Am I Sentenced Forevermore To Brass Scrounging?

[Troystat]

No I do try and be discrete about it as the range I go to says "all brass property of the range except your own" or something to that effect. That being said I always pick up any unclaimed .38,357 and 45acp. One time not to long ago somebody left 50 once fired Federal 45 Colt brass on the bench and it was all I could do to leave it behind. I probably should have picked it up and sold it on gun broker.

 

[Wise_A]

The tarp thing aggravates me to no end. I always thought that if you showed up to an event, and helped out with the operation, picked up and such, that the reward for that was getting a fair share of the brass.

When one guy dumps it all into a bucket and whistles away merrily, I just get the impression that any effort I put into helping out wasn't appreciated.

 

[Fuddster]

I have more than I will ever need. But not only do I still pick it up, I'll buy some occasionally if it looks good and the price is reasonable. I don't load .40, but will pick it up just so it doesn't distract me from shooting. When standing, it looks like .45.

 

[fredj338]

this...and if it's been reloaded, the question is why did the "reloader" leave it? Just saying...

also done the "tarp" thing above when we had "pin shoots" a long time ago

-Snoopz

Who is to say it was reloaded & not factory?? Reload long enough, you can tell if the case hase been fired more than once. I see lots of shooters every weekend shooting 100sof rounds of factory & leaving brass.

 

[fredj338]

No I do try and be discrete about it as the range I go to says "all brass property of the range except your own" or something to that effect. That being said I always pick up any unclaimed .38,357 and 45acp. One time not to long ago somebody left 50 once fired Federal 45 Colt brass on the bench and it was all I could do to leave it behind. I probably should have picked it up and sold it on gun broker.

The aformentioned private club i shoot requires the shooters to police their brass. So anything on the bay when you get there is for the taking or the trash. I would rather take it, give it to a brass starved new reloader than see it go to the scrap yard.

 

[les.b]

Wow. You guys make me feel a lot better. I thought it was just me. Ageingstudent, I love that wooden contraption you made!! Reminds me of a pet feeder. What a cool way to store brass. I teach at a university where there are multiple offices where the workers always seem to have those large, clear pretzel jars sitting around. I have put out the word that when they are empty, that I will recycle them. I store my cleaned, used brass in these, that way I can see what is in them. I also bought large, self stick labels to tell what caliber, and other details I know. Some I sort by headstamps if I have enough.

It's easy to say you have enough, but after the last ammo famines, I try to have plenty of brass, primers, powder, bullets, lead, and factory ammo in all of the many calibers that I own and shoot. I don't ever want to be caught short again. Well, I wasn't caught very short, but I did start to get uneasy. Like when I was down to 2,500 factory rounds of .45 ACP, and several thousand empty cartridge cases, and only a couple of thousand appropriate primers.

That's what is eventually our soft underbelly. Some states are trying to tax and regulate ammunition, and if they ever succeed, we scrounges and hoarders will be thought of as the wise ones!!!

Best Regards, Les

 

[Snoopz]

Who is to say it was reloaded & not factory?? Reload long enough, you can tell if the case hase been fired more than once. I see lots of shooters every weekend shooting 100sof rounds of factory & leaving brass.

You hit the nail on the head..been reloading for 35+ years and yes there are people who leave it set, the last batch of so-called 1x 45, netted, swaged, reamed primer pockets (that didn't need it) multiple marks on the case heads, extractor marks, etc....5.56 the same way...more so..they get separated from the others... if I leave any behind it's for several reasons, can't find it, and it's life is no longer, mainly can't find it, otherwise "scrap"

about the tarp thing ...we all shared the brass..have seen some who just fold it up and dump it later.
also when we took turns mowing with a push mower (our range duties), when the blade hits it, that brass case becomes a projectile itself...it may not be that "rock" you hit... YMMV

-Snoopz

 

[SweetMK]

He was talking about how he couldn't stand to see brass laying on the range, that it was like seeing money left on the ground, and then showed him harvesting the brass, and feeding it into a cement mixer with a shovel (his version of a tumbler).

