[Mad Magyar]

Isn’t there any range etiquette for these people? I don’t know if they are reloaders, environmentalists, metal haulers, etc.? I’ve seen them go from one range area to another, tying up real estate for the next pistolero. BTW, I have no problem with a shooter picking up their own brass, however, these guys are not shooting: SCROUNGERS! The worst kind are the ones that park close-bye, lurking in their shabby pick-ups, watching you shoot: waiting for you to finish so they can pick up your brass….For those especially, I have utter distain….I always stomp on my brass so they have to dig them out…. (Yes, as I drive off, I see what they are up to…) Maybe I’m too harsh, but I look at them as parasites…Oh, please, don’t tell me they are doing a public community service and all shooters should pick-up their own: not here or observable….Ammo boxes, targets, beer cans, yes; but not brass….
These are the same people chiming in about the satisfying benefits of reloading, how cheap it is, on & on: hell, no wonder? They are too cheap to purchase their own brass. :uhoh:
I understand why so many of them have misfires; especially if they are reusing my microscopically heel-cracked brass. Am I going MAD??:banghead: :banghead:
What say you? :)

[Kimber1911_06238]

I always put empty cases that i don't reload in the "brass bucket". It's there for others to make use of unwanted cases. Luckily it's a private range and only accessible to other shooters, not "brass scroungers".

[deadin]

Brass=$$$ at a scrap yard. (And they don't care about the condition)
Any more questions?

[R33P3R]

how much is brass really worth. maybe if you had a truckload. but come on.

[R33P3R]

i would rather them ask, and i would try and keep it together for them, rather then them scrounge around after i left. And if they were using it for reloading i think it only fair they get my name and number and load me a box. ****. i go through nearly 500-1000 rounds when i go out.

[Zundfolge]

I don't have a problem with them picking up my brass after I've left. Its the ones that you see out of the corner of your eye chasing the empties when they're still hot that annoy me.

[EricTheBarbarian]

i just sold some(my own) brass. they were unreloadable berdan primed brass cases. it goes for 1.42/lb here. a ziploc bag i had went for 7 dollars. id assume if they take everyones brass from a bunch of different ranges they could probably get a decent amount for it.

[10X]

I also have no problem with them after I am done shooting for the day. I don't want them milling around when there is shooting, that is distracting. I have politely asked them to back off the line. I have also asked them to leave things alone until I have gathered my own emptiies. So far, they were OK with that.
My preference is still to go early in the day during the week and not have to deal with these folks or other shooters, that is ideal.

[Dr.Rob]

If the range asks you not to take brass that isn't your own, be mindful. Otherwise, if you are throwing it away why do you care?

Police up your area either way.

I've had people ask me if I'd like theirs when they see me saving mine. Some people (gasp) don't know what re-loading is.

[battlehatch]

Our local range has a "clean up your mess/don't take other's brass" policy. When I am out at the local BLM range, when I am finished shooting, I pick up my brass and any other reloadable brass from the empty stations. Some folks see me doing it and then they even round up theirs and give it to me. This is also a small part of my cleaning effort I do there. My roommate and
I always pack out more than we packed in , trash, bottles, boxes, etc... Just makes for a nicer place to shoot.

[grimjaw]

I sweep up what I don't want to keep and it goes in the brass bucket. If somebody asks me if they can have the brass from one of my shell chuckers, I usually don't mind.

So there's this guy at the range I'll call Bob the Bigot, because he decided to regale me one day with his stories and opinions on a variety of topics that you can guess from the nickname. Bob doesn't ask people about their brass; he comes by and sorts through what he wants and leaves. Anyway, I'm out shooting an AK a couple of weeks later, throwing .223 brass hither and yon, and Bob has the nerve to complain to me that the brass is getting dinged up by the AK ejector and because of that he can't reload the cases. :uhoh:

He's definitely a cake-taker, that Bob.

jm

[1KPerDay]

Yeah, you should be more considerate. Maybe just give Bob the unfired cartridges next time, along with a nice fat welfare check. Poor guy.

[daysleeprx]

So....you're annoyed that they're taking the brass that you don't pick up anyway?

I don't see the big deal. I police my brass and put it into the brass bucket at the range I go to.

Purposely stomping on it seems pretty juvenile.

[Mad Magyar]

Appreciate the replies...For once, I don't get "crucified"....:uhoh:
I can see that these occurrences are common everywhere....I didn't realize that there is some value as "scrap metal"....
Oop's, I spoke too soon.....I'll tell you what Daysl...., let me lurk around with my "little bucket" while you're shooting and tell us how you like it!

[Claude Clay]

perhaps he would like the lead b4 he gets the brass???

[daysleeprx]

Oop's, I spoke too soon.....I'll tell you what Daysl...., let me lurk around with my "little bucket" while you're shooting and tell us how you like it!

Unless you're foolish enough to be downrange of me while I'm shooting, I doubt I'll even notice you. :neener:

[TimboKhan]

I don't have a problem with them picking up my brass after I've left. Its the ones that you see out of the corner of your eye chasing the empties when they're still hot that annoy me.


I am with Zundfolge on this one. Heck, I don't even mind them picking it up while I shoot, as long as they ask first! One thing I will say in favor of brass scroungers is that in a lot of cases, they are the only ones that are picking up their brass. I am ashamed to admit it, but I leave brass laying around all the time. It's a bad habit, and one I need to work on.

[CZ 75 BD]

I always pick up my brass and aluminum cases. The brass goes to the brass bucket and the aluminum in the trash.

I also make a point to pick up some of the cases that other members see fit to leave as well as tote the trash to the dumpster.

Everyone agrees to police the range when they join, not everyone does as they say they will. :confused:

[Dorryn]

The range i usually attend is (unfortunately) very well-staffed... the staff clean as youre shooting... so no chance to grab others' brass before the staff get to it.

