Picking Up Brass

[Gary H]

I know that folks in this forum have this problem..

I've been trying to get back into semi-auto and shoot my Valtro, but the chasing down of brass on grass is enough to make me stick with the revolvers. I'm new to practicing from the holster. Meaning that I've finally escaped my local clubs firing line and it's neat cement flooring. I'm now shooting on years of spent cartridges and grass. I hate to think of my new IMI brass adorning the unappreciative dirt. I've got brightly colored marking pens to help out. I've got my wife moving at warp speed. It just doesn't make it.

I'm thinking that I could employ some old photo stands and a sheet with holes for the wind. I would like to avoid devices that attach to the gun. Have any of you come up with a creative solution? A trained "brass" dog? It would have to move faster than Amy.

 

[Zak Smith]

Here's a neat idea: http://www.southernbellebrass.com/Flyer.html

If you have the room, I suggest buying a large tarp. Like 20x30' or larger. Bring a bunch of small bricks to weigh down the corners, sides, and middle. Shoot from a position such that most of your brass stays on the tarp.

-z

 

[MoNsTeR]

The tarp trick works for me on the rare occasion I shoot outdoors. Actually I just use an old sheet.

 

[mparris71]

Same problem here. I've been thinking of getting a peice of indoor/outdoor carpet

 

[Route 66]

I, too, am a brass scrounger. At the outdoor range I shoot at the grass is kept fairly low but I still have a problem picking it all up at that. So I usually do the tarp with bricks routine although on a windy day that's a real pain in the butt.

 

[Gary H]

Zak:

That contraption almost looks buildable. Sounds like a good THR project. We (THR Genius level members..not me)probably have the expertise to come up with a plan based upon commonly available items and assembled with widely used tools.

 

[mparris71]

let me know when the plans are ready, untill then $415 will buy a heck alot of brass

 

[larryw]

I'm using a brass catcher that's kinda like a fishing net on a stand to adjust the height. I've seen them built out of PVC piping and fine screening like this: http://www.alpharubicon.com/leo/brasscatcher.htm

Either way they work great once you figure out where to put it relative to where you're shooting.

 

[TamThompson]

Yeah, if I get into reloading, I think I'll use a $20 plastic tarp and position myself on it to where it catches most brass. Not a camo tarp, either--a nice blue one that contrasts with brass. Or a painter's canvas tarp.

 

[rammy]

Hey larryw. I thank that I might try that one. in the mean time check out this brass catcher

http://www.gracomodels.com/

I do not know how well that would work, with the strap in the palm and all.

 

[Jim Watson]

I just spread out a tarp for practice; our range is not heavily used during the week and I am retired and can shoot any time.

For IDPA matches, I have just resigned myself to counting the lost brass as part of the cost of entry. Too much trouble to scrounge empties and pay attention to what is going on, too.

 

[A. Partisan]

I bought a plastic tarp (8x10)and some tent stakes, I'm fat and lazy and hated bending over to stake the tarp down. I bought 2 pieces of PVC pipe and bolted them to the 8' side of the tarp. Just unroll it when you're ready to shoot and roll it up when you're done.I don't think it will work very good hauling it in a car, but I've got a van..

 

[Paul "Fitz" Jones]

Brass retrieval

In the west in the deserts where I did a lot of shooting I would pick a pretty bare spot to stand and marked it with something. After shooting (of course counting my shots) I would use a picker upper of an old automotive antenna with a bend at the tip to stick in the casings and would walk a circle around my shooting position. I would use the sun on the other side of the brass to put a gleam on it as the brass from my 45 could be smoked and the casings pointed at me. So I had to circle to get the right angle to have the sun shine on them and I always got all of them.

I also marked a lot of my ammo with a red marking pen as that color is not natural in nature and stands out. I have seldom lost a casing and always came home with more than when I left.

John Paul