CALDWELL BRASS TRAP

Sgt Nambu · Oct 22, 2014

I've given up my old cardboard box with the hole cut in to catch brass for a new Caldwell Brass Trap. This is a mesh bag on two plastic hoops that attach to a steel base forming a standing mesh bag open on one (the large) end. Zipper across the smaller rear end for quick dumping the brass to another container. It's made from a heat resistant mesh material.
Main reasons for buying this rig (besides a hatred for sweeping and sorting brass) is it packs into a compact bag for transport and it can be screwed onto a tripod and set at the right highth for a standing pistol shooter! It seems well made and pretty cool. Anyone have experience with one of these things?

U201491 · Oct 23, 2014

Interesting. I had never seen one like that before.

https://www.google.com/search?q=CAL...a=X&ei=maxIVPDmOsGOiwLRx4DoCQ&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAw

spectra · Oct 23, 2014

Looks like a great idea. Playing brass police does suck when out shooting. Every gun has a different spray pattern when it comes to brass.

Sgt Nambu · Oct 23, 2014

spectra said:
Looks like a great idea. Playing brass police does suck when out shooting. Every gun has a different spray pattern when it comes to brass.

Yes, it will have to be set up close to the ejection port. No help for the over the head escapee.

Caveman Jim · Oct 23, 2014

I have two of these and are a pain (once adjusted) to keep alignment while shooting. I've melted parts of the mesh when case is extracted & hangs up just out of the receiver. Not sure I'll keep using them since they are a PITA...

rick benjamin · Oct 23, 2014

I saw this at a 3-gun match. Worked well, caught a lot of brass.
Brass Magnet

gastronome · Oct 23, 2014

rick benjamin said:
I saw this at a 3-gun match. Worked well, caught a lot of brass.
Brass Magnet

Looks great, but rather pricey.

As for the Caldwell, I have one. Kind of a hassle to put together so I store mine assembled. Seems to work well enough if you're stationary.

Sgt Nambu · Oct 23, 2014

The Brass Magnet wouldn't work for me, I'm shooting at a range and there are people where the net would go.

Caveman Jim said:
I have two of these and are a pain (once adjusted) to keep alignment while shooting. I've melted parts of the mesh when case is extracted & hangs up just out of the receiver. Not sure I'll keep using them since they are a PITA...

Jim, are you weighting it down or using a tripod? I have a heavy sandbag with a camera mount (like a tripod) that will screw onto the bottom of the trap. Hope that will help.

erudne · Oct 23, 2014

images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQis_1cYJ3K9ZstE2DrBG--OB-4rKqS1o-a9UBMqeFoflBQ33A8

I have one of these and us it on ARs/Minis with mixed results my friend has one made from ABS that is quite effective but costs over $100
anyone that can mould ABS sheeting could crank these out easy enough

oknow · Oct 24, 2014

Kydex is easy to work withnot to mention cheap. All you need is a hairdryer to heated it up to form it

U201491 · Oct 24, 2014

Sgt Nambu said:
Yes, it will have to be set up close to the ejection port. No help for the over the head escapee.

Sure is better than the ones that hang off the gun.

Sgt Nambu · Oct 26, 2014

That's what I thought, Taku! We shall see. Don't like what Jim said about melting mesh though!

U201491 · Oct 26, 2014

Should work well for an AR also. But those Mini14s I had, I could set it up 30 feet away and catch brass with it LOL When up in the hills doing targets, I seldom even found my brass with those. You could take out the enemy ahead and anything coming in from the right all at the same time

Caveman Jim · Oct 26, 2014

Sgt Nambu said:
The Brass Magnet wouldn't work for me, I'm shooting at a range and there are people where the net would go.

Jim, are you weighting it down or using a tripod? I have a heavy sandbag with a camera mount (like a tripod) that will screw onto the bottom of the trap. Hope that will help.

Just have the Handguard resting on the sandbag.

U201491 · Oct 26, 2014

Sgt Nambu said:
That's what I thought, Taku! We shall see. Don't like what Jim said about melting mesh though!

I tried one like this but got rid of it pretty quick.

Can you change the net material to something that won't melt ?

elsie · Oct 26, 2014

I use this one on my flat-top. They also have a model for carry handle versions.

http://www.brownells.com/rifle-part...15-m16-brass-savr-brass-catcher-prod1541.aspx

I haven't used a Caldwell, but the other one I have that uses velcro around the front of the reciever (UTG?) hasn't melted either.

elsie

808hondacrguy · Oct 26, 2014

I had one like the one Taku has pictured, and it also melted a huge hole in the bottom of the bag the first time I used it. I took it back to Cabelas and they didn't want to give my money back because it was ruined, so I had to get a Manager involved to get a refund. I just pick my brass up the old fashioned way now.

Caveman Jim · Oct 26, 2014

Sgt Nambu said:
That's what I thought, Taku! We shall see. Don't like what Jim said about melting mesh though!

Yep, If it's not aligned properly & the spent casing gets stuck as it exits the receiver it is hot. & will melt the mesh. It happened twice the first time I used it...
No real instructions to get it right just have to fiddle with it.

Sgt Nambu · Nov 26, 2014

I went to the range yesterday, with two autoloading rifles, and tried the brass trap for the first time. As soon as I adjusted for the trajectory of the spent case, obviously different for each rifle, the trap worked perfectly! Only other slight problem was a strong wind moved the trap, even though a weighted bag was attached. Placing a full M-1A mag on the bag stopped that issue cold!
No sign of melting mesh or any other any other issue. I'm compleatly sold on this rig!