Free Range Brass - is that so rare?

[CQB45ACP]

that’s a range club I would pay $135 a year. My last club that I didn’t renew, alway had something to say, and everyone was a boss somehow! Federal land here is free to shoot.

The only federal land around here has buildings on it...

 

[packetloss]

I live in Arizona, where most gun owners are sloths. They haul their junk into the desert, shoot at it from close range, pack up quickly leaving their garbage behind for someone else to deal with. Absolutely no discipline or respect.

The upside is they leave behind mountains of brass. A few years ago I watched two guys shoot two spam cans of M2 ball from their M1s over the course of about an hour. I waited in the distance, and when they sped off I pounced. I found all 384 pieces of HXP brass. That's really good stuff. I'm still working with them today in my 03a4s.

I was just out in Santa Fe and they have a local shooting spot that looks like a garbage depot. I saw shot up stereo equipment and tons of brass left everywhere. They even had some cattle grazing in the area. I couldn't believe what a mess it was, but at least no one bothers you there and there was no one else there at the time.

 

[KentM]

(from the OP)
WOW! I had no idea this topic would take off so much.
I recently read that Australia has outlawed brass catchers for some cockamamie reason. Sounds like some of the ranges would like that to be law here.

 

[champ0608]

I was just out in Santa Fe and they have a local shooting spot that looks like a garbage depot. I saw shot up stereo equipment and tons of brass left everywhere. They even had some cattle grazing in the area. I couldn't believe what a mess it was, but at least no one bothers you there and there was no one else there at the time.

Sadly that's how we do it here in the desert. Its really nice to be able to go and shoot in peace, to not be surrounded by strangers, to do your own thing...but it disgusts how poorly people treat their natural resources. Especially when these are the same people that talk about patriotism, respect, discipline, hard work, love of the outdoors, the good ol' days...a lot of hot air from a lot of slobs.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Sadly that's how we do it here in the desert. Its really nice to be able to go and shoot in peace, to not be surrounded by strangers, to do your own thing...but it disgusts how poorly people treat their natural resources. Especially when these are the same people that talk about patriotism, respect, discipline, hard work, love of the outdoors, the good ol' days...a lot of hot air from a lot of slobs.

Gun ownership is apolitical. Or maybe pan political? We like to think most gun owners are admirers of Sam Adams, John Adams, George Washington and Patrick Henry but, Mao Tse Tung said, "Every Communist must grasp the truth; 'Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun.'" from Problems of War and Strategy; November 6, 1938.

Don't assume because someone has a "Bernie" sticker on their diesel VW they aren't a gun owner.

 

[GE-Mini-Gun]

I go to a machine gun shoot couple times a year and no one picks up the brass. During a target reset I was picking up my brass and a couple guy said to take whatever I wanted, took home a 5-gallon bucket full of everything from 22lr to 50 BMG. The next time they said the same thing, but took home three that time, I’ve since gave most of it away to people that needed it, I’m setting one (2) bucket of 45 and 9mm brass…should last me the rest on my shooting life.

 

[mdi]

I went to a "shooting area" in the hills above LA for a few years. Nice place, a gully about 60-70 yards wide with a road running down the middle in County land. I ocassionally mined lead from the gully sides and normally brought home about 3/4 of a 5 gal.bucket. But the morons soon discovered it and brought their "used household targets" .A sign was posted near the entrance that the County had to clean up the area and "prohibited" dumping. Morons paid no attention so soon there was a chain across the road. No more trespassing on County land...

The same thing, moron "targets", happening here and I'm afraid the County/state may close it down. Wehave a group of "goog guys" that call themselved "The Trash Dogs" that clean up the roads up in the hills and some beaches, but they can clean up the shooting area and within 2 weeks it's a dump again...

 

[Mark_Mark]

Sadly that's how we do it here in the desert. Its really nice to be able to go and shoot in peace, to not be surrounded by strangers, to do your own thing...but it disgusts how poorly people treat their natural resources. Especially when these are the same people that talk about patriotism, respect, discipline, hard work, love of the outdoors, the good ol' days...a lot of hot air from a lot of slobs.

My only problem with shooting alone is being alone if a accident happened. You guys bring a trama kit with you? I big a 1st aid and a tqurnicket

 

[MFInc]

The outdoor range I go to is huge. I typically always bring home about 250-500 cases. Haven't really ever found any 300 BLk cases. but .223/5.56 I usually find about 50-100. Those can be cut down for 300BLK if the head stamp matches a list that is out of use able brass for trimming to 300BLK. Granted there are multiple people now who I call brass-holes who just go up there to collect brass. Had one trying to take my brass as I shot it one day. I looked at him and said, are you really trying to steal my brass while I'm here shooting?, You are brave....He just threw both hands up said sorry and walked away.

 

[AK Hunter]

My only problem with shooting alone is being alone if a accident happened. You guys bring a trama kit with you? I big a 1st aid and a tqurnicket

I shoot at a large club range very seldom am I alone but if I am & something happens there is a large Trauma kit in the club house & 911 is only a call away. They have made special provisions for emergency vehicles to get past the main gate.
I pick up most of my brass from the range grounds. We are instructed to sweep up our spent casing (to keep the slip N fall hazards down)but we don't have to throw them away, many just sweep them into a pile out of the way so others (like me) can pick up the brass.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

I went to a "shooting area" in the hills above LA for a few years. Nice place, a gully about 60-70 yards wide with a road running down the middle in County land. I ocassionally mined lead from the gully sides and normally brought home about 3/4 of a 5 gal.bucket. But the morons soon discovered it and brought their "used household targets" .A sign was posted near the entrance that the County had to clean up the area and "prohibited" dumping. Morons paid no attention so soon there was a chain across the road. No more trespassing on County land...

