Most abundant brass at range

farnorthdan · March 17, 2008, 01:34 PM

This one is for the brass monkey's out there...what caliber brass are you finding the most at ranges.

At the range were I scrounge brass I find more .40 S&W than anything else, second place would have to be .45acp followed closely you 9mm luger. What are you guys finding the most???

zxcvbob · March 17, 2008, 01:53 PM

.22LR, by a wide margin. HTH

45Marlin carbine · March 17, 2008, 01:55 PM

same as you with .380 close with .45 (excepting .22 of course)

Crosshair · March 17, 2008, 02:02 PM

Well for me, here it is in order of commonality.

.223 Remington
40 S&W (Especially after police training day)
9mm Luger
Long action rifle brass (270 Win, 30-06 mainly with a few 25-06 cases thrown into the mix.)
30-30 Winchester.

45 Auto is a wildcard. It is normally a very scarce caliber at the range I go it, but every once and awhile I will hit a large amount of them.

Reloadable 308 is very scarce. Someone here has a large supply of Berdan primed 308 and a CETME.

I have to sort all my 308 for Berdan primers.

azredhawk44 · March 17, 2008, 02:05 PM

I went out to a well known "range" out in the desert this last weekend. Here's what I found during my initial obligatory brass scrounging session:

~300+ Lake City 5.56 (.223)
~50 .45ACP
~50 9mm
~20 Federal .308
~50 FN 5.7x28

Over the last few years of cleaning up after other shooters here, I've probably collected:
~200 .308
~2000 .223
~200 .44 magnum
~500 .45acp
~500 9mm
~500 .40 S&W
~1000 .38 special
~500 .357 magnum
~50 .303 British
~200 .30-30
~100 .30-06

And about 100 random rifle cases in other calibers.

I definitely find the most .223/5.56Nato.

hoytinak · March 17, 2008, 02:24 PM

.22lr or Wolf 7.62x39...other than that everyone picks up their own brass to reload.

btefft · March 17, 2008, 02:54 PM

I was shooting .40SW (Independence brand) and thought I was picking my brass.

After tumbling it, I found Winchester, Federal, Independence, Wolf and a few I didn't recognize.

So, I'd say the .40 is very common.

Hack

Wibb · March 17, 2008, 03:20 PM

Tons of .40 and 9mm. I hardly ever find any .45 ACP stuff. Almost all of the rifle brass is dumped in locked brass barrels that the range recycles for profit. Pistol on the other hand is usually all over. My range has a LEO training area where I normally find lots of .40 and 9mm.

zxcvbob · March 17, 2008, 03:21 PM

Someone has been throwing a box or two of .38 Special brass in the bucket for the past couple of weeks at my indoor range -- and I seem to be the only one who wants it (or maybe just the only one with so little self-respect that I'll dig thru the .22 casings for it.)

I sure hope they don't switch to those aluminum-cased Blazers.

KCB · March 17, 2008, 03:24 PM

.40 and 9mm mostly, then .45

The Lovemaster · March 17, 2008, 03:51 PM

I get a little bit of everything over time. Most common though, is probably 9, 40, and 45, with a smattering of 223 thrown in.

Nobody to date has ever bought any 40S&W brass from me, which is puzzling. Everybody and their brother seems to shoot it, but nobody seems to reload it.

It's a great world - I never buy ammo, not even for my new LCP, other than carry ammo for legal reasons. What I don't reload, I clean up and sell.

