Collecting spent brass at the range

[jcuffe6240]

This may sound like quite the newbie question, but I will give it a shot anyways. I just recently purchased a few Russian milsurp semi's (SKS, TT-33 and SVT-40) as well as some comercially available, reloadable ammo. I would like to reload this ammo eventually, but I know from experience that these can really throw the brass all over the place.

Does anyone have a means that they use at the range to collect their brass for reloading? Or am I stuck trying to visually find them myself after a day of shooting? Any help or ideas would be welcomed.

 

[GMC Trucker]

There are brass catchers available. They're basically a small net with a stand that sits near the rifle.

Cheers,

GMC

 

[Freedom Ventures]

If you shoot from mainly one position, you could always put a blanket or tarp on the ground where your brass goes to collect your brass.

 

[Kevin M.]

I mark my brass across the headstamp with a coloured sharpie marker, so I know it is my own brass I am picking up. Other then that, you can make a brass catcher by getting a fishing net, and attaching it to a simple base made of some scrap wood or 2x4.

 

[JEC]

Not a 7.62 X 39 shooter but it is least picked brass at the Range. (It seems that a lot of shooters of that vintage depend on their mother's to clean up after them ..sorry, needed to get that off my chest!). If the stuff you are talking about has a steel case, it is easily picked up with a $15.00 nail magnet from Princess Auto.

 

[RedDuc]

Not a 7.62 X 39 shooter but it is least picked brass at the Range. (It seems that a lot of shooters of that vintage depend on their mother's to clean up after them ..sorry, needed to get that off my chest!). If the stuff you are talking about has a steel case, it is easily picked up with a $15.00 nail magnet from Princess Auto.

Yeah I agree. Police your army surplus berdan primed steel casings regardless of how cheap it is. Same with your .22lr.

Just because the stuff is worthless to you doesn't mean you have to make it someone elses job to have to clean up.

 

[blacksmithden]

I've got a 1911 in 45ACP that has the ejector from hell on it. I can't stand chasing brass around the range, and I MIGHT have fired 300 rounds through it. My Ruger Redhawk revolver on the other hand has seen a TON more action. Yea, you can't just slam in a new magazine for a super fast reload. On the other hand, I drop in cartridges rather than fighting with a spring and I don't have to chase any brass at all.

 

[joe-nwt]

Not a 7.62 X 39 shooter but it is least picked brass at the Range. (It seems that a lot of shooters of that vintage depend on their mother's to clean up after them ..sorry, needed to get that off my chest!). If the stuff you are talking about has a steel case, it is easily picked up with a $15.00 nail magnet from Princess Auto.

I don't mind picking up after slobs. Got a box of once fired 10mm brass tonight. Amongst other stuff........

 

[Kevin M.]

I don't mind picking up after slobs. Got a box of once fired 10mm brass tonight. Amongst other stuff........

Picked up 40 peices of once fired 308 Winchester today, but my biggest was around 3000 peices of 9mm luger and 2000 .45ACP after my black badge course. 12 people shot it, and only three of us wanted the brass, so we split it three ways.

 

[Hook]

I have picked up Norma brass just lying around at my local range.

Works for me.

 

[kevin.303]

i love showing up after guys with AR's have been shooting cheap AE 55 gr FMJ's. all that lovely Lake City brass just there for the taking.....

 

[Ganderite]

If you are shooting a scoped rifle, it is easy to drape a hand towel over the sides of the scope. The brass will hit the towel and then fall straight down.

 

[griffin86]

I wonder how good those rolling magnets would be at picking up brass. I think that would be a good idea for when I shoot 7.62x39

 

[hunter64]

I use a shower curtain liner at the range. You can buy them at IKEA for about 8 bucks and they are clear so everyone can see thru them. I clamp it to the roof on my right side and back. When I shoot semi-auto then the brass hits the curtain and falls straight down. It not only protects the guy next to me from flying objects but all my brass as right there on the ground beside me.

Seen a guy do this about 2 years ago and thought this is the way to go instead of always going to the far right position and laying a blanket out on the ground to get the brass.

 

[C Broad Arrow]

I wonder how good those rolling magnets would be at picking up brass. I think that would be a good idea for when I shoot 7.62x39

I don' t this brass and magnets work all that well together.

 

[griffin86]

I don' t this brass and magnets work all that well together.

hmm. My 7.62 surplus casings are attracted to a magnet.

 

[Kevin M.]

Russian surplus is steel cased ammo, not brass.

 

[Winnipeg Toymaker]

i have gathered my next few years of brass from the range. But it is difficult to "skate" over the miriade of Russian steel casings. No one seems to even pick up their own mess, but leave it for others to do.

I do believe that each station at the range should be left clean for the next shooter , but it never seems to happen. Takes a lot of fortitude to leave your mess behind just because the casing cannot be reloaded.

 

[Splatter]

I think the walkways at ranges should be "gravelled" with steel M43 cases. And a nice deep bed of .22 cases is comfy to shoot prone from.

 

[redneckalbertan]

I wonder how good those rolling magnets would be at picking up brass. I think that would be a good idea for when I shoot 7.62x39

You have to get a brass magnet, an ordinary magnet doesn't work. Next time you are in a industrial supply store (Gregs, Acklands etc.) ask the guys behind the counter for one. Don't bother at Princess auto they don't have any. If you can get one let the rest of us know where.