To make matters worse, I feel like such a penny-pincher, that I cant bring myself to ask people if they would save their brass and give it to me. I dont mind admitting that im cheap (read: poor), but its too embarassing to ask. And brass is expensive! Hard to convince oneself to buy brass cased ammo in the first place rather than Wolf if the difference between the two is the price of a meal or three.

If the "brass scroungers" are driving a "shabby" pickup, theyre obviously not profiting too much from it. If i knew a range where brass WAS available and abandoned by persons who can afford to leave brass behind, I would scrounge too!

[Soybomb]

I wish people would clean up my brass for me so I'd have more time to shoot. :D

[The Canuck]

I collect my brass because I get $45.00 knocked off the price of new ammo for every thousand .45 ACP casings I bring back to a commercial reloader. Doesn't sound like much, but then I can get 1000 rounds of 230gr FMJ for about CDN$203.00 (that's 20.3¢/round) which is pretty good considering we pay CDN$20.00 - $25.00 (40¢ - 50¢/round) for 50rds of 230gr FMJ.

[R.W.Dale]

9 times out of 10 I'm at the range alone. THE FIRST thing I do before unloading anything from the Jeep is walk down the range looking for brass I might need:evil:

By the same token if I end up with brass I don't want for whatever reason. Like that PMP 22-250 from the other day, I leave it on a bench for someone else to use. kinda like those leave a penny things.


I think the original poster is being an ******* by getting upset over this. I bet he's also one of those drivers who gets upset when people have the gall to pass in the LH lane without going at least 20mph over the limit:rolleyes:

[GaryArkansas]

Rather than stomping your brass into the ground, have you considered just picking it up yourself?

It seems like you're resentful of a guy who's being resourceful, as well as cleaning up your pistol range. Everybody wins when ranges are cleaned up, free of charge.

If the shooter or the range recycles its own brass, then that's different. But until then, I think you should give the guy a break.

If you run the range, maybe you can strike a deal that the guy can come in at closing time and take all the brass he wants, in exchange for him cleaning up the steel and aluminum cases as well. The range would be even cleaner that way. Just a thought.

[busy_squirrel]

I don't mind people taking mine as long as they ask first. Heck, I'd probably shoot an extra box if I knew someone wanted to pick up my brass. But then I usually shoot outdoors in the woods so whoever wants to make the effort to clean up after me is welcome to everything they can get.

[Barbara]

I had a little old guy start picking up mine on Sunday on a small public range..he dutifully went around picking it up while I sat up on the bench and loaded my mags. At the very end, he thought to ask me if the .223 was mine, as well as the 9 mm, and when I said it was, asked me if I wanted either.

But he also picked up a stray target that blew away and some bottles someone had left laying around.

The range is state owned and not kept up by them. He's a retired guy who lives down the road and voluntarily keeps an eye on things and keeps the place tidied up and "scrounges" brass. Seems like a small price to pay. :)

The range where I shoot most often has a policy that you can only pick up your own brass..they collect the rest to raise funds.

[salvador31c]

Ok, let me get this right. You angry because a fellow comes along and picks up what others dont want yourself included? Its differnt when you intend on picking up your own brass for whatever reason and this guy takes your brass while your not looking. You admit you dont save your brass yet you feel the need to stomp on your brass to make it un-usable. Why? Your acting childish

[JE223]

Yet people still complain about the cost of factory ammo - if the brass is there, pick it up. Elsewise, the next person will get it... no brainer.

[jibjab]

I would feel uncomfortable with someone lurking about :scrutiny: I've seen these scroungers tying up shooting lanes as they collect they're bounty, this is disrespectful to the hand that feeds them. As the scrap prices for brass rises so will this phenomenon.
I to am a scrounger and a reloader, and I to pick up brass to take to the scrap dealer, but I am a shooter 1st and respect the space of fellow shooters.
This is "the brass and copper rush era" there is a lot of theft in new construction of copper wire, I to think some brass catchers could learn some manners. But stomping your brass :confused: Lighten up Dude, I may want to reload it :)

[Mad Magyar]

I admit acting like an "A#@", but this sort of stuff has been happening for years and seem to be worse now-a-days...Ever since I heard about the shooter leaving the range (mt pistol) and be robbed by two S.O.B's and be relieved of his weapons; all of sudden a little stress is added to one of my most pleasurable pursuits....:) My berm is my territory for the moment and to have someone parked/lurking when others are empty doesn't sit right with me.
O.K., no more stomping.....;)

[JoeHatley]

They are too cheap to purchase their own brass.

Perhaps they can't afford to shoot unless they reload range pick-up brass.

Rather than stomp your brass, you may want to consider picking it up and handing it to them.

Joe

[FieroCDSP]

I'm not quite a scrounger, but I try to bring home more brass than I start with. Usually there's a bunch in front of the firing line that I can pull in with a push broom, plus some in the little tin hanging on the stall wall. I try to get all of my own brass, and I justfy pulling in the swept brass by saying that some of mine is there, and I'd like it back. If there's someone shooting in the next lane, I'll politely ask if they reload, and if not, can I keep it. You can still come away with a ton of brass, even doing this. I just picked up 30 or so 45autos yesterday that someone left in front of the line. Anything I can't use I scrap, and I save all I can. 9mm, 45, 380, a bunch of 357 and 44. I'll either use it some day or sell it, or scrap it. Money no matter how you look at it.

[Whatsit]

As long as they aren't rude about it, consider it a service! Most public ranges I have been to have too much brass just lying around being ground into the soil. Personaly, I'd much rather have someone pick that up to help keep the facility and enviroment cleaner. If they profit from it in so doing, more power to them.

[razorburn]

There's homeless people who do the same thing at the street corner gas station. They wait around for you to finish your drink and then run over to dig it out of the garbage can for the 5 cent turn in. I think it's sad.

[heypete]

The outdoor range I used to RSO at had little buckets that people could dump their brass in (most let it fall to the concrete shooting area floor). People, including myself, could root through the little buckets to extract the brass they wanted.

We'd even sort out popular calibers, and have a ".30-06 Only" bucket, a ".30-30 Only" bucket, and so on.

