How do you pick up brass? Reacher tools?

[ChuteTheMall]

What's the fastest way to pick up 10 brass shells and maybe about 4 shotgun shells while somebody else resets the knockdown targets without holding up the next shooter? Assuming no eager children are available?

Those brass wizard rolling cages (designed for harvesting fallen pecans and walnuts) work but only on certain surfaces like mowed lawns, and not so good on shell-sized gravel.

Those various reacher tools, also called grabbers or gophers or pikstiks seem to be almost as fast as bending over and using your fingers, and a lot less stressful for a tired old shooter wearing sixguns. Any preferences among these?
Some have rubber suction cups, others have hard rubber-coated jaws. I like the longest ones, I can sometimes sneak one out past the firing line when I shouldn't have my body out there, to grab that one last piece of shiny brass.

A small mesh net, or a piviting can, on a 3 foot stick makes a quick place to drop each shell, and to carry them for dumping at the unloading table.

[Deadeye Don]

We have tried various items in the past.  None work quite as well as the human hand.

PS especially if you have more than one set of hands helping out.

[Bugscuffle]

1. Bend at the waist
2. Flex the knees slightly
3. Use the special "digital case grabber" attached to the end of your arm. (Not available in stores, just pay separate S&H)
4. Repeat if necessary.

[St. George]

By hand.

Why add one more piece of gear when you already have two that are perfectly designed for the task?

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[Shotgun Franklin]

I was thinking a 22 year old Red Head in a Bikini, especially if I could keep her at my house between Shoots?