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Brass catchers

3.4K views 30 replies 23 participants last post by  Gohon  
#1 ·
I hate chasing brass at the range. No, really... I HATE chasing brass.
And it always flies into places that aren't accessible, so I have to leave 20-25% behind with each trip to the range.

So I choose to shoot mainly revolvers and bolt rifles. But that's not always on the agenda....
... like when you go crazy and buy a Ruger SR1911 in 10mm.

I'm really not looking forward to losing my VERY expensive 10mm brass at each range outing.
Indoor ranges are worse than outdoor, but not by much.

Does anyone have any feedback on the available brass catchers?
Do they actually work? Are they worth the money, or the effort to tote and set up?
 
#3 ·
I use this one mounted on a tripod when shooting at home or out in the field. https://ads.midwayusa.com/product/7...Caldwell-_-771785&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIjr-ulr2V2QIV2FuGCh0eVw71EAQYASABEgJbjvD_BwE Works fine as long as there isn't a really strong wind.

This one https://ads.midwayusa.com/product/2...Caldwell-_-269873&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIjr-ulr2V2QIV2FuGCh0eVw71EAQYBCABEgKsIvD_BwE I occassionally use on the mini-14 if only shooting a dozen rounds or so and it does work once you bend and shape it right to catch the empties.

And last but not least this is one https://www.amazon.com/Graco-Models-handheld-brass-catcher/dp/B00J4VIVCK I sometimes use when shooting a pistol. Takes some trial and error to figure out just how to atatch it to your shooting hand but it does work. Yep...I hate picking up brass also.
 
#5 ·
1894 45 colt is the only one I need to aim my spent cases for. Still fun leaning over to put them where I want them. The 1895 I shoot like a bolt gun. Only revolvers for handguns.
So why no semi autos? I am too cheap and stubborn to buy factory ammo so it would drive me more crazy than I already am to chase brass. My brass catcher is my soft rifle case opened up towards me at 90 deg angle.
 
#6 ·
#11 ·
I use this one on my 10/22 cuz after shooting 2-300rounds I never want to clean up. Works great and easy to attach. Caldwel makes two versions the one that clips to a picstinny rail which is the one I have. And then the style that straps to a Forend like kingstrider posted. Still trying to figure something out for my 1911. With hot loads the brass is almost in the next state!
 
#7 ·
I got Two $12 Caldwell AR 15 brass catchers from Amazon that work well.My shooting buddy has a brass catcher he made of pvc and netting that I use for my M1A.Everything else is bolt or lever.Don’t care about my handgun brass.I don’t reload for 9mm or 45auto.
 
#12 ·
You and I, sir, have an awful lot in common. I don't reload for any auto pistol for the reasons you describe above, excepting .45 ACP, which is shot in a Ruger Blackhawk convertible, which only flings 'em in my hand one at a time when I desire it. I the last few months, I bought a Ruger Mini-14 in .300 Blackout, and I'm currently working on a method to catch the brass when shooting it. If it ejected brass just in one spot, I'd be happy, but it throws them everywhere, from the slightly to the right of the muzzle to the clear over my head to my back. If you ever find a simple and inexpensive cure, please advise us here. All ideas are welcome as far as I'm concerned.
 
#15 ·
#16 ·
The only brass catcher I've ever found that works as advertised is the one I use with an AR-15. It's just a nylon bag with a wire frame that has a Velcro strap that wraps around the rear portion of the handguard. The bag/wire frame completely covers the ejection port. There's no zipper in the bag but it's not a big deal to take it off and empty it.

With the exception of perhaps a few hundred rounds, I think I've recovered every spent case that I've ever fired out of my MT6700 since it was new.

I once tried a cheap, hard plastic snap-on brass catcher that was made for a 1911. I had no success in getting it to snap on, so I pitched it after about 10 minutes. Brass catchers that attach to handguns or one's wrist are just a distraction.

