Building a Brass Catcher

[AlPackin]

I'm building a brass catcher like the one Dan built. The frame is made from 1/2" PVC because I had a length of that pipe in the basement. I didn't glue it together yet cuz I'm still pondering the dimensions. The top "catcher" part will be one piece as will be the base so it will disassemble and they will be connected by whatever length of pipe I need, one set for shooting from a bench another for shooting standing up without a bench.

Right now the catcher opening is 20x20" but I'm thinking it might be a tad on the large side. Maybe 18x18 or 16x16 would be good enough. The catcher part has a moveable T shaped spreader rod that will fold flat for transport and swing up to hold the netting open.

All in all, even counting the pipe I already had, the parts and a can of glue cost about $15 at Homeboy Depot. I figure the netting will be another $5 or so.

What do you think, is 20x20 too big or should I just glue it together as is ?

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj300/AlPackin/IMG_3254.jpg

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj300/AlPackin/IMG_3255.jpg

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj300/AlPackin/IMG_3256.jpg

Once this thing is online I'll actually shoot centerfire semi autos again :)

[AdamN]

Looks nice, I cant say if its too big or not. A brass catcher is really handy

[Pitmaster]

Use it for awhile and see. If its too big you can always cut it down. If you cut it down now, use it, and find out its too small it will cost more to make it bigger.

If the catcher was 6" away from the ejection port a smaller one would be better. But there may be times you want to be farther away and a bigger catcher would be the ticket.

[AlPackin]

Use it for awhile and see. If its too big you can always cut it down. If you cut it down now, use it, and find out its too small it will cost more to make it bigger.

If the catcher was 6" away from the ejection port a smaller one would be better. But there may be times you want to be farther away and a bigger catcher would be the ticket.

yeah but cutting it down I would lose 4 elbows :yikes: .... but I guess at 21 cents each thats bearable :)

[Dark Horse]

I'm planning on the same 20" size, I'm also no planning on gluing it so I can disassemble it for transport.
Reason I'm going with the 20" is the 7.62 has a wide spread pattern and I can't always be right nest to the Brass catcher

[ISUSteve]

I built one hoping to catch my 45 brass, but my 1911 throws them up, instead of out. I don't catch anything with it. I don't care about 40 or 9mm.

[MakeMineaP99]

Looks good, AP. I forget what size mine is, but 20"x20" sounds about right.

[jawjaboy]

Looks good AP, but I think the footprint might need to be a lil more spread out(bigger). Once you get a wad of brass in there it's going to get top heavy. Jes thinkin out loud here. :dunno:
.

[Boondockin]

Looks good AP, but I think the footprint might need to be a lil more spread out(bigger). Once you get a wad of brass in there it's going to get top heavy. Jes thinkin out loud here. :dunno:
.


You could always make kind of a funnel deal on the bottom of the netting, get them to drop into bucket, that would deal with the weight of the brass.

I'm thinkin wind might be another consideration for making the "footprint lil more spread". Once ya get the net in it, acting like a sail.

I have been meaning to make one up for the longest time, mabey this tread will get me off me ars on this project.

Cannot wait for a field report :thumbsup:

[Pitmaster]

I have a 10' sq. tarp I use most of the time. Catches 90% of the brass and the rest is usually within a couple of feet of the edges.

[jtrade]

Are you going to put a net or something on it?

Just curious what the finished product will look like since I may build me one to catch all the AK brass that goes flying 20+ ft. Trying to track it down is a pain in the you know what?

J

[MakeMineaP99]

http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll140/MakeMineaP99/100_0566.jpg

That's my prototype I posted a bit ago.

Foot print looks good. If you're going to be dumping thousands of rounds of brass into it, then yeah, increase it.

I put 300-500 handgun rounds into mine last time I used it, along with some '06 from the Garand. No tip overs to report.

[jtrade]

Cool. I need to make me one of those. I know I got some pvc pipe & black net laying around.

J

http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll140/MakeMineaP99/100_0566.jpg

That's my prototype I posted a bit ago.

Foot print looks good. If you're going to be dumping thousands of rounds of brass into it, then yeah, increase it.

I put 300-500 handgun rounds into mine last time I used it, along with some '06 from the Garand. No tip overs to report.

[Brass Nazi]

Looks good to me. IMO the bigger the opening the better as it will let you move and change your shooting position a little bit. Not only that but some guns eject it's brass in a different location compared to another.

Plus kids can use it for a frisbee target.