JAYBIRD78 · March 17, 2008, 05:36 PM

I find mostly .223

and 9mm

. Always find a few .40 and .45 too. Late last year before the snow I was at my brother-in-laws paid outdoor range and it was almost criminal the amount of .223, .308, and .45 I collected.......I said almost criminal.

armoredman · March 17, 2008, 05:49 PM

All that .22lr brass can pay too, at your local recycler. Spend 30 minutes scrounging that stuff, maybe get enough to pay for a gallon of gas. My recycler pays $.88 a pound for range brass.

scrat · March 17, 2008, 06:21 PM

depends on where your shooting and what day it is. On the weekends on the rifle side. Its usually .223. on the hand gun side its usually 9mm. on the plinking or steel sillouette side. 22lr. During the weekdays. The long range guys come out. you can see stuff from all different ranges and calibers. These guys usually collect there own brass though. unless you get the money is no object guy who will shoot 2 boxes of ammo maybe 40 rounds then leave.

armoredman · March 18, 2008, 11:05 AM

Oddly enough, when I was collecting my brass yesterday morning, a fellow shooter stated the clean up guy once told him that all brass that hits the ground is his. I laughed. Told him I paid for it, it's mine, and I am taking it home, or I'd charge the cleanup guy with theft. Especially when the fellow shooter told me the cleanup guy had stated he was taking it to his BROTHER!

Yeah, right, whatever. I will always police up my brass, and snag other stuff as interesting or useful, which is why I have 5 38 Super nickle +P cases on the shelf.

TexasSeaRay · March 18, 2008, 11:18 AM

That stinking 40 S&W brass--it's EVERYWHERE!

I saw a lot of Sig .357 last night. At least it has a funny shape and you can toss it back out on the range faster than you would an ugly carp.

There was an older security guard, retired Army, practicing next to me last night. Gave me all his .38 empties--four boxes of brass, one box of nickel. I don't really care for nickel, but I've got so many of them I guess I'll start cleaning it up and loading it. Maybe use it for the jacketed rounds.

Like Armoredman, I've had a few range guys tell me over the years that "any brass that hits the floor is theirs." My response is always "Bullyouknowhat. If I drop my gun on the floor, does that mean it's yours? If I drop a magazine or speedloader on the floor, does that mean it's yours?"

At one of my preferred ranges, there is always a good mix of semi-auto brass on the floor. I always sweep up after myself, and if it is near closing, I'll sweep up the entire bay--it helps the guy out who's closing and he doesn't mind me picking through some of the brass. On occasion, he's even presented me with a handful of 44 caliber cases he's picked up while sweeping (he knows I'm ALWAYS scrounging for 44 caliber brass).

On the rifle side, other than 22, I see a lot of .223, 7.62x39 (but it's usually that Wolf junk), and believe it or not, 30-30 and 30-06 and .308. I snatch those up as quick as I can.

Jeff

Chiefs50 · March 18, 2008, 03:53 PM

Depends on the time of the year. This is deer hunting territory so in the later summer and early fall I find a lot of .30-06 and some .30-30. Other times of the year I find a lot of 5.56, 7.62X54R, and 7.62X39. I save the 5.56 and scrap the Russian. Less commonly I find .308 Win. or 7.62 Nato. On the pistol side, mostly .40.

CPTMurdoc30 · March 18, 2008, 11:32 PM

What I see the most is cheap nonreloadable 223 cases and thoese damn wolf steel cases. We have a "if you bring it to the range you take it home from the range" policy at my range but the damn morons shooting SKS and AK can never clean up after themselves. I am praying I catch one then I can make him pick them all up. Seeing as I am the Chairman of our rifle range commity. Found some goofy looking blue plastic 7.62x39cases on the range the other day.

March 17, 2008, 01:34 PM	#1
farnorthdan Senior Member Join Date: December 3, 2007 Posts: 371	Most abundant brass at range This one is for the brass monkey's out there...what caliber brass are you finding the most at ranges. At the range were I scrounge brass I find more .40 S&W than anything else, second place would have to be .45acp followed closely you 9mm luger. What are you guys finding the most???

