Inexpensive metal detector for finding spent brass

[v35]

Although I don't reload yet, I've saved all my spent brass for when I eventually get reloading equipment.

I would only recover a portion of my spent brass - probably half of it - because it would just get lost in the grass. However, I found a very inexpensive ($15) metal detector at Target, and it really works! It's marketed under the National Geographic name. Little more than a toy, intended for children, but it's great for finding spent brass. With a little practice it's easy to discriminate between .22 and something larger. Home in on a spot, feel with your fingers, et voila!

Not only does my daughter enjoy using it to find "lost treasure" (i.e. unusual coins I scatter around ) I now recover nearly 100% of my spent brass.

You don't have to invest a lot of money in a metal detector. This thing really works.

 

[1911NM]

Now that is seriously cool. Great to have the family involved. Might be nice, if I lived someplace that has grass.

 

[mc223]

A$5.00 plastic tarp from Wally World would have saved enough for a box of cheap ammo.

 

[Blakenzy]

But deploying a large plastic tarp is very fussy(especially on a windy day), not nice to walk on and it's probably not as fun as using the cool metal detector thingy... which I bet will recoup more than $15 in brass in no time.

 

[Eagle103]

I'm still waiting for someone to try one of these.
http://www.gracomodels.com/catcher.html

 

[scout26]

And the day I patent my brass magnet is the day I become a very rich man....

 

[ZeSpectre]

I might give that a try. Of course I've managed to loose brass out of a revolver before <sigh>.

 

[v35]

A$5.00 plastic tarp from Wally World would have saved enough for a box of cheap ammo.

I do use a plastic tarp while shooting from a fixed position, but I also practice shooting while moving away from the target or laterally. I haven't yet figured out how to make my target stand move Besides, even with a plastic tarp shells occasionally fly off into parts unknown.

 

[Grandpa Shooter]

Rule of thumb in my house is, either you find the brass you used, or you don't shoot. Very effective motivator to people who want to shoot.

 

[kjshank]

thats cool, just a pointer for u guys using tarps. I hang the tarp vertically on my dog's kennel, most of the brass ends up at the bottom of the tarp. It works much better than just laying it flat on the ground. Especially when your shooting a makarov that throws brass 15 -20 feet easy.

 

[Grandpa Shooter]

Where is your dog while this is going on?

 

[mactex]

>I'm still waiting for someone to try one of these.
>http://www.gracomodels.com/catcher.html

I've had the pistol type for a year now and found it to work quite well. It only takes a short amount of time to get used to having it on your hand. I usually recover 95% to 99% from my P89 and about 90% from my Bersa Thunder 380 (it tends to throw the brash everywhere). A tarp is a great idea if you have somplace to lay it out. However, most of the ranges I use don't have that much space to spread out.

 

[evan price]

I just grid and quarter the area the shells are going and rub my feet back and forth as I walk, any lumps are either rocks or sticks or shell casings. And it's free.

Of course, you could try mowing the area short before you shoot too.

I know how you feel, I lost almost 2 boxes (100) virgin once-fired .45 acps shooting in ankle-high weeds. They all vanished. I think I found maybe 10 of them. Worst part was I heard them bouncing off of stuff next to me. Then they were gone.

 

[ZeSpectre]

So where's that brass magnet again? <grin>.

 

[kd7nqb]

I have used one of those wrist based brass catchers, they are pretty sweet. My GF uses it for her Makarov and her Taurus 92. She is good with it, as for me it always seems to get into my sight picture somehow. The vertical tarp works too.

 

[Deavis]

Perhaps a steel insert that the brass is cast around. Put it into the case head as a ring or set of rings. Then just run a magnet and you get them all case head up. The larger the case, the more steel you have naturally and the better pickup you get. Since it is in the casehead, not too many worries there. Patent it.

 

[jmorris]

I don't think cast brass casings would hold up. If you really want to use a magnet to pick up brass you'll just have to shoot Wolf.

 

[Eagle103]

That sounds great mactex and kd7nqb. I could could shoot my semi-autos in the snow with one of them.

 

[Javelin]

Wow you know when brass costs have officially hit the consumer price threshold!

Haha.

 

[1911NM]

So many people reload .45acp around the local range here, you almost have to tie a string on 'em to keep brass from getting glommed up before it hits the ground.

 

[Dorryn]

So many people reload .45acp around the local range here, you almost have to tie a string on 'em to keep brass from getting glommed up before it hits the ground.

This is probably true everywhere! I find abandoned once-fire 9mm by the 1000's at my range, but I have yet to find a single .45.