collecting brass

[dark star]

how do you reloaders catch your brass from your semiautos...It seems like I spend more time hunting down spent cases than shooting
any suggestions??

[OKFC05]

Take your kid shooting and let him pick up the brass when you're done.

[11B Lifer]

If possible-I'll put a blanket down where the spent brass is landing. Otherwise, I try to police it up every two or three magazines-if I wait until I'm done-it breaks my back trying to get 200 cases. My grandkids will do it-but I don't want them near a firing line.

[kingranch]

Do you remember them Mateba (sp?) italian semi-auto revolvers popular a few years ago? That'll make collecting brass easy, don't it? And semi-auto to top it off!

[Rule3]

I sometimes use a catch net I made myself out of a old fish landing net, It works for about 90% of the brass. Each gun throws them differently so you need to line it up differently each time. If I do not use it most of the brass lands on the concrete firing line and then we sweep or rake it up. If it bounces into the parking area which is limestone rock, then it's the "chicken dance" hunt and peck. I mark my brass with a colored Sharpie so I know it's mine.

Something like this only mine is on a PVC Pole and cost maybe $5.00

CTK Precision Universal Brass Catcher - MidwayUSA

[dark star]

thats a good idea

[Rule3]

This one "looks" to be the best out there. I am going to try and make one similar to it. Not many pictures of it but I have the basic idea. Click on the video on the left.

The REAL Hands Free Universal Brass Catcher in AmmoCan

[dickttx]

I just got a new 45ACP and have been experimenting. I normally shoot from my Kawasaki Mule. I have tried positioning large window screens on or about the vehicle as a backstop, but so far they have been ineffective. The brass usually goes over the top.
Was thinking of just making a large one and attaching to steel fenceposts driven into the ground. The plastic pipe might make a lighter frame. Any suggestions on type of netting?

[Fkimble]

I just use one of those blue tarps you can get a Walmart or Home Depot or Lowes and other places. I spread it out where the brass lands. Ocassionally one will bounce skip or slide off. I attached a piece of PVC pipe to 2 sides to make it easy to spread out, its 8 by 12 I think. I usually just fold it over on its self when not in use. It lives on the edge of my range where the 40 and 45 are fired.

[JohnnieB]

Old age and common sense have more or less solved the problem for me, I switched to revolvers.

However, before I started having difficulties racking the slides of bottom-feeders, I re-purposed an el-cheapo 4'x12' fabric drop cloth.
SWMBO folded the end over and sewed it so a wooden dowel kept the top straight and using a few feet of parachute cord, a couple small lead weights and some safety pins, I was able to raise it to the rafters of the shelter at my favorite gun range. I used tent stakes to hold the bottom down.

I had a tendency to fly like a flag when wind kicked up, but it usually did a pretty good job of dropping most of the brass in a pile and it rolled up for transporting.

Same idea might work with some sort of netting that wouldn't block you side vision as much and be less susceptible to wind.

[Rule3]

Originally Posted by dickttx

I just got a new 45ACP and have been experimenting. I normally shoot from my Kawasaki Mule. I have tried positioning large window screens on or about the vehicle as a backstop, but so far they have been ineffective. The brass usually goes over the top.
Was thinking of just making a large one and attaching to steel fenceposts driven into the ground. The plastic pipe might make a lighter frame. Any suggestions on type of netting?

Window screen is too "taught" or non flexible. Believe me I tried.If if you leave it loose, the brass bounces off. You need a softer mesh like a minnow seine net.(not mono filament)

I asked my wife to sew a mesh laundry bag around my old fish landing net hoop to make mine..

[Faulkner]

Most of my shooting is at the department range so I have the county inmates police up the range after every session, then those of us that reload split up the brass.

[dickttx]

I tried the drop cloth first. Just pinned it around the edge of my Mule top. In north Texas the slight breeze we normally have would almost move my mule!!! Went to the screen wire. Tried an old 6' window screen but it was too short. Next time I go to town I will get some PVC and look around HD for some type of netting. Used to have a net to put over my peach trees to keep the birds off but I can't remember the size of the holes. My wife threw it away when a Copperhead got tangled in it and died. Smelled pretty bad!!
Any more suggestions for type of netting?

[Hobie1]

I've used brass deflectors with great success. They mount to the scope rail and just angle out and down. I have one on my Baer longslide and all the brass lands just in front of me(keeps the guy in the next lane from building up "his" brass supply). I also have mounted one on my 15-22 for indoor use because I had a cartridge land between my safety glasses and eye lid after it bounced of the lane wall. Now they go out and down. I've since painted the brass one black. The Baer one is similar but I don't have a pic of it.

