2aHawaii

Tools and Uses => Firearms and Accessories => Topic started by: ren on November 12, 2012, 05:12:41 PM

Title: brass catcher designs
Post by: ren on November 12, 2012, 05:12:41 PM
Can anyone post some pics or ideas for a brass catcher. I'm shooting more pistol now and I have a fishnet but was wondering about the height etc. I'm thinking a piece of board with the fshnet upright.
Title: Re: brass catcher designs
Post by: jaynick on November 12, 2012, 05:39:38 PM
im thinking of building my own take on one of these http://www.gunauction.com/buy/11242530/reloading-gear/reloading-other/universal-brass-catcher-bubca-iii-commercial (http://www.gunauction.com/buy/11242530/reloading-gear/reloading-other/universal-brass-catcher-bubca-iii-commercial)

good for pistol and rifle.
Title: Re: brass catcher designs
Post by: 42itus on November 12, 2012, 07:04:05 PM
I bought this one but haven't used it once.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/FREESTANDING-BRASS-CATCHER-for-use-with-semi-autos-/121018081116?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c2d3d5f5c (http://www.ebay.com/itm/FREESTANDING-BRASS-CATCHER-for-use-with-semi-autos-/121018081116?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c2d3d5f5c)

$30 and it's yours!
Title: Re: brass catcher designs
Post by: ren on November 12, 2012, 07:12:38 PM
great ideas! thanks :thumbsup:
Title: Re: brass catcher designs
Post by: Inspector on November 12, 2012, 07:29:19 PM
Or for $45 you can buy the one that the guy who works at the pistol range makes. Very good quality. Worth the price. Just a suggestion.
Title: Re: brass catcher designs
Post by: 42itus on November 12, 2012, 07:41:58 PM
Or for $45 you can buy the one that the guy who works at the pistol range makes. Very good quality. Worth the price. Just a suggestion.

Yeah, that's a good one too.
Title: Re: brass catcher designs
Post by: Teichi on November 12, 2012, 07:59:24 PM
From the NRA Conventional Pistol Rules:

"3.9.1 Deflecting Screens Shooters may use a screen fastened to their shooting kit, or similarly placed, to
deflect empty cases, provided the screen is made of material such as "Hardware Cloth," with wires not larger than
1/16 inch in diameter and spaced not closer than 1/4 inch. Screens of solid material may not be used."

Brass catchers for competition cannot have mesh smaller than 1/4 inch also.

Anything goes for practice and beware of old guys that think that you don't want your brass if you don't have a catcher.
Title: Re: brass catcher designs
Post by: dirsh on November 13, 2012, 01:20:29 AM
I just bought the "convertible" one from tony at the pistol range. It can be used with rifle or pistol. Good stuff
Title: Re: brass catcher designs
Post by: GZire on November 13, 2012, 08:20:54 AM
From the NRA Conventional Pistol Rules:

"3.9.1 Deflecting Screens Shooters may use a screen fastened to their shooting kit, or similarly placed, to
deflect empty cases, provided the screen is made of material such as "Hardware Cloth," with wires not larger than
1/16 inch in diameter and spaced not closer than 1/4 inch. Screens of solid material may not be used."

Brass catchers for competition cannot have mesh smaller than 1/4 inch also.

Anything goes for practice and beware of old guys that think that you don't want your brass if you don't have a catcher.



Indeed, the brass vultures do get pretty active.
Title: Re: brass catcher designs
Post by: jaynick on November 13, 2012, 08:34:14 AM
can someone post a pic of what the guy at the range is selling? may just buy one instead. support local and support my laziness. the one posted from ebay looks not bad either but im not sure if my small tripod will tip over and my large tripod is heavy and cumbersome.
Title: Re: brass catcher designs
Post by: jaynick on November 13, 2012, 08:39:19 AM


Indeed, the brass vultures do get pretty active.


