AR-15 brass catcher

Longshot338

Longshot338

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Southern Ontario
Hello everyone,

I am looking at shooting Service Rifle this year. I got into CQB last year, now I would like to play around with the longer range aspect of things. #

For CQB I shot reloads. The cheapest I could make. I took range pickup Norinco brass. I washed them, sized them, then SS tumbled them. I primed them with TulAmmo primers, charged them with a minimum loading of 8208XBR (21.0gr if I recall correctly), and seated a CamPro bullet on top. My total cost was $0.26/rd. As far as the brass was concerned, I never trimmed, chamfered, deburred, etc... I shot 1200rds without a single malfunction. #

Now that I will be shooting at distance, I am working up match loads with 69gr HPBT, Hodgdon BL-C(2) powder, and quality sorted brass. I prep the brass very carefully. Apart from my standard washing, sizing, and tumbling, I also trim, chamfer, and deburr the neck, and deepen/uniform the primer pockets and/or deburr the primer crimp on the pocket if it is present. I use quality brass: Lake City, PMC, or Remington. I don't mix head stamps; I just do batches of a type. I adjust my powder charge to each headstamp if necessary. #

The point I am trying to make here is that I really want my brass back! I am only willing to invest that amount of time into my brass if I can use it again. I don't fancy picking it off the ground and sorting it from everyone else who shot in my lane. #I really don't want someone else reloading my brass either. #

Can I use a brass catcher in SR? Has anyone else tried it? Obviously I will need to choose one that can rotate/flip out of the way so the chamber is visible for the person safetying me. I would want one that doesn't restrict me from accessing the mag release or trigger either. #

If I were to buy one, and install it and practice extensively with it to the point that it in no way poses a safety issue or hindrance to the flow of the match, would I be permitted to use one? #

Does anyone have ideas for a particular model that would work best? I have an SA20 done up as a C7A2; no railed forend to mount anything to. The tri-rail is too far forward. My optic doesn't allow for any free rail space to mount it on top. #

I will appreciate any input here. #

LS
 
https://www.google.ca/imgres?imgurl...d=0ahUKEwil6Yre8ujKAhVELmMKHSK9BsQQMwgdKAEwAQ

Hope the pic works... I use the Caldwell brass catcher that has a pic rail mount. Very easy to use and actually does catch the brass.

The bag is easy off so no problem with safety checks. The bag housing is rigid so may be bulky to move around but that housing is what keeps the bag open so cases have a place to go.

Let me know if I can help. Be interested to know if running a bag would be allowed at a SR event?

Jerry
 
I use the 3BUCC one and I like it a lot, the drawback is that those spare rail adapters used to be priced reasonably, now they are way overpriced in Canada. You're looking at almost $70 for two cheap plastic adapters shipped to your door. That's nuts! I'm considering switching over to a Caldwell catcher.

Are these allowed in SR?
 
No rule against using a brass catcher. It may kill you on a stage if you get a jam though, and could also cause them.

If you really want your brass, just have someone in the squad behind you pick it up. They have to do that anyway. Just give them something to put your brass in so that it doesn't go into the sandbag.
 
Mystic Precision said:
https://www.google.ca/imgres?imgurl...d=0ahUKEwil6Yre8ujKAhVELmMKHSK9BsQQMwgdKAEwAQ

Hope the pic works... I use the Caldwell brass catcher that has a pic rail mount. Very easy to use and actually does catch the brass.

The bag is easy off so no problem with safety checks. The bag housing is rigid so may be bulky to move around but that housing is what keeps the bag open so cases have a place to go.

Let me know if I can help. Be interested to know if running a bag would be allowed at a SR event?

Jerry
Click to expand...

Good idea. I had already looked at that option. I have two issues with it.

First of all, it is a little on the big side. I was hoping for a little lower profile. Not the end of the world though. I don't need the 100 case capacity; I would empty it quickly before bombing up for my next stage. It would be emptied every stage.

The second issue is the deal breaker. My rifle is identical to a C7A2 other than the optic (and the fun switch of course). I cannot afford an Elcan C79. I currently use a Hi-Lux CMR1-4 (which I am less than satisfied with). I have a Warne R.A.M.P mount. It covers every slot on the rail. I also have a red dot mounted on the RH 45 offset rail.

Do you have any ideas with a different mounting option?
 
kombayotch said:
No rule against using a brass catcher. It may kill you on a stage if you get a jam though, and could also cause them.

If you really want your brass, just have someone in the squad behind you pick it up. They have to do that anyway. Just give them something to put your brass in so that it doesn't go into the sandbag.
Click to expand...

