I hate Brass Rats,,,

[kimbershot]

don't really have brass rats at my indoor range. mostly clean freaks who sweep up all the brass (mine included) and dump it into a bucket. i always intercede--as i reload. always have folks offer up their empty brass (45acp) as most don't reload--not yet anyway. well, i have enough to shoot till i'm to old to shoot.

 

[G'dale Mike]

It aint just rude, it's dangerous. No one should be approaching that close to a shooter on a hot line. If someone obviously aint there to shoot, and especially is just annoying people, he should be made to leave. I would think insurance agent would hit the ceiling if they knew a basic vagrant was hanging around the firing line , moving about the shooters. And if i payed to shoot, i'd be REAL upset someone was distracting me while i'm trying to shoot.

 

[HKGuns]

I'm a brass rat, however, before I even got close to any of your brass I would ask if you reload and if it was ok to pick it up. But, I usually don't even go that far and just let it stay on the ground. The guy you ran into was a brass thief, not a brass rat.

 

[gspn]

I hate brass rats and I can not lie
You other brothers can't deny
That when a dude walks in making my brass his take
And flaunts it in your face....

I didn't want this thread to end without someone telling you...that was funny.

Now the tune is stuck in my head...

 

[gamestalker]

I know exactly what your talking about, and it irritates the living day lights out of me as well.

I recently located a nice out of the way place to shoot that I thought wasn't at all well known, at least judging by the lack of brass and target junk it seemed so. So a couple weeks ago I'm driving into the spot, and I see this SUV, but no one was in it. Once I was set up I didn't want to start shooting until I knew who was where, and then I see these two guys walking out from behind the dirt back stop. The first thing they said before even extending a greeting was, can we have your brass, and just so you know, were going to be in the area scouring for brass. Both of them went on to say that neither shoots or even owns firearms, they just collect and sell brass as recycle metal. I politely informed them that I reload, so no, you can't pick up any brass in my shooting area, as it may be mine your picking up. I went on to tell them that after I'm finished shooting, and have picked up my brass, the area is all yours. They packed up and left with little more being said.

But yes, it does kind of ruffle my feathers a bit. I'm running into more and more of this lately, and it irks me cause good brass is being sold off as scrap metal.

GS

 

[rondog]

But yes, it does kind of ruffle my feathers a bit. I'm running into more and more of this lately, and it irks me cause good brass is being sold off as scrap metal.

One way or the other, it's just like picking up money! I'd rather see people scour ranges for brass than tear the copper pipes and wiring out of new or vacant houses. Which will never stop anyway.

 

[mljdeckard]

So, according to this Rolling Stones reject, to keep your own brass, you're supposed to fire a shot, and catch the brass before it hits the floor?

I pick up my brass. I don't mind other people who pick up theirs. I roll my eyes at the guys who give themselves the benefit of every doubt for whether or not it was theirs. I don't mind the range guys taking whatever is left. If someone took mine before I could get it, I wouldn't start a fight over it. (I might tell them; "Good luck, it was cracking when I reloaded it.") But if someone who ISN'T EVEN SHOOTING thinks they can take it, that's weapons-grade BS. No-no way, Uh-uh, forget it.

(I also want to know if it was RC.

 

[Lost Sheep]

The old fart is just trying to supplement his BS social security check and he may also be on the verge of dementia. Have some pity.

Both my parents have (one had, cured now) dementia. If the dementia is so bad that it gives rise to remarks like "and you can't stop me", he may need to be living in a supervised facility.

I will leave to Eric Holder's tender mercies whether the "brass rat's" 2nd Amendment rights should be infringed. It is a small step from rude to confrontational. How far is it then to dangerous? I am not saying this guy's behavior rises to that level, but if that behavior is corroborated by others, he might need banning from the range as a hazard, or, at least, as an object lesson.

I apologize for the judgmental attitude of paragraph 2 of this post, but it is how I feel.

Kudos to the O.P. for asserting property (and range) rights in a well-modulated and appropriate (as well as well-documenting) fashion. It helps drive home the points that 1) YES! I CAN "stop you". and 2 informs the interloper that such behavior is unacceptable not only to yourself, but the range. It's a wake-up call he sorely needed.

On behalf of all range shooters everywhere, Thanks.

Lost Sheep

 

[Lost Sheep]

I know exactly what your talking about, and it irritates the living day lights out of me as well.

I recently located a nice out of the way place to shoot that I thought wasn't at all well known, at least judging by the lack of brass and target junk it seemed so. So a couple weeks ago I'm driving into the spot, and I see this SUV, but no one was in it. Once I was set up I didn't want to start shooting until I knew who was where, and then I see these two guys walking out from behind the dirt back stop. The first thing they said before even extending a greeting was, can we have your brass, and just so you know, were going to be in the area scouring for brass. Both of them went on to say that neither shoots or even owns firearms, they just collect and sell brass as recycle metal. I politely informed them that I reload, so no, you can't pick up any brass in my shooting area, as it may be mine your picking up. I went on to tell them that after I'm finished shooting, and have picked up my brass, the area is all yours. They packed up and left with little more being said.

But yes, it does kind of ruffle my feathers a bit. I'm running into more and more of this lately, and it irks me cause good brass is being sold off as scrap metal.

GS

Did you think to suggest they could make more money if they sold the re-usable brass to reloaders in the newspaper classifieds?

Just trying to turn a miserable situation a little bit for the better.

On the other hand, as I think about it. What brass were they looking for BEHIND the backstop? Looks squirrelly to me, but I cannot fathom how unless they were planning to dig up the used lead and copper. If they left the berm in good condition that might be OK.