Dave

I guess it is a good thing I do not visit any range's,,, because I have the tumbler,,,

I surely do not need ANOTHER addiction,,,,

Hmmmmmmmm,,,,,,,, where can I get 100 pounds of ground corncob??

 

[otisrush]

Thanks for the stories! I love hearing 'em.

And.....they make me feel better continuing to scrounge. "One man's trash is another man's treasure."

OR

 

[Cyrano]

I scrounge all the brass I can. Now that's not so much as the Fort Bliss Rod and Gun Club has a rule that you can pick up your own brass but anything else is 'US Govenment Property".

There are some problems with range pick-ups. One of them is with 45 ACP. I like to stay with one brand of brass; it's an easy way to get a little uniformity. I like Winchester brass, for no reason. But I load a lot of 45 ACP. There are three varieties of Winchester 45 ACP brass, and they have to be sorted out.

Some Winchester 45 ACP brass has visibly larger flash holes than the others. I believe they were used with primers that containe no lead and the larger flash hole was neded because they didn't burn quite as hot as before. I've fired a few inadvertently, and didn't come to grief, but I still toss them when I find them even though I usually load pretty mild loads.

And now recently, Winchester has been putting small pistol primers in their 45 ACP brass. The first time I found one of those was when the primer wouldn't enter the case. Finally took the case out of the press and had a look. I was surprised at what I found. These got into scrap too.

 

[feelinlucky]

I don't see too many ads on the misc classified section here for brass, but there are several other gun forums where there is always a market for sorted, reloadable brass, regardless of the caliber. Selling or trading range brass plays a significant part in funding my shooting/reloading activities.

 

[Neumann]

Take the cure and buy a revolver! Buy another (you can't stop with just one). Your brass doesn't go flying, just drops into the palm of your hand or a shooting pouch. Actually, I dropped a case last year. Never did find it, on a concrete floor no less.

As a fringe benefit, you can utterly destroy the X ring before moving on to a more challenging target, like the "O" in "50' Slow Fire" label.

 

[Huskerguy]

I am worse than most of you. I pick up my and all other 22 brass as well. I throw them and anything else I pick up in my range bag brass bag and when I get time I sort through it all and put junk in a big plastic former graham cracker container that is clear. It is fun to watch it fill up over time. It sets on my cleaning bench and when it gets full it goes to the scrap dealer. At our indoor range we have a 16 gallon barrel that people throw their brass in. We are allowed to scrounge what we want. If there happens to be quite a few of the cases I could use (like I really need more) I just grab a few handfuls of brass and toss them in for sorting later on. I keep what I want, bent and split goes in the monkey shaped container. I even pick up 22 brass in a friends front yard when we are shooting a bunch. I know I am weird.

 

[MyDads38]

I go to the local conservation club (annual membership $30) at least once a week, just to go through the brass barrels and pick up around the shooting houses (handgun, rifle). I just went last night (Wed) and brought home another full 1 gallon plastic pail of reloadable brass-3/4 handgun brass and 1/4 rifle brass. During spring, summer and fall; I go weekly to forage through the barrels-winter not so much.

I can't stand the thought of all that brass going to waste/recycling. What I cant/don't use, I sell or trade off, the excess 9mm I give to a buddy. I really enjoy finding 45 auto and 38 special brass, I feel I'm saving money and helping to save the planet That's MY story, anyway!

 

[fredj338]

I go to the local conservation club (annual membership $30) at least once a week, just to go through the brass barrels and pick up around the shooting houses (handgun, rifle). I just went last night (Wed) and brought home another full 1 gallon plastic pail of reloadable brass-3/4 handgun brass and 1/4 rifle brass. During spring, summer and fall; I go weekly to forage through the barrels-winter not so much.

I can't stand the thought of all that brass going to waste/recycling. What I cant/don't use, I sell or trade off, the excess 9mm I give to a buddy. I really enjoy finding 45 auto and 38 special brass, I feel I'm saving money and helping to save the planet That's MY story, anyway!