Good to hear about the lack of rule.

As I mentioned, I would practice extensively to make sure I am comfortable with the system. I realise it may kill my points if it ever does jam, but I should be able to ensure that it isn't the cause of the jam.

I put 1200rds through my AR last year in competition without a single malfunction of any kind. I am not blind to the fact that it could happen, but the odds are low. For the amount of money and time that a brass catcher will save me in reloading, I am at this point willing to play those odds. Good point to consider though. Perhaps I could practice malfunction drills with the brass catcher as well.

Thank you for the information so far; it has been helpful. Please keep it coming!
 
Kombayotch; in CQB there is NO time for picking up brass till the end of the match. Certainly no way my safety man would be allowed to stagger around the shooter next to me picking up my brass while the stage was being run. Also I can see a lot of people getting sick of shooting with me if I am always asking them to pick up my mess.

In Service Rifle is the brass picked up after every stage and relay? I haven't been to a SR match yet...
 
If you do use a brass catcher, remember a couple things.

1) malfunction inspection and clearance is compromized.
Plus chance of FTE stoppage is increased.
2) you have to run with that catcher on your rifle, with various stages of it being full of brass (40-50 rounds say)
3) normally the final stage is shooting off hand at say 100 yds. Do you want a bag full of brass hanging off your rifle when you shoot off hand (or any position)
4) you have to be able to basically remove the bag quickly to clear your rifle at the end of the stage. Being able to see your dust cover is still closed is an issue as well.
5) many top shooters (way better than me) carefully prep their brass and load their own. None of them worry much about their brass. They focus on getting well centred hits and don't need crap like brass catchers hanging off their rifle.
 
I've seen one brass catcher at a match, and it caused a malfunction. As other have said, you can and will get 90% + of your brass back without one, if you make your target buddies aware of it.
 
Longshot338 said:
Good idea. I had already looked at that option. I have two issues with it.

First of all, it is a little on the big side. I was hoping for a little lower profile. Not the end of the world though. I don't need the 100 case capacity; I would empty it quickly before bombing up for my next stage. It would be emptied every stage.

The second issue is the deal breaker. My rifle is identical to a C7A2 other than the optic (and the fun switch of course). I cannot afford an Elcan C79. I currently use a Hi-Lux CMR1-4 (which I am less than satisfied with). I have a Warne R.A.M.P mount. It covers every slot on the rail. I also have a red dot mounted on the RH 45 offset rail.

Do you have any ideas with a different mounting option?
Click to expand...

No clue... I liked this design cause it worked for the empty slots on my receiver. I have 2 scope rings so have space in between. Maybe you need to change how you mount your scope?

The bag is easy on and off.. this is actually a strong plus of the design. When on, it stays put and I have tried leaning it this way and that without issue. Where you will have a problem if the receiver port is facing up..... that is going to end badly.

Can it cause a jam? You bet.. anything in the way of a case can cause a FUBAR. But for bench work, it has been great and solves the need to pick up cases.

Personally, I wouldn't use it during a match for fear of problems... got enough to worry about without a self induced one

Give it a try.. maybe it will be ok for your needs?

Jerry
 
Not to mention that if you drop it on the rundown you will be sweeping the entire area between the mounds(100m x however many lanes there are on the range)
 
klatham said:
Not to mention that if you drop it on the rundown you will be sweeping the entire area between the mounds(100m x however many lanes there are on the range)
Click to expand...

I lost a pair of e-muffs like that at Nanaimo's mil range. Not a run down but in the push back to 500, from 300 lost them.

I have a cheap utg one, holds on via velcro. More than 5 rounds it starts to jam. Stove piped with another round in the chamber.

There are some nice ones that attach to the fore end as well. So you could always add a side rail to your for end. 4gt.ca is where I saw em, pricey at 260$ though.
 
I use the Caldwell one with the pic mount. Works awesome. Easy on/off, has never caused me any grief with many thousands of rounds. Not sure about SR in Ontario, but in BC at Volks range, I have more than enough time to empty it every 10 rounds.
 
ORA shoots the CAFSAC CoF and it moves pretty quickly. They usually let new people recharge mags between strings if they come out and don't have enough mags to carry the 55-60 rounds for the stage in the number of mags they have. It's an exception. Usually, it's reload and prepare to shoot the next string right after the last exposure of the current one. I can't see the MD holding up the match on a regular basis for someone to dump their brass catcher. The pace is very go, go, go!
 
I envision lots of yelling over the megaphone to hurry it up turning into just starting the next string without you if everyone else is ready. It would be a great stress drill, but you'd probably give up on the brass catcher pretty quickly.
 
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