Some of the guys were regular "action shooting" types, and would bring a pair of gloves and a respirator and root through the 55 gallon drums of brass we had waiting for the scrap guys to pick up (all the money went back to the county, as the range was run by the sheriff's department and open to the public, so we didn't lose any money).

It was considered polite to ask if others were going to keep their brass after shooting before starting to collect it. I'd do that, and if people were shooting calibers I loaded for and said "no, I'm not going to keep it", I would politely ask if they could save it for me for when they leave, but mention that if they simply left it where it was, I'd be more than happy to pick it up for them. Most people would give me a little pile of brass on the shooting bench, so I was happy.:D

I reload, and I encourage others to reload. Most shooters don't, and picking up range brass at ranges that don't mind it is a cheap way of getting brass for reloading. I have no problems at all with it, as long as people are polite. Lurking about isn't impolite, but picking up your brass without asking is not terribly nice.

[Ohioan]

That's why I like to shoot revolver, no brass to pick up, I just empty it straight into a the box it came out of. Makes it a lot easier. I pick up all my brass from my semi's too. It bugs me if I can only find 49 out of 50.

Personally, I think it's kind of rude to leave a range filthy dirty and full of brass. I had some other rude comments typed up here. but I was smart and thought better.

I pick up my own brass. If I can find more.. then... WOO HOO!!

I don't see the big deal. He's not really bugging you at all...

[rhubarb]

So, Mad Magyer, you're shooting at a public outdoor range where anyone can come and go? And there's brass lying around?

Directions please. :neener:

[Mad Magyar]

So, Mad Magyer, you're shooting at a public outdoor range where anyone can come and go? And there's brass lying around? Directions please.
__________________
-Rube


Now, that's funny....:) Rube, I bet you are loaded...., w/$$$ that is!:scrutiny:

[svtruth]

2 for one. I'm sure I miss some of my acp brass, but if I shoot 50, I pick up 100+. Shotgun hulls, steel, aluminum go in the trash.
Most times, I'm the only one at the range.

[44AMP]

They are picking up MY brass. I reload everything except .22LR, and I also shoot some rare pistols that I have to make my own ammo for! Take my brass and you are stealing from me. Not a wise thing considering I do have guns, and I never shoot all the ammo at the range. Normally, I will have a carry gun on my that I don't even shoot during the range session.

Our range is about a dozen miles from town, and we did have a problem there a couple of years ago. A couple of punks tried to rob an old boy at the range (he was alone), and steal his truck. They learned a lesson about the .30-06 that day. He had to fix a couple of bullet holes in his truck though.

While travelling to and fron the range I usually have several thousand dollars worth of guns and accessories, so I always have something exprressly for the purpose of repelling boarders should it become necessary.

[jibjab]

I will have a carry gun on my that I don't even shoot during the range session.
Amen to that brother :)

[woo18]

What is the bid deal? Would you rather the brass just build up to the point where it becomes a nuisance? I don't see the point.

I really hate when people pick up my mess!!!

[GunNut]

I go shooting places where I am the only one there, if others are around I'll move on to another spot.

I pick up my own brass, and will pick up other brass that is in very good condition.

Steve

[yhtomit]

At the range I've been to a few times (SE Pennsylvania), I have seen quite a bit of brass on the ground, and picked it up. .45ACP brass in good shape, I've kept, and left other calibers in a neat mound on the shooting bench. (From now on, I'm going to be on the lookout for a few more calibers, though -- even 9mm is looking worth reloading now, so when I finally get a reloading system set up, I'll have some empties to start with.)

The only serious brass scounger I met there was a polite elderly man who arrived with his wife, watched the shooting for a while, and was on good terms with the other shooters present. I saw nothing untoward or offputting in his behavior -- no secret why he was there, and he asked politely whether we were keeping our brass. (We all were, so after a few minutes of small talk, including some good-natured griping about *everyone* keeping their brass nowadays, he and his wife drove off smiling.)

timothy

[rockstar.esq]

My range has a "Brasshopper" as I call them. He recognizes me from our frequent meetings, much to his credit he remembers that I reload my brass. He never encroaches on the shooting line, nor does he linger for long. More often than not, he talks to us about guns and shooting.

Totally off topic but I wonder if brass prices continue to rise if we'll see innovations that'll make gathering brass easier, maybe magnetic primers? Dunno, it'd be worth thinking about for sure!

[p2000sk]

I was at my range last sunday and everybody else left before closing time. I have a dustpan on a hinged broomhandle (like they use at the mall or movie theatre) with a matching broom. I collected at 3 firing lines for a total of about 30 minutes, and I would estimate about 40 pounds collected.
I haven't sorted it out yet. .22 is getting scrapped for weight.
I will keep whatever calibers I would reload, and scrap anything else that is cracked-stomped-excessively tarnished. Whatevers left is sorted by size and given to people who would reload them.
I'm there to shoot. If there is a vacant firing line toward the end of the day, I'll go see if its worth sweeping up. Its not a sneek thing. Its about being respectful and resourceful.
If someone saw from a distance what was going on, they likely wouldn't mind a bit because I'll pick up other trash and empty the barrels into the dumpter.
Sure I'm taking care of myself and a few others, but I'm also doing more cleaning than most would and that sort of makes it ok- I feel.

[SAG0282]

People in this area that didn't pick up their brass and other debris are responsible for closing several great shooting areas. If you're in a similar situation, you shouldn't be leaving brass for them anyway. If not, who cares? Unless you want it, it's a petty concern IMO.

[Caimlas]

I don't have a problem with them picking up my brass after I've left. Its the ones that you see out of the corner of your eye chasing the empties when they're still hot that annoy me.

Just cant your rifle/pistol at an angle for a while, and they'll move in close. Then you can pelt them with hot brass and watch them screaming like little girls. Works best with rifles like the AR which eject brass consistently. :P

[4fingermick]

I got no problem with people picking up litter and recycling it and making a few bucks, because that's what brass left on the ground is, litter and a waste of a resourse.

