Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Range brass

A few weeks ago I watched two guys load up two and three 30-round mags for their AR-15 rifles and then empty them as fast as they could. These same guys shot hundreds of rounds of .380 ACP, .40S&W and other ammo. At the end of the day I picked up about 1000 Lake CIty once fired cases plus a lot of pistol brass. Last weekend I didn't see these guys but I suspect they had been to the range before me Daughter #1 and I picked up over 1000 once-fired cases, about 370 Lake City 5.56, about 85 nickel-plated .223 and the rest brass .223, mostly Hornady and FC. We also picked up about 120 .50AE cases, 2/3 of which were nickel-plated. I have no use for the .50 stuff but it will polish up nicely and make good trade bait. There was also a lot of new .380 brass laying around but I already have a couple lifetime supplies. Earlier in the year I picked up about 1500 Lake City cases.

One reason I don't shoot a lot of semi-autos is I hate chasing brass. Sure don't mind picking up once fired stuff and loading it, though. If purchased new, the Lake City .556 and .223 brass I salvaged in the last few trips to the range (about 3,500 cases) would have cost about $762 at today's midwayusa prices.

I love golf, not because I play it (I don't) but because it keeps people off my range. I love guys that leave new brass at the range, too. Now if these two guys would just buy AR-10 rifles so I can pick up their .308W cases...

I think they both need an M-1 Garand as well.

I love range brass

If you a guy leaving 38 super, best to do the same....

The main problem with going to a public range is that there are too many idiots like this. Usually not very safe. The closest public range to me has way to many like that. I will not go there anymore.

The second closest range to me has an old man that comes every evening to pick up brass to sell at the recycler. Got into a small argument with him one evening when he started picking up my .45 brass before I was done shooting. He thinks that if it hits the ground that he is entitled to it because one of the game wardens in the area told him it was fine for him to keep whatever he picked up.


Dave.

I used to go to a public range on a nearby WMA. Several times while I was there, this crew of guys from MD, I think, rolled in, set up a bunch of jugs of water, clay birds, and other "reactive" stuff. Then they'd start tearing it up with all kinds of firepower, clean up their trash, and split. I don't think they were ever there for an hour. At least they cleaned up.

Others would come on with SKSs and rip off a bunch of rounds at mostly improvised targets as fast as they could pull the trigger. Finally, the state posted new rules limiting SA rifles to three rounds per mag. Not long after that, some genius succeeded in missing the mountain top that served as the range's backstop and put a round into a cabin somewhere down range. The range was then closed to everything but shotguns and for a short time in the Fall for sighting in.

I don't pick up range brass because I don't know where it's been. I pick up my own, of course, and when I sweep up my .22 cases I get the other stuff too and put it in the recycle can the club provides. Everything gets sold, even the steel. The club gets a good bit of money from it, I'm told.

And that is why I pray for the continued popularity of the .30-06 in general, and M1 owners that buy bulk CMP ammo and don't reload in particular.

Milsurp .30-06 is not as cheap as it used to be, and when I take one of my M1s to the range, a lotta rounds get run through it either by my self or, especially, any "Call of Duty" fans that want to try a real one.

I use to pick up a bunch of brass from folks shooting factory stuff, until I realized ... I have a lot of brass. As a general rule for myself (just myself) I'll only shoot a piece of brass 5 times total and then place it in the recycle bin. If its once fired range brass, that's counts for the first firing.

I do this for two reasons. First, I want to set a limit as to how many times I've shot a piece of brass. Again for me, its just a safety issue. Can my brass still be reloaded after 5 times? Most times yes; some Wolf brass I had for the 22-250 looked really bad after 3 firings.

The other reason is either after the first firing of factory ammunition or for virgin brass, I will full length size, trim and prep the case. The remaining reloads are neck sized only. After the forth neck size, my brass will usually need another full size shoulder set. For me, its just easier to grab the next 20 pieces of prepared brass.

If it weren't for range brass I wouldn't be shooting my 325WSM. I'm currently reloading the 30off 300WSM range brass throwaways that I picked-up. 300WSM is virtually identical to 325WSM, except the obvious neck size difference.

I've had some Winchester factory ammo 325WSM on order since January with no indication of when it will show up (it was supposed to be here in February).

I pretty much avoid the ranges around since some knot head opened up on a called cold range while I was hanging a new target. ( Yes there are a lot of good arguments for gun control out there ). But to the subject of range brass I too use to pick it up but anymore unless I see the guy actuall take it out of the box and shoot it I pass . This is based on the only head separation I ever experienced . I don't have much of a face to brag about but it's the only one I have . I also subscribe to Ha Yens 5 and done rule. Which is another point. If you found a stray piece of brass I dropped you would think it was new.