March 17, 2008, 02:02 PM	#4
Crosshair Senior Member Join Date: December 16, 2004 Location: Grand Forks, ND Posts: 5,333	North Dakota brass monkey reporting in. Well for me, here it is in order of commonality. .223 Remington 40 S&W (Especially after police training day) 9mm Luger Long action rifle brass (270 Win, 30-06 mainly with a few 25-06 cases thrown into the mix.) 30-30 Winchester. 45 Auto is a wildcard. It is normally a very scarce caliber at the range I go it, but every once and awhile I will hit a large amount of them. Reloadable 308 is very scarce. Someone here has a large supply of Berdan primed 308 and a CETME. I have to sort all my 308 for Berdan primers. __________________ I don't carry a gun to go looking for trouble, I carry a gun in case trouble finds me.

March 17, 2008, 05:36 PM	#12
JAYBIRD78 Senior Member Join Date: May 4, 2007 Location: People's Republik of Illinois...in "gun valley" Posts: 366	Wife and friends make fun of me for picking up brass... I find mostly .223 and 9mm . Always find a few .40 and .45 too. Late last year before the snow I was at my brother-in-laws paid outdoor range and it was almost criminal the amount of .223, .308, and .45 I collected.......I said almost criminal.

March 18, 2008, 03:53 PM	#17
Chiefs50 Junior Member Join Date: October 25, 2006 Location: N.E. Wisconsin Posts: 8	Brass Depends on the time of the year. This is deer hunting territory so in the later summer and early fall I find a lot of .30-06 and some .30-30. Other times of the year I find a lot of 5.56, 7.62X54R, and 7.62X39. I save the 5.56 and scrap the Russian. Less commonly I find .308 Win. or 7.62 Nato. On the pistol side, mostly .40.

March 17, 2008, 01:53 PM	#2
zxcvbob Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2007 Location: S.E. Minnesota Posts: 4,720	.22LR, by a wide margin. HTH

March 17, 2008, 01:55 PM	#3
45Marlin carbine Junior member Join Date: January 26, 2007 Location: South-Western North Carolina Posts: 1,124	same as you with .380 close with .45 (excepting .22 of course)

March 17, 2008, 02:05 PM	#5
azredhawk44 Junior member Join Date: September 28, 2005 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 6,465	I went out to a well known "range" out in the desert this last weekend. Here's what I found during my initial obligatory brass scrounging session: ~300+ Lake City 5.56 (.223) ~50 .45ACP ~50 9mm ~20 Federal .308 ~50 FN 5.7x28 Over the last few years of cleaning up after other shooters here, I've probably collected: ~200 .308 ~2000 .223 ~200 .44 magnum ~500 .45acp ~500 9mm ~500 .40 S&W ~1000 .38 special ~500 .357 magnum ~50 .303 British ~200 .30-30 ~100 .30-06 And about 100 random rifle cases in other calibers. I definitely find the most .223/5.56Nato.

March 17, 2008, 02:24 PM	#6
hoytinak Senior Member Join Date: July 5, 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 5,721	.22lr or Wolf 7.62x39...other than that everyone picks up their own brass to reload.

March 17, 2008, 02:54 PM	#7
btefft Senior Member Join Date: March 7, 2008 Posts: 181	I was shooting .40SW (Independence brand) and thought I was picking my brass. After tumbling it, I found Winchester, Federal, Independence, Wolf and a few I didn't recognize. So, I'd say the .40 is very common. Hack

March 17, 2008, 03:20 PM	#8
Wibb Member Join Date: August 13, 2006 Location: Saint Louis, MO Posts: 44	Tons of .40 and 9mm. I hardly ever find any .45 ACP stuff. Almost all of the rifle brass is dumped in locked brass barrels that the range recycles for profit. Pistol on the other hand is usually all over. My range has a LEO training area where I normally find lots of .40 and 9mm.

March 17, 2008, 03:21 PM	#9
zxcvbob Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2007 Location: S.E. Minnesota Posts: 4,720	Someone has been throwing a box or two of .38 Special brass in the bucket for the past couple of weeks at my indoor range -- and I seem to be the only one who wants it (or maybe just the only one with so little self-respect that I'll dig thru the .22 casings for it.) I sure hope they don't switch to those aluminum-cased Blazers.

