Better way to collect the brass in range?
- Thread starter jeanlikethis
- Start date
Ranges should be cleaned up. Don't leave your brass for someone else to pick up.
There are brasshawks who will swoop in and grab cases while they are still moving. Bad manners.
Have used a little rolling wire basket sort of thing. Works, saves crawling around on one's hand and knees.
Different ranges have different etiquette. Never go forward of the firing line unless the range is cold.
There are brasshawks who will swoop in and grab cases while they are still moving. Bad manners.
Have used a little rolling wire basket sort of thing. Works, saves crawling around on one's hand and knees.
Different ranges have different etiquette. Never go forward of the firing line unless the range is cold.
- Location
- West Quebec
Do these work equally well in grass dirt and indoor ranges?
Greenhorse six
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Last 30sec of this is how to do it .
[youtube]/4mzGz95-GdI[/youtube]
[youtube]/4mzGz95-GdI[/youtube]
I really do not like the feel of the Caldwell brass catcher on My rifle so I made a range mini hockey net. I purchased 1 inch pvc from Home Depot and a dirty laundry mesh bag from Walmart to fabricate the contraption. This setup is clamped to the side of the bench and catches everything that leaves the chamber from all of my rifles avoiding the need to chase down my rare brass casings. Now they don't get muddy or wet.
This is also appreciated by all of the shooters because it eliminates the unwanted hot brass being sent their way.
This is also appreciated by all of the shooters because it eliminates the unwanted hot brass being sent their way.
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- Location
- West Quebec
Many thanks
- Location
- West Quebec
Suggest you just say 'excuse me sir.. those belong to me. Thanks for picking them up for me!'
Got a nice chunky brass catcher at the range so I'm good for most of my semi auto pistols. Most guys do show respect and don't mess with others brass without first asking if the shooter keeps it or not. Guy really pissed me off few weeks back with his lack of common curtesy. This guy, an older gentleman not even a member was tagging along with what I would assume was his son. Anyways was noticing this guy walking around picking up others brass and pocketing it. All fine for all I know he asked permission but when you camp out behind me picking up any 45 brass that happens to miss the catcher it's gonna tick me off. Anyways finished shooting the mag and turned around with my hand outstretched naturally demanding my brass and the idiot just made a what's up face. I told him he was picking up my brass and he made a disgusted face and slapped the brass in my hand. Shame on me for wanting to reload my own brass. Anyways some people just have no scruples so what you gonna do. May have accidentally cast nasty looks down his way a time or two after that 
I'll totally nab any brass that's left or that anyone isn't keeping, but yea, very bad manners to just pick it up. I'll ask if someone is keeping it if there's a lull in shooting, otherwise I'll just wait. Most people at my ranges don't bother picking up because there's cleanup days for that, so there's often plenty of brass to kick up. I rarely come home with less than double the brass I showed up with
My one outdoor range is usually not very busy, I bring a lawnmower with me and cut the grass short. Takes 1 min. Instead of collecting it right away I let it pile up, as it's easier to spot larger quantities. If I'm moving around lots then cutting grass takes a bit more time.
- Location
- West Quebec
That must be interesting when the blade hits a few shell lol
I'm in the process of building a bubba brass catcher: screen door material (fiberglass, not nylon) strung between a pair of 3/4" dowels, about 2 feet high. The end of the dowels are inserted into a base made from a 1x6" with a 2x4" over it, with a 3/4" hole drilled through the 2x4". Length is adjustable: I just leave the extra screen rolled on one of the dowels and set the bases at the requisite distance.
Don't know yet how well it will work, but i'm hoping not to send my brass under the shooting stand to the right anymore.
I've done something similar, but what I've essentially done is build a pop-together screen hung with cheap mosquito netting that is sold in bulk off the roll. From slightly above head level to several folds draped on the ground - brass doesn't even roll away.
I found it mostly a minor annoyance picking up brass, but after many years in the army I was used to it. Once I got the Dan Wesson Commander Classic Bobtail in 10mm however, things moved to another level. When 10mm guys say their pistols really launch brass, they aren't kidding. The brass heads for the next postal zone. That's when I started thinking of how to stop brass missile launches without attaching something to the firearm, my arm, the bench, etc. This may not work at busy ranges that are kind of production line in how they run. My range it is pretty common to maybe only have one or two other guys there, and our setup has multiple 50 yard shooting bays separated by berms available to pistol shooters. So generally, on a range without lots of users, popping together a catcher screen is not a big deal and doesn't get in anybody else's way.
Our range keeps the ground covered in wood chips. The brass stays relatively clean and more importantly is easy to spot for pickup. The wire basket brass rollers work pretty good for speedy cleanup
I found it mostly a minor annoyance picking up brass, but after many years in the army I was used to it. Once I got the Dan Wesson Commander Classic Bobtail in 10mm however, things moved to another level. When 10mm guys say their pistols really launch brass, they aren't kidding. The brass heads for the next postal zone. That's when I started thinking of how to stop brass missile launches without attaching something to the firearm, my arm, the bench, etc. This may not work at busy ranges that are kind of production line in how they run. My range it is pretty common to maybe only have one or two other guys there, and our setup has multiple 50 yard shooting bays separated by berms available to pistol shooters. So generally, on a range without lots of users, popping together a catcher screen is not a big deal and doesn't get in anybody else's way.
Our range keeps the ground covered in wood chips. The brass stays relatively clean and more importantly is easy to spot for pickup. The wire basket brass rollers work pretty good for speedy cleanup
The screen going down to ground level? That's interesting, I hadn't thought of doing that, I was just trying to make mine portable for bench use.
I'll see how that bubba contraption I made works, perhaps I'll end up making a v2.0 version with a linear bucket or fold in the screen to catch the brass immediately as it falls.
I'll see how that bubba contraption I made works, perhaps I'll end up making a v2.0 version with a linear bucket or fold in the screen to catch the brass immediately as it falls.