when i first started shooting i used to kind of enjoy watching guys swoop in and vulture my brass like fish in a pond. now it gets a little annoying, sometimes guys from a few lanes over start asking, if i dont pick them up after every few mags.. wish they were as quick to pick up the thousand .22 casings i create every time i go to the silhouette side :rofl:
Title: brass catcher designs
Post by: hawaiian on November 13, 2012, 09:00:10 AM
Yeah those brass vultures lol. I had a girl come up last week asking for my brass so I told em she could have them as long as she cleaned after me when I was done. Win win
Title: Re: brass catcher designs
Post by: 42itus on November 13, 2012, 11:25:42 AM
can someone post a pic of what the guy at the range is selling? may just buy one instead. support local and support my laziness. the one posted from ebay looks not bad either but im not sure if my small tripod will tip over and my large tripod is heavy and cumbersome.

small tripod will tip over.  I was going to make a stand with a metal plate as the base, but haven't gotten around to it.  the one that the RO makes is a good compact one.
Title: Re: brass catcher designs
Post by: sound wave on November 22, 2012, 02:41:53 AM
can someone post a pic of what the guy at the range is selling? may just buy one instead. support local and support my laziness. the one posted from ebay looks not bad either but im not sure if my small tripod will tip over and my large tripod is heavy and cumbersome.

yeah, could someone please post what it looks like? 

my rifle range brass catcher has a tripod attachment on the bottom.  i tried using that on the pistol range and silhouette range, but my tripod was the wrong height... also the wind kept blowing it over.

i am assuming the one the one the RO makes for the pistol range will work on the silhouette side as well?
Title: Re: brass catcher designs
Post by: dirsh on December 10, 2012, 05:02:26 PM
here's the one from tony

I was shooting rifle and then flipped it up and extended to demonstrate pistol. It had more than enough (for me) height for shooting pistol on the silhouette side. The pole can sometimes get in the way when shooting rifle, but it's still pretty good.
Title: Re: brass catcher designs
Post by: dirsh on December 10, 2012, 05:10:00 PM
just noticed that in the pic it looks like it won't catch anything in pistol mode. it was really windy and it blew the net up cuz there wasn't any shells to hold it down. I just flipped it up real quick to take a pic
Title: Re: brass catcher designs
Post by: sound wave on December 10, 2012, 06:55:08 PM
thanks for posting that up.  how much does it cost?  does he bring them with him to the range so you can buy it on the spot? 
Title: Re: brass catcher designs
Post by: ren on December 10, 2012, 06:59:50 PM
brass catchers might be required next year... people complained
Title: Re: brass catcher designs
Post by: sound wave on December 10, 2012, 07:01:17 PM
required on which side?
Title: Re: brass catcher designs
Post by: Inspector on December 10, 2012, 07:21:55 PM
It's more like only one or two specific people constantly complain. It will be required on the rifle side and the RO's on the pistol side are already trying to keep the brass under control. But I am afraid it will probably spill over on that side as well.
Title: Re: brass catcher designs
Post by: dirsh on December 10, 2012, 11:56:41 PM
I forget how much i paid. I think it was 45. I just remembered thinking it was totally worth the cost. I think he has them with him when he's there

Sometimes people's brass hitting me gets irritating. One time this group beside me had EVERY single casing from EVERY rifle they were shooting hit me. They were cool and kept apologizing and one of them ended up holding a hat to catch the brass. I think it would be great if brass catchers were required
Title: Re: brass catcher designs
Post by: sound wave on December 11, 2012, 12:11:35 AM
thanks for the info.  so the height of the pole does go up and down?

seems like buying that one for the silhouette and pistol side would be better than trying to build my own. 

I wouldn't need to use it at the rifle side since I have one for that purpose.
Title: Re: brass catcher designs
Post by: Dolomite on December 11, 2012, 11:23:26 AM
How do we get a hold of Tony to buy one? What does he look like? I really want one of those....
Title: Re: brass catcher designs
Post by: Inspector on December 11, 2012, 12:00:48 PM
Just go to the pistol range at Kokohead and ask for Tony and tell him what you and give him cash.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: brass catcher designs
Post by: Dolomite on December 11, 2012, 01:45:37 PM
Cool thanks
Title: Re: brass catcher designs
Post by: stangzilla on December 11, 2012, 03:14:01 PM
fabbing mine at the moment.
got a clamp on lamp with moveable neck from walmart for $5
removed the light and cut off the wires
gonna zip tie the net to the moveable neck of the lamp.  and theres my brass catcher.
i might need to build a small base for it to clamp onto.  but thats easy.


