Social encounter...

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I had a guy trying to vulture my .30'06 brass the first time I took the Garand to the range. I called him on it, and he said something along the lines of, "Oh, I thought mine had bounced down here too..." He leaves and sits down at a table 30 feet away with an AR-15. Yeah, it's really easy to confuse .223 and .30'06 brass.....
So I've got a homebuilt catcher now, a .50cal can with a piece of sheetmetal to direct them into it. Three minutes with tin-snips to cut it out, and 30 seconds to put a couple spot-welds to shape it.
 
Yeah, I am positive that he wasn't collecting his brass. It was an outdoor range and there was no one there when we got there. He wasn't shooting, and didn't shoot.

I can't see any reason that I would be intimidating. I'm 5'8" and 170 pounds. The two friends I was with and I are all active military, so fairly clean cut and well dressed.

I saw him from the corner or my eye while I was shooting. He knew he was sharking my brass, because he would stand up straight any time I was not shooting. He was also cupping brass into his hand so that I couldn't see it. Like a child caught with something they shouldn't have.

I don't remember the words that passed between us, but they were fairly pleasant. I got done with the magazine I was shooting and then went and started to pick mine up. Then he handed me the brass he was holding and left.

I have had many people ask me for brass over the years, and usually I let them have it. I only recently decided to start reloading my own, mostly because I am sick of the ridiculously high prices and even more ridiculous lack of availability.

The biggest problem I have collecting is the distance that my guns throw brass. My Glock 21 throws about ten feet right and five or six back. My SIG 556 throws them sometimes close to 20 feet right and ten forward. I was taking pictures and a few video clips at the range and you can see the brass zinging past the camera. I got a few in the air, too.

Out of the 200 .223/5.56 rounds I fired, I managed to collect 160 cases. 74 out of 100 .45, and 64 out of I don't know 9mm. I did pick up a handful more of 12 gauge cases than we shot. Again, there was no one there when we got there, so I'm not even remotely implying that I was trying to scavenge them from anyone without asking. I also ended up with 15 .40's. I also ended up with 10 .38 supers, though those were technically nickel? (I wasn't the only one picking up, though I know I only picked up .223, .45, and 9mm. One of the three of us hadn't even handled a firearm in five years. I hereby forgive him.)
 
I only collect after someone has left at a public range. I've also been handed 357 and 38 spl brass, and thanked the shooter profusely. If I see someone chucking brass my way, I generally police it up and hand it to them. That does two things, I introduce myself to them and sometimes they state they don't want the brass so now I know.
 
I don't take other people's brass, except when it hits me on the head. Then I figure I own it.

You'll know the economy has really hit bottom when some loon is up on the berm digging out the lead. I remember hearing a story about certain poor untouchables in India who will run out to grab the inert projectiles at the military artillery range. They get killed frequently, but don't care.
 
...when the guy pretended to not hear me that just flipped the switch and I went off on him.
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Universal Frost: Uhhh...you were at a shooting range. Was the offender by any chance wearing hearing protection at the time? Just askin'.
 
I think I'd just start with something nice: "Hey, I'm trying to save my brass since I reload, so do you mind if you leave it there for me? Thanks."

Generally, there's no problem at the unmanned outdoor ranges. From the indoor ranges I've been at, I don't mind if some of my brass bounces over to the next lane and someone picks it up . In fact, it wasn't a big concern this past week 'cause the guy next to me was watching me trying to figure out how to hold a handgun (a newly-purchased stainless Beretta 92 in 9x19 which was quite nice).

If there's really an issue with the vultures, just stand there waiting for them to resume their business before you start shooting. If they're just waiting for you to shoot to grab your brass, just make them wait even longer.
 
As a long-time reloader, I guess I've gotten used to 'em. When they come into my area, I look them in the eye with a smile on my face and say "Sorry - but I reload, so these aren't available!" I have NEVER had someone ignore it, and have actually had a few come back and dump 45/380/40 brass at my station because they noticed I was shooting same, and they were collecting a different caliber.
Then again, I spread a large (12 x 12 or so) tarp out when at the range - takes NO time to grab 90% of the brass, ID's "my" area, and also helps me to spot the "fringe" brass.
 
I don't reload, so If they wanna pick up my brass me my guest...If I did reload, however, that may seem a bit rude IMHO. I would just tell them that "That's my brass and I am going to use it again; please leave it where you found it. Thanks."
 
I've been lucky so far, at my range, my brass-related "social encounters" have been like this;

another shooter in another stall shooting the same caliber as me, I.E. a .45 caliber semiauto) Me; "ahh, the fun of a semiauto, you get to put lead downrange, and have a scavenger hunt afterwards <picking up brass> here, I think these are yours, they look new and shiny (my reloads generally have dingy brass, shiny brass doesn't shoot any better than aged brass)

50% of the time, the other shooter thanks me for policing his brass, the other 50% he says I can take it as he doesn't reload, if he doesn't reload, we invariably have a short chat about it, many shooters at my range are starting to get curious about reloading

another encounter that's slightly different; If the shooter in the other stall sees that I'm shooting reloads, many times they'll offer me their brass, even if it's a caliber I don't shoot, in those situations, I reccomend they look into reloading themselves, I usually decline their offer of brass in a caliber I don't shoot, but thank them for their offer

I figure that I've done my share of brass donations to other shooters before I got into reloading, back when I had my 9mm, I was always offering my once-fired brass to fellow reloaders, and when I shot trap, I always offered the empty hulls to my co-shooters

thankfully, my range has no Brass Vultures that I know of....
 
Target of opportunity.

I would have tried to bounce my ejected brass off his forehead.
 
Tim might in a couple days ,will see. Not great with the pictures posting . Got slapped around for posting to large a picture here once.
 
I wouldn't have gone off like a drill sergeant but I most certainly would have stopped the pilfering. It's amazing how low some can stoop.
 
yeah had a guy picking up my 5.7 brass one time and I politely told him i reload and that was my brass. he pretended not to hear. I then walked up to him got in his face and switch back into drill sergeant mode.

he gave me my brass back. Also, i am a regular at that range and he was not. He was asked to leave after the RO came up to see what the yelling was about (all on my side as the guy was a bit taken back by a dude with a crew cut and a SOCEUR shirt one (nice graphics of our crest and the beret on it with a skull) getting nose to nose and screaming to drop the f'ing brass and keep his hands off my brass.
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Being a shouty guy wearing a crew cut and a shirt with an emblem on it worked out for you okay that day. In the long run, I expect being more level headed will work out better for you. I also expect it was entirely your shouting that won the day for you, BTW. Crewcuts are a very popular hairstyle among men of all ages and professions right now. He probably didn't even look at your shirt, much less get intimidated by its mighty graphics.
 
The range that I frequent actually has a rule stating you can't pick up any brass, unless you lay a sheet or a tarp down. I believe they use the proceeds to help maintain the range. I am fine with the policy but think that if you have a yearly membership you should be able to police your own brass, tarp or no tarp.

As for vultures they tend to be non-existent due to the rules.
 
I always ask. Last time I was out, there was a guy with an AR at the table next to me with an ejector that seemed to be aimed at my forehead and my fiance's cleavage the entire time. I made some joke about it, and asked if he was collecting his brass, he laughed and said to keep it, least he could do and maybe I wouldn't sue him for getting my burns treated. ;) Later we got to talking again and he let me put a couple rounds through his rifle so I could see how the ACOG glass he had on it worked, which is the first time I've played with one of those. :)
 
Universal Frost: Uhhh...you were at a shooting range. Was the offender by any chance wearing hearing protection at the time? Just askin'.
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yeah he was wearing his muff on the top of his head. so unless his ears were about 5 inches high and way forward I doubt he didn't hear me. anyway, only flipped because of previous run in's with him.

Being a shouty guy wearing a crew cut and a shirt with an emblem on it worked out for you okay that day. In the long run, I expect being more level headed will work out better for you. I also expect it was entirely your shouting that won the day for you, BTW. Crewcuts are a very popular hairstyle among men of all ages and professions right now. He probably didn't even look at your shirt, much less get intimidated by its mighty graphics.
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not all guys wear high and tight skin on the sides hair cuts, plus we were on post (ft. huachuca) and this guy was a civilian using the range (folks from off post can use the combined 100 meter range on the weekends since the public range is about a 20 minute drive from town. he knew who i was. I normally am level headed,but folks like that piss me off. that is when my drill sergeant mode kicks back in (too bad I wasn't wearing my hat, I loved it where the brim would hit the kids heads and that would just make them freeze).

anyway, not normal to yell at a guy and I would not do it again (unless that guy showed up)
 
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noskilz said:
Too funny.
Did he look like one of these guys?
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Rule of Aquisition number 45: If the brass hits the ground its fair game.


The range I used to go to had rules that stated you couldnt be within 5 feet of anyone firing a weapon, they would have nabbed this guy if he was crawling around on his hands an knees next to you tring to get your spent brass.
 
Somebody takes your brass, keep an eye on all your stuff. Somebody willing to take what doesn't belong to him might be tempted by your gun or that bag behind you.

As a side-story, I was at the range (pre-panic), and decided to sweep up the handgun brass and dump it in the bucket - it was a tripping hazard. Saw a bunch of live rounds on the ground, and figured out that the shooter was racking his slide each time (didn't know any better).
 
` Someone gets in my face yelling/wanting to tap me in face with his hat. That really won't get me on on my good side. It sure won't get my respect. You might even get me scared of you and your buddies. Thats not the best thing in the world for any of us.
What would be even worse (for you) is if they have a camera with decent detail on fireing line... You got to be able to control your anger esp when holding firearms...

Yrs ago I got so dang much brass I could have started selling it. The indoor range I used to go to got empty fairly early. Often I was last shooter. So I helped with clean up, RO said I could grab any brass/etc I wanted. (also got lots of factory cardboard boxes with partisions) I manly took once fired brass.

Whats fun is to shoot some blazer alum when there is a brass rat. "You can have the grey ones I want my brass" Most folks are easy to work with if you start off polite. I often give my .40S&W brass and get a caliber I reload.
 
I've only had this happen twice.

Two different individuals -- two different occasions.


Both while I was shooting and less than two feet away from me.


The first time -- I did not have to get loud -- brass was returned and he stayed away.

The second time -- the guy was on the ground reaching between my legs...

I backed up and stepped on his hand (maybe on purpose).


He yelled.

I yelled.

RO came over.

He yelled at the RO.

RO realized what he was doing and kicked him out after two minutes of bickering.


Now I just try to only shoot during off peak times.
 
A while ago I took my Swede Mauser out for some exercise, and happened to set up next to a guy who was also shooting a Swede. After a few rounds, he noticed that I wasn't picking up my brass and asked if he could have it. After I pointed out that it was milsurp and Berdan primed, he didn't seem all that interested any more :)
 
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