You will probably find that it is a Dad driving his pickup and spending $3 on gas with one of his kids so they can make a $1.50 to buy some kid goodies. I used to spend a fortune in my car with the trailer attached driving the kids around while they earnt a measerly amount of money delivering junk mail and collecting cans and newspapers for recycling to try teach them the work ethic.

Boy, stomping on the brass, what a grump :D You should ease your cork out a little, you have it screwed in way too tight for your own good. Give em a wave next time and enjoy your day instead of putting your trip to the grave on fast forward. Mick.

[outofbattery]

I WISH my range had a couple brass vultures.It'd save me from having to pick up after the cops that flat refuse to police up their piles of .40 as they think it's my job.I also hate that some .22 shooters don't think rimfire counts.
outofbattery likes himself a tidy range.

[buck460XVR]

I got no problem with people picking up litter and recycling it and making a few bucks, because that's what brass left on the ground is, litter and a waste of a resourse.

I gotta agree with 4fingermick on this. These are probably the same folks that are picking up the pop/beer cans and bottles out of the roadside ditches that other inconsiderate litterbugs throw out. I've found that at the public ranges where I shoot, that the folk that tend to leave their brass and spent shot shells laying where they fall, tend to leave behind all their other trash. Not that Mad Magyar does this, but it has been my observation of the general public. It's like at the sporting clays range I go to......they have a barrel at every station for spent shells, but there's still hundreds of empties layin' on the ground. Guess those are from the guys that are to tired from the long walk to bend over and pick up their TWO empties. That's what I like about my SxS doubles with manual extractors.

I was taught at a young age and still do it today, to pick up my spent shells when at the range or in the field, not necessarily for reloading, but out of respect for mother earth. Sometimes it's not always practical or even doable, but I still try. Just like I still pick up others pop cans and candy wrappers I find in the woods after hunting season.

[OldBillThundercheif]

If y'all have a problem with other people "lurking" at the range, doing whatever they are doing (picking up brass, watching the shooting, cleaning up), you must have never shot a match in your life. You just need to get used to having people around while you shoot.

If you can't shoot comfortably just because someone else is hanging out, you need to practice until you are comfortable with the busy background.

If you can't shoot well with a crowd watching, I would be unwilling to say that you have any shooting skills at all.

[Mad Magyar]

You just need to get used to having people around while you shoot.


No you don't....:confused: There is a difference between a group of people observing a pistol shoot and some innocuous individual bent on picking up your casings....When there are firearms present, I want to know who is lurking in & around my berm.....

[kmrcstintn]

THAT'S IT!!! NOW THE GLOVES COME OFF!!! NOW IT'S PERSONAL...WHY DID YOU HAVE TO RUB ME THE WRONG WAY ABOUT THIS?!? :cuss:

no seriously...I pick up brass for recycling which helps in a few ways:

1) reduces the clutter that builds up at the range; less crap to cause litter; less residue (powder, primer, lead) that rainwater can flush into the ground

2) keeps a good commodity in reproduction (brass prices keep going up and up; by combining older stock with newly mined products helps keep prices from soaring higher)

3) money in my pocket to recoup costs of ammunition

now leave the scroungers alone since we make up a good amount of people that shoot along side of you!!!! BTW: I don't scrounge unless all shooters are aware of my presence and I usually wait til they are done or go downrange to check or replace targets...in between I'm doing my fair share of shooting ...goodbye

[XLMiguel]

Brass? You're welcome to it AFTER I'm done shooting. I'll even help you sweep up. However -

In the mean time, keep your distance, don't bother me, and don't tie up or obstruct a shooting lane while I or others are waiting to shoot. A little common courtesy goes a long way:cool:

[jaysouth]

I almost caused one ( I'll call him 'Fred") to have a heart attack.

He was scrounging at a public range. I told him that he should go to SSTTVVZZ private club. They had a glock shoot over the weekend and the rich snobs that own that club don't pick up brass anyhow. I went on to describe that the match required factory ammo only with brass cases and that several thousand people had participated and that the shiny once fired brass was almost knee deep on at least a hundred firing points.

I had Fred's attention to the point that his eyes were constricting to pinpoints and that he was almost drooling.

As I packed up and left, I could see him shaking his head while poking around the firing stand I had just left. Seems like I remember that club hadbanned old fred from ever setting foot on their property and threatened to him arrested if he ever did so again.

I know poor old 'fred' lost some sleep thinking about those piles of pristine brass that some other scrounger was going to steal right out from under his nose.

[yhtomit]

When I shoot at my currently most usual place (state-run range in PA; about half of the few times I've been there, I've been the only one present), I used to dutgfully leave my gun on the bench when going out to change targets etc, even though I was the only one there. Now, after a conversation with a few other shooters there, I never do. Instead, I carry the gun (slide locked, mag out), with the mags in my pocket, at least one mad loaded. I realized that it was pretty naive to believe to leave the gun 7-25 yards from my hand; someone could sneak out of the woods and decide "Hey, free gun!"

At that particular range (though surely it's not unique) there's been some heavy-duty vandalism, too -- not that vandals are all thieves, but it speaks a note of caution.

(Different case, of course, when there are others at the firing line.)

Polite brass scrounging is a lot easier to stomach when it's an innocent, friendly elderly man and his wife in a Buick -- I'd feel a bit differently about three sour-faced teenagers cracking jokes, pointing gun-fingers at each other, and generally exuding discretionary gloom. But that's just because I'm a hopeless, vindictive person ;) Maybe they're working on an Eagle Scout recycling project (looks can be deceiving, after all, life is complicated, facial expressions are idiosyncratic, etc).

But the polite brass scroungers probably won't mind that I'm carrying 13 rounds, and anyone who would mind would have no idea how bad a shot I am ;)

timothy

[zenner22]

I understand people who reload looking for brass, but how much per pound do people really make when they turn in buckefuls of empty cases to the places that buy such things? Is it really worth the hassle they go through to get it? Is recyclable brass worth that much these days?

