Picking up brass

TyCarp · May 28, 2011, 01:17 PM

I, as a lot of you, don't shoot at a range just in the backyard. My backyard has grass. Brass in grass=lost. I was thinking of putting down an old bed sheet or tarp or something. What do some of yall do??

willr · May 28, 2011, 01:58 PM

Some time ago there was a picture of a large net held by a frame of pvc. The intent was to catch ejected brass. This, together with the tarp you suggest might be what you want.

willr

Civil War Life · May 28, 2011, 03:17 PM

Recently our range put up nets on each station. Boy are they great. All the brass is caught and I don't have to spend time picking brass out of the gravel or mud.

CherokeeT · May 28, 2011, 03:37 PM

I have used a tarp but some autos will still sling the brass in different directions. I have used a net, it will work, placement and the gun's ejection pattern must be considered. I have found the net often has to be larger than you think. If there are a lot of people at the range, tarps become more difficult to use without encroching on the other shooters.

lamarw · May 28, 2011, 06:06 PM

I think you should give it a try. Then instead of a range report, you can give us a yard report on how it works or what works best.

I do know shorter grass like zoysia helps but is not fool proof.

highvel · May 28, 2011, 08:00 PM

When I shoot around the house, usually more than one gun is used and brass ends up all over the place.
I use my metal detector now and none of the cases get away, no matter how hard they try!

Bill65 · May 28, 2011, 08:11 PM

I shoot in the woods, leaf liter is the worst

I bought a 8 X 10 blue tarp, spread it out to the right rear and recovered 98 per cent of my brass. Before that, I was lucky to find 50 per cent of it. The tarp did a good job, but kind of a pain to place by yourself....

Lemmon · May 28, 2011, 08:54 PM

I have a few pistols and a couple of rifles that plop the spent brass in one neat pile. My Ruger LCP throws them all over the place. My revolvers are alway very considerate. For my AR15 I use a brass catcher from this guy. It works really great. The website is:

http://www.elmfg.com/index.html

Lemmon

troy_mclure · May 28, 2011, 09:37 PM

try the brass magnet, http://www.brassmagnet.com/page1.aspx

or the brass wizard, http://www.uniquetek.com/site/696296/product/T1310

i have used both, i own a brass wizard. i wouldnt mind having a brass magnet tho.

357 Terms · May 28, 2011, 10:40 PM

+1 on the tarp. also at my buddies back acre's we just mow/kill everything at the range. The big tarp is still the best: other than our revolvers.

Rifleman1776 · May 29, 2011, 09:21 AM

Mow the lawn.
I'll have to check out that brass magnet. I don't believe there is such a thing.

Onward Allusion · May 29, 2011, 10:24 AM

Quote:

TyCarp
Picking up brass
I, as a lot of you, don't shoot at a range just in the backyard. My backyard has grass. Brass in grass=lost. I was thinking of putting down an old bed sheet or tarp or something. What do some of yall do??

If it's grass and it's around your house, use a wet-vac. If it's dirt or sand, then you don't have a problem in the first place.

PawPaw · May 29, 2011, 11:02 AM

Or, there's the Brass Wizard. We used to use something like this for picking up pecans when we were harvesting for our own use.

Onward Allusion · May 29, 2011, 11:43 AM

^^^
That is ingenious!

kraigwy · May 29, 2011, 12:19 PM

If you are lazy and wimpy like me, go to Wally World (or such store) and buy one of those awning tent thingies with nets all around. You shoot in the shade, out of the rain, and all your brass is kept in a 10 ft square (or what ever size you want.

Be sure to pick on big enough so you can shoot offhand.

Something like this guy:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000N5395U/...SIN=B000N5395U

SDC · May 29, 2011, 12:41 PM

It depends on what calibres/gauges you're shooting, and how much you want to spend. One interesting thing I've seen for this is the "Ammo-Up", which uses plastic wheels to grab onto the empties and rotate them into a hopper, like so: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8rzT2CnLlA This won't work on rimfire brass, but if I had to maintain a trap or skeet field, it would be on my buy list.

praetorian97 · May 30, 2011, 12:42 AM

Worst for finding brass is when you are running moving exercises to try and find brass. Or when you load random rounds for mag change drills.

jmorris · May 30, 2011, 10:56 PM

Getting out of grass or cracks? A tarp, fish sein or other device is great if they are landing in one spot. If they are all over take a look at this link.

http://thefiringline.com/forums/show...ight=brass+vac

zombie666 · May 31, 2011, 01:20 AM

Had a friend who was going to use a cheap plastic tarp to catch his brass. The result was a tarp with a lot of little holes burned in it. Just something to think about when you plan what to catch the brass with.

Lost Sheep · May 31, 2011, 04:45 AM

Get a cardboard refrigerator box. Cut a door in the back side and a window in the front side. Step inside and close the door. Shoot out the window with the gun inside the box.

If your arms are too long, put the box laying down and raise it up high enough to clear your head. The brass won't be contained inside the box, but at least it will be near your feet.

Or, if your arms are too long, make the back door a window and shoot through both windows.