The same thing, moron "targets", happening here and I'm afraid the County/state may close it down. Wehave a group of "goog guys" that call themselved "The Trash Dogs" that clean up the roads up in the hills and some beaches, but they can clean up the shooting area and within 2 weeks it's a dump again...

"Moron targets" Mind if I steal that? We get them around here, too. Mostly city folks who don't realize shooting on private land without the owner's permission is a felony. They know dumping on private land is a felony trespass and do it anyway so maybe they know and just don't care. We live about 500 feet off a state road that sees a lot of tourist traffic to the west coast and every once in a while some group of party-goers will stray off the main highway looking for a place to smoke pot, get drunk, make out and run naked in the woods... who knows? Things they know they shouldn't be doing, that's for sure. WAY TOO OFTEN college grads from 40 miles east who dump off their pets before they leave town for the last time. That's so sad. Especially the declawed cats. We need to make pet dumping a capital offense.

 

[AJC1]

"Moron targets" Mind if I steal that? We get them around here, too. Mostly city folks who don't realize shooting on private land without the owner's permission is a felony. They know dumping on private land is a felony trespass and do it anyway so maybe they know and just don't care. We live about 500 feet off a state road that sees a lot of tourist traffic to the west coast and every once in a while some group of party-goers will stray off the main highway looking for a place to smoke pot, get drunk, make out and run naked in the woods... who knows? Things they know they shouldn't be doing, that's for sure. WAY TOO OFTEN college grads from 40 miles east who dump off their pets before they leave town for the last time. That's so sad. Especially the declawed cats. We need to make pet dumping a capital offense.

Dumping a pet is very low. Doesn't the animal abuse statute apply.

 

[Blue68f100]

Does in Texas.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Dumping a pet is very low. Doesn't the animal abuse statute apply.

Problem is they’re out of state by the time animal control shows up to collect what’s left of the poor critters. The county can’t afford more officers. We’re a big county with a small population. The kids know even if their “beloved pet” is chipped there’s nothing going to happen but a ticket mailed to their forwarding address. It’s sick. The college brats who do these things are future leaders of this country. Give that a moment to sink in.

 

[1976B.L.Johns.]

Free Range Brass

Well, for some strange reason where I live, yes, it is becoming more rare.
Can't figure that out.
Last year with the Covid crap, it appeared shootin' increased.
Now, when patrolling several gravel pits I have picked about one half of what I did last year.
Go figure... frustrations now over and one can not afford today's prices?.
Happy that we are okay...

 

[Carl N. Brown]

Every time I have used the indoor range attached to a local gun shop, the rule was police your brass after shooting, leave no loose brass on the floor. Either you took your brass with you, or dumped it in the range bucket.

The local gun club has two outdoor ranges. You police your brass off the paved and roofed firing lines with benches. The club provides brooms and scoops. Either the brass goes on the ground in front of the firing line or in the trash barrel. I tend to bag my brass as I shoot either to reload or recycle. If I am the only one on the range, I will walk the front of the range for abandoned brass.

Brass is not considered abandoned and fair game until the shooter leaves it behind.

The shooting range at the gun shop may sell brass put in their range bucket; I might ask next time I use it.

The gun club probably assumes that the reloaders and brass recyclers don't dump enough unwanted brass in the trash barrel to be worth bothering with.

As a reloader, I would not patronize a range that claimed my fired brass.

My first shooting range was at the old home place on the mountain. Then added in the 1960s through 1980s the abandoned rock quarry just outside city limits until city limits took it in. No imposed rules there. But we did try to leave the home place better than we found it. Mowed, weedeated, trash burnt.

 

[bersaguy]

Pretty much all my reloads use Free Range brass, and its organic too! Sorry, couldn't help myself. Most of the indoor ranges in my area allow you to pick up your own brass. Gotta be on top of it though. Every 10-15 minutes or so someone will come by with a snow shovel and kick the brass out in front of the shooting line, then its theirs. My old range (outdoor) used to let me graze freely anywhere as long as I wasn't disturbing anyone. Only one range that I know of here is what they themselves call a "lost brass" range...one of many reasons I don't shoot there anymore.

 

[tightgroup tiger]

The indoor range I use now says we can pickup our own as long as it's not in front of the line.
Other people can also give us theirs if they chose to.
Yesterday I went there and their was about 200) 9mm left in the lane I wanted to use so being the good Samaritan I am I picked it all up and put it in my range bag so the lane was all cleaned up.
Everything in front of the line is sold by contract to some outfit. I like this range because they are reloader friendly.

 

[anothernewb]

I wish I could also buy the lead collected for a good price. There has to be a ton of it, and to some of use, its valuable.

My local range used to PAY (a lot) to have the lead removed. Well, needless to say, after I learned that, they don't have to do that anymore. The other commercial range wasn't able to do that due to some epa/insurance certification stuff they have to follow with an "approved" certified waste hauler. The fees they pay to dispose of the lead are astronomical. Enough that I've been tempted to get the cert myself. but then I suppose i'd have keep paperwork reporting where I disposed of the lead. But then again, they use a shredded tire matrix to capture rounds - so I bet it's a PITA to sift the lead out. The one I collect from uses sand. I just snag the tube sand everyone uses for winter car weights here - and throw away every spring - and stockpiled them as well. just adding some to the backstop when I clean.

I'm lazy though. rather than cast my own, I sell the cleaned range lead and buy coated bullets with that money. One of these days I should really figure out a method for recycling the leftover jacket material.