Advanced Marksmanship Catching ejected brass questions.

[goodgorilla]

I watched a video where a guy was using a swept handle bolt, and he caught the ejecting brass at the same time as ejecting the brass. He did it by putting his hand in front of the bolt knob and pulling the bolt back with the back of his thumb while catching the brass with his fingers. First question is why would a person want to do that, and secondly, would a strait handle bolt be more difficult to perform that action?

 

[Ucsspirit]

Is this the video you watched??
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEYYPYXUewE

 

[sib1948]

My brass in very hot when it first ejects. seems like a dumb idea. If I pull my bolt back slowly, it ejects my brass about a foot to the right and still well on my mat. See no need for this.

 

[mountainman308]

When one is shooting in precision matches, F class, or other events where many people are firing in close proximity, it is considered polite to catch your brass, or at least knock it down onto your mat. Additionally, especially when hunting, it is nice to catch your brass before it falls out of the stand, or into the undergrowth. This makes cleaning up easier and saves time and effort looking for brass.
It can be done with a straight bolt, but the throw angle and ejection angle may be a bit off.

 

[goodgorilla]

Is this the video you watched??

No, I was watching a video about seating depth, but the guy was catching brass using a swept handle. In your video the guy looks like he was using a strait handle.

 

[leadbullet]

I have a trap shoting buddy who catches the shells ejecting from his over/under just to throw them on the ground afterwords. Apperently he does it to make life easier for the shell pickers.
As to why doing that with a rifle has me stomped, unless a sniper doesnt want to be spotted by his shiny flying brass.
cheers.

 

[Mike]

There are a number of reasons this happens that range from actually need in a active military situation to the "cool" factor. With custom rifles today they really don't fling the brass like they used to and many dump the brass right out in front of the rifle. Personally I don't think you need a swept handle to do it effectively but I have huge paws so that may be why.

 

[DocUSMCRetired]

Because picking up brass in a pile is easy, picking up brass from all over sucks. Have you ever had hot brass go down your flak or catch you on the back of the neck? Here is a personal photo from where I took brass to the back of the neck in a firefight.

 

[DeadSilence]

I started doing it pretty much as shown in the vid above because I was shooting bench at that time and I'm too time old to want to clean it up later if it rolled off the bench.Now it has just become a habit and I do it from pretty much any position I shoot from. The only exceptions are off of some baricades and sitting.

 

[Mike]

If loosing brass is truly a concern (not pointed at anyone, just FYI) just lay a small towel or something over the ejection port and it knocks the brass right down without having to chase it or catch it.

 

[damoncali]

I catch mine all the time. By the time the bolt is back, the brass is just about falling into my hand. I drop the case into the box, pick up a loaded round and put it in the action. It's easier than it sounds - you don't need anything but a rifle that doesn't fling the brass 10 feet.

 

[AKONA]

If you are shooting prone or from the bench try a net or even a couple of old window screens hinged with a couple of tie downs will catch all the brass right there in one spot.
When shooting with the AR this works amazingly well so you do not have to pickup precious brass all over the place.

 

[shoot4fun]

Remember that things you do by reflex in practice will become natural in a match or real life. When shooting from a bench I will deflect brass down with my hand but not catch it. Prone I never try to catch it because I want to hold that solid prone position.

 

[TOP PREDATOR]

above everything else it looks pretty tacticool, and make you look like "da man"

 

[19Scout77]

It is extremely important to master this trick as it serves to draw attention away from the stretch marks under your mustache and the overwhelming stench of ammonia and brie every time you belch.

 

[flounderv2]

Frank caught a pretty cool pic of me catching my brass at last years SH Cup. Now onto the reason I was doing it was because I was shooting standing from sticks on the zero range. I wasnt in any hurry and did it just because I didnt feel like having to pic up all my brass when I was done. That was the only reason.

https://www.facebook.com/3686380779...6_n.jpg&size=2048,1360&fbid=10151699839672953

 

[Rob01]

I catch mine all the time. By the time the bolt is back, the brass is just about falling into my hand. I drop the case into the box, pick up a loaded round and put it in the action. It's easier than it sounds - you don't need anything but a rifle that doesn't fling the brass 10 feet.

Same here. It's not a trick or something to look tacticool. When at the range I will catch the cases during slow fire and drop them back in the holder. Just easier to keep them clean and not have to be pecking around for brass later. Of course at matches or speed fire it doesn't happen but it has it's place.

 

[peaceatwar]

Same here. It's not a trick or something to look tacticool. When at the range I will catch the cases during slow fire and drop them back in the holder. Just easier to keep them clean and not have to be pecking around for brass later. Of course at matches or speed fire it doesn't happen but it has it's place.

+1 I pick it up to it stays purrrty. Doesn't get dinged up also lets me inspect them later if I take them out and put the empties back in the same order I fired em. All bets are off at a match though, going to work that bolt fast and let the brass fly.

 

[wilecoyote]

replacing the OEM ejector spring wit a feebler spring ( read springs from some ballpoint pen ) will allow to pick the brass from the opened bolt rifle when not in hurry,without the need of playin'as a catcher, or ejecting it away during a match, depending from the speed of the bolt opening_ that if allowed from the engineering of the bolt, like a 700, of course_ done, it works_ hope can help_

 

[usmc02xx]

i catch mine just to keep it from hitting ground and place back in box. When falling it gets all dinged up and i have to search around for it. Its only a +1 that its "operator as fuck".