[CypherNinja]

As I understand it, it's hovering around 2 bucks a pound right now.

[langenc]

As far as I am concerned-any brass not picked when one is finished shooting up is fair game. But all brass should be picked up before leaving but is not. Then there are those that shoot all kinds of crap and leave it. Those sks cases are just left to rust.

[P0832177]

Policing your brass or steel cases is the responsibility of each shooter! But, we all know that does not happen in the real world!

[Alaskapopo]

I agree they should not be rude but brass scroungers feed me a lot of brass at cheap prices. You can buy from them on ebay. They should wait till you are done shooting. But once you have left what is the harm?
Popo

[achildofthesky]

When I go shooting I'd be annoyed to have to wait on scroungers. If it is on the ground and I ALWAYS ASK if anyone is there if they keep their brass. If not woo hoo, and I always empty the brass bucket on the way out I take it all including the steel and aluminum and leave the place a whole lot cleaner than when I arrived. Most often folks are appreciative of not having to shag their brass, but I agree it would be really bad form to not ask first and DO NOT GET IN THE WAY! I save to reload and trade for calibers I favor and pile up the scrap for vacation money, new guns, ammo components or bobcat food. Whatever...Cheap? You betcha and I have no problem at all being seen that way. I laugh at my self, all the way to the bank or while reloading for a heck of a lot less. Not too many hobbies help support themselves with a little extra effort. BTW, I am semi sorta kinda retired and loving it!

Be safe

Patty

[swingset]

For those that don't understand the drive to pick up stray brass, I just turned in three 5-gallon buckets of berdan primed and old brass.

I got $176 for it, which paid for a brand new Ruger 10/22.

Pick up some brass, free gun.

Need me to explain it some more?

(this all came from my personal range, btw, not a public one before you get your undies in a twist)

[jlh26oo]

I was eating this turkey & bacon sub the other day that was SO HUGE, I could barely force down half of it before grinding the rest into the mud (saw this homeless guy lurking who looked pretty hungry :scrutiny: ).

:neener:

Seriously, I know where you're coming from. That can get annoying, but I would say a problem only when they interfere with your shooting. The other day, these guys were so intent on picking up their brass after each mag, getting mine along with. But they weren't taking it ([ut it on my table for me). They were trying to help, but pretty annoying stooping around me while trying to shoot.

Imo intentionally ruining brass for anyone else to take is kind of spiteful imo. You didn't really do that did you? That seems like more work than sweeping if not getting it for yourself. DId the vulture in his truck see you crunching it btw?

[Mad Magyar]

I got $176 for it, which paid for a brand new Ruger 10/22.



Okay, I see the economics of it all....:)

"I was eating this turkey & bacon sub the other day that was SO HUGE, I could barely force down half of it before grinding the rest into the mud (saw this homeless guy lurking who looked pretty hungry )."
Now that's funny....:D "DId the vulture in his truck see you crunching it btw?" It wasn't that demonstrative, just a heavy foot.....:p
I'm convinced, I've turned over a "new leaf". ;)

[jlh26oo]

You think I'm joking about not letting that bum get my sandwich?! That free Subway with purchase of drinks and chips coupon didn't come free you know (I had to buy a paper).




You should have pointed at him, angrily staring, while stomping them.

[zenner22]

At $176 for three buckets, the next time you look over your shoulder at the range you might find ME standing there! Holy crap!

[Lonestar.45]

As long as they aren't in the way or tying up the range, being obnoxious, or going against range rules, etc., I don't see what the problem is? And no I don't reload or save my brass. I just could care less what someone does with it after I leave it, and if they're reloading it or selling it to make $ more power to them.

[Gaucho Gringo]

A friend of mine is a plumber and he recycles everything. One pickup load of five gallon buckets of scrap copper & brass got him over $1,000.00. So yes, it does pay to recycle.

[cbsbyte]

I have never seen a brass scrounger. I see people at ranges picking some brass from the buckets or off the ground. At certain times, I even collect some new brass. But, I have never seen a person waiting for everyone to leave so they could take the brass. Most clubs I shoot at, collect the brass and then sell it to help defer the cost of maintaining the club. I would think they would be pissed if someone was taking all their brass.

[Bullet Bob]

Like Ohioan said, shoot a revolver, no picking up required. Good for us old guys and our backs. Or, get a Swedish Ljungman 6.5x55 semiauto; sure as heck nobody will be on your right side, unless they like brass whizzing by at eight million miles an hour!

[Joe the Redneck]

OK, I think there may be a way to resolve your problem.

When it happens, set aside your anger for a second, and ask the man not to do it while you are on the range.

If that doesn't help, talk to the range master and ask him to address the problem.

If that fails, find a new range. This is a fun hobby, this problem is getting right on top of you and killing the fun. I need it seems like your "giving up", but if you and tthe RM arn't on the same page, I think you'll have more fun at another range.

Ride easy

Joe

[Logan5]

At the ranges I go to, I've asked the range officers what they do with all the spent brass, and I've always been told they sell it as scrap metal. At my outdoor, they rake it all up something like twice a year, and at the indoors it's a lot more often. They all say that they put the money back into the operating budget of the range, whether it be replacing shot up target stands, lightbulbs, backstop replacement, shooting programs... Your brass is yours, but if you leave it there, it's like a donation to the range most places around here.

[jeepmor]

Dude, relax.

And BTW, in your tag line, that's coarse, not course. There is a difference in meaning due to spelling.

If they want to recycle it, I'm all for it. After, of course, I pick up all of mine that I can scrounge because I am a reloader. We need all the recycling we can get, if it happens to be the meth heads that do it, well, it's still recycling as long as that is all they are doing. If I see a guy all emaciated and twitchy at the range, I never tip off I have my CCW on my hip, if you know what I mean. And I close my car and lock it when I go check targets.

BTW, I use a gravel pit, not a range, so it is open to the public. And as much as I despise meth heads, they're the public too.

