Went to the range the other day to practice offhand shooting (and do I need the practice! ) When I was at the 100yd benches, apparently, the dude before me was sighting in the ol' 30-06. Thirty empties of R-P brass and an empty green and yellow box on the ground. Obviously, not a reloader.
Do you pick up brass?
Posts: 3113 | Location: Southern US | Registered: 21 July 2002
quote:Originally posted by Duckear: Went to the range the other day to practice offhand shooting (and do I need the practice! ) When I was at the 100yd benches, apparently, the dude before me was sighting in the ol' 30-06. Thirty empties of R-P brass and an empty green and yellow box on the ground. Obviously, not a reloader.
Do you pick up brass?
Amen..I pick up brass for my currant and future rifle battery..sakofan..
Posts: 1379 | Location: North Carolina | Registered: 11 March 2003
Left it on the ground? What a slob! The range I shoot at is private, and is supplied with garbage cans - I make a trip past them and through them whenever I'm at the range. Put in other terms - I'm a proud dumpster diver. (only for brass mind you)
Posts: 309 | Location: Pennsylvania | Registered: 31 December 2002
quote:Originally posted by T/C nimrod: Left it on the ground? What a slob! )
We have quite a few of them at our "club". But for $40 a year, oh well.
I remember at an indoor range in GA, they discouraged you from picking up your own brass, but guess what they sold in zip-lock bags?? once fired brass, mixed headstamp.
Posts: 3113 | Location: Southern US | Registered: 21 July 2002
With the exception of 45 acp and 357 mag I seldom find brass in the calibers that I reload for. So far this year I've picked 4 or 500 45 acp, 50 or 60 375 H&H cases, 20 270 Winchester, 100 30-06 cases. I reload for none of the rifle cases but I may reload for them one of these days. Jim
Posts: 6173 | Location: Richmond, Virginia | Registered: 17 September 2000
Hey if you are a reloader and the brass is good, you bet.
A friend thought I was a nut looking in garbage cans when I visited his range. However, when I found 3 boxes of Once fired 7 mag cases in one trash can, and he did not have to order any, he changed his mind real quick.
quote:With the exception of 45 acp and 357 mag I seldom find brass in the calibers that I reload for.
Sounds like a perfect excuse to buy more guns. I pick up everything that is reloadable. Never know what I'm going to own, or when friends might run a little short. Maybe if I learn to bag it I could make some money.........naaaa, could never charge a friend for something I got free.
Posts: 309 | Location: Pennsylvania | Registered: 31 December 2002
There lots on once fired brass laying around I pick it up any time I can get it. even if i is in calibers I do not own I can always trade it or gives me a excuse to buy another gun.
Posts: 19752 | Location: wis | Registered: 21 April 2001
I shoot at a rock pit on state land that has been designated for shooting, I always look for fired brass thats usefull to me but never find any. Theres a couple of guys that pick up brass in the pit on a regular basis and must be getting all the good stuff. You would never belive how much spent brass and garbage gets left in this pit. Most of the brass has Berdan primers or is rimfire. Jamie
Posts: 109 | Location: Washington | Registered: 18 December 2002
You guys must belong to clubs with total slobs. Even if it's not something I load for, or if it's brass that isn't reloadable, I pick it up. If it's berdan primed, it goes in a bucket, eventually I'll sell it to a scrap dealer.
Posts: 546 | Location: Oklahoma City, OK | Registered: 29 November 2002
With all the military surplus stuff coming in, I find thousands of Berdan cases that are pretty useless. At the 500 yard range I pick up 300 or so, 7.62, every week end and toss them into the can, so I can see my 7.62 brass easier. It's too bad the range does not recycle this brass for additional funds into the clubs coffers. I'm on the look out for 375 H&H brass to use for a future rifle, so far I've found a bunch. Jim
Posts: 6173 | Location: Richmond, Virginia | Registered: 17 September 2000
at the local indoor range the rule is if its on the floor its fair game if its in the bucket its the ranges brass
so you can pick up all the brass you want till someone sweeps up (your supposed to sweep up your own brass)
the range master once swept out a cubby hole used to store a ladder and told me that I could go through the brass if I cleaned it up afterwards. got about 150 peices of .45 auto that way
Posts: 201 | Location: NJ, USA | Registered: 22 August 2003
I only pick up my own. You have no idea what kind of chamber (long, short, out of round, large diameter etc.) brass from other rifles have been fired in, how much they stretched when fired or how many times they have been fired. I would never reload with somebody elses brass, its kind of like used condoms, if I can�t afford brand new ones I leave it well alone.....
quote:Originally posted by Duckear: Do you pick up brass?
Always the scrounge; my retirement disability will be "reloader's back". I am a little picky about what I reload v.s. what I keep for the collection though.