My buddy does this. We both belong to a private outdoor club, about 1500 members. He is 10min from the range, I am 2.5 hrs. He will stop by once a week to scrounge brass. He only picks up calibers he shoots or calibers I shoot, but he has more brass than he can ever use. He is a regular 40 shooter, last I looked he had (3) 5gal pales full, just 40 brass. I got 1000 pieces of 223 from him that he had scrounged. His 5gal bucket of that was over flowing.
You have enough until you don't. Political winds are shifting & things can go south quickly. So having it & not needing it is better than the alternative.

 

[Qc Pistolero]

I'm in total agreement with the above two posts 2&3. I think that applies to all components, not just range brass. How many primers are too many? When do you have enough powder? Is there enough bullets in your bunker to keep you from looking at bullets?

The answer is no to all of the above. Sorry, it's the way things are.

Guess that's the way the cooky crumbles!200% with you.
Qc

 

[Qc Pistolero]

I used to keep it in coffee cans and buckets. I can no longer keep service calibers that way it's a mess. Last weekend I built a big pine box with 5 sections Inside for .223, .9mm, .45, .40, and .380. It's got ramps inside that push the brass into trays like a candy machine. When I get home from the range I just open the top and pour the brass in. Each section holds at least 10000 pieces. When I want brass it's there. I sure wish wheelgun shooters would be more sloppy. I can't leave brass either. I sure do hate running out.

5 gal pails properly identified work well too!
Qc

 

[Qc Pistolero]

Hi,
My name is Neely52 and I scrounge brass.

I'm with you ; spent primers from my Dillons(recycling to exchange for lead),and berdan brass(recycling to exchange for lead)and nails or anything made out of steel(that I exchange for...OH darn,you know!)

Qc

 

[Qc Pistolero]

Had a buddy that taught concealed carry courses. I'd see him with a broom and shovel dumping the brass in the range buckets. Since most of it was 38 special I now have a 40mm ammo can full. Another friend loved shooting 45 auto but didn't reload. Sufficed to say I am comfortably stocked with 45 auto brass. Frank

Well Frank46,you just let me know when you're stocked enough.I'll gladly lighten your burden!
Qc

 

[Qc Pistolero]

Sorry if it flips sideways. My pics started doing that in posts about 6 months ago and I haven't been able to figure out what the deal is. Only happens here.

Scrap lumber of course.

Very clever!
Qc

 

[Qc Pistolero]

Doesn't really make sense to stop scrounging. You can pay for it, or pick itup for free. I execute option #2 as much as possible. That being said, I only pick up .44 RM and .45 COLT when I see them...I actually have more .357 brass than I'll ever reload. I'd like to get there with the other two caliber I mentioned as well.

Up here in Qc,we don't find anything but 9mmbrass.You guys finding .357 mag,.44RM and .45Colt well,I feel like I am a dog chewing on the bones you have left over from your meal!I go WOOPDEEDOO!when I find one of such!IWe pay something like over $40CAD/100for them!And that's before the govt feels justified to make us feel lighter by another 15%!
Qc

 

[Qc Pistolero]

I have to admit, I do the "Chicken Dance" all the time picking up brass. Truth be told, I'm just as bad on a golf course (i.e have to poke around the ponds/bushes). Sad habit I know!

Chicken dance!The best description I've read or heard about the exercice.Now,wait a cottonpickin'minute!Is this what I look like when I pick up brass?
Qc

 

[Qc Pistolero]

Exactly! I was at the private club I shoot Sunday. The bay was covered in 223 brass. I didn't have time to pick it up, was training a couple new shooters, but it was like leaving a range full of dimes. Now who would do that???

In your situation,I would have probably done the same....and then would have gone to some hidden place to silently cry...
Qc

 

[Qc Pistolero]

There is hope! I used to be like everyone else here. IE Spending as much time on my knees scooping up free range brass than actually shooting. Then at some point, I came to the realization that for the common "new shooter/non reloader" calibers like 9mm, 40 S&W and .223, I already have two lifetime supplies laid in. I now (sometimes reluctantly) leave those common calibers behind (even when it's ankle deep!)

Truthfully though, I'm not 100% cured of treasure hunting. I'll still grub around in the dirt like a deranged prospector for the occasional 45 acp or 357sig windfall when I find it.