[AlPackin]

I think the footprint might need to be a lil more spread out(bigger). Once you get a wad of brass in there it's going to get top heavy. Jes thinkin out loud here. :dunno:
.

yeah I was thinking the same thing but I don't see me getting more than about 200 pieces of brass in there and that doesn't weight too much ... I had to take the day off cuz a new washing machine was being delivered so while I was waiting I glued it up as designed, we'll see :)

I'm going to the fabric store tomorrow to get the netting to finish it off and I'll let you guys know how it works :thumbsup:

ps: oh yeah, got some Glock parts in the mail today... G34 buffed out, new Solo loads ready to go ... some days are better than others :)

[AlPackin]

You could always make kind of a funnel deal on the bottom of the netting, get them to drop into bucket, that would deal with the weight of the brass.



good thinking, maybe just an opening in the bottom of the net to guide the brass into a bucket :thumbsup:

edit

maybe a zipper in the bottom .... my wife is real good at sewing ... hmmm

[MakeMineaP99]

Let us know if you have problems find the netting, AP. Jo-Ann fabrics in IN has it by the yard in the "bulk" fabric section.

[Boondockin]

... maybe a zipper in the bottom .... my wife is real good at sewing ... hmmm



I like the zipper idea.

Looking at P99's set up, he has more netting that I was thinking. I can see where that is a good thing. lets the brass hold the netting down at the base, actualy adding weight to the base and not hang off the frame like I was originaly invisioning.

I like P99 net set up :thumbsup:

Now add that zipper in the corner, and you have the corner to use as a funnel and the zipper you valve/variable opening to fit the container your dumping them into.

[cvann]

I use a CMM Shooting Sports catcher.

http://www.cmmshootingsports.com/images/UBC1000.jpg


If I were to make one, I would make the base out of something that I could clamp to a bench and\or fill with lead shot. The base on my catcher weighs around 4-5 pounds and on windy days, it still blows over.

Also consider ther funnel shape with drawstring to empty the brass into a coffee can or cardboard box.

Just food for thought.

[AlPackin]

I use a CMM Shooting Sports catcher.

http://www.cmmshootingsports.com/images/UBC1000.jpg


If I were to make one, I would make the base out of something that I could clamp to a bench and\or fill with lead shot. The base on my catcher weighs around 4-5 pounds and on windy days, it still blows over.

Also consider ther funnel shape with drawstring to empty the brass into a coffee can or cardboard box.

Just food for thought.

hmmm .... hadn't thought about wind ... maybe I'll widen the base some like Jawja recommended or maybe add removeable outriggers or I might need a sandbag or something. One good thing about PVC is its really cheap to modify.

I saw a guy once that had one that actually sat in a 5 gal bucket as its base.

[cvann]

Cool - mind posting a materials list when you're finished? Thinkin' of making one for my pops.

[AlPackin]

Cool - mind posting a materials list when you're finished? Thinkin' of making one for my pops.

sure thing, will do

[MakeMineaP99]

You can fill the base of PVC with sand, which adds some weight to it.

[AlPackin]

thats a good idea Dan

[Pitmaster]

What about using some of those lawn staples that are used to hold down landscape fabric. Light and unless the ground is really hard they should go in easy. If not a pair of pliers to bang in and pull out would work.

http://www.wireproducts.us/images/products/agriculture/groundClips/SodStaples.jpg

[jawjaboy]

So, my larger footprint idea sparked imagination? Amazing. :)
.

[AlPackin]

So, my larger footprint idea sparked imagination? Amazing. :)
.
hey, you're an amazing dude :)

[thorn]

What about using some of those lawn staples that are used to hold down landscape fabric.

Just find a small child and tell them to sit on the base.

thorn

[AlPackin]

ok, its done ... if you gotta have your wife sew the netting don't glue any of the frame together before hand :( ... anyway, it came out ok :)

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj300/AlPackin/IMG_3365.jpg

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj300/AlPackin/IMG_3366.jpg

gonna shoot it full of brass tomorrow :)

[Dark Horse]

Looks Good!

[MakeMineaP99]

Good show, AP.

[jtrade]

So the brass catching portion is 20x20. What are the dimensions of the base?

Was thinking about using the same base size but only 1 center suport instead of 2 going. Then filling the base & the center support sections with concrete, independantly.

J

[AlPackin]

I have an Autocad drawing of this that I doodled at work ... I'll update it and make a .pdf tomorrow if I get a bit of time

I was afraid that one upright wouldn't be stiff enough, would want to rotate ...

[jtrade]

That'll work. I can use 2 uprights but was going to try & use one filled with concrete to make it more stable.

J

I have an Autocad drawing of this that I doodled at work ... I'll update it and make a .pdf tomorrow if I get a bit of time

I was afraid that one upright wouldn't be stiff enough, would want to rotate ...

[PoiDog]

You guys are going about it all wrong. Obviously, it needs to have black netting if you wanna go tacticool.

Man, what are you guys thinking? :animlol:

Seriously though, I need to build one of those things pronto. I'm losing too much brass in the grass.

Soon to be snow.