A great tool for finding fired brass in the grass

[MacTech]

I have a small backyard range at home, I mainly use it for my .22's, but I have also been shooting my new Glock 17 Gen 4 there, normally I don't worry about the .22 brass, but the 9mm brass I want to retrieve and possibly reload for, so I needed a way to search for the fired shells in the mowed grass...

Enter my secret weapon, a Garrett ProPointer pinpointer metal detector, it makes finding those elusive fired cases much easier....

Turn it on, and wave it horizontally just skimming the tops of the grass, the beeping increases in rapidity the closer you are, once you're in the general area of maximum signal, turn the pointer vertical and narrow the search cone, when the beep is nearly constant, you should be on the target

If, like my shooting area, you also have to contend with some old buried .22 brass, here's a hint, you can narrow the focus of the pointer by finding a buried .22 casing, locking target on it, then rapidly turn the pointer off and then on again, that tightens the search cone and makes it ignore, or at least reduce signals from buried .22 brass, since you're looking for fresh brass on the surface of the lawn, it should notice the buried brass much less

 

[Reloadron]

Unfortunately many ranges that I shoot at are littered with a variety of steel cases in the grass. On the bright side most of my rifles pile the spent brass in a small enough area. I have yet to even bother using a sheet. Not real crazy about those brass catchers that attach to the rifle.

Ron

 

[MICHAEL T]

I don't reload But I do shoot my brass over. I have my own range 22 thru 45

I just mow over and watch it fly at target board again

 

[Ryanxia]

I let the reloaders scrounge my brass.

 

[PJSprog]

I keep the grass short enough in our shooting area that this is not an issue.

 

[Chuck R.]

Great idea!

I tried the finding brass in the grass for a short period on my range. Then I brought in the gravel.......



Cuts down on the mowing too.....Every year or so I bring in and spread another load.

Chuck

 

[PJSprog]

Wife won't let me do that yet, Chuck. That's the goal, though.

 

[Drail]

Us old timers just use a tarp. You don't even have to bend over to pick brass up. Just roll them over in one corner and dump all of them in yer bucket. Go home. Yo Chuck - VERY nice range. You should start holding matches. Build some small bleachers. Build a snack bar and charge for parking.

 

[tark]

My new Mini 14 throws brass about as far as any gun I have ever owned, including my old HK-91. Then the lawn mower throws them again. Thanks for the tip, I'LL try it .

 

[Ironicaintit]

My dad built a "Heath-kit" metal detector a long time ago. I still use it! Works great.
My problem isnt grass, but pine needles.

 

[mebgbvr]

This is why I love wheel guns

 

[bannockburn]

We use a 12' by 12' tarp. Makes clean up and sorting all the different bras much faster and easier.

 

[Nanook]

Depending on the range I'm at, I'm either a tarp guy or I use one of those little wheeled cage things, Brass Wizard I believe it's called.

That thing saves your back, but tall grass messes with it.

 

[jmorris]

As long as the ground is flat, the bag a nut was designed for picking nuts out of grass (why the "teeth" are so tall).



Once you go gravel you either have to build a brass vac to suck up brass and leave the rocks behind or your back to bending over to pick them up.

 

[RainDodger]

I use my neighbor. He thinks it's a game called, "Catch The Hot Brass Without Burning My Hands".... works pretty good.

 

[WestKentucky]

My tool is cheaper, simpler, and works almost as well. It is (ta-da) a Maglite flashlight. Once it gets dark the brass really shows up. Not so useful at a public range.

 

[shootniron]

At $130...I will pass.

 

[zchry]

Hmm....is brass magnetic? If so you could just get a nice big magnet to pick it up.

 

[stonecutter2]

Hmm....is brass magnetic? If so you could just get a nice big magnet to pick it up.

Brass is not magnetic, unfortunately.

 

[Malamute]

It is unfortunate that brass isnt magnetic, or someone hasnt invented a brass magnet.

The magnet-on-a-stick you can get from hardware stores works well for picking up all the steel cased shells most seem to leave around. I shoot on public ground, and go clean up the shooting spot now and then so we dont get shut out for being slobs.

One thing I noticed about picking up brass. If I waited until I was completely done shooting to look for it I spent waaaay less time looking and picking it up. I also dont have a cow if I dont find Every. Single. Piece. Practice shrugging your shoulders a couple times and think about what you want to do next thats more fun that looking for brass. works great for me. My revolver brass all goes straight on the ground also. Just the habit I wanted to form. Dont think about brass at all til I'm done.

 

[Gravedigger56]

I use catchers on my rifles and tarp for my handguns. The city opened the police range to all full time employees this year and there is never anybody there. I always have the range to myself so there is plenty of time to retrieve my brass as well as previous shooters that just leave it lay.

 

[jim in Anchorage]

I used a metal detector once to find fired brass. All I found was some lousy gold.