How to clean up casings w/o becoming a hunchback?

DogFather

DogFather

Well-Known Member
Benefactor
Joined
Jan 2, 2022
Messages
810
Location
Julian, NC
Rating - 100%
3   0   0
OK - feeling a bit silly here - any bright ideas how to clean up empty brass / steel shell casings from my backyard?

Seen a few youtube clips for a "Brass Wizard" but I'll look like a kid pushing a bubble mower around.

Tried a magnet on a stick for the steel - works ok but still not great.

Or just forget about em and tell kids I am growing bullets?
 
DogFather said:
OK - feeling a bit silly here - any bright ideas how to clean up empty brass / steel shell casings from my backyard?

Seen a few youtube clips for a "Brass Wizard" but I'll look like a kid pushing a bubble mower around.

Tried a magnet on a stick for the steel - works ok but still not great.

Or just forget about em and tell kids I am growing bullets?
Click to expand...
Pay the kids to police the brass................. They are closer to the ground than you are.
 
Last edited:
Might try to make an electro magnet for kicks then put it on wheels. Steel is still a bargain vs brass so this might work.
 
If they are already on the ground, I saw a guy with this tool one time. it is like a modified nut picker-upper but with closer spaced wires for the smaller brass vs pecans or walnuts. https://www.amazon.com/Caldwell-Retriever-Collapsible-Separator-Reloading/dp/B00RPAH47K

If its not on the ground yet and shooting an AR, I run this. It came with 1 or 2 mounts that attach to a flat top upper and I bought a couple more for the other guns. The bag just slides on and holds with a detent ball. This is way way better than the strapon velocro one. The mount on the bag can be adjusted to fit but it uses screws so I made sure all my mounts on the guns were in the same slots on the picatinny rail of the AR upper. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EB5OU0Q?ref=nb_sb_ss_w_as-ypp-ro-model_ypp_ro_model_k0_1_9&amp&crid=3MY1SS5S970VW&amp&sprefix=caldwell+
 
Last edited:
The stuff on the ground sounds like a job for the kids.

To catch future stuff, they make a big net that funnels into a bucket. There was one in use at VOD when several of us got together some time back.
 
Battery powered shop vac?

I have one of those, but don’t have a pecan pickerupper.
 
BigWaylon said:
The stuff on the ground sounds like a job for the kids.

To catch future stuff, they make a big net that funnels into a bucket. There was one in use at VOD when several of us got together some time back.
Click to expand...
I made one that works well enough using...
some cheap mesh fabric
pinned into some ribbon edge, which was then staple hammered on to some
some cheap lumber
The mesh does rip pretty easily, but since it only cost me a few bucks to make, i'm not complaining. it has steered a lot of brass into a bucket for me.
 
Been using this with great success for years, along with the 5 gallon bucket “emptying attachment”. Looks like Caldwell may have bought them out or copied the design as I can’t find the one I have, pictured below. I bought mine from Dillon Precision many years ago, but can’t find it on their site now. The Caldwell is the same idea, just slightly different design (looks like it has a bigger head). Saves some bending…knees and back thank me each time I take it with me to the range!

0E776F1D-8E13-481B-9704-2842D81A03A2.jpegFC41ADA4-222F-4C5F-ABEF-74BF696FE771.jpeg
 
Last edited:
Heavy canvas tarp holds up well, prop a couple buckets under far edge to serve as a backstop and funnel cases back toward the middle. Northern tool has good ones.
 
I doubt any of the "picker uppers" would work for brass that has worked its way into the grass for a while. I would mow real close (watch out for flying brass) then go over the area with a rake to dig at least some of the brass out of the grass, then sic the kids on it, lol.
 
I used to go to a range that had at least 6 inches of steel cases and rimfire brass to wade through surrounding the plinking pit. Prior to the steel it was mud so the cases acted like gravel to cover the mud. Only thing that really sucked about it was how hot the area was in the summer on a sunny day...and the need to wear rugged boots lest the sharp bit of metal slice a shoe/foot. This is the alternative to picking it up.
 
Appreciate the feedback. Think I'll try a cathcer as suggested by @tod0987

Don't want it to get so out of hand that their is more brass & steel than dirt
 
I carry a wool blanket under the back seat of my truck. One more than one occasion when I went shooting, I pulled the blanket out, spread it on the ground and fired away. Picked it up, pouring the brass into a bucket or bag, shake the blanket off to remove grass, fold it and back under the truck seat.
 
I had a buddy that used a little roll-y thing that sort of looked like a massive steel ball with slots that could collapse. Almost like what is in protein shaker bottles but bigger. I'm not sure if it would work on grass tho.

Sent from my moto g fast using Tapatalk
 
My flea-bay brass catchers arrived this afternoon so of course had to go test it out.

60 rounds of 223 flew, caught em all. Now if all quick mods went this well....
 
For years I have been using a Milsurp mosquito net used over hammocks. Bought mine from the guy at GBO gun shows that has surplus supplies. I think I paid $5 for it. Simply pick up each corner and brass slides into center when finished shooting.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom