45 ACP

[Brad]

Went out to see how the newly throated barrel in my 1911 would do. Load was a MP 200 SWC coated with Hi-Tek, 4.8 gr Promo, and mixed brass. I fired 200 of this load to see if leading was going to occur. This bullet and coating did give some leading in the first inch of the bore before the throating.
No leading was seen. A few wet patches did pick up a few rough spots but I think these are from a few bullets that may not have had the coating fully cured. No streaks of lead of other fouling could be seen with the naked eye after the bore was cleaned.
I did chronograph 50 rounds with the LabRadar. I was a bit surprised to see this load give 950 fps on average with 4 rounds going just over 1 K fps. The load does shoot well but I may try lowering it to 4.5 gr and see what it does.

No groups were fired. This was a day for fun. A few pop cans were killed and some lead was retrieved from the berm.

 

[gman]

Sure doesn't take long to eat through some ammo with the 1911. At least that's my experience!

 

[9.3X62AL]

Most autopistols are like that for me. Much like popcorn or potato chips, having just a few is difficult to bring off.

 

[Brad]

I would shoot mine a bunch more if I didn't have to pick up brass.

 

[freebullet]

Sounds fun to me.

The shooting of the ammo that is.

 

[Intheshop]

Have built several,pretty dang nice brass catchers over the years.....they must be quite fertile?Cause they keep sprouting legs and walking away....doh.

Agreed,if it wasn't for picking up the brass or the anxiety of "not",that only a reloader can comprehend....a 200g swc launched from a 1911 at paper killing velocities...

Is a thing of beauty.BW

 

[freebullet]

"anxiety of "not"

Mmmmm, I have a very strict no brass left behind policy.

I pick up before I shoot to get any range Brass & keep it separate. Then pick up mine after. No brass left behind. Even been known to load steel Berdan cases when brass is filled.

 

[Rally Hess]

I have several painters tarps I spread out whenever I shoot auto pistol. Couple folds and it all pours out one end.

 

[Intheshop]

Picking up brass....all good when it's a "range".Doesn't work very well "on the fly".Meaning woods bumming,stump shooting.
We catch prolly 85% + when in the woods shooting with a bud.Will not resort to attaching anything to the gun or wrist.Autos usually stay home when we hit the woods or riverbanks...which is more than half our shooting.

The same can sort of be said for our bows,snow and pine needles....your gonna lose arrows stump shooting.So don't do it.

The "fancy" indoor ranges(we still have an indoor) I go to with my boys.....whilst "safe",in both behavior and ventilation.They sell the brass,and seems like any attempt to "none left behind" falls on deaf ears to the wide floor broom wielding hired help.

I know...talk "stuff",or do stuff.EVERY time we go to a fancy indoor with semi's,the whole trip trip home is spent designing some type of mobile,benchtop brass catcher.

 

[Pistolero]

When shooting 1911 on my property, I stake out a tarp, brass is really, really easy for 1 minute putting out the tarp with some
gutter nails, and 2 min folding it afterwards.

Bill

 

[Dale53]

I often shoot on our club's indoor range. These days I only use my revolvers. Since I am shooting for fun and good targets as opposed to competition, there is little need for autos. At my age I surely do NOT enjoy bending over to pick up brass. Several of my friends have commercial brass catchers for their autos. They just simply rest next to them on the shooting bench. I wanted one a bit more versatile so I made it my self. This one uses a cheap photo tripod that I already had. I used a small net fish net on sale at Bass Pro. It rests on the ground so I can take it to the outdoor plinking range as well as use it for organized shooting:



My shooting buddy started with the same net, but made his exclusively for using on the bench. They both catch about 95% of the brass. Saves a LOT of effort plus can save arguments if you have to use a commercial range.

Me, I'll stick with my revolvers, these days, for most shooting.

Dale53

 

[smokeywolf]

Due to a ruptured disc, I hate bending over, kneeling down to pick up brass. But, even with my boys there, I choose to do the brass recovery. As unpleasant as it is, as long as I'm careful, it's a good stretching exercise for my back.

 

[quicksylver]

I like painting the bottoms of all my brass for use in competition..it fulfills my artistic cravings..

 

[Eutectic]

While I have 1911's; even a superbly accurate Series 70 Gold Cup one..... It seems I shoot 2 just as accurate revolvers here on the property with .45 Auto Rim. I like 100% recovery on fired brass and will hunt a half hour for one hole vacant in my ammo box!

Pete

 

[RicinYakima]

Oh Pete, Pete, Pete. Thirty minutes for one piece of brass is entirely excessive! I give up after 25!

 

[Pistolero]

While my only back issues have been a couple of bouts with sciatica, which yielded to exercises
as predicted by my doc, like Smokeywolf, I appreciate the opportunity to stretch my back picking up brass.
I would far rather be bending over and keeping my back functional and stronger than not, so
I find it a great excuse to stay limber.

As far as recovery rate, nowdays, with 5 or 6 K cases in stock, if I get a 80% recovery, I am
fine with that. I do lay out a tarp when I shoot at home, the grass will eat 99% of it
otherwise. When I finally get my berm pushed up, I will probably put a load of fine gravel
down so finding brass will be easier.

Bill

 

[Brad]

I'm perfectly happy with a 97-98% recovery rate. Every so I often I even hit 105%!
Bill knows the range where I shoot and can attest to the fine gravel bed which makes finding cases easier.

 

[Pistolero]

Yes, on a nice fine gravel base, finding cases is pretty easy. That is what I hope to put in at
my range when I get it done.
At my club range, I sometimes get 200% recovery but oddly a lot of it is 9mm? How strange.

Bill

 

[Brad]

I have a scrap brass bucket that is at least 25% 40 short and weak. Lots of those get left at the range. I grab all I can with brass worth over a buck a pound.

 

[smokeywolf]

Only brass I really wish I had more of is 30-40, 25-20 and 218 bee. Every time I go the range I come back with at least three or four extra 30-06 and a dozen extra 45 ACP cases.