 

[thrusty]

I'm a sub-conscious brass catcher...to the point where I don't even realize I do it. One guy asked me to show him how I do it...for the life of me, I couldn't show him when I started thinking about how I did it.
Regardless, I turn it off when it's match time.

 

[fw707]

It is extremely important to master this trick as it serves to draw attention away from the stretch marks under your mustache and the overwhelming stench of ammonia and brie every time you belch.

I was sitting around this afternoon reading stuff here on the Hide, and I got to wondering why I hardly ever post anything on here any more.
Then I read this post and I remembered why.

 

[Ring]

i shoot alot in high grass... if i dont do it i will lose brass
with a AI and short throw bolt its REAL easy...

 

[sinister]

If you're worried about brass you're not worried about where your shots are going.

A couple of California Highway Patrol and other shootings in the 70s proved you'll do in combat what you do in training. Some dead troopers were found with empty sixgun brass in their pockets (trained to police up their spent revolver cases rather than concentrating on shooting).

 

[Rob01]

If you're worried about brass you're not worried about where your shots are going.

Wouldn't agree with that. If you can catch it and don't want to lose it after your shot has broke then do it but in a situation where you are making multiple shots you shouldn't be catching brass between shots. It's about having your mind in the game and knowing what you are doing and doing the right thing at the right time.

I catch at home when laying on the firing line and shooting slow but don't when shooting fast. Same at matches. If taking a slow shot and after shot has broke and hopefully hit then I pop the case out and catch it. I am not worrying about if I will catch my brass as I am taking the shot.

 

[djskit]

Remember that things you do by reflex in practice will become natural in a match or real life. When shooting from a bench I will deflect brass down with my hand but not catch it. Prone I never try to catch it because I want to hold that solid prone position.

I have buddy who has fallen in this trap. During rapid fire stages, he goes to catch the brass, but stops himself in mid grab so he can get back to the bolt handle faster - the worst of both worlds. He didn't even believe me when I told him he was doing it until I shot video of him on the next stage. He's now dry practicing like hell to break the habit.

I for one only want one movement in my brain for when I rack the bolt - so I don't ever try and catch brass.

 

[gstaylorg]

One other item to consider is that if you have a strong enough ejector spring in your bolt to throw the brass 2-3 feet (or more), there is a very good chance that many your case necks will have a sizable flat spot on them. This occurs when the neck clears the narrow part of the chamber and is pushed/slapped against the side, prior to complete extraction. In many cases, the flat spot is large enough that FL resizing with a bushing die cannot completely remove it. I don't particularly enjoy running an expander mandrel through every case prior to resizing, so I pull the bolt back very slowly until the neck just clears the port and the case pops out. It minimizes flat spots and it's actually pretty easy to catch it with your hand by doing it that way.

 

[goodgorilla]

I think I forgot to mention that I did get a chance to catch some brass off of a strait handle. It seemed to work alright, but it did seem to draw my attention away from the shooting process.

 

[Rob01]

I think I forgot to mention that I did get a chance to catch some brass off of a strait handle. It seemed to work alright, but it did seem to draw my attention away from the shooting process.

Then that's a training issue. Not a mechanics issue. Catching brass shouldn't even come into your mind until after follow through is complete. If it's before then you are worrying more about how you look than how you shoot.

 

[goodgorilla]

Then that's a training issue. Not a mechanics issue. Catching brass shouldn't even come into your mind until after follow through is complete. If it's before then you are worrying more about how you look than how you shoot.

It didn't really distract me from the current shot. I'm pretty sure it drew my attention away from the scope to set up the next shot.

 

[Rob01]

If you need to take another shot in quick order you shouldn't be catching brass. Catching brass should be done only when it won't be interfering with the shooting. If it does then don't do it.

 

[Shooter_308]

I do this exactly for the same reason as a few others in this thread, to catch my brass to reload. Keeps them from dinging and scratching. Also, it keeps the brass scavengers from picking mine up when i'm not looking! Also, helps me keep track of round count at the end of the day if i'm not paying attention.

 

[Red_SC]

Frank caught a pretty cool pic of me catching my brass at last years SH Cup. Now onto the reason I was doing it was because I was shooting standing from sticks on the zero range. I wasnt in any hurry and did it just because I didnt feel like having to pic up all my brass when I was done. That was the only reason.

https://www.facebook.com/3686380779...6_n.jpg&size=2048,1360&fbid=10151699839672953

That's .284 brass- nobody in their right mind lets that hit the ground if you can help it.

 

[Tristian19]

I watched a video where a guy was using a swept handle bolt, and he caught the ejecting brass at the same time as ejecting the brass. He did it by putting his hand in front of the bolt knob and pulling the bolt back with the back of his thumb while catching the brass with his fingers. First question is why would a person want to do that, and secondly, would a strait handle bolt be more difficult to perform that action?

I catch brass in same manner as video posted on this thread. I personally do it because I reload. I find it easier than getting off rig and searching for brass. Allows me to stay on target and make follow up shots quicker. Prevents brass from getting dirty from ground, mud if raining or wet. If shooting at bench I rather not have my brass hit concrete and possibly obtain dents. I also keep my brass in lots and I hate when I lose brass.

Lapua brass is expensive enough (especially for my .338) and then when you add in neck turning along with all other care I put into each case I treat them as if they are made of gold and not brass.

This is why I do it...