I am a little OCD about range brass. I do not pick it up to reload however. I recycle it. Last time I took (had about 2/3 of a 5 gal bucket)range brass to the scrap dealer I got about $35.00 for it.

I just received my first batch of 500 LC .308 cases from an online outfit. It wasn't free, but at $.17 per delivered, it was close and I'm pretty certain that it's really once-fired. Some, maybe 20%, have dings in the rims, but a couple file strokes takes care of that. I am going to have to invest in some spray lube, though. No way am I going to hand lube that much brass.

I pick up and recycle all the range brass I can find. I stopped reloading it a few years ago when I started getting split necks on the first load of some .223 brass that appeared to be once fired.

Winchester is still trying to make it just as fast and flat shooting as a 300 win mag and hit just as hard as the 338 win mag.... You might be waiting for a little while longer As far as picking up range brass, yes I do. I reload some of it too. The stuff that doesn't appeal to me, gets thrown in my scrap bucket. It adds up and they pay you something for it.

LOL while I like my 325 wsm in the end one be better off with a 300 WSM shooting 200gr bullets out of it especially the 200gr accubond that has BC of .588 for that bullet. MuleDeer has load data out their and has said he got over 2900 fps with the 200gr bullets. I still don't buy into the whole Winchester thing on the 338WSM I have one and can get well over 2850 with a 225gr bullet. The 225gr accubond .338 bullets have a BC of .550 if you are into that type of stuff. Me most of my shots will never be over 400yds..

You'd never give a new driver a race car, but lotsa newbies toting AR's. If someone is going to do stupid schit at a range, you can bet money he'll be shooting an AR.

the range I go to the RSO announce the range is cold and say step behind the line at this time do not touch anything on your bench while the range is cold. Then they say you may proceed to check targets once back stay behind the line. And it never fails some ass hole comes back and start tinkering with their rifle. RSO catch them tell them to stop and they get all pissed because they have to follow rules. As far as range bras I dont mess with it cause I have plenty of 223/5.56 brass

Seen a guy get ran of my local range for having this same attitude. He was looking down his nose at everyone for the gear and guns they brought. Making little bs comments about semiautomatic and so on. The range master ask him to leave. Not sure AR have anything to do with being dumb. Most gun accidents happen with pistols I'm sure there owners must all be gangster and pimps right.

As far as range brass in less you know for a fact that it's new, its recycle, Most guys will only leave something of no value to them. If it's truly once fired stated from the guy firing its mouth (and you trust him?) then reloading is fine. How ever brass with no known history could be on its last leg when you find it.
It can look new, shine and cheep and been fire ten plus times.

As an RSO, when I call "range is cold" that means all firearms are off the benches and can not be handled on the storage bench behind the line. All gun handling under a cold range is at the owner's vehicle. And I STAY on the line, my job.-Muddy

I loaded up some 7-08 brass that was pretty much on its last leg loose primer pockets I shot it and I left the brass on the range bench. I knew the old fella who collects the brass was making his rounds probably ended up at the next gunshow being sold for who knows how much LOL ....

Just step on worn out cases to prevent that.

If I leave brass its for the grounds keeper who is a volunteers and recycling is his form of payment per say. Great old retired guy that lives near buy. I also know he would never sell it as usable brass and that it goes to the melting pot once in his possession.

I call em like I see em.......

Open your eyes then. My 60 year old dad hunts with an AR. It's a great platform and has nothing to do with stupid, people manage that all on their own.

Starting to think you need a few AR's. Might up your cool factor.

Let me guess you really like Jim Zumbo.

+1

I did score some once fired 300 weatherby brass close 60 pieces I was like holy [bleep] someone with more money than sense was here today. It was once fired weatherby brass too.
On a side note its not the guys with AR's that bother me its the folks with pistols... Majority of AR shooters a good guys. If I see them struggling with them I offer up advice to them.

Some of the dumbest things I've seen at the range were done by guys with bolt action rifles. In on case a cease fire had been called and guys were walking down range. One guy stayed behind with his daughter and was fiddling with hist rifle, which was in a rest and pointed down range. When I called his attention to the fact that firearms could not be handled during a cease fire, he took the .308 Win round in his hand and put it in the open action. He then started to close the bolt until I got him to stop.


A couple weeks ago I was at the range and another guy was fiddling with his rifle during a ceasefire. When I called his attention to it he removed the bolt and said "It's OK now, the bolt is out", then started messing with the rifle again, in the rest and pointed down range. He had to be told again that range rules prohibit handling firearms during a ceasefire. Some guys are just slow between the ears.

