Spent casing?

[Horsefly]

When I bought my 380 semi pistol several years ago, a spent casing was in a small envelope with the gun. Does anyone know the purpose of this?

[okrattler]

I think it's just to show you that they test fired it at the factory and your gun works.

[EastTXHunter]

Yessir, it is a slide stop if you need one and it will show that the firing pin engaged the primer.

[BBReezen]

It's the brass from when the factory shot it. I think it's required with every gun to be in the box except for a few states. Not sure if it's just to test the gun or it might be so they have the ballistics and what not on record in case it's used unlawfully.

[Horsefly]

Thanks. Is there any real need to keep it?

[EastTXHunter]

Only if you need to block the slide open for the range...That's only reason I kept it...

[BigTex.308]

As others have said it's just the test firing casing that they shot at the factory. I just keep it in the original case just for the heck of it. No real reason to keep it or throw it out. I just let it sit in the case tho



Ike

[cwill37]

The factories now have to supply spent cases that were fired in the handgun. The reason is that several states that have mandatory handgun regestration require the case to be on file to track if the handgun is used in a crime.

[Pistol]

I think New York is the only state left that still enters new guns' cases into the database. Maryland stopped doing it due to the expense and the realization that 95% of guns used in crimes are more than 7 years old, hence the cost was prohibitive for a low probably of matching a new gun to a crime.
Factories test fire every single gun to proof test it. Factories in the US are not required to proof stamp their guns, so most don't. They provide the cartridge cases so that you know it was proof tested. There is no reason to keep them.

[hwy84]

Envelope is dated so you know how old the gun is!