Can't do this at a range or the rangemaster or other shooters would probably get nervous, as they will not be able to see you (nor can you see them).

I've been working on this question for some time. Maybe some day I will come up with a universally satisfactory solution.

THEN I'LL BE RICH! (If not through marketing it, then in brass, at least)

Lost Sheep

Lost Sheep · May 31, 2011, 04:47 AM

Quote:

Had a friend who was going to use a cheap plastic tarp to catch his brass. The result was a tarp with a lot of little holes burned in it. Just something to think about when you plan what to catch the brass with.

Not to mention plastic melted onto his brass and casings stuck to the tarp.

Lost Sheep

praetorian97 · May 31, 2011, 10:13 AM

I like the idea of a pop up canopy such as -

And putting up a side wall for the brass to bounce off of.

1SOW · June 2, 2011, 02:07 AM

A guy at the range made a pistol case trap. He used some of that 'weed screen' for flower beds and three of those small pop-up tent poles. It made a 'wall' about 4' tall 4' long. He carried it rolled up in one hand and sets it up in less than a minute.
It worked.

CPTMurdoc30 · June 2, 2011, 10:50 AM

get a nut wizzard.

http://www.nutwizard.com/?gclid=CLvM...FQKI5godFA1euw

troy_mclure · June 2, 2011, 12:34 PM

the nut wizard wont pick up pistol brass smaller than .45acp. the brass wizard is the same price and it will pick up even .25acp.

May 28, 2011, 01:17 PM	#1
TyCarp Junior Member Join Date: February 4, 2011 Location: Charlotte NC Posts: 6	Picking up brass I, as a lot of you, don't shoot at a range just in the backyard. My backyard has grass. Brass in grass=lost. I was thinking of putting down an old bed sheet or tarp or something. What do some of yall do??

May 28, 2011, 03:37 PM	#4
CherokeeT Senior Member Join Date: April 23, 2008 Location: Medina, Ohio Posts: 258	I have used a tarp but some autos will still sling the brass in different directions. I have used a net, it will work, placement and the gun's ejection pattern must be considered. I have found the net often has to be larger than you think. If there are a lot of people at the range, tarps become more difficult to use without encroching on the other shooters. __________________ God Bless America US Army, NRA Endowment TSRA Life, SASS

May 28, 2011, 08:00 PM	#6
highvel Senior Member Join Date: January 21, 2010 Location: Powhatan VA Posts: 633	When I shoot around the house, usually more than one gun is used and brass ends up all over the place. I use my metal detector now and none of the cases get away, no matter how hard they try! __________________ Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.--Mark Twain "I have opinions of my own 'strong opinions' but I don't always agree with them."--George Bush

May 28, 2011, 09:37 PM	#9
troy_mclure Senior Member Join Date: November 17, 2008 Location: gulf of mexico Posts: 2,716	try the brass magnet, http://www.brassmagnet.com/page1.aspx or the brass wizard, http://www.uniquetek.com/site/696296/product/T1310 i have used both, i own a brass wizard. i wouldnt mind having a brass magnet tho. __________________ There is only one tactical principle which is not subject to change. It is to use the means at hand to inflict the maximum amount of wound, death, and destruction on the enemy in the minimum amount of time."

May 29, 2011, 11:02 AM	#13
PawPaw Senior Member Join Date: December 24, 2010 Location: Central Louisiana Posts: 2,667	Or, there's the Brass Wizard. We used to use something like this for picking up pecans when we were harvesting for our own use. __________________ Dennis Dezendorf http://pawpawshouse.blogspot.com

May 28, 2011, 01:58 PM	#2
willr Senior Member Join Date: July 23, 2006 Posts: 180	Some time ago there was a picture of a large net held by a frame of pvc. The intent was to catch ejected brass. This, together with the tarp you suggest might be what you want. willr

May 28, 2011, 03:17 PM	#3
Civil War Life Senior Member Join Date: January 15, 2011 Location: Virginia Posts: 166	Recently our range put up nets on each station. Boy are they great. All the brass is caught and I don't have to spend time picking brass out of the gravel or mud.

May 28, 2011, 06:06 PM	#5
lamarw Senior Member Join Date: April 12, 2010 Location: Lake Martin, AL Posts: 1,287	I think you should give it a try. Then instead of a range report, you can give us a yard report on how it works or what works best. I do know shorter grass like zoysia helps but is not fool proof.

May 28, 2011, 08:11 PM	#7
Bill65 Junior Member Join Date: May 19, 2011 Posts: 4	I shoot in the woods, leaf liter is the worst I bought a 8 X 10 blue tarp, spread it out to the right rear and recovered 98 per cent of my brass. Before that, I was lucky to find 50 per cent of it. The tarp did a good job, but kind of a pain to place by yourself....

May 28, 2011, 08:54 PM	#8
Lemmon Senior Member Join Date: December 25, 2009 Location: Rural South Carolina Posts: 360	I have a few pistols and a couple of rifles that plop the spent brass in one neat pile. My Ruger LCP throws them all over the place. My revolvers are alway very considerate. For my AR15 I use a brass catcher from this guy. It works really great. The website is: http://www.elmfg.com/index.html Lemmon

May 28, 2011, 10:40 PM	#10
357 Terms Senior Member Join Date: October 8, 2010 Location: Indiana Posts: 170	+1 on the tarp. also at my buddies back acre's we just mow/kill everything at the range. The big tarp is still the best: other than our revolvers.