Leave those''common calibers behind''Well Sir,I,m not of any nobility;could you please let me know where your range is so I can go pick it up?
Qc

 

[Qc Pistolero]

No I do try and be discrete about it as the range I go to says "all brass property of the range except your own" or something to that effect. That being said I always pick up any unclaimed .38,357 and 45acp. One time not to long ago somebody left 50 once fired Federal 45 Colt brass on the bench and it was all I could do to leave it behind. I probably should have picked it up and sold it on gun broker.

Up here in Qc,I'm one of the very few who shoot .45Colt.So rest assured,the probabilities of finding .45 Colt brass is much less than you winning the lottery grand prize!
Qc

 

[Qc Pistolero]

I scrounge all the brass I can. Now that's not so much as the Fort Bliss Rod and Gun Club has a rule that you can pick up your own brass but anything else is 'US Govenment Property".

There are some problems with range pick-ups. One of them is with 45 ACP. I like to stay with one brand of brass; it's an easy way to get a little uniformity. I like Winchester brass, for no reason. But I load a lot of 45 ACP. There are three varieties of Winchester 45 ACP brass, and they have to be sorted out.

Some Winchester 45 ACP brass has visibly larger flash holes than the others. I believe they were used with primers that containe no lead and the larger flash hole was neded because they didn't burn quite as hot as before. I've fired a few inadvertently, and didn't come to grief, but I still toss them when I find them even though I usually load pretty mild loads.

And now recently, Winchester has been putting small pistol primers in their 45 ACP brass. The first time I found one of those was when the primer wouldn't enter the case. Finally took the case out of the press and had a look. I was surprised at what I found. These got into scrap too.

I sort out LP from SP .45ACP cases for use in my autos(LP in 1911 and SP in my revolver( Blackhawk).Now Cyrano,if I supply you the bucket,will you gently throw them SP brass away into it!
Qc

 

[Qc Pistolero]

I am worse than most of you. I pick up my and all other 22 brass as well. I throw them and anything else I pick up in my range bag brass bag and when I get time I sort through it all and put junk in a big plastic former graham cracker container that is clear. It is fun to watch it fill up over time. It sets on my cleaning bench and when it gets full it goes to the scrap dealer. At our indoor range we have a 16 gallon barrel that people throw their brass in. We are allowed to scrounge what we want. If there happens to be quite a few of the cases I could use (like I really need more) I just grab a few handfuls of brass and toss them in for sorting later on. I keep what I want, bent and split goes in the monkey shaped container. I even pick up 22 brass in a friends front yard when we are shooting a bunch. I know I am weird.[/QUOTEMaybe I should be ashamed but I'll assume myself.Sir,I admire you!(after all,recycling is trendy,ain't it?)

 

[rwsmith]

It's nice to know....

Where I shoot, the Border Patrol guys also shoot. I could probably fill my car trunk full of .40 S&W brass. Problem is that I own nothing chambered in .40 S&W and probably never will. It just never appealed to me. So I don't pick them up.

"I have a few 7.7 Japanese cases for a friend that has two Arisakas and they AIN'T gettin' away from me."

Very simple to make 7.7 brass from .30-'06. Just one pass through a 7.7 FL die followed by trimming. I made lots of them back when I had a nice 7.7 Type 99 with mum. 7.7 dies also work for loading .303 British. Case dimensions are nearly identical, except one is rimmed, the other is not.

It's nice to know it can be easily formed from common brass. I've read about some multi step procedures that some really hard up people go through to get rare caliber cases.

 

[rwsmith]

My son and his friend were rather.......

My son and his friend were rather disdainful when I told them to police up the brass we shot. They caught on when I told them that I made every one of the hundreds of rounds they shot out of used brass and if they didn't like it they could buy their own. I ended up with a few good bags full. Some probably wasn't even mine.

 

[CajunBass]

I don't do it anymore.

At my range they ask "Are you saving your brass?" "What caliber?"

Then they sweep it up for me, and dump it in my range bag. Or in any other container I happen to have with me.

I almost always end up with more than I shot. It's almost always once fired...after all other reloaders save their brass too.

If they see that I'm shooting a revolver, they'll bring me any revolver brass someone else left.

I like this place.