# Guns that spent cases **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 9, 2013, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guns-that-spent-cases/675927 "2013-12-09T22:32:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Qwertol](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Qwertol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qwertol)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2013, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guns-that-spent-cases/675927/1 "2013-12-09T22:32:20Z")
Are there guns that are designed to collect spent cases? I have some business to take care of and can’t afford evidence falling somewhere where I can’t find it… ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2013, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guns-that-spent-cases/675927/2 "2013-12-09T22:36:43Z")
Brass catcher. Or use a revolver. Do you have a friend to help you with the body? ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2013, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guns-that-spent-cases/675927/3 "2013-12-09T22:42:32Z")
Caseless ammunition. ---
**Author:** ![Mk\_VII](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Mk\_VII](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mk_VII)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2013, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guns-that-spent-cases/675927/4 "2013-12-09T23:03:29Z")
Some Italian machine guns put the empties back into the feed strips (mostly for vehicle use where you don’t want them spilling out onto the floor) ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2013, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guns-that-spent-cases/675927/5 "2013-12-09T23:08:24Z")
The easiest way is to use any brand or model of revolver… ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2013, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guns-that-spent-cases/675927/6 "2013-12-09T23:13:21Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > Brass catcher. Or use a revolver. Better yet, use a crossbow. No GSR ! ---
**Author:** ![ducati](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cc9497/32.png) [@ducati](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ducati)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2013, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guns-that-spent-cases/675927/7 "2013-12-10T16:52:36Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > Better yet, use a crossbow. No GSR ! With a bolt made of ice. No evidence at all. ---
**Author:** ![JerrySTL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@JerrySTL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JerrySTL)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2013, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guns-that-spent-cases/675927/8 "2013-12-10T17:30:24Z")
Or a double-barrel shotgun in case you aren’t a good shot. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2013, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guns-that-spent-cases/675927/9 "2013-12-10T17:35:00Z")
> [@ducati](#): > > With a bolt made of ice. No evidence at all. Dry ice. An ice arrow will leave water behind, which is evidence. Dry ice just sublimates away. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Quatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bc8723/32.png) [@Mr\_Quatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Quatro)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2013, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guns-that-spent-cases/675927/10 "2013-12-10T19:51:32Z")
What are you going to do? Whack somebody? Don’t you realize law enforcement people read these threads? Like everyone else said use a revolver and empty the shells in an undisclosed location. ---
**Author:** ![crypto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b3f665/32.png) [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2013, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guns-that-spent-cases/675927/11 "2013-12-10T20:00:05Z")
> [@ducati](#): > > With a bolt made of ice. No evidence at all. Using an icicle to exit someone would be a good way to go. Even though they could probably tell in an autopsy that an icicle was used, the weapon is gone and evaporated in short order. Not that I have thought much about this, mind you. ---
**Author:** ![Orwell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/dfb087/32.png) [@Orwell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orwell)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2013, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guns-that-spent-cases/675927/12 "2013-12-10T20:01:54Z")
Handgun: revolver - the cartridge cases are left in the cylinder. Shotgun: double-barrel or over-under - the shells are not ejected until you open the action. Rifle: single-shot - the shells are not ejected until you open the action. Muzzleloader: no shell casings to worry about. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2013, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guns-that-spent-cases/675927/13 "2013-12-10T22:45:58Z")
Mythbusters couldn’t get an ice bullet to work. When fired they never made it past the muzzle. If they did make it out of the bullet mold. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2013, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guns-that-spent-cases/675927/14 "2013-12-10T23:57:14Z")
Since you are leaving the bullets, what’s the problem with the cases? Just be sure to wear gloves when handling them. ---
**Author:** ![SecretaryofEvil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@SecretaryofEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SecretaryofEvil)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2013, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guns-that-spent-cases/675927/15 "2013-12-11T01:08:12Z")
Don’t worry about the shell casings. The trick is to use a gun that can’t be linked to you and be sure to just leave it at the scene. Modern forensics isn’t anywhere near as miraculous as television detective shows make it seem. They almost never get usable fingerprints from pistols or spent shell casings in real life. But if your victim is killed with 9mm ammunition, the piglets catch you with a 9mm pistol, and the state can prove you had motive, the jury is probably going to convict your ass whether the bullets can be directly linked to the gun or not. Come on guys, _The Godfather_ is more than 40 years old, you should know this stuff.