Tom
Posts: 14755 | Location: Moreno Valley CA USA | Registered: 20 November 2000
Occasionally I'll find brass and the box it came from so if it was new I'll keep it; otherwise no. You're apt to find a lot of military brass left at the range. With some calibers, like the .303SMLE, you're only going to get about 3 reloadings before it separates. You're best to leave it lay. Military brass isn't usually made to be reloaded so great care doesn't go into its manufacture. Much commercial brass is outsourced by the major firms to smaller companies and the quality control is often lacking in today's brass. Often we don't have a clue who the real manufacturer is. If you're going to use range discards be very careful what you keep. Best wishes.
Brass is cheap compared to your rifle, eyes, hands, or life. You may save a few hundred dollars over a long shooting/reloading career. This sum will pale in comparison to a bill for a visit to your local ER for even a minor injury. How many times can you tempt fate? Maybe your whole life, maybe just two more times. I don't know.
muck
[ 09-09-2003, 05:31: Message edited by: muck ]
Posts: 1052 | Location: Southern OHIO USA | Registered: 17 November 2001
Most of you guys that don't pick up brass think nothing of using your own 10 12 times. most brass picked up is once fired from non reloaders. Any good reloader can tell good used brass from bad we do all the time with are own deciding if it has one more load in it. If it looks good use it if it is bad throw in the scrap bucket.
Posts: 19752 | Location: wis | Registered: 21 April 2001
Mais, Oui!! you'd be a fool not to, since the case is by far the most expensive component of standard (NOT PREMIUM!!) ammo! I pick it up even if I'm not currently loading a particular round. You never know when you or a buddy will need to start loading that cartridge!
It never ceases to amaze me what some folks throw away! I picked up 40 once-fired .300 Dakota cases and 10 .300 Weatherbys the other day! Complete with plastic boxes!
ELD - Amen! I've got THOUSANDS of rounds of brass I've picked up for guns I've never owned and never will. But I figure someday I'll find someone who will give it a good home or I can trade it for something I want.
I went to the range last week and thought I'd found the motherlode of 45 brass, but on closer inspection it was 10mm. Did I pick it up?
Does a duck have webbed feet?
Only thing I don't pick up are steel and aluminum cases.
Posts: 19677 | Location: New Mexico | Registered: 23 May 2002
Have done for years. With proper inspection, cleaning, inspection (yes, again) and loading, it is as perfectly safe as it can be. You can tell the difference between once-fired and reloaded. I've even had shooters dump their brass in my bucket as they left the range! Not often enough though! Like another poster, I have to carry knee pads or pick them all bent from the waist...
Posts: 2324 | Location: Staunton, VA | Registered: 05 September 2002
quote:Originally posted by Cal Sibley: Military brass isn't usually made to be reloaded so great care doesn't go into its manufacture.
Oh, yes. I don't use it at all nowadays. I had too many separations after making 6x45mm out of used 5.65x45mm military cases. It's crap for the most part.
[ 09-10-2003, 20:55: Message edited by: TomP ]
Posts: 14755 | Location: Moreno Valley CA USA | Registered: 20 November 2000
Of course I do. I don't know why anyone would buy .30-30, .30-06, or .223 brass, I pick up all I ever want. The map pockets on my old GMC is clear full of cases now.
Posts: 2788 | Location: gallatin, mo usa | Registered: 10 March 2001
Nope I do pick up brass other than to clean up the range. I know some guys do, I don't. Its more of a personal thing. I like to control my loads from start to when I despose of the case. To do this, I buy new cases when needed. The Cases will belong to one rifle and one set of dies. Right now I am working with a 300 WSM. I had it reworked and rebarreled, since the original barrel was not properly chambered. The existing brass I have, I will not reload, since that chamber was not correct. Since I sure that are other 300 WSM with the same problem, it stands to reason that any of the brass I may pick up will have been fired in a poorly chambered rifle. I can buy brass for the 300 WSM that is reasonable, and avoid problems like head sepration. My eyes hands and life is worth more than the few pennys for some brass that I could pick up.
Posts: 1070 | Location: East Haddam, CT | Registered: 16 July 2000
I not only pick up centerfire brass I pick up .22 and .17 rimfire cases. It's something to do while my barrel cools and it all sells as scrap. I don't reload for my 9mm or my .40 but sure pick it up to scrap as well as all my mill surp .308. I love the guys who leave me little piles of 5.56 lake city brass. Keeps my AR fed. I have a 5 gallon plastic bucket right beside my tumbler. All brass I don't reload goes in there to sell to the scrap yard.
One: I hate you arty for having your own range. So when can I come over? I'll bring quality beer. Two: I pick up brass in my calibers, especially .45ACP-- it's so hard to find hidden amongst the 9mm cases. I pick up any .223 and trash the Berdan junk after I verify every case I pick up. Any .30-06 goes into the rangebag; the junk gets trashed later. I pick up +P .38Spcl cases and any boxer .357 case.
Posts: 2758 | Location: Fernley, NV-- the center of the shootin', four-wheelin', ATVin' and dirt-bikin' universe | Registered: 28 May 2003
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Like another poster, I have to carry knee pads or pick them all bent from the waist... 
