How do you retrieve pistol brass at the range?

Status
Not open for further replies.
A

archerben

Member
Joined
Dec 14, 2006
Messages
58
Location
Springville, UT
I recently purchased a 9mm and and considering tooling up to reload it. My question is, how do you retrieve your brass when shooting in an indoor range? Or do you just leave it and buy more brass? Also, how many times can expect to be able to reload 9mm brass when shooting less than max loads?
 
I don't have a 9mm, but I do have several brass flingers and I pick up the brass.

Typically there is a broom to help you retrieve relatively close brass beyond the firing line at indoor ranges.

You can mark the heads of your brass with a Sharpie if you like, makes it easy to segregate yours from range brass.

You can reload low pressure rounds in the same brass for years. You can reload high pressure rounds in the same brass for only slightly less time. When the case mouth cracks, toss it. Do not save brass fired in certain Glock models as the case head is not fully supported and it could lead to problems when reloaded and fired.
 
extend arm
lean over
grab brass
place in container


repeat until back says "NO MORE"


Revolvers get more fun as you get older!
 
I bring a small bag with me in my gun bag and pick up my brass and put it in the bag. When shooting the wheelguns, I just put the spent brass back into the plastic reload boxes--easier to keep calibres separated that way.

When someone is shooting next to me, I'll ask them if they reload or if they're keeping their brass. When they (usually) answer "No," then I pick it up for them and put it in the bag.

Keeps the poor rangemaster from having to sweep up so much loose brass.

Jeff
 
With one of these....for catching my own brass.....

http://www.cm-machine.com/item.jhtml;$sessionid$JRJLDIYAABJ0RTZENUGXBMWPERWRJPX0?UCIDs=6006%7C6007&PRID=97882
 
Way to be a good neighbor, Texas! Back when I worked at an indoor range, before we saved brass, I would go so far as to hand a plastic baggie to reloaders looking for brass, and tell 'em, "load up!"
 
For the revolver it's a no brainer. For the M1 Garand it's another thing. This thread reminds me I need to check in on a brass catcher mentioned elsewhere.
 
There's a guy that frequents the range I use that built himself a cool brass catcher for his ARs and other semi-autos. It's just some PVC and netting material. I think he spent $20 on materials. It looks like all that is needed is one length of pipe, a handful of elbows, and some cloth mesh type material. I don't even think he glued the joints together. Makes it easy to disassemble and store.
 
If you haven't gathered yet, I'm pretty new to the pistol sports, and mostly didn't know if it was common for the indoor ranges to allow you to retrieve brass. I would really like to become profficient with a handgun, so I'm trying to determine the costs of reloading vs. buying the cheap walmart stuff, as well value of the various membership fees at the local range. I currently load bottleneck cartridges via a single stage press. I will most likely buy a set of dies for the 9mm and start loading them with what I've got with the future option of upgrading to a progressive press if I shoot enough to warrant it. I must admit, a progressive press would be nice for the .223 as well.

By the way, thank you for all of the responses.
 
A revolver shooter at our club is very extravagant.
Recently, in about a half hour, I picked up over 400 once fired Federal .38 special empties.
I guess there was some fast combat style shooting going on as the brass was less than 10 yards from the backstop on a particular range.
Zeke
 
I take a 30 cal ammo can (the skinny one) to the range with me, I use it for range pickups. What I can sort out of my own, I place back in the container, I brought it in. Anyhing else I can find goes in the 30 cal can. I generallly shoot at a outdoor range, so I have a piece of bulk screen rolled around a pvc pipe that I clamp to the roof beams. Muzzle blast, and noise passes thru, brass stays more or less confined to my area.
 
I NEVER try to pick up 9mm brass, and yet I have 3 5-gallon buckets full of it. It just seems to magically appear when I'm picking up other brass.

Brass has been pretty thin at the range the last year or so, more scroungers and more reloaders. If you want brass look for a scheduled IPSC match or full-auto shoot and be there when it ends, or better yet police or security company training. Last year picked up 2000 Federal .45 +P nickle cases shortly after they were fired when a local security guard company did their annual qualifications.
 
I used to shoot at the Sheriff's range and I picked up the brass they left behind. I have more 9mm than I know what to do with now! .38spl too!
 
i bend down and pick it up. if i am at an indoor range the one near the house they have brooms and dust pan and i sweep it up, and i normally take all the brass that i use ie. 40, .45 etc even if i didn't shoot it it is no need for it to go to waste.

sometimes at out door ranges it isn't required and sometimes i leave it. there is a range back home where an old man comes aroud everyday and picksup all the brass from all the pits and sorts it out and sells it and thats his thng so i normally leave it for him. thats what he likes to do so i liketo help the guy out you know.
 
I pick em up by hand, how else can you scour the brass that was previously left behind :)

i don't separate my brass until i tumble it, which is when i get the 5 gal bucket full, or run low enough on calibers to bother starting it up. I used to tumble after every range trip, but my lead levels got slightly elevated and i suspect that was the cause. (no evidence here, just a hunch)

so i've been cutting down on my tumbling this year to see if it helps.
 
I take an empty plastic 1-gallon bucket or else a shoulder bag with me to the range, and leave a 5-gallon bucket in the truck to dump into if there's a lot of brass.
Then, it's bend over and pick up one at a time in the outdoor range. Knee pads and advil are your friend.
The indoor range I use a push broom and a snow shovel and dump right into 5-gallon buckets.
 
A word of friendly advice, if you haven't already thought of it: make sure, if you're picking up brass that didn't come from your gun, that you aren't "stealing" brass from a fellow shooter who simply hasn't picked it up yet.
 
Just grab your brass magnet and go to it ;)


That's why I only reload for revolver and bolt guns, but that's the majority of what I shoot. I shoot steel cased ammo from my .223 and .308 autoloader rifles. I do leave 50-100 once fired Winchester .45acp cases laying on the ground when I go to the range... I'm sure someone is happy to have it. My knees are back are worth far more to this gray bearded fatman than the brass is.
 
Like most people. I bend over and pick it up. The heavy ones I do get on my knees first. Or if I plan to be there a while I will get on my knees...I pick up all brass and sort it when I get home.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

Grayrock
  • Locked
Brass recovery %
2
Replies
25
Views
1K
dmftoy1
D
O
  • Locked
How reloadings will the brass take?
Replies
7
Views
676
dave from mesa
dave from mesa
Z
  • Locked
Using Range Brass
2 3
Replies
54
Views
4K
Average Joe
A
T
  • Locked
A Quick Question on Brass
Replies
6
Views
702
Walkalong
Walkalong
conan32120
  • Locked
to sort brass or not
Replies
5
Views
689
hdwhit
H
Back
Top