May 29, 2011, 09:21 AM	#11
Rifleman1776 Senior Member Join Date: April 25, 2010 Location: Arkansas Posts: 2,900	Mow the lawn. I'll have to check out that brass magnet. I don't believe there is such a thing.

May 29, 2011, 11:43 AM	#14
Onward Allusion Senior Member Join Date: November 17, 2009 Location: IN Posts: 1,501	^^^ That is ingenious! __________________ "With great power, there must also come great responsibility." - Stan Lee "All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing." - Edmund Burke

May 29, 2011, 12:19 PM	#15
kraigwy Senior Member Join Date: June 16, 2008 Location: Wyoming Posts: 8,701	If you are lazy and wimpy like me, go to Wally World (or such store) and buy one of those awning tent thingies with nets all around. You shoot in the shade, out of the rain, and all your brass is kept in a 10 ft square (or what ever size you want. Be sure to pick on big enough so you can shoot offhand. Something like this guy: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000N5395U/...SIN=B000N5395U __________________ Kraig Stuart CPT USAR Ret USAMU Sniper School Oct '78 Distinguished Rifle Badge 1071

May 29, 2011, 12:41 PM	#16
SDC Senior Member Join Date: January 23, 2001 Location: People's Republic of Kanada Posts: 1,577	It depends on what calibres/gauges you're shooting, and how much you want to spend. One interesting thing I've seen for this is the "Ammo-Up", which uses plastic wheels to grab onto the empties and rotate them into a hopper, like so: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8rzT2CnLlA This won't work on rimfire brass, but if I had to maintain a trap or skeet field, it would be on my buy list. __________________ Gun control in Canada: making the streets safer for rapists, muggers, and other violent criminals since 1936.

May 30, 2011, 12:42 AM	#17
praetorian97 Senior Member Join Date: May 9, 2011 Location: Boise, ID Posts: 444	Worst for finding brass is when you are running moving exercises to try and find brass. Or when you load random rounds for mag change drills.

May 30, 2011, 10:56 PM	#18
jmorris Senior Member Join Date: November 22, 2006 Posts: 1,355	Getting out of grass or cracks? A tarp, fish sein or other device is great if they are landing in one spot. If they are all over take a look at this link. http://thefiringline.com/forums/show...ight=brass+vac

May 31, 2011, 01:20 AM	#19
zombie666 Member Join Date: September 10, 2008 Location: Mississippi Posts: 23	Had a friend who was going to use a cheap plastic tarp to catch his brass. The result was a tarp with a lot of little holes burned in it. Just something to think about when you plan what to catch the brass with.

May 31, 2011, 04:45 AM	#20
Lost Sheep Senior Member Join Date: January 24, 2009 Location: Anchorage Alaska Posts: 2,766	Cardboard refrigerator box Get a cardboard refrigerator box. Cut a door in the back side and a window in the front side. Step inside and close the door. Shoot out the window with the gun inside the box. If your arms are too long, put the box laying down and raise it up high enough to clear your head. The brass won't be contained inside the box, but at least it will be near your feet. Or, if your arms are too long, make the back door a window and shoot through both windows. Can't do this at a range or the rangemaster or other shooters would probably get nervous, as they will not be able to see you (nor can you see them). I've been working on this question for some time. Maybe some day I will come up with a universally satisfactory solution. THEN I'LL BE RICH! (If not through marketing it, then in brass, at least) Lost Sheep

May 31, 2011, 10:13 AM	#22
praetorian97 Senior Member Join Date: May 9, 2011 Location: Boise, ID Posts: 444	I like the idea of a pop up canopy such as - And putting up a side wall for the brass to bounce off of.

June 2, 2011, 02:07 AM	#23
1SOW Senior Member Join Date: December 2, 2007 Location: South TX Posts: 265	A guy at the range made a pistol case trap. He used some of that 'weed screen' for flower beds and three of those small pop-up tent poles. It made a 'wall' about 4' tall 4' long. He carried it rolled up in one hand and sets it up in less than a minute. It worked.

June 2, 2011, 10:50 AM	#24
CPTMurdoc30 Senior Member Join Date: February 27, 2008 Location: Stafford VA Posts: 969	get a nut wizzard. http://www.nutwizard.com/?gclid=CLvM...FQKI5godFA1euw __________________ Solving Virginia's Ground Hog problems 50gr at a time.....

June 2, 2011, 12:34 PM	#25
troy_mclure Senior Member Join Date: November 17, 2008 Location: gulf of mexico Posts: 2,716	the nut wizard wont pick up pistol brass smaller than .45acp. the brass wizard is the same price and it will pick up even .25acp. __________________ There is only one tactical principle which is not subject to change. It is to use the means at hand to inflict the maximum amount of wound, death, and destruction on the enemy in the minimum amount of time."