Trash Brass

I'm a trash can, (we use poly 55 gallon drum so I tip them a little.) and dumpster diver for brass and the AA and Remington hulls I load. I hate when there's cigarette butts in there, I have to hold my breath....the things I do for my sport......

Wish I had a place to do it, I love hunting down brass.

Pride standeth not between me and decent brass. Let those who would look askance at the harvesting of brass from yon containers be condemned to shooting Albanian surplus,

I used to. Just for the boxes. Now , I've got enough plastic boxes. Range wants you to push/sweep unused brass in front of the firing line. I put multiple targets on my board so I don't have to change every 10 min break. Use this time to pick up my brass and any on the positions either side if they are empty or the shooter doesn't want it.

It’s does have scrap value. On a county public range in Sarasota county Fl, there was some much brass lying around people would pay the range fee of 6.95 to enter and pick up brass Some county auxiliary group caught on and now one may recover only ones own brass. Grated pits were installed in front of and behind the firing lines where the RSO’s sweep the cases into. The range is down on Mondays and Tuesdays and that auxiliary group collects the brass for, I’m told. scrap and the proceeds helps defray the counties expense of maintaining the range.
I collected a life time supply of 38, 9mm and 45ACP before the restrictions were applied.

I've done it. There are many brass hounds where I shoot, so an pile of easy pickins' once fired brass is a nice treat. The trash cans are emptied regularly so they are pretty clean.

I wish people where I shoot would consolidate their used brass to one location. Most of them let it stay where it was ejected onto the ground. I usually shoot very early in the morning before anyone else shows up. I walk the line (out door blm range) and pick up what I can reload. If someone pulls up next to me I sometimes ask them if they reload. Usually they will pick it up and give it to me if they are not reloading. Other times when they leave I go scrounge it up.

I think someone or multiple people show up after people are done and take all they can find because most of the time when I get there early it's usually just rimfire cases and hulls.

I sold 342 lbs. of brass last Friday @ $1.44 lb. = $492 and change is the reason why I scrap it. It paid for my NIB CZ 457 American and a brick of SK standard + .22

Bill

My range asks that you only pick up your own brass, they really don't enforce it, but I suspect they would if someone was really pushing the limit. I'm pretty sure they sell the brass that's been pushed out onto the floor. I'm perfectly fine with their policy, they've never bothered me looking around picking up brass. For the most part it's mine, but I do bring home brass that's not mine while gathering.

The only thing objectionable in a trash can or dumpster is wet garbage and/or maggots. I grew up swamping on/driving a rubbish truck because my father owned a rubbish collection service, mostly residential. I have no qualms about grabbing something out of a trash barrel or dumpster, and if I were able to find brass, I surely would bend over in a barrel to grab some. No shame in reusing, gathering someone else's cast offs...

There is no such thing as trash brass. By picking up range brass we are saving the planet.
Reduce, reuse and recycle. It's 100% the right thing to do.

Sorry, I just thought of Jerry Jeff Walker:

"I like my brass just a little on the trashy side.
Where the case is green and the walls are popped out wide.
Too much pressure and too to much load
Gets me excited and in reloadin mode!
I like my brass just a little on the trashy side."

I've done it and I'm not ashamed to say so

I do it all the time. I even take empty ammo boxes if the insert is in it. I looked in the trash can one day and someone had layed their target in there without folding it up and put over 200 once fired S&B brass in there. That was a real treat. I didn't care what anyone thought, I stood there and scooped it all out and put it in my range bag. I was glad the guy was so carefull with placing it in there, so it didn't fall down through the garbage can.

I do pick brass out of the trash can.

I also noisily curse the personage, ancestry, morals, and intelligence of the s that sweep brass up, and walk past the brass bucket to pour it into the trash can. Here's your sign!

I only take what I can reload but 380s do slip in. The biggest disappointment is finding hornaday lever revolution 45/70. Its to dam short.

I have picked up some really nice brass from the trash cans at my range. Don't mind going through the trash at all.

There is no such thing as trash brass.

Click to expand...

Here is my trash brass.

Guilty as charged, on several counts.
Surprising how many folks buy rifle ammo, shoot it, and place the brass back in the packaging / chunk it in the trash.
I keep the calibers I'm interested in and put the others in the Ranges brass buckets.
Plastic ammo box's - check.
Those repair dots left over from shoot and see targets work great for our scoped 22's at the 50.

On a similar note,,,,

Revolver Brass.
If I see someone shooting factory-new 38/357, and it's obvious they don't reload, I aint above asking them to just leave the brass on the bench and I'll come get it when they are done.

I politely explain why I want it/what I'll do with it, thank 'em,,,, and they usually end up bringing it to me later when they are done.

(Bonus points when the Shooter happens to be an attractive Lady! )

Use it up
Wear it out
Make it do
or do without

I got rid of ALL my mismatch brass 3 years ago and I’ve been a much happier man.
$4++. is quite an impressive accomplishment though.

If its loose in the trash can I've even been known to dump the can into a box in the back of my truck and sort it after I get home!

I’ve eaten out of trash cans, so I’m sure not gonna judge you for grabbing good brass!