March 17, 2008, 03:24 PM	#10
KCB Senior Member Join Date: April 25, 2007 Posts: 101	.40 and 9mm mostly, then .45

March 17, 2008, 03:51 PM	#11
The Lovemaster Senior Member Join Date: December 29, 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 416	I get a little bit of everything over time. Most common though, is probably 9, 40, and 45, with a smattering of 223 thrown in. Nobody to date has ever bought any 40S&W brass from me, which is puzzling. Everybody and their brother seems to shoot it, but nobody seems to reload it. It's a great world - I never buy ammo, not even for my new LCP, other than carry ammo for legal reasons. What I don't reload, I clean up and sell.

March 17, 2008, 05:49 PM	#13
armoredman Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 5,480	All that .22lr brass can pay too, at your local recycler. Spend 30 minutes scrounging that stuff, maybe get enough to pay for a gallon of gas. My recycler pays $.88 a pound for range brass.

March 17, 2008, 06:21 PM	#14
scrat Senior Member Join Date: February 21, 2008 Posts: 214	depends on where your shooting and what day it is. On the weekends on the rifle side. Its usually .223. on the hand gun side its usually 9mm. on the plinking or steel sillouette side. 22lr. During the weekdays. The long range guys come out. you can see stuff from all different ranges and calibers. These guys usually collect there own brass though. unless you get the money is no object guy who will shoot 2 boxes of ammo maybe 40 rounds then leave.

March 18, 2008, 11:05 AM	#15
armoredman Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 5,480	Oddly enough, when I was collecting my brass yesterday morning, a fellow shooter stated the clean up guy once told him that all brass that hits the ground is his. I laughed. Told him I paid for it, it's mine, and I am taking it home, or I'd charge the cleanup guy with theft. Especially when the fellow shooter told me the cleanup guy had stated he was taking it to his BROTHER! Yeah, right, whatever. I will always police up my brass, and snag other stuff as interesting or useful, which is why I have 5 38 Super nickle +P cases on the shelf.

March 18, 2008, 11:18 AM	#16
TexasSeaRay Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 810	That stinking 40 S&W brass--it's EVERYWHERE! I saw a lot of Sig .357 last night. At least it has a funny shape and you can toss it back out on the range faster than you would an ugly carp. There was an older security guard, retired Army, practicing next to me last night. Gave me all his .38 empties--four boxes of brass, one box of nickel. I don't really care for nickel, but I've got so many of them I guess I'll start cleaning it up and loading it. Maybe use it for the jacketed rounds. Like Armoredman, I've had a few range guys tell me over the years that "any brass that hits the floor is theirs." My response is always "Bullyouknowhat. If I drop my gun on the floor, does that mean it's yours? If I drop a magazine or speedloader on the floor, does that mean it's yours?" At one of my preferred ranges, there is always a good mix of semi-auto brass on the floor. I always sweep up after myself, and if it is near closing, I'll sweep up the entire bay--it helps the guy out who's closing and he doesn't mind me picking through some of the brass. On occasion, he's even presented me with a handful of 44 caliber cases he's picked up while sweeping (he knows I'm ALWAYS scrounging for 44 caliber brass). On the rifle side, other than 22, I see a lot of .223, 7.62x39 (but it's usually that Wolf junk), and believe it or not, 30-30 and 30-06 and .308. I snatch those up as quick as I can. Jeff

March 18, 2008, 11:32 PM	#18
CPTMurdoc30 Senior Member Join Date: February 27, 2008 Location: Stafford VA Posts: 969	What I see the most is cheap nonreloadable 223 cases and thoese damn wolf steel cases. We have a "if you bring it to the range you take it home from the range" policy at my range but the damn morons shooting SKS and AK can never clean up after themselves. I am praying I catch one then I can make him pick them all up. Seeing as I am the Chairman of our rifle range commity. Found some goofy looking blue plastic 7.62x39cases on the range the other day.