Brass catching

[Gus]

Anyone built or purchased a device for catching brass from semi automatics?

I've looked at a few that attach to a particular firearm but I really didn't care for them.

I'm thinking of something that could be attached to a shooting table or bench with enough flexibility to catch brass from pistols or rifles while being small enough to pack in the bottom of a suitcase.

Any design and material ideas .... any suggestions on where to purchase such a device?

Thanks for the help.

Heres something I found that might be what I need with a little modification?

This Cummins dip net is excellent for removing sick fish from your pond. It has a heavy duty steel mesh net that is collapsable for storage. It has a 72” solid wood handle and an 18” round bell.
SH-18-6-W $21.50 EA.

http://www.deltanetandtwine.com/dip%20net.htm

[WFO2]

Gus what I do is spread a big tarp out beside where iam shooting and it catches 99 percent of it ........Like the idea of a back stop tho . I might have to make one with pvc for the tarp. Most of my rifles and carbines sling out and to the right .

[Pogo]

You can buy catchers for some firearms, but I think they are a pain in the rear to use. Like WFO2, I spread out a plastic tarp. I bought a couple of big 18'x26' plastic tarp when I was roofing his house. I use one of them when shooting a semi-auto rifle.

We prop up the far edge of the tarp to keep the brass from sliding off with sticks or ATVs, or whatever is handy at the time.

[blkbd]

You mean like this!? http://www.alpharubicon.com/leo/brasscatcher.htm
This design could also be shortened and clamped to a shooting bench.

I once saw a design on the net where the guy clamped up a fly net or sheet supported buy 1/2 inch pvc to act as a wall so the brass would not fly off the bench.

[flopshot]

i had one for an AR that sucked. seemed to divert the gas to my face. i drilled holes to vent it but that did little.

http://www.bushmaster.com/shopping/a.../el-ar-002.asp

[5knives]

Never found anything that worked better than a tarp.

The post 64 winchester '70's that used push feed were great for recovering brass, where it went depended on how hard and fast you worked the bolt. I always actually preferred it to the "Positive feed" hype that brought back the claw.

If you're shooting an AK get a big tarp, it you're shooting an SKSs get a REALLY BIG tarp. Damn SKS's spew empties all over hells half-acre.

Least all of mine always did, anything from straight up to 12 feet away, in any direction.

Another benefit of the tarp (or even a poncho) while "hunting" is that you won't raise a dust signature and telegraph your position every time you fire. But a lot of you know that already.

JMHO, YMMV

Regards,

[WFO2]

You want to talk brass slinging mt Cetme slings that brass the farthest of all my toys . Had to get a bigger tarp because of it ............

[flopshot]

i pay that little buzzard nephew of mine to pick up brass. he picks them all up and then sticks a magnet in it to pull the steel which he does not get paid for. i get my good brass back without paying for the crap, and he gets a lesson in being screwed by an employer.

[Tailgunner]

Originally Posted by blkbd

You mean like this!? http://www.alpharubicon.com/leo/brasscatcher.htm
This design could also be shortened and clamped to a shooting bench.

I once saw a design on the net where the guy clamped up a fly net or sheet supported buy 1/2 inch pvc to act as a wall so the brass would not fly off the bench.

I made one along those lines, uses a twin size fitted bed sheet. I need to widen it out to use a full size sheet, and the "shelf" needs to stick out about six more inches.

[Gus]

Thanks for all the ideas fellas.

I was looking for something compact enough to fit in a suitcase for when I travel with firearms.

I'll be shooting an assortment of different pistols and rifles so it needs to be universal.

I like flopshots idea but my nephew is grownup an bigger then I am ... lazy as all hell ... won't lift a finger for anyone.

[blkbd]

Hey Gus if you use Tailgunners idea but don't glue the pvc so you can break it down, Looks like it would all fit in a backpack.

[Tailgunner]

Originally Posted by blkbd

Hey Gus if you use Tailgunners idea but don't glue the pvc so you can break it down, Looks like it would all fit in a backpack.

Actually the best solution is to glue one side of the fittings and not the other. That way the thing isn't so much of a jigsaw puzzle to assemble at the range, and the frame doesn't twist so much in the wind.

I had the brass catcher set up yesterday when me and Icarus were shooting. It was a bit breezy out, and the thing spent more time leaning over against the bench than standing upright like it should. It also highlighted the problems I mentioned earlier, it wasn't wide enough and the shelf at the bottom didn't stick out quite far enough to do it's job. Today I made version 2, which addresses both problems and should be more stable. It's a little big for a backpack, but for my use it the longest piece is 52" as that'll fit on the back seat of my Montero. You could just as easily use a few more couplers and shorten everything to fit in a backpack. For ballast there's a 2 foot long piece of 3/4" steel rebar in the bottom of each leg. The fabric is a $6 full sized fitted sheet from Wallyworld, at the range I hold it in place with a few spring clamps.

[Gus]

Thanks Tailgunner that's a nice design simple and inexpensive to build. I'll pass that one onto my brother, where he lives they do all their shooting out in the dessert it should work great for them. I'm trying to build something much smaller that I can take with me to the local shooting range and quickly set up and also fold down to were it will fit flat into a suite case for travel.
I'm working on such a thing now I'll call a prototype, kind of designing and altering as I go, don't know if it will ever fly or not.

[karlsgunbunker]

I've been thinking along the same lines only more portable.
Use a plastic hanger and a long wood dowel or two with a pipe fitting between (for ease of disassembly and portability).
Attach netting or cloth to the dowel, attach dowel to hanger w/wire ties.
Gather bottom of cloth into a bucket.
Brass hits cloth and slides down into the bucket.

2 - 1/2" Dowels
Plastic hanger
PVC Pipe fitting 1/2" ID
Cloth or netting
Bucket

A small bag of sand to weight the bucket might be a good addition.
Should be very portable.

I like the PVC pipe stand design too. good thinking there. Nice clean design.

[Cephus]

Originally Posted by Tailgunner

Actually the best solution is to glue one side of the fittings and not the other. That way the thing isn't so much of a jigsaw puzzle to assemble at the range, and the frame doesn't twist so much in the wind.

I had the brass catcher set up yesterday when me and Icarus were shooting. It was a bit breezy out, and the thing spent more time leaning over against the bench than standing upright like it should. It also highlighted the problems I mentioned earlier, it wasn't wide enough and the shelf at the bottom didn't stick out quite far enough to do it's job. Today I made version 2, which addresses both problems and should be more stable. It's a little big for a backpack, but for my use it the longest piece is 52" as that'll fit on the back seat of my Montero. You could just as easily use a few more couplers and shorten everything to fit in a backpack. For ballast there's a 2 foot long piece of 3/4" steel rebar in the bottom of each leg. The fabric is a $6 full sized fitted sheet from Wallyworld, at the range I hold it in place with a few spring clamps.

I really like this one ,we had one that was built something like it it worked great ,it was made out of wood and it was stationary !!!But this one is great , and portable !!!!!