Lost brass

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I use a metal detector. I have my own personal 300 yard range I built in my woods directly behind my house.

I don't use it everytime a piece of brass is lost, but once a month or so I'll spend a hour or so and collect lost brass.

I do not allow buddies to shoot steel or aluminum cased ammo. Waste of time and back picking that junk up.

Shooting of 22's is restricted to certain areas so I'm not wasting time on those either.

With those rules in place, the metal detector works well.

There is no way I would waste time with one at a public range bending over time and time again to pick up Wolf steel cases.
 
I've tried using a tarp (wind blew it around, even a light breeze). I tried a "wall", a stand for cases to hit and drop to the ground, but I already habe too much stuff to haul to the range (at my "range" I need to take a shooting table, folding chair, target stand, but am able to use the tailgate of my truck for keeping my range bag, ammo, extra targets, water and towels on for a range trip). But for me, the easiest methods are; first I tumble my semi-auto brass to a high shine so they are easier to spot (especially my 30-06 Garand brass and my 45 ACP brass), and second I made a "brass pickerupper". I had a telescoping aluminum squeegee handle, about 30" collapsed, 4' extended. I made a "hook" out of 1/8" rod with a 90 degree bend on the end. I attached the rod/hook to the end of the handle and have a tool to pick up my easily spotted shiny brass in the dirt, rocks and trash where I shoot. No bending just strolling around hooking brass...

I just recently got a Beretta in 32 AUTO, and during the first outing I sat at my table pointed the gun down range and fired a couple, watching where the cases landed. I swear the first one disappeared about 2 feet from the ground, Poof! The second case was swallowed by the ground never to be found. I "lost" about half of the brass flung out of my gun that day...
 
On a related note, any of you guys ever find brass you know you didn’t shoot... and you’re the only one shooting there?

I usually shoot in my back yard, and a while back I found I found some 40 S&W. I’ve never owned or shot a .40, but there were about 5 pieces scattered around. Strange...
 
I built this brass catcher about 15 yrs ago and still use it today. I found the tri-pods for like $9 ea, and some mosquito netting from the local fabric store. Total cost was < $40 . I do have a top on it that I use to keep brass from flying out.

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On an unrelated note, a raccoon got in our shop one day. I threw a wrench at it and the wrench disappeared. Over 3 years later, it was found in my toolbox drawer exactly where it didn't belong.
Was it a 10mm? There's a meme in auto mechanics about 10mm sockets constantly disappearing and reappearing.
 
Was it a 10mm? There's a meme in auto mechanics about 10mm sockets constantly disappearing and reappearing.
Actually no, it was a 24mm angle wrench. Like 14" long.
My wife’s late uncle, a learned man, had a theory on ones looking for a specific object. We picture that object in a certain position or location and the brain filters out all the other possibilities.
Could explain why my mushroom hunting abilities are about the same as my skill for finding brass...or wrenches.
 
This is the worst way to loose brass.

The wife and I went shooting the Garand. I took 8 enblocs loaded with '68 LC match brass. The wife was policing the brass. When we got home I only had 40 pieces of brass in the bag.....?

She thought enblocs held 5rds and quit looking after picking up 8 clips and forty cases:mad:
 
I hate losing brass, I lose mine mostly when hunting. Looked for 20 minutes this deer season for a 7x57 case, I worked the bolt fast for a follow up shot I did not have to take, I must have sent the case into orbit with my ruger. One time looked for over 30 minutes for a 35rem, that was when there was that 35rem brass shortage was going on.

What about those brass collectors you roll on the ground, do they work in grass?
 
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Yeah that's kinda where I'm at now. Last 2 times I've shot the wind blew up under the tarp since it wouldn't lay flat in the grass even though it was anchored. Brass looked like popcorn bouncing around.


I actually use a fishing seine that’s more like that basket just a lot bigger. Doesn’t make the noise or blow around like a tarp and I got to use the lead weights on it to make bullets. Win win;)
 
Depends on your definition of "a lot," and also what calibers you're shooting.
Likewise, $150 will buy a lot of some kinds of ammo. But at $20/100+shipping, $150 doesn't get as much brass as a person might think. Kinda like all other reloading stuff. Gotta spend money to save money.
 
The horses wouldn’t like that much. That’s their lunch.

Don't have to cut the entire pasture just where your going to pick up brass from.

You could also just put up a shade structure and they will have it beat down to just dirt under it, again easy to spot the brass at that point and they will have a place to hang out, out of the elements.
 
My wife’s late uncle, a learned man, had a theory on ones looking for a specific object. We picture that object in a certain position or location and the brain filters out all the other possibilities.
My dad taught me that too, and by golly I think it works. so, I’m teaching my boy the same thing.
as to finding brass, the place I do most of my shooting is mostly high desert. Lots of cacti and grasses. If I’m struggling to find it all, I wait until dark and then look with a good flashlight. The shine makes them fairly obvious.
 
Very experience gun person once told me, "it is OK to lose a piece of brass or two. I liken this to paying the brass gods in advance. ALWAYS pay it forward."
 
I TRY to loose 9 MM brass at the range but always seem to end up with more when I get home and sort my brass. I think that they just jump into the bucket when I am not looking.:p
I keep threatening to make a set of swaging dies so I can make 357 bullets out of them but seem to only find excuses for the delay so far.:scrutiny:
 
Gunny, that’s not too far off the one I use out back when I chronograph. It’s the only way to know that I am getting the case I just fired, unless they are still warm when I find them in the grass.

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My dad taught me that too, and by golly I think it works. so, I’m teaching my boy the same thing.
as to finding brass, the place I do most of my shooting is mostly high desert. Lots of cacti and grasses. If I’m struggling to find it all, I wait until dark and then look with a good flashlight. The shine makes them fairly obvious.
I do that in garage or basement looking for dropped small items. Turn off the lights and use a flash light. The small pool of light focuses the brain. :)
 
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