[StrikeEagle]

I'm a shooter. I'm also a scrounger, though I hope I'm courteous and non-intrusive about it. :)

About 25 years ago I was at a special weekend at Blue Trail Range in Connecticut. During a lull, I went and started picking up brass. A guy came over to me, and asked what kind I wanted most, and I said .45 Auto. He got down and helped me scrounge. He said that he 'got his start this way' and talked to me about shooting and reloading. I found out later that this was Rob Leatham.

Fun memory. :)

[Mad Magyar]

If that doesn't help, talk to the range master and ask him to address the problem.


I've asked the range officers what they do

I shoot on a public, county run firing range about 10 miles out of town...It would be nice to have someone like that around on occasions...

[Dr. Dickie]

Biggest problem I have is a LACK of scroungers. :neener:
Seems like everybody shoots .40 S&W but NOBODY re-loads and scrounges the brass. That means I have to discriminate between the .40 S&W and the .45 brass when I am shooting.

[JWarren]

Disclaimer: I do not go to a gun range. I have my own property. I also don’t at this time reload or “scavenge” brass.




Frankly, I’ll say it. The general attitude and actions leaves a very bad taste in my mouth. If they aren’t getting in your way, then its mean-spirited and selfish.


The worst kind are the ones that park close-bye, lurking in their shabby pick-ups, watching you shoot: waiting for you to finish so they can pick up your brass…. For those especially, I have utter distain….


So let me get this straight. You despise people who stay out of your way, and then pick up the trash you leave behind?


I always stomp on my brass so they have to dig them out….

So basically, you:

1. Have admitted that you litter by leaving your crap laying around.
2. Would prefer that you destroy something that you have thrown away simply to make sure that no one else can benefit from your waste.


Maybe I’m too harsh, but I look at them as parasites…

I would call someone that picks up your trash after you leave and makes use of it to be able to shoot more a resourceful person. A parasite is an organism that utilizes the resources of a host that HARMS the host in some way. A symbiotic organism is an organism that utilizes the resources of the host but provides some type of benefit in return.

Depending on your perspective, these persons are either nothing to you, or at least symbiotic in that they remove your waste and litter. What they are NOT are parasites-- unless they are taking brass that you intend to reload for yourself. Clearly, you don't do this.



These are the same people chiming in about the satisfying benefits of reloading, how cheap it is, on & on: hell, no wonder? They are too cheap to purchase their own brass.


Who cares???? Ammo is expensive. I don’t care who you are. If they are able to save a few bucks picking up what others litter the place with, more power to them. I can’t understand why you get so worked up over this.



I understand why so many of them have misfires; especially if they are reusing my microscopically heel-cracked brass.


Wow… I don’t even know where to start with this. I’ll just say this—still smacks of a mean-spirited attitude.



It simply amazes me that someone that has no issue with his own littering takes issue with people who – for whatever reason—picks up and uses discarded trash.

I’d say the best thing you could do is save up some money and buy a private tract of land. Shoot there all you want, and leave all the brass you want laying around. I shoot on my own land—but I assure you, I pick up every bit of brass I throw. When it is your property you are ruining, you see things differently.



The elitism of mentioning the beat-up old trucks seems to be behind some of this. Here is a shocker for you:

My father routinely drives a beat-to-hell 1983 Ford F150 pick-up. He is very frugal about making use of things, recycling materials, etc. He would probably be seen often in old work clothes. You’d probably saw the same thing of him.

And yet, he drives that old truck around so he doesn’t ruin his $54K Dodge cummings turbodiesel. He is well-educated, having his master’s degree, and before I forget—he is a self-made multimillionaire.

His attitude about waste is how he got that way.


Just let it go.

If the people are in your way or otherwise impairing your ability to shoot, that is one thing.

If it makes you angry that they are being resourceful, that is something else entirely.

If it makes you angry that someone may NEED to be resourceful in order to enjoy shooting, I’d say that is a very ugly distain you have there.

It almost sounds like you resent that they exist.


Sad really.



John

[Mad Magyar]

John, appreciate the damning indictment...You didn't read all the threads: I now see the light; so relax...
In fact, I'm heading out again & will rake my brass in a nice pile & I will take a pic for all to see.....However, If the "lurker" is back watching with gleeful anticipation; I might have a few words....;)
Regards...

[JWarren]

You didn't read all the threads:


Worse than that, I read this tread before I got through my first cup of coffee this morning. I probably missed something significant.

All good my friend :)

John

[Sun195]

A guy and his young daughter were shooting at the range last time I was there. When they were done, she spent quite a bit of time looking around for brass. Turns out, she is saving up for a school trip to Australia. Brass scrounging is one of the ways she's making money for the trip.

Sounds good to me - scrounge away!

(plus, it was just plain cool to see this guy spending time with his daughter at the range)

[possum]

there are a few ways that i handle picking up brass.
1) some ranges don't care if you leave it. and even if you come out the next day that morning there will people out there before the sun comes up picking up the brass from all the lanes the day before. i have never reall had any issues like you described. the only way people get my brass is if i don't want it or i leave it behind for a reason and if i do that they have all the right in the world to have it.

2) now i have been to a range and the guy beside me was shooting the same caliber and he wondered over to my side and picked up a few of mine, i told him that i was keeping my brass for reloading reasons, and he went about his business picking up his brass, but he meant no harm by it, i guess he thought that it was possibly his so he wanted to a good range member and pick it up.

[LT.Diver]

You should be policing your brass. There is no reason for you to leave it on the ground. Secondly, if you know someone wants your brass why not rake it up and give it to him? No reason to be a jerk about it.

[possum]

You should be policing your brass. There is no reason for you to leave it on the ground. Secondly, if you know someone wants your brass why not rake it up and give it to him? No reason to be a jerk about it.

is this directed at me or another member? as far as i am concerned if i want my brass than i police it up, and if there is anyone near me that wants my brass that i don't plan to keep than i will more than happily help them out, but the point of the matter is alot of times there is no one around to want the brass, so i leave it and someone within the day will come get it. i would be a jerk if i didn't want it and picked it up and through it away when i got home!