Lost Sheep

 

[peacemaker45]

Reading the title, I was like, "What'd MIT do now?"

But yeah, that's totally unacceptable. I'll happily pick up other folks' brass, once they leave, or otherwise indicate that they don't want it. Before that, though, I'd call it theft.

 

[Willie Sutton]

There's a special word for that behaviour. It's called stealing.

I can think of several of my rifles where each piece of brass is worth $5.00 or more (think double rifle nitro-express brass). The brass is my property. Take it from under my feet and it's no different than taking a screwdriver from my range bag.

It's not impolite, or bad manners. It's a crime.


Willie

.

 

[morcey2]

it's no different than taking a screwdriver from my range bag.

.

Maybe if you weren't drinking on the range, you wouldn't have trouble catching your brass...

Yes, it's late.

 

[wolfe]

The "brass rat" in question isn't too hard up for money. I just looked that tool up and the whole package is over $60....

Incidentally I'm considering ordering one..., pretty cool tool

 

[Lex Luthier]

Clean brass gets about two bucks a pound around here. I do not approve of scavengers.

The next time I get to meet one, I might just write him up an invoice and get some money from him first.

 

[UKWildcats]

A couple of years ago at the Private Range I belong to the guy next to me was picking up 22lr brass -- Heck I was giving him mine also -- He indicitated that he was getting somewhere around $100 for a 5 gallon bucket.


The rudeness of people is ever increasing -- People make up their own rules in their head on behavior and justifly their actions as being acceptable. Makes me want to move out to the middle of nowhere to get away from these type of people.


UK

 

[x_wrench]

i am a full fledged scrounger / pack rat. and even I take offense to what he was doing. if you walk away from the brass, as in leave the premisis, then its up for grabs. but if your still on the property, it is still yours to recover. he was WAY out of line, ESPECIALLY grabbing it for someone else, or to sell.

 

[Manny]

I shoot on a private range and have never run into someone like that, but would have to work real hard to treat the situation as well as the OP as besides being extremely rude I consider his behavior to be outright thievery.

I do admire that tool he was using though and may invest in one as I figure policing your own mess is just part of being a good citizen. Besides useful tools are another addiction of mine.

 

[Dean1818]

Most of the ranges in Dallas will allow you to pick up your own brass, but they view that as a profit source, so anything left is THEIRS...... (Which I have no problem with)

There are a few that seem indifferent

There is one range that I get the most brass ( pistol) from, they dont care.

When I am low, I always go there



But, its for my own reloading use.... I dont need 50,000 cases

 

[jim243]

I have mixed feeling about this. I am a re-loader and at times a brass rat, but only if I ask the people shooting if they mind if I recover their brass and only brass that is not directly behind them.

You are correct he should not have been collecting as you were shooting it is both unsafe and inconsiderate of other peoples property.

As I see it there is two different protocols, one for indoor ranges and an other for outdoor ranges.

On an outdoor range you use to be able to find brass laying all over, not any more. Even non-reloaders keep their own brass. Many a time when I am next to new shooters I will ask first if they are reloaders and if they mind that I recover their brass, often they will collect their brass and give it to me. If your polite and show respect it will often go a long way in building your supply of rifle brass.(I don't pick up pistol brass on a outdoor range, unless it is my own.)

At a indoor range the issue gets a bit muddier since it is harder to identify who's brass is who's. And I will police my own brass after about 10 shots and often recover other's brass as well. Most of what I shoot is 45 ACP indoors so it is easy to identify that which is mine. Often I will get a good amount of 9 mm mixed in with my own brass and some 40 S&W if LEO's have been shooting before I get there. It's gotten to the point that I do not even recover my own 9 mm brass anymore, I have too much of it to even load.

As to the old gentleman that was taking your brass, I do feel sorry for him since it would appear that he was doing it to supplement his income. If he was shooting and recovering his own brass, I might say he was a reloader. But since this appears to be the only activity he was doing, I would say he was doing it to produce income. Being a softy that I am, I would have asked him to wait till I was finished shooting and that he could have all the brass that was laying on the ground.

But that's just me.
Jim

 

[scythefwd]

I've scrounged others brass at the range.. But I always ask during a target trade out if they reload. Usually its a no, and usually they hand me the stuff they already policed up.

 

[Hanzo581]

As to the old gentleman that was taking your brass, I do feel sorry for him since it would appear that he was doing it to supplement his income. If he was shooting and recovering his own brass, I might say he was a reloader. But since this appears to be the only activity he was doing, I would say he was doing it to produce income. Being a softy that I am, I would have asked him to wait till I was finished shooting and that he could have all the brass that was laying on the ground.

But that's just me.
Jim

If he is competent and able enough to swoop in and steal brass with a catcher I am sure he could find a job somewhere that pays more than that brass would net him.

 

[4thestars]

I always run a red sharpie across the head of my .45 ACP brass. No problems so far, I have had to state " the red marked brass is mine" a couple of times.
BTW I have scrounged brass for 50 years.

I use the red sharpie stripe as well. Makes it easier, especially at the indoor ranges.

 

[Arizona_Mike]

I shoot a lot and never had this happen to me. I guess I miss out on so many things in life being 6'3" and muscular. On the other hand I have the freedom to be a really nice guy.

Those Brass Brooms are great, even in sand. I used one after a training class recently and I plan to buy one.

Mike

 

[Ret.CWO]

I am a hand loader, I away's ask if the shooter is going to keep his brass. If he/she gives me permission to gather the empties I do so. If they want to keep thier own brass I sometimes help them gather it. It's only common curtisy.

 

[brickeyee]

The only brass I willingly leave is so used it would NOT be a good idea to reload it.