Pistol brass catchers - who/what/where?

[Falconeer]

Reading another topic started me wondering about brass catchers for pistols. I don't mind losing a couple of 9mm cases, but the 357 Sig stuff is too damn expensive to not recover!

Could we swap info on effective brass catchers for pistols? I saw one in the Midway USA catalog (don't have it with me, can't get at their web site at the moment ) that looked like a medium sized fish tank net that velcroed to your forearm. Seemed a bit odd, but might do the job. What else is there?

 

[wolf_from_wv]

Got PVC pipe?

http://alpharubicon.com/leo/brasscatcher.htm

 

[Falconeer]

Got PVC pipe?

http://alpharubicon.com/leo/brasscatcher.htm

Wow!! What a great idea.

 

[Jim Watson]

I have seen that sort of stand-beside catcher made up to 6x8 feet so as to catch all the brass and allow a step or two of movement and an angle change to engage multiple targets.

Me? I just spread a tarp in the ejection pattern, but I am not often on a crowded range.

 

[Canuck-IL]

Commercial units:
$90 - http://www.cm-machine.com/item.jhtml;$sessionid$JRJLDIYAABJ0RTZENUGXBMWPERWRJPX0?UCIDs=6006%7C6007&PRID=97882
{cut'n'paste that one in - long}

$69 - http://www.champchoice.com/shop.php?action=search&searchterms=catcher&submit=Search

/Bryan

 

[dmftoy1]

+1 on the large tarp. I get most of mine back . . . .but I'm on my own range so that might not work for other people.

Regards,
Dave

 

[LHB1]

+1 on the CMM brass catcher. Base unscrews, net support frame folds for easy take down and storage. Quick/Easy set up, multi adjustable, works well, and NOTHING CLAMPED ON YOUR HAND/WRIST to disturb your shooting. Really like mine.

Good shooting and be safe.
LB

ps: Oh yeah, I "tried" making one out of PVC pipe but was not satisfied with frame and couldn't find proper netting. Abandoned the idea and bought the CMM unit.

 

[Falconeer]

Thanks for the input folks. I'm thinking of trying to build the PVC one, primarily because of the cost. We'll see how it turns out.

 

[larryw]

I know one who made his own out of 1/2" PCV pipe. He used a small mesh laundry bag for the netting, attached with velcro (rough side only, on the pipes) and it worked extremely well.

I purchased one of the arm-borne grass catchers quite a while back. Absolutely useless, IMNSHO; it now occupies space in the local landfill.

 

[taliv]

i gave up on pistol brass catchers. the reason is that my pistol, while perfect in all other respects, throws brass in apparently completely random patterns. after 5000 rnds in the past year, i couldn't tell you if the next round is going to the right-front, right-rear or straight back and hit me in the head.


on the rifle side, i had a brass catcher made. i started with an ARMS short throw mount, then had a local machine shop bend a 1/4" steel rod to my specification, and then got my wife to sew a nice little bag with velcro strip at the bottom.

so with a quick flip of the throw lever, i can move my brass catcher from the right quad rail forearm of any of my AR15s, to the right forearm rail of my HK UMP clone. so i get my 223 and 45acp brass.

it works really well. the only problem to date is my 223 brass melted a hole in the bag over the ejection port, so i need to replace the bag with a better material... something fire resistant

 

[larryw]

I have something similar for my M1A. Suggestion: go to a shop that makes patio covers or canvas signs. That stuff is thick and doesn't burn (but don't get the plastic coated canvas). Also, sailboat sails. Think remnants/scraps.

Another suggestion, don't ask your wife to sew it using her good machine or standard needles/thread. :banghead:

 

[~z]

I tried alot of ideas for a while, I found that I did not enjoy shooting as much when I had to constantly worry about my brass. I began shooting wheel guns and bolt rifles more. Finally I realized lost brass was part of shooting. Figure up an acceptable recovery rate and strive for that and scrounge for the rest. I think you will enjoy the shooting part more.
~z

 

[wrangler5]

Unless you have a real need to shoot full power loads, try reducing the power on your reloads - the empties won't get thrown so far. I recently did an experiment to see how low I could go with a 9mm Makarov and still get reliable function. Ended up at about 2/3 the recommended starting powder load - everything still worked, virtually no leading in the barrel, and the cases just sort of plopped out of the ejection port and fell at my elbow (I was resting my arms on a bench while shooting thru the chrono.) It's not very macho, but brass recovery is right at 100% and the recoil is not much more than a lightweight 22, so I could shoot it all day (or until I run out of reloads.)

 

[Falconeer]

I'm looking for this primarily for my 357 Sig chambered P239. I'm using starting loads, but it throws brass about 15' right and 3' back. The pistol is still fairly new (couple hundred rounds through her) so she may 'calm down' as time goes on. However, 357 Sig brass ain't cheap and I want to keep what I've got.