Hobie

[Targetslayer]

I use an E&L brass catcher for my mini-14. I tried to make some different ones but ended up spending $36.95 and just buying one. Money well spent.

Welcome to E&L Manufacturing

Targetslayer

[Rule3]

Bird netting for trees and garden is too big a mesh. Look at a garden center or Big Box store for shade cloth or the cheap kind of weed cloth/silt barrier the use for construction.

[H Richard]

Look up Dillon Precision Products, Scottsdale, AZ. Dillon Precision: Reloaders, Reloading Equipment, Bullet Reloading, Bullet Reloaders. They have been advertising a roller brass pick-it-up. Was originally a nut harvester, and they adapted it to brass pick up. I haven't tried one yet, but looks interesting.

[Rule3]

Originally Posted by H Richard

Look up Dillon Precision Products, Scottsdale, AZ. Dillon Precision: Reloaders, Reloading Equipment, Bullet Reloading, Bullet Reloaders. They have been advertising a roller brass pick-it-up. Was originally a nut harvester, and they adapted it to brass pick up. I haven't tried one yet, but looks interesting.

I posted a thread on the Nut Wizzard a while back. One of the comp shooters at my range uses one. They are pretty slick but expensive. Only work on smooth surface or short grass. On rock drives or rough dirt not so good. I almost bought one until the the price and shipping killed that idea.
Brownells has it also. Brass wizzard, nut wizzard etec, etc. Some stores sell them if you live in a "nut" State

It really does work, several videos on line.

[Old Navy]

I too got rid of all my auto loaders except my CCW Sig P238 and my Colt Delta Elite, and my 22 rimfire auto's.

[kenjen]

i made one from a closehanger and part of the leg from a pair of nylon stockings. shaped the closehanger to look like a ping-pong paddle and sew a piece of panty hose around it and bent the handle in such away that i can velcro a strap around my hand,you must shoot with both hands for it to work, catches 95% of them

[dickttx]

It has dawned on me that we are probably talking about two different things here. Some have came up with devises to actually catch the brass. I am just looking for a backstop. I don't mind picking them up as I am hoping that is pretty much all the exercise I am going to get. Right now my pasture is tan with dead grass and about down to dirt where I shoot. I am losing about 2 cases out of 50. When the grass starts growing that is going to increase.
Went to town yesterday and 60 feet of 3/4" cheap PVC, appropriate fittings, and a 14'x14' tree net. I believe the tree net will work OK for 45's. And, that was the only thing I could find. I will put together a 10'x10' frame and cover it with the tree net. Should be able to attach it to my Mule with bungee cords.
Being a semi-retired CPA, on the way home I calculated that I will only have to shoot 3409 boxes of 45's to pay for the materials, based on what I just paid for new brass at Starline, and, not counting gas for a 30 mile round trip.
I wonder if I will ever stop thinking like that!

[Maximumbob54]

I have been thinking of trying and egg beater that has all the loops in it to push against brass and see if it will act like a cage. Secure one to the end of a pole and then when it starts to get full open it with your fingers over a five gallon bucket. No idea if it will work well or not, it’s still in the crazy idea status. If you are trying to catch brass from an auto feeder rifle then there are any number of brass catchers that Velcro on the side around the stock. Then for pistols I have seen the nets on stands and some that Velcro wrap around your wrist and arm. The local range near me has screens to set up between shooters that makes the brass bounce back at you. It lands at your feet and you have to watch out not to step on your own brass. Maybe if you could put a screen up at a greater distance and put one of the larger tote style bin at the bottom then it would catch most of it for you. But the wind is going to want to take anything up that could act as a sail. I must admit that while I will always love my 1911, I am getting to be a bigger and bigger revolver fan every time I go to the range. And keep in mind that more and more ranges have a policy that if the brass touches the floor then it has to stay. I won’t go to those but it is a way for the range to make money and stay in business. I prefer the ranges where you can sweep up brass and pour it into a collection bin for them to sort through for either selling to reloaders or for scrap.

[Jimfix44]

I have been watching this thread and havent seen a producct called "Brass Magnet" mentioned. WOndering if anyone has one or has used one. I saw a guy using one once at my GC but didn't get to ask him how he liked it. They are a bit pricey. Any feedback would be appreciated.
Brass Magnet - Home

[Old Navy]

Kind of pricey, but not sure I'd like it, if I didn't the $120+ investment would really ruffle my feathers.