Serial#

[Menace67]

After a day at the range today I was cleaning my new ruger SR1911 and my xd40 and I noticed the xd has the serial number on the barrel but the ruger does not. Is that common and how would they keep track of ballistics if there was a shooting if people just swapped there barrel out for another one without a serial number.

There could be an easy explanation or maybe I'm just reading too much into it

 

[sloughfoot]

I can't imagine somebody swapping out their semi-auto pistol barrel.

Why would anyone do this?

 

[dice dealer]

Pretty common , beretta's only have the serial # on the frame .
same with most 1911's .

The AR just the receiver .

 

[mr_camera_man]

IIRC the barrel is the "important" part in some European countries for legal purposes, like the frame is here. Glocks have the barrel serialized, as do HK products.

I had a FEG hi-power that had the barrel replaced by KBI under warranty back when they were still around. The factory barrel was serialized, but the replacement wasn't... didn't really bother me though.

 

[JettaKnight]

In Croatia the barrel is probably required to be numbered. Here in USA it's not.

As far as ballistic identification, me thinks it's not like TV. We have plenty of shootings in Ft. Wayne, but I've never heard of using ballistics to make a case. Besides, aren't criminals too dumb to change barrels?

 

[G_Stines]

In Croatia the barrel is probably required to be numbered. Here in USA it's not.

As far as ballistic identification, me thinks it's not like TV. We have plenty of shootings in Ft. Wayne, but I've never heard of using ballistics to make a case. Besides, aren't criminals too dumb to change barrels?

Well, sometimes the bullets are to mangled to get a groove/lands pattern to match to a barrel. But also, if you are going down that route, be sure to swap your firing pin, as they can match the impressions to that to....

 

[tbone1951]

Only required on the frame of post 1986 I believe. Earlier firearms are not required to have sweial number.
That is untill our gov. decided citizens could not be trusted.

Terry

 

[WebSnyper]

Only required on the frame of post 1986 I believe. Earlier firearms are not required to have sweial number.
That is untill our gov. decided citizens could not be trusted.

Terry

I think that is the Firearms Act of 1968 that required serial number. Not 1986.

 

[indykid]

I know a couple of companies, like Sig number their barrels, slides and frames because they are individually fit to each other.

Most Berettas on the other hand, like in their 92 series, no parts are matched and any are supposed to be interchangeable, of course other than the required frame number. I built up a 92FS/M9 out of parts of many different donors as well as factory new parts, shoot it with several different barrels just because, and it is amazingly accurate and 100% reliable.

I would guess that with looser tolerances between different parts, but close tolerances between the same part number allows the interchangeability allowing the barrels and slides to be unnumbered.

 

[jason765]

In Croatia the barrel is probably required to be numbered. Here in USA it's not.

As far as ballistic identification, me thinks it's not like TV. We have plenty of shootings in Ft. Wayne, but I've never heard of using ballistics to make a case. Besides, aren't criminals too dumb to change barrels?

I dont know that they are too dumb to change the barrels, but I would say 99% of criminals that use guns in their crimes dont even know that you CAN change the barrel.