If I know I'm going to be chasing brass, I try to get to the range early on a weekday, pick a bench that's away from all the traffic and bring my broom. I'll either sweep up before I start shooting or I'll just sweep up everything and just sort it out when I get home.

I've wondered how one of these would work: Ammo Broom
 
#17 · (Edited)
#18 ·
I reload pistol for 9mm, 45acp, and 38/357. I can go to the range and shoot 100 or more of any of them at almost no cost. I get the brass I find easy and just buy some back from the man that collects the brass if I run short. I have thousands of 223 and 9mm brass and several 100 of 45 and 38. I can load several hundred of any of them in an hour or so and enjoy doing it. I would like to put a brass catcher on the AR's but can't see liking anything attached to a pistol.
 
#21 ·
I have one like pictured on page one. They're on eBay for about $12. I use it on my ARs only. My waffle top and my .357 SRC don't sling brass far ....357 and .30-30 brass is easy to see plus it doesn't look right on a wood and blue lever gun. I bought one for a friend for Christmas and I need to pick up a couple more. Wonder if I can rig one to my AK? Never tried to put one on a hand gun.
 
#22 ·
I use to shoot "Action Pistol" with my 1911. The only time I wanted a brass catcher was at my local club's annual big shoot. The issue I had with them was they would not allow you to pick up your brass. The RO's got it as payment for their day's duties. "We" later fixed that by shooting cheap steel case ammo at the match.

But, I would like one that is "usable" for a 1911. I've seen the plastic box type.....but how do you rack the initial round.....and even more important, how do you clear a jam when you don't have clear access to the slide.
 
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#27 ·
It isn’t a matter of not wanting to bend over and pick up my brass... although a brass magnet would be welcome.

I shoot only at public ranges, there simply isn’t the opportunity for me to shoot at private places. Outdoor means state facilities with no chronys forward of the firing line. Indoor often means cramped, dark and smoky. Either means lots of people firing on both sides, not caring if they hit me with their brass, or step on my brass, as they blast away.. and not being able retrieve brass that goes forward of the line, or bounces into another shooting lane.

You guys who get to shoot off your back porch or in your fields - you have no idea how good you have it.

It it would be ideal if my brass never hits the floor or ground, but that’s tough with semi autos.
Lots of good ideas here, thanks guys.
 
#29 ·
My gun club has covered shooting benches at all ranges. What I often do is clamp some mesh fabric I got up onto the ceiling rafters which are about 7-8ft high. I'm 6'2" so no problem reaching up to do this. I use those spring loaded clamps for woodworking. I got the fabric locally cause I wanted a mesh that I can see through to keep an eye on what's happening to my right flank. I clamp it all along the right side of me and then drape it down to the right edge of the bench and clamp it to that. It will catch 99% of my brass from just about anything I shoot, and when it hits the netting it just slides right back down to the bench, sort of like a large half funnel. Once in awhile I'll attach the bottom to a pail so it just falls into that. The only time I have lost brass with this setup is some semi auto rifles will toss an occasional round forward but even then, I can pick it up after shooting or when the range goes cold. It is another piece of gear I have to tote to the range but it only takes 5 minutes to set it up, far less time then it takes to scrounge brass afterwards. I don't use this setup if I'm shooting bolt guns or revolvers, mainly just when using semi auto's and sometimes lever guns. Often, when I shoot lever guns, I 'll just "easy eject" the empties with the gun tilted to the right a bit and let them fall on the bench.
 
#31 ·
you
would not believe how even short cut grass can swallow up brass.
Image
You got that right...I think all my brass was trained by Houdine. I had passed on buying the brass catcher in the picture below because it was advertised as made for a AR rifle. Then I watched a youtube video yesterday where the shooter was using one on a Mini-14 and even a lever action. I realized then that as long as your rifle has a scope rail this will work just fine...even better than the ones I already have. Thinking seriously about ordering one for my Mini.