[KINGMAX]

A little cheese to go along with that whine.:banghead:

[gandog56]

I've had a lot of nice people seeing my picking up my own brass, and ask me if I wanted theirs. I've also policed up areas where no good good you know whats just up and leave their empties scattered all around for other people to slip on and kept them, figuring I should get some return for doing a public service. But I have never waited for somebody to leave so I could just go scrounge their brass. That's just being low.

[Steel Talon]

Brass recycling has bought me two handguns, and is about to fini$h my AR build. :)

Peace
Steel Talon:cool:

[V-fib]

As long as they don’t get in your way and you don’t want to save it yourself I say let them have at it. I shoot on my own property, revolvers, bolt action and pump action and save my brass even my .22lr. Last year around x-mas I took two ammo boxes full of shells to the metal recyclers and left with $48 bucks. Can’t beat that!:cool:

[G.A.Pster]

“how much is brass really worth. maybe if you had a truckload. but come on.”

It’s actually quite profitable, you get $1.25 USD per pound. It’s like finding loose change lying around.:D

[Dr. Dickie]

Well, I know that I scrounged up 500 rounds or LC 5.56 x 45. Midway is selling it for $160 for 1000. So, I figure I got at least $80 worth.

[JE223]

That brass is likely deprimed/primer pocket reamed. It is tough work to ream the primer pocket on military brass - well worth the money if they've already done the work for you.

[quatin]

You guys leave your brass lying around??? I always pick mine up and trash them or put them in the brass bucket or at the very least sweep them forward of the firing lane so they can get trashed during cleanup. I don't understand why you guys are mad that someone is picking up the mess you left behind. Somebody has to do it or else the entire firing lane is covered with brass.

[mugsie]

Ya know, when I first read this thread I was wondering what was wrong with scrounging brass. I do it myself. Since I reload, whenever I find brass I need, if it's in the bucket, I pick it up. I saw many people doing that, taking what they needed. Then the other day at the range I noticed this guy going to every bucket and dumping it in his pick up truck. For about the last couple of months I couldn't figure out why the buckets were not full. Usually there's always something in them that the people leave. 45's, 40's, 9mm by the tons, 38's etc. In the rifle areas it's the same way, 204's, 22-250, 223, and so on, but lately the buckets have been empty. I thought it was the cold weather but now I know better. It was this damn guy taking everything including any rim fire brass as well. since the range doesn't have a policy against it he can get away with it but it's inconsiderate as hell to the rest of us. Now I agree, brass scroungers, of the type I described, really piss me off!:cuss:

[Mad Magyar]

The more I read these responses, the more I feel our community is getting short-changed....What buckets, range officers? You all talk about buckets being around for brass storage...All we have are berms, lots of trash, and a large, shot-up trash can for every two berms...When you add individuals waiting for you to stop shooting & leave the premises so they can pick-up; I just don't like it.
Pretty soon, they'll have enough "pelotas" to come by while you're shooting and ask: "What caliber is that????":banghead: :banghead:

[KINGMAX]

Everyone dosen't come from a structured background in firearms. :scrutiny: Not everyone has been Military or LEO.:uhoh: Share and teach others gently. :cool: I am sure a true 'Marksman/Markswoman', would be eager to learn the correct ways to behave on a Public or Private range. :)

[Sean85746]

When I reloaded EVERYTHING...I marked my ACP and LUGER cases with a fat red Sharpie. Made it easier for me to sort my junk out.

All my wheelgun brass went into a canvas bag I carried with me...dumped from the cylinder to the bag.

Now I have a nifty little rig that clamps onto the right side of the bench with 2 vertical dowels and a loose web betwixt 'em. It catches my brass in the high 90 percentages.

So, I keep my area clean, and don't have to spend a lot of time bent over.

But...to answer your question...I don't mind the brass scroungers IF they stay out of my way, and keep their grubby paws out of MY brass net.

I actually had some snapperhead try to sort through my brass net!

I told him to keep his ****skinners off my bench.

He said..."Oh, I thought you were throwing this away."

So, I guess there are mongrels in every kennel.

[StrikeEagle]

Now I have a nifty little rig that clamps onto the right side of the bench with 2 vertical dowels and a loose web betwixt 'em. It catches my brass in the high 90 percentages.


This sounds very useful! What's the name of it, or where can I find more information about it?

Thank you! :)

[jlh26oo]

No dowels and clamps, but a tarp on the ground works pretty well too.

[flynlr]

oddly enough I thought someday I may need this brass so for the last year I collected all my empties at the range.

now I have over 5000 LC .223 brass that in the last week got decapped
sized trimmed then reprimed. and since I now have 2 presses and a load of
AA2230 and hornady fmj bullets I see more shooting in my future,:D

[ConfuseUs]

Well at least they scrounge only brass. A lead scrounger might wait by your backstop all day digging each bullet out after impact. HEck, he might even try to catch 'em! :evil:

[glockman19]

As of today scrap brass prices are $1.33-$2.00 a lb. I save my .45, .308 and 30-06 brass for future reloading.

If you figure you could collect a couple of hundred lbs. of brass per weekend at the local outdoor range you could probably pay for all of your ammunition needs. Melt it down in a smelter and sell it to a local metals dealer.

Brass melts @ 1650 degrees Fahrenheit

metals have higher melting points than alloys because they are not combined with other metals to bring the temperature of the melting point down. For an artist, it would be much easier to manipulate an alloy rather than a metal because of the lower metling points. For example, it would be much easier to cast a brass sculpture at 1650 degrees F than a copper sculpture at 1800 degrees F

[Ohioan]

I can't lie.. i've thought about digging up my lead... :evil:

[pete f]

This bothers me, you are at a public range, and are not cleaning up after your self?

This is the stuff that gives anti's ammo to close ranges. It's not the old "city dump" where you could shoot what ever was there and it all got scraped up by a big loader and either burned or sent to a landfill. Do you pick up your boxes and old targets too? Brass left behind is like litter. It maybe more valuable to others than you, but its still litter.

Same with many places that used to allow shotgun practice or were open to waterfowl hunting until the piles of plastic shotgun hulls got big enough to stand on. I have personally seen three large areas now closed to shooting because of the mess left behind by shooters. One place that was paper company land is now fenced and gated due to the negligence of hunters and shooters who seemed to have an unending supply of TV sets, washers etc that needed killing. Even after it was at first posted that shooters were to clean up after them selves, I saw two guys unloading about 10 dead monitors and start blasting away. They just got in the truck and drove away. 3 months later the road was gated and locked, a great place to shoot and some really good sloughs were now off limits because slob shooters would not take care of the places they shoot.

Maybe all you leave behind is brass, but think about it as litter, leave no trace.

[roo_ster]

Disclaimer: I reload and I scounge. I am not obnoxious about it and I would never think to pressure somebody or lurk around while they are shooting.

That said...

Shooters ought to clean up after themselves. Brass, targets, boxes, whatever. If somebody has made it clear that they'll pick up your brass for you, take it as a multi-beneficial gift: you don't pick up what you left behind & save time, the scrounger gets free brass & saves money, and the shooting community wins by not trashing a place into closing.

[MJZZZ]

I collect my own brass and would get mad if someone tried to grab mine without my consent. Mike

[MrDig]

What the average American calls Garbage many people would gladly keep. We as Citizens of thais Great Nation are spoiled rotten. The Brass you consider Garbage is a GOLD MINE to someone else. You should Thank The Gods above your life style is such that you don't need to collect other peoples Garbage to have food on the table or a Roof over your head. "There but for the Grace of God Go I". At least they are doing something to earn the money they get from the brass and not spare chaniging people on a street corner. Are the bugging you while you are shooting? are they hovering over your shoulder waiting for the brass to fly off?
Your attitude should be gratitude not anger.

Last point Brass is an Alloy not an element Copper and Tin or Zinc, one makes brass one makes bronze when mixed with copper. Magnesium also make a fine quality brass when alloyed with Copper, but I think it is more for Ornamental Purposes not for making cartridge brass

[BBQJOE]

My wife and I shoot at an outdoor area out here in the desert. Most of the small town inhabitants, as well as DPS use this range.
For the most part, the target area is trashed.
Folks from the local markets will bring up cases of outdated milk containers and shoot them up, leaving the mess behind.
I firmly believe in "Pack it in, pack it out"

I will admit I have left quite a bit of brass behind. This range was just loaded with it.

A friend of mine got to talking about the benefits of reloading, and talked me into it.
I ordered my press, and immediately drove up to the range to pick up my old brass.

You guessed it. When I arrived there was not one piece of brass to be found anywhere. Not even a .22
It looked like someone developed some sort of brass magnet and swept the place.
I'm betting dollars to doughnuts the person was a tweaker.

[Mad Magyar]

This bothers me, you are at a public range, and are not cleaning up after your self?

A good point...What gripes me is that our public range is closed on Thursday for cleaning by the county crew...Whoever is in charge of checking time sheets must be incompetent or are in cahoots...Friday is the same as Wed; a dump.....:cuss:

[Titan6]

oops

[docdelete]

I am very new here so I don't know how to post a question. If this is the wrong way to do things, I guess I'll learn eventually. My question is; Can I use a magnum primer in place of a regular primer when reloading. I have always used a #150 large pistol primer for loading 45acp. I've recently been to 3 different gun dealers and cannot find a box of these 150 primers.

[heypete]

I am very new here so I don't know how to post a question. If this is the wrong way to do things, I guess I'll learn eventually. My question is; Can I use a magnum primer in place of a regular primer when reloading. I have always used a #150 large pistol primer for loading 45acp. I've recently been to 3 different gun dealers and cannot find a box of these 150 primers.

Generally not without changing the powder load. Magnum primers burn hotter, longer, and can add quite a difference in pressure.

You might try replacing it with a standard large pistol primer made by a different manufacturer, but if you're near max loads I recommend you drop your loading a bit and work your way back up. Can't be too safe when reloading.

[docdelete]

Thanks for the info. I'm using Hodgdon Titegroup at 5.1gr. with a 200swc

[CannonFodder]

"The only serious brass scounger I met there was a polite elderly man who arrived with his wife, watched the shooting for a while, and was on good terms with the other shooters present. I saw nothing untoward or offputting in his behavior -- no secret why he was there, and he asked politely whether we were keeping our brass. (We all were, so after a few minutes of small talk, including some good-natured griping about *everyone* keeping their brass nowadays, he and his wife drove off smiling.) "

If you're talking about the Chester County range, I think I know who you're talking about - not personally, mind you, but I rather appreciated him cleaning my brass for me.

[yhtomit]

This range is quite near Carlisle; is that Chester County?

I have now been in PA nearly two years, but my knowledge of the state's geography is still way too close to zilch ;)

It's such a big place, I wish I had a free month (and free gas) with which to just explore -- stop in small towns and see what I can see.

timothy

[crowbuster77]

lets have some respect for the enviroment guys. i taught both my boys that picking up brass was part of shooting at a range or at our home shooting range. we reload but if you don't how about recycle?? also have you ever had a steel 7.62x39 punture your tire as you mow?? costs the club even more money.:cuss:

[SoCalShooter]

I always like to ask everyone around me before I scrounge.

[Janos Dracwlya]

(disclaimer - I haven't been following this one and haven't read all five pages)

If you leave your brass on the ground at the range and then leave the range, it's mine. :)

[Autolycus]

I always shoot at an indoor range and they are more then happy to clean it up for us as they send it out to a commercial reloader and resell it.

Either way I dont see the harm in what this guy is doing if he is waiting until you are done. As long as he isnt interfering with your shooting I dont see what is wrong with waiting until your finished shooting and collecting the brass you dont want.

If you really want to spite him you could pick it up yourself.