otherwise revolvers ftw.   :shaka:
Title: Re: brass catcher designs
Post by: dirsh on December 11, 2012, 06:05:06 PM
fabbing mine at the moment.
got a clamp on lamp with moveable neck from walmart for $5
removed the light and cut off the wires
gonna zip tie the net to the moveable neck of the lamp.  and theres my brass catcher.
i might need to build a small base for it to clamp onto.  but thats easy.


otherwise revolvers ftw.   :shaka:

post pics when you're done  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: brass catcher designs
Post by: jc2721 on December 11, 2012, 06:41:22 PM
It's more like only one or two specific people constantly complain. It will be required on the rifle side and the RO's on the pistol side are already trying to keep the brass under control. But I am afraid it will probably spill over on that side as well.
I'm in favor of brass catchers, particularly with guys shooting semi-autos at the rifle range.  I hate it when someone's brass bounces off of my rifles.

Anyway, my brass catcher is an old fishing net with the handle cut off around 7 or 8 inches.  It's nailed onto a board and butted up against the bench rests at the range.  I put a box or two of ammo to weight it down and it works well.  Total cost was one dollar for the net (found it at the swap meet), a piece of scrap lumber and a wood screw.

Years ago I bought one of those adjustable brass catchers from the mainland and it's worked well at the pistol range.  It is too big and bulky for the rifle range, hence the fishing net.
Title: Re: brass catcher designs
Post by: sound wave on December 11, 2012, 07:34:46 PM
I'm in favor of brass catchers, particularly with guys shooting semi-autos at the rifle range.  I hate it when someone's brass bounces off of my rifles.

i don't notice a problem with brass bouncing off my rifles..  it more so when it bounces off my head...  or burns my neck.  then when the guy shooting either doesn't know it is hitting me, or pretends that he doesn't know.

too bad they can't partition the pistol stalls so that the brass won't hit the person next to the shooter.  then again i am sure that would be on the bottom of their priority list if at all.
Title: Re: brass catcher designs
Post by: GZire on December 11, 2012, 07:55:46 PM
I hate that brass catchers would become mandatory.  If that's the case, then it should be no shooting without covered footwear, long pants, long sleeves, etc.
Title: Re: brass catcher designs
Post by: Bota-CS1 on December 11, 2012, 10:33:39 PM
I'm all for brass catchers on the rifle side.  Nothing worse than some dipstick spraying your wife with his brass.  Worse was he saw the first couple hit her and went kept on shooting until I stood up between the benches and asked him to stop.  I think I'll come up with a brass catcher that'll deflect spent brass back at these kinds of shooters...call it my F-U Catcher mk1.
Title: Re: brass catcher designs
Post by: stangzilla on December 12, 2012, 08:52:43 AM
post pics when you're done  :thumbsup:

will do.  i hope it doesn't look ghetto.  but as long as it works.
Title: Re: brass catcher designs
Post by: sound wave on December 12, 2012, 08:58:43 AM
will do.  i hope it doesn't look ghetto.  but as long as it works.

you should leave the light bulb and plug.  that way, when you are waiting in the dark for the range to open, you can turn on your lamp and do some reading  double function.    ;D

hey man, if it prevents your neighbor from getting hit by hot shells, i don't think he will care how ghetto it looks.
Title: Re: brass catcher designs
Post by: stangzilla on December 12, 2012, 09:14:15 AM
saw a nice one at the pistol side.
a guy screwed a fishing net into the top of a mini tri-pod.


i also thought about bringing an extra big piece of cardboard and fix it to the bench next to me
so it deflects the brass from others.
Title: Re: brass catcher designs
Post by: ren on December 12, 2012, 10:02:42 AM
I'm all for brass catchers on the rifle side.  Nothing worse than some dipstick spraying your wife with his brass.  Worse was he saw the first couple hit her and went kept on shooting until I stood up between the benches and asked him to stop.  I think I'll come up with a brass catcher that'll deflect spent brass back at these kinds of shooters...call it my F-U Catcher mk1.
Yeah, I got burned, it is still healing. A guy in his tacticool, KAC carbine did a Haley, Costa mag dump till the RO stopped him. I was shooting prone next to him. I don't mind a few pelts etc. as it is part of shooting but have some sense of courtesy.
Title: Re: brass catcher designs
Post by: angioman on December 12, 2012, 11:31:10 AM
I'm gonna make one like this with a laundry bag, pvc and some clamps..should cost around 5 bucks...laundry bag from walmart, pvc from CM, and bas5e clamps or wood from CM...here is a video link

DIY Brass Catcher test (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wp5zv2_KXjM#)
Title: Re: brass catcher designs
Post by: Teichi on December 12, 2012, 12:05:32 PM
Yeah, I got burned, it is still healing. A guy in his tacticool, KAC carbine did a Haley, Costa mag dump till the RO stopped him. I was shooting prone next to him. I don't mind a few pelts etc. as it is part of shooting but have some sense of courtesy.

You should get a direction adjustable muzzle brake made for that special someone close to you. Your AR-10 puts out a 1 foot ball of flame. Why waste it all that unburnt powder on the weeds in front your firing point?
Title: Re: brass catcher designs
Post by: ren on December 12, 2012, 03:03:05 PM
You should get a direction adjustable muzzle brake made for that special someone close to you. Your AR-10 puts out a 1 foot ball of flame. Why waste it all that unburnt powder on the weeds in front your firing point?

(http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20121022235360/marvelvscapcom/images/5/59/Yoga_Flame.gif)
Title: Re: brass catcher designs
Post by: GZire on December 12, 2012, 08:05:06 PM
You should get a direction adjustable muzzle brake made for that special someone close to you. Your AR-10 puts out a 1 foot ball of flame. Why waste it all that unburnt powder on the weeds in front your firing point?

Any muzzle break is pretty bad except for anyone directly behind the rifle.  I did see one guy with a home made flash hider, except it was more like a flash accentuator............I swear to God you could see a beach ball sized fireball at 12:00 noon on a sunny day..........it was quite impressive.
Title: Re: brass catcher designs
Post by: sound wave on December 19, 2012, 12:33:25 AM
is tony there wed-fri as well?  or just on the weekend?  planning on picking it up this week.

thanks.
Title: Re: brass catcher designs
Post by: sound wave on December 22, 2012, 03:24:30 PM
well, i tried to buy a brass catcher from Tony today.  He said he was all sold out.  He said sometime next year he will have more.  Oh well.
Title: Re: brass catcher designs
Post by: GZire on December 24, 2012, 08:46:37 AM
Make one man it isn't that hard.  PVC or something like metal coat hanger/fishing net will work.
Title: Re: brass catcher designs
Post by: wirecounter on January 03, 2013, 06:33:06 PM
Can anyone post some pics or ideas for a brass catcher. I'm shooting more pistol now and I have a fishnet but was wondering about the height etc. I'm thinking a piece of board with the fshnet upright.

Okay.  I finally got around to taking some pics of the one I made.  1/2" pvc, glue all pieces except the center so it can rotate.  Pour in steel bb's to weigh down the stand before glueing the final pieces.  Used fence wire to hold up the net, but coat hanger wire will work.  Tapped the hole for the net to secure it from spinning & cut different lengths for either rifle, pistol, pistol on rest, etc.
Title: Re: brass catcher designs
Post by: sound wave on January 03, 2013, 06:35:00 PM
nice.  how much did all those supplies cost you?
Title: Re: brass catcher designs
Post by: wirecounter on January 03, 2013, 06:41:02 PM
nice.  how much did all those supplies cost you?

Net cost around $5.  Cut off excess handle.  From Hobbietat or Walmart.

PVC pipe & glue = around $8.00.  City Mill

Bolt with triangular piece = around $1.00.  City Mill

Tap for tapping the pvc for the bolt = around $10.00 if you don't have one.  I forget as I had mine for over 20 years.

Steel BBs = around $5.00.  Sports Authority.
Title: Re: brass catcher designs
Post by: xer 21 on January 03, 2013, 08:41:18 PM
if you want a ghetto design, i dont use this to catch brass, but it might work for that depending on the rifle.

i bent a long window screen at a 90 degree angle, and weight it down to the table.  i wasnt trying to catch brass, but i did end up catching quite a bit of it since the screen slacks.  i only use it to block the brass though, because my rifle throws the casings 3-4 benches down and it kicks it pretty high.  at the very least, its a really cheap way to at least make sure your neighbors dont complain, and if your rifle or pistol isnt kicking out shells too hard, it will probably catch most of the brass too.
Title: Re: brass catcher designs
Post by: ImKu on January 03, 2013, 10:23:03 PM
I went ahead awhile ago and made a ghetto set up using a broken laundry net basket frame and net, duct tape, zip ties, and a 5lbs weight.... Does it look good?  Nope, but it catches my brass and I just used stuff that was at house lol.  I really care less what ppl think about how it looks and got a few laughs at the range.
Title: Re: brass catcher designs
Post by: numbertwo on January 04, 2013, 08:36:24 AM
I just have a small painters bucket and i clamp my fishing net to it. I had to tape cardboard to my net handle so I could clamp it to the bucket. All I payed for was the net, clamps and bucket.

Works well enough for handgun, it's probably too high for rifle unless I drop knee but I haven't tried yet.

Title: Re: brass catcher designs
Post by: quint38 on January 04, 2013, 09:02:24 AM
I cut the handle of  an old scoop net in half.  I put on piece in front of the other,  then used a hose clamp to connect the two pieces.  That way I can adjust up and down, even left to right. For the base I just drilled a hole in a scrap piece of 2x6 wood.   Cost me nothing and took 15 min to make.
Title: Re: brass catcher designs
Post by: aieahound on January 04, 2013, 11:05:08 AM
Wirecounter

You should make 'em and sell 'em here on 2A.   

Title: Re: brass catcher designs
Post by: wirecounter on January 04, 2013, 11:39:17 AM
Wirecounter

You should make 'em and sell 'em here on 2A.

LOL.  Thanks aieahound, but I would charge too much.

I purchased one of Tony's (pistol RO) as well to use exclusively for pistol.  I have the one I made in a bag with my rifle stuff and I'm too lazy to move it back & forth or too old and forget to move it back.  His net is solid and well made.  And, he modified it to be able to use on the rifle side.
Title: Re: brass catcher designs
Post by: Hi state on January 06, 2013, 11:59:53 PM
This is what I made with some steel pipe and u can stand it up and use it on the pistol side.i also drilled and tapped a set screw so I can adjust and lock the net for different height shooters
(http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll153/taiyota/3A8B88D7-7498-435E-BA2D-E6C73B8447F0-14311-000005966218F508.jpg)
Title: Re: brass catcher designs
Post by: stangzilla on January 07, 2013, 10:05:05 AM
net and jackstand
I have other ideas, but gonna see how this works out first

(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8072/8359164646_b84c07b3b3_c.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/70099529@N03/8359164646/)
Title: Re: brass catcher designs
Post by: ren on January 07, 2013, 10:12:26 AM
net and jackstand
I have other ideas, but gonna see how this works out first

(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8072/8359164646_b84c07b3b3_c.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/70099529@N03/8359164646/)

wow 2 tons of brass!
Title: Re: brass catcher designs
Post by: stangzilla on January 07, 2013, 10:18:38 AM
wow 2 tons of brass!

at least that part won't break.   ;D
Title: Re: brass catcher designs
Post by: Dolomite on March 29, 2013, 01:59:31 PM
I've seen some guys clamp on nets to both sides of the bench, one side to prevent getting hit and the other side to collect the brass....

this was a good idea, but maybe make a net to catch the neighbors brass and keep it....

I've seen one guy using one of those folding clothes hampers, cut one side out to catch the brass. seemed to work pretty good....
Title: Re: brass catcher designs
Post by: sound wave on March 29, 2013, 06:47:47 PM


this was a good idea, but maybe make a net to catch the neighbors brass and keep it....


gotta invent a net that will catch the other person's brass and fling it right back at them.
Title: Re: brass catcher designs
Post by: Kingkeoni on March 29, 2013, 07:12:51 PM
gotta invent a net that will catch the other person's brass and fling it right back at them.