I've seen a lot of idiots at my clubs range in the past. We now have RSO's and members with guests can only shoot there. It filters out a whole lot of stupid. Now we shut the big steel gate when we shoot to keep the stupid out...

I don't remember commenting on the platform. Do you have the matching fingerless gloves and 511 gear too?

Get some!

You'd never give a new driver a race car, but lotsa newbies toting AR's. If someone is going to do stupid schit at a range, you can bet money he'll be shooting an AR.




I must have missed your intention with the race car, AR comment and the AR shooters being stupid or doing stupid schit.

You are a Jim Zumbo fan no. Lol

Would a pair of gloves not look funny if they did not match? Let me guess you wear the Michael Jackson one white jewel crested glove to the range. TFF. GOT SOME

No, I don't have fingerless gloves or 511 gear. Didn't even know even know what 511 gear was until I googled it. I do have a baseball cap and sometimes I turn it around backwards when shooting as having the scope hit it is pretty annoying.

He's talking to me we are just to lazy to click reply at the end of the person we are responding to post

They say taking it in the ass isn't bad, but I'll take your word for it.

511 makes nice well put together gear. You would think ear plugs and lip rings would piss old guys off but there grandkids all have them so they have to bit the tongue. And bittcchh about 511 and AR PLATFORM rifles. Wonder if some day I will be sitting at the range with my AR pissed off about those darn kids and their laser rifles.

you are a modern day Red Skeleton. Go get your white glove out of the garbage can and man up and admit AR's are nice weapon systems and your generalization was I touch out of line.

Not sure who your hanging out with that says this but it kinda confirms the white glove theory I had. buy an AR you will love it bolt action accurate and lighting fast follow up shots.

That's a good discount on the cost of some virgin brass. Not to change the subject too too much, but I sold some 300WSM and 338WM brass I had lying around for years to folks on the Fire. My cousin got drawn for Bull Elk and now I'm having to buy some new brass.

The kids with the lips rings listen the first time. You gotta really watch the preppers though. I'd did have one tell me that government was taking everything and I'd better stock up for when the schit hits the fan. He didn't like that I was just going to take his schit if it "gets bad"...

Now that's funny..........

Two best hauls of range brass I've had were some 25-06 factory stuff a guy and his father were shooting at a station near me. They had about 6 boxes and were both shooting their rifles.
When they finished, I asked if they reloaded and was told no, I could have them. 150 1x fired cases went home with me that day. They're now on their 5th and final, reload.

The second one was at a trap/skeet/SC club I frequented in Indiana. My neighbor and I pulled up just as the local youth club was finishing up.
As they were walking off I noticed all of these pretty green hulls lying there. Same as the first one, they didn't reload and I was welcome to them. I made a 'deal' with him there in then that for every 500 of those hulls he would have his kids pick up, I'd give his youth group $20. The deal was made and each time I went out there I was given a bag full of Remington STS 12 gauge hulls. Mixed in were some Remington 20 hulls as well.

Now, I'll pick up some brass and leave others. If I know a friend shoots a particular caliber, I'll pick some of that stuff up for them. Otherwise, I just sweep it up and put it in the brass box for the range.

You should have just sold it on the fire

$90 to $100 a thousand for .223

I guess we know what's on your mind...

I agree that can be a problem. There are times though, when the boxes in the trash bins match the shiny brass on the ground. Last trip I picked up a lot of .50AE, and some .270 Win, another time a bunch of .375 H&H. Don't own any of them, but maybe someday...

In any case, every piece I keep gets a cursory inspection, tumbled clean, then a more thorough inspection when I pop the primers and resize, including a feeler gauge inspection for impending case-head separation.

As to the number of times I reload a particular piece of brass, it depends on the cartridge, loads and rifle. I had a Rem M700 in .308 Win that did was very hard on full-length resized brass - as few as 3 firings and case-head separations occurred. Sold the rifle, even though it was a tack driver.

My 7mm RM used to have problems after 4-5 firings. After I decreased the powder charge things were OK. There is something in the chamber that leaves tiny scratch marks on the extracted cases, making it possible to count the number of times a case has been chambered. Since changing the load I have gone as high as 18 firings per case, although I generally scrap the cases before then.

I know one guy that was claimed to be getting close to 50 firings from his .45-70 brass. Too many for me, but I'm past 10 on some of my brass.

I can believe 50 because the 45-70 is a straight walled case. Not saying its right or wrong. I've met pistol re-loader's who get 50 reloads out of their 45ACP and 9MM.