I did a bad thing today

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MovedWest

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It's universal law that you don't pick brass out of the range brass bucket, but today I have a rebuttal.

I was fortunate to find myself firing my 7mm Rem Mag between two others doing the same. One fellow obviously reloaded and was taking notes on every shot. The other I was paying no attention to.

During a cease fire I happened to glance down into a bucket that contained range brass. I wasn't looking for it. It found me. I saw a plastic keep-rounds-together-thingy full of large brass cases. Curiosity drove me to see what round a person would discard this brass for and I was taken back with awe! I read "7mm Rem Mag HORNADY". :what:

My eyes lit up like I'd hit the 500 million dollar jackpot! I glanced around to ensure I was in the clear and grabbed every last one of those 20 empty cases.

I know I was in the wrong and I should return the brass... but I'm playing the finders keepers card here.

Just wanted to confess my sins. :evil:

-MW
 
Moral quandry: Simple: If you know you are wrong, make it right.

"Universal Law"?!? Hogwash. My opinion is that the brass belongs to the one who paid for it, presumably the shooter. To give to whoever they deem. In the absence of such intent, it is intentionally abandoned property.

It sounds from your narrative that you observed a non-reloader discarding brass, which you picked up. If the shooter of that brass was still on-scene, someone might describe it as pilfering, but I am not clear on your description on that point.

I usually ask the shooter if he wants to retain his brass, and if his answer is "no", I will ask if I had permission to collect it. I am guided by that answer.

If you believe the shooter took the trouble to put the brass back in the plastic carrier in order to keep it for reloading, then you have found lost property and have the duty to try to return it to the rightful owner. Would you do less if he left a bullet-puller tool or $20 packet of targets behind?

I think this covers all bases unless the range (mine doesn't) asserts a claim on all range brass. (Another subject/subject entirely.)

Now, if the shooter delivered the brass to a central collection point (range bucket), that may obscure the ownership question. But since there may be debate over the question of range buckets being considered "abandoned property" as opposed to "donations" there is some "wiggle room" there.

Back to my paragraph 3. In the absence of intent of the shooter and explicit policy by the range, I think the brass is up for grabs.

My reasoning: If the range sells the brass as scrap metal (not reloadable brass, which many range elect, to avoid liability issues) it is morally superior to reload 7mm Mag than to melt it down.

If you feel guilty about collecting the brass, find out if the range sells the brass as casings or metal. If metal, give a check to the range for the value of the weight of the brass, or contribute an equivalent weight of other-caliber brass to the bucket. If casings, do what you must to assuage your conscience and cleanse your soul.

"Up for grabs". If some other shooter would like to claim the brass, their claim may be as valid as yours. The appropriate thing would be to decide who gets it. Play "Rock, Paper, Scissors", flip a coin, agree that whoever was first to the bucket, whoever was closer to the original shooter. Negotiate an amicable solution on-site.

OK, I am turning my "Mediator/Lawyer" mode off now.

My advice: If your range treats you well, Keep the brass, as you know you will treat it well. Give the range half the value you would pay retail to obtain guaranteed once-fired brass. If your range treats you badly, follow the guidelines I outlined above.

Then sleep on it, and if you sleep well and feel good in the morning, Bless you and to forth. If you sleep badly, ask the range if they want the brass and be guided by their answer.

Lost Sheep
 
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Unless your range has a rule against it, I see no problem. I take brass out of the buckets all the time at my range, but it's been discarded by other shooters. Most of the time, they're empty anyway because other handloaders have beat me to it. The buckets are there so people don't leave brass all over the ground, which they still do. I don't mind that though, I gladly clean that up for them as well. It's not like you're digging through their range bag when their back is turned.
 
If the shooter of that brass was still on-scene, someone might describe it as pilfering, but I am not clear on your description on that point.
Click to expand...

This fellow was long gone before I found the shells in the brass bin. These were 100% left behind.

The fact that he replaced every one of them into the plastic bracket as he fired them made me think he was a reloader. I found his brass in the recycling bin having been discarded. His bench was clean and he was nowhere to be seen. He had obviously left for the day in my eyes.

-MW
 
MovedWest said:
This fellow was long gone before I found the shells in the brass bin. These were 100% left behind.

The fact that he replaced every one of them into the plastic bracket as he fired them made me think he was a reloader. I found his brass in the recycling bin having been discarded. His bench was clean and he was nowhere to be seen. He had obviously left for the day in my eyes.

-MW
Click to expand...
OK, those questions clearly not at issue. Thanks for the clarification.

Jumping to a conclusion, then, he is either anal retentive about organizing his trash (might even replace his empty soda/beer cans in the plastic rings) or intended to leave them organized for convenient pickup by a fortunate reloader...you.

If the range has no claim, your conscience is clear.

Just one question troubles me.
I know I was in the wrong and I should return the brass
Click to expand...
To whom do you feel you would return the brass? If you have a specific one in mind, you must know of a claim they may have (perhaps subconsciously). Figure it out and resolve your (real or imagined) guilt and you will not feel the need to confess in a thread here (unless your intent with post #1 was to brag, which is another, different sin to feel guilty about).:evil::)

Lost Sheep
 
Good thing the shooter didn't accidentally leave his wallet behind...
 
It was in the bucket for a reason, it was discarded.

Go you. :)
 
You are lucky to have a bucket like that where people put un-wanted brass. The one and only public range in the county I live in has no rules on brass. The one thing that this range has is a person who thinks ALL the brass that hits the ground is theirs! They do not shoot do not reload just collect brass very agressivly. They are always at the range just off the shooting line rain snow cold or hot. As soon as a new shooter shows up they ask about the brass. Kinda takes some of the fun out of my shooting but oh well. They get a little snarky when I tell them I am picking up my brass from what ever it is I brought I would like to take back. I have offered to buy brass from them but Never get a reply. In days past I would get mine plus plenty of others brass but I was NOT at the range every day sun up to sun down. Now its shoot a wheel gun or try and find all of MY auto loader brass as soon as I empty a clip, I dont like this but it is the last place in the county to shoot.
 
Shoot there's a guy who comes out every night and picks up the brass
why?
why wouldn't the range care, he sweeps the place up for free, they are happy, he is happy
 
i could not shoot someplace where i would have to leave abandoned brass so the range that i PAID to shoot in, could sell it to make extra cash for themselves. i have also read of some places that think that once a piece of brass hits their floor, it is theirs to keep. i don't think so! when i shoot, i take everything that i brought with me back out, except of course the fired bullets. and i would take them with me as well if i could. if somebody told me i HAD to leave MY brass behind, so they could make a few extra dollars, it would be the last time i shot there. and they still would not keep the brass.
 
The contents of the brass bucket is up for grabs to whomever gets to it first! I greatly prefer that it go to someone who is going to reload it than to one of the "Sanford and Son" types who only takes it to a recycler.
 
I last qualified (as a Range Master) at "Front Sight" Pahrump, Nevada and fired about 600 .40 caliber rounds all new PMC Bronze, as we were not allowed to shoot reloads. Can you imagine how I felt when I had to leave all those once fired cases behind?!:eek:
 
Sometimes shooters will do that with rifle brass and throw it in the trash cans at the range. I am always peeking in trash cans for brass.
 
The Range Officer where I shoot let's Me take all the Brass I want as long as I promise not to resell it.
 
I love it when those folks swoop in and try to pick up my brass, and then discover that I'm shooting brass washed, steel case commie surplus.
 
Good thing the shooter didn't accidentally leave his wallet behind...
Click to expand...


You're kidding right? So, was he going to get home and say, "Oh crap, I forgot my brass. I better go back to the range and get it." :rolleyes: Cause I'm pretty sure that's what he would have done with his wallet. Things left in scrap buckets aren't accidentally left behind. That's called thrown away.
 
zoom, I found some beautiful 7.62x39mm brass...only to discover it was Berdan primed. Gah.
The people I hate are the brass rats who will come behind and scoop it off the ground while I am still shooting! I use several autoloaders, so ejected brass does land a wee bit away from me...and that doesn't mean it's discarded! My LC 5.56mm brass is uncrimped, so I make sure to get it back - no Super Swage here. When somebody starts snagging my stuff right next to me, I get a little irked, and ask them to stop.
 
Our range buckets are all donated to the local 4H. It gets sold by weight and helps make them some money. If it was me I would have thrown equal weight of 9mm back in but thats just me.

I am still amazed how people dont hold onto their brass to sell or at least give away.
 
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