Microstamping

Microstamping

One of the new hot stupid ideas is "microstamping": a change to the firing pin that puts a unique mark on ammunition that enables police to trace a gun based on the markings on the brass left at the scene of a crime. I've pointed out in the past that this won't do any good for:

1. Revolvers.

2. Semiautos with brass catchers.

3. Stolen guns.

4. Guns so old that they were made before microstamping.

5. Guns intentionally altered so that the microstamping marks have been damaged.

6. Guns that get fired a lot--because the microstamping part will eventually wear. (It might take a while, of course.)

Along with all these problems, Arizona Rifleman reminds you exactly how easy it is to replace a Glock's firing pin (which contains the microstamping part). It's a very short video. (Other handguns aren't quite so quick.)

Of course, firing pins are astonishingly simple. Here's an example of an M1911 firing pin. I would expect that just about everyone with half a brain, not too much conscience, and a lathe would be machining replacement firing pins (not called that, of course, but "unique metal doodads") in short order for the criminal trade. My guess is that it would take me about three hours to get really good at machining these, and once I did, it would take about ten minutes, maximum, even with my little Sherline, to make one of these.