are selective in which lots get them and which don't, you could go a long time without finding those reminders of what it must be like to live in states where this patently useless cost-without-benefit program is still in effect.

My HK and both Glocks came with them. My understanding was that they were to show that the weapon had been fired twice successfully.

I bought about a dozen this year. No shells. Only time I've seen them was an airweight 642 S&W. I gave them to the guy I sold the weapon to.

According to this article, the cases are required by Maryland and New York. At the time the article was published (2005), the Maryland system had cost $2.6 million and had not helped solve a single crime in the five years the database had been operating.

WildBill wrote:Two free cases! You could reload them.

At least with the Glocks I have purchased the cases were CCI Blazer Aluminum, so its a no-go on reloading them.