What is it like looking for certain pistol brass on the ground at a busy range? Let me tell ya...

jmorris said:
Backwoods T.R.A.P.S. closed in April 16th 2006, sold to a developer, there was shot scattered all over and they wanted to remove and HAZMAT the top 4 feet of dirt so it sat for years. I suspect money exchanged hands, maybe vacations or some such too but yeah, that didn't happen.
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That's the one. I was going out there just prior to their closing... they were still pouring yards and yards of concrete out there... and... then it closed. Knock me over with a feather. There is no doubt there was lead contamination out there... but money fixes everything... one way or another. My guess is they just folded that top layer over and regraded it...
 
I use a 9'x12' drop cloth beside me when I shoot. Catches most everything from auto-loader to lever action cases. At the end of the day I pick up the corners and let the brass gather in the middle where I can scoop it up or I roll it to the edge and pour it in a bucket. I sort it when I get know and know it's all mine to begin with.
 
tightgroup tiger said:
One thing I need to do is start carrying a zip lock bag to put the brass in so I don't have to handle it about three times to get it out of my range bag. That bag of mine is getting disgustingly dirty inside.
With a zip lock bag I only have to pick it up off the floor, and put it in the bag, then I can dump directly into the ultrasonic for a bath. I'll need to buy a new range bag though.
I'll bet the lead poisoning is at monumental proportions in there.
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Some range bags come with an internal bag for holding brass. Like this 5.11 bag:
www.511tactical.com

Range Ready™ Bag 43L

Range Ready™ Bag 43L
www.511tactical.com www.511tactical.com
 
mstreddy said:
For 9MM, at the above mentioned range, they will let me sweep up whatever brass I want to. Very few folks that shoot there reload, so picking up 9MM is easy.
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My range sells their brass to a local recycler. And while they are not on any bodies back about it and don't have signs about it, they prefer to keep any discarded brass that is not picked up by the shooter.
 
Charlie98 said:
That's the one. I was going out there just prior to their closing... they were still pouring yards and yards of concrete out there... and... then it closed. Knock me over with a feather. There is no doubt there was lead contamination out there... but money fixes everything... one way or another. My guess is they just folded that top layer over and regraded it...
Click to expand...
The other one on the East side was Collin County gun range. I miss it more because I had lifetime free shooing there but Phill wasn't good at dotting i's and crossing t's. He was also involved in the Red Zone Ranch off of 121 in Anna and the gravel they laid down wasn't even compacted before it closed.
 
jmorris said:
The other one on the East side was Collin County gun range. I miss it more because I had lifetime free shooing there but Phill wasn't good at dotting i's and crossing t's. He was also involved in the Red Zone Ranch off of 121 in Anna and the gravel they laid down wasn't even compacted before it closed.
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That's the other one. After Traps closed, I would go there... but it wasn't in very good shape to start. I'm kind of surprised they haven't done something with that, yet, given it's location.

I finally went and got a membership at Legends... just so I would have a place to keep proficient with my carry piece. The new range in McKinney is a little too foofy for me, sort of like Frisco, and Eagle is too far to drive.
 
AK Hunter said:
No even the anvils on all the rifle & pistol primers are brass. It's harder brass but it is still brass. Shotshell primers have a steel case but I think we were talking about pistol brass.
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Y'all got me curios so I dumped out a handful and ran a very strong rare earth magnet over them. It very lightly picked up a few. A weaker magnet does not pick up any.
 
Charlie98 said:
That's the other one. After Traps closed, I would go there... but it wasn't in very good shape to start. I'm kind of surprised they haven't done something with that, yet, given it's location.

I finally went and got a membership at Legends... just so I would have a place to keep proficient with my carry piece. The new range in McKinney is a little too foofy for me, sort of like Frisco, and Eagle is too far to drive.
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If you are just playing with pistol calibers, this one is down 121 east of 75.

Gun Range | Mission 160 | North Texas, near Mckinney

Mission 160 is a private outdoor gun range located just 20 minutes from McKinney, TX. We are currently accepting a limited number of new members.
mission160.com mission160.com
 
jmorris said:
If you are just playing with pistol calibers, this one is down 121 east of 75.