Fekk that, I want to catch their brass and keep it.
Title: Re: brass catcher designs
Post by: redryderbb on March 31, 2013, 12:47:21 AM
Seen some guys at KHSC modifying their fishing nets and attaching it to some pvc piping as a frame stand.
Title: Re: brass catcher designs
Post by: BananaClip on March 31, 2013, 07:53:15 AM
The WGS guy showed me his set up once.......

It looked like a net setup from a ping pong table....simple and effective..

2clamps with 2 foot rods attached holding a 2 foot high net that he could unravel and clamp to the table on one side....

Only thing is that it didn't catch brass, just deflected....

I'm pretty sure you could put like a 3 foot high net on 2 foot high rods to create a pouch at the bottom....

Shoots, I might have to stop by City Mill today.......... :-\
Title: Re: brass catcher designs
Post by: Dolomite on March 31, 2013, 12:13:39 PM
what type of net material did they use?

what are people using to catch the handgun brass?

please post some pics....
Title: Re: brass catcher designs
Post by: musubi on March 31, 2013, 02:58:32 PM
what type of net material did they use?

what are people using to catch the handgun brass?

please post some pics....

I'm in the process of building a pistol brass catcher now (in other words, I have a crap ton of PVC pieces lying around the apartment). I expect to finish it by next weekend, so will post a pic when done. For the net, I'm using a $7 scoop net (20" diameter) I bought from McCully Bike yesterday. Still thinking about how to keep the net propped open when set up though, probably need to find a shim or fashion a wire hoop. All together I don't expect to spend more than $20 or $25 total for it.
Title: Re: brass catcher designs
Post by: xer 21 on March 31, 2013, 09:27:00 PM
The WGS guy showed me his set up once.......

It looked like a net setup from a ping pong table....simple and effective..

2clamps with 2 foot rods attached holding a 2 foot high net that he could unravel and clamp to the table on one side....

Only thing is that it didn't catch brass, just deflected....

I'm pretty sure you could put like a 3 foot high net on 2 foot high rods to create a pouch at the bottom....

Shoots, I might have to stop by City Mill today.......... :-\

thats basically what i do with my bent window screen.  it sags in the middle so it deflects, and would catch if my rifle didnt kick out brass so hard.

but for most ar's which are gentler on brass, i'd imagine it would catch it easily.
Title: Re: brass catcher designs
Post by: GZire on April 01, 2013, 10:23:42 AM
what type of net material did they use?

what are people using to catch the handgun brass?

please post some pics....


Nothing I bend down to pick up my brass before the Brass Vulture swoops in to steal it.
Title: Re: brass catcher designs
Post by: wirecounter on April 01, 2013, 12:14:21 PM

Nothing I bend down to pick up my brass before the Brass Vulture swoops in to steal it.

You must be FAST!  LOL
Title: Re: brass catcher designs
Post by: musubi on April 06, 2013, 10:57:27 AM
I just finished my brass catcher. Not pretty, but I expect it to do the job.
Cost was about $30 when all said & done.

(http://i1279.photobucket.com/albums/y538/Mteebee/BrassCatcher_zps60e9efa0.png)

Copied wirecounter's idea of using BBs to weigh down the base. Also shot insulating foam into the pipe to keep the BBs from rolling around, and to strengthen the PVC.
I used 1" PVC pipe, but in hindsight I should've used a smaller diameter - either 3/4" or even 1/2" would've worked.
Net (as mentioned earlier this week) was from McCully Bike, 20" diameter for $7.

Still have two things to address: right now I just cut notches in the vertical pipe to keep the net from moving around, but I don't have any way of raising/lowering the net height. I'll have to measure the height from the bench the next time I go to Koko Head. Also, still thinking about ways to keep the back of the net open. It should work just hanging like it is, but might throw in some kind of hinged bracket later.
Title: Re: brass catcher designs
Post by: Dolomite on April 06, 2013, 01:04:29 PM
sweet!!! maybe drill holes at different intervals in PVC ( part that holds the net) and insert pegs to raise the net up and down... I wonder if it can be canted to catch pistol brass....

my friend made me one with the fishing net and it works great on the rifle side. The bottom of the net sits about 6" off the bench and catches the brass perfectly. The brass from the semi auto and bolt fly perfectly into the net so it doesn't need to be propped open.

GOOD JOB!!! thanks for posting the pic!!!!