M1 Garand Brass Catcher

[Barr]

After spending 10 minutes the last time I took the M1 to the range chasing brass and guessing if it was mine or range pickups etc., I have decided to buy a brass catcher. I have a home made one with a net suspended on a PVC frame. First, it still needs refinement. Second, the M1 also ejects the brass in the vertical direction.

Therefore, I have decided to buy a plastic brass catcher that snaps onto the M1. The brass catcher is seen here http://www.deltaforce.com/catalog/ar15tacticalaccessories.html or here http://www.brasscatchers.com/pics/133.jpg .

My first question is, "Does anyone else own or have you used this particular type of brass catcher on a gun? AR-15 bags that attach to the carrying handle do not count. I am interested in the plastic snap on type."

My second question is, "What happens to the en bloc clip on the eighth shot? Does it eject through some kind of opening in the top of the plastic carrier? Or does it hang up the mechanism?"

My last question is, "Can I load the rifle with an en bloc clip with the plastic brass catcher attached to the rifle?"

 

[M1 Shooter]

Judging by the picture in the second link you posted, it looks like there is an opening on the top of the brass catcher for the empty clip to eject, but it doesn't appear large enough to allow loading a full clip into the rifle with the catcher still in place.

I have never used one. I usually use a cardboard box placed near the rifle, but not too close that it gets in my way. It catches most of the brass from my rifle except for the ones that fly out at 12:00 to 1:00. My M1's ejection pattern is fairly predictable though, it always ejects between 12:00 and 3:00. It works well enough for my purposes and best of all it was free!

 

[Slamfire]

The ejection pattern on a typical rack grade M1 is almost 360 degrees azmith and 360 degrees elevation. In other terms, anywhere and everywhere. Match garands are a bit better, most brass falls from 12 OC to 5 OC. If you convert your Garand to 308, you are going to find that your forehead tends to be the landing point.

The appropriate case catcher is your shooting bud. When cases land down his neck, or off the back of his head, you know that case won’t be going too far.

And that is why, if you examine 1960’s vintage photos of Camp Perry rifle matches, most folks are wearing those broad brimmed Campaign hats.

That was to protect your noggin and neck from hot Garand brass, which fell from the sky like burning coal embers.