Gun Range | Mission 160 | North Texas, near Mckinney

Mission 160 is a private outdoor gun range located just 20 minutes from McKinney, TX. We are currently accepting a limited number of new members.
mission160.com mission160.com
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I've seen his wrapped truck out and about... interesting. Whitewright is a little far to just pop in and run a box or 2 through the carry piece, but I'm enthused that there is a good outdoor range closer by. There used to be another 'private' range near there... a little ways down 78... but that went sideways pretty quickly. I shot my Appleseed there some years ago.
 
lightman said:
Y'all got me curios so I dumped out a handful and ran a very strong rare earth magnet over them. It very lightly picked up a few. A weaker magnet does not pick up any.
Click to expand...
What are "them"?

I'm curious if this is a particular type or brand of primer. I've been saving mine with the intention of recycling
 
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These were a mix of large and small rifle and pistol primers from a huge mix of range brass. No shotshell primers were in the mix. This magnet is strong enough to pinch a blood blister on my hand if I get between it and a metal surface. Some, not all, of the primers were barely attracted to it. A weaker magnet did't pick up any of them.
 
Charlie98 said:
Everything is BIGGER here in TEXAS!!! ...except places to shoot. The 2 very good outdoor ranges near me closed years ago... one is now a big apartment complex, which has me wondering how they handled the toxic dirt left behind by the ranges... and the other is just sitting there, falling down. As you say, everything else is private property, or belongs to the CoE, the state Wildlife/Wetlands, DofNR, is an easement of some sort, or is otherwise inaccessible for one reason or another. If I want to shoot often, I'm stuck with the indoor ranges, or I have to make the trip to Dallas or Garland. Woe is me...
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Do you live south of DFW? I know a few outdoor ranges south of there.
 
GeoDudeFlorida said:
Yup. At the air conditioned indoor range there’s lots of wheel guns - all in hands of greybeards and their ladies. The young folks are all shooting plastixfantastix space guns in every color of the rainbow.

I will confess to trading into - not one, or two, but three - plastic marvels last month. Two Smith M&P 4” duty .45’s and a Ruger SR45. All full size in the boxes, etc.

It appears my hypocrisy knows no bounds.🤣🤠​

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Yes, there IS grey in the beard...
2VaDJ6U.jpg
 
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Haven't decided if I'll reload .40 or not but I recently had this experience...

Fired about 150 rds of .40 at an outdoor range that sees frequent use. Lots of brass on the ground. I decided to find some of my .40.

That looks like one. Nope, 9mm. That one! Nope, 9mm. Maybe, can't tell...380...going the wrong way....ah, here we go...45 acp...oh good grief I give up.

I did manage to find 4, just 4 in about 5 minutes, and that's only because 3 of them were nickel plated.

I looked for fired but cleaned, sorted brass at the businesses that sell it. It is about $4.50 per 100. Worth it! I'd save about $4.50 / 50 if I reloaded .40. Not as much as .38, .357, or .45.
 
That's the cost of reloading. I will not sell and piece of range brass for less the five cents a round, $5 a hundred.
With straight walled cases you get alooot or use out of them. Look up the cost of new brass and if you pay that price once you shoot it it looses most of its value, UT becomes range brass.
 
Shivahasagun said:
Haven't decided if I'll reload .40 or not but I recently had this experience...

Fired about 150 rds of .40 at an outdoor range that sees frequent use. Lots of brass on the ground. I decided to find some of my .40.

That looks like one. Nope, 9mm. That one! Nope, 9mm. Maybe, can't tell...380...going the wrong way....ah, here we go...45 acp...oh good grief I give up.

I did manage to find 4, just 4 in about 5 minutes, and that's only because 3 of them were nickel plated.

I looked for fired but cleaned, sorted brass at the businesses that sell it. It is about $4.50 per 100. Worth it! I'd save about $4.50 / 50 if I reloaded .40. Not as much as .38, .357, or .45.
Click to expand...
I find lots of 40 when I’m picking up my 45 ACP brass! I’ll swap you.
 
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