The Problem of collecting Your Brass at Indoor Ranges

[ArchAngelCD]

When I took my CCW course I shot at a different range and the range staff, who wasn't involved in the class, paced behind all of us shooters and swept the brass forward I made it clear to him that I was trying to pick up my brass but had to wait for the instructor to finish talking and he kept on sweeping.

I'm not a "tough guy" but he and I would have had a problem. It's one thing to sweep up brass that is left at the range but it's a whole nother thing to sweep up my brass especially after he was told not to.

 

[Beancounter81]

I do a combination of things.

First, I sweep all the existing brass as far forward of the line as possible before I start shooting.
Second, I stand one to two steps back from the line. As others have mentioned, this keeps most of the brass from bouncing forward.
Third, I color the extractor groove in my brass with a red Sharpie and tell the guys on either side that if they see brass with a red ring, it's mine - people are pretty good about giving me my brass back if I ask.
Fourth, once I'm done, I sweep anything with a red ring that has fallen forward of the line back toward me if I can reach it with the broom.

I average 95% recovery with 9 mm & .45 ACP and about 90% with .40 S&W. I'm not the only person at my indoor range who reloads so only 3/4 of the people look at me funny. Actually, when I mention the red ring to people, they usually start asking questions about reloading.

 

[rondog]

One of the big reasons I avoid indoor ranges.

 

[627PCFan]

I took a coworker to my local indoor range and let him shoot my 336 .35 Rem. First thing he does it kick the handle open like hes friggin John Wayne in a shoot out and one piece my brass flys 5 feet in front and 2 lanes down. That didnt happen a second time...I cant afford to wait for Winchester to do their yearly run on brass in .35. Dont ask my why Remington doesnt supply it anymore:banghead:

 

[W.E.G.]

All your brasses is belong to me!

 

[T Bran]

Had a friend who was going to the range with some friends none of them reload by the way. I asked him to collect his brass and theirs various calibers from 9mm to .50 ( Desert Eagle ). In exchange I offered to instruct and then allow him to reload on my equipment his ammo for his own needs. He was enthusiastic and ready to learn. When the shooters started to police their brass the range employee stopped them and told them it was not allowed!When he told me this I told him to find a new range. How they get away with this I dont know but ill never spend a penny in that place.
Luckily I belong to a conservation club that has its own outdoor range. I will still hold up my end of the bargain when he comes up with some brass to reload since we need to introduce new people to the shooting sports and in my oppinion this includes rollin your own.
P.S. sorry for the rant.
T

 

[gacajun]

I do the same as most people with one variation. When I first get to the lane I sweep all the brass in my lane forward a bit but just BEHIND the firing line and over to one side. When I am finished shooting I then sweep up my lane and put my shot brass in with the batch I first swept up. That way I have the brass that I shot (that I could recover) and the brass originally there when I arrived. A lot of times there will be people shooting before you who have new factory ammo and don't reload. If I have brass that I don't reload I save it for friends at work who do.

 

[oneounceload]

The 2 times I have shot at an indoor range, I used a broom to collect my brass that fell forward

 

[Twmaster]

I shoot a CZ52 and it spits brass 30 feet down the aisle!

I sweep up around me before shooting, put all that brass in my range bag, sweep up while shooting if I have a lot of brass on the ground, then I sweep up as far down the aisle as I can.

I now have all the brass I use in huge quantities. All except for that Tokarev ammo...

Thankfully the range operators do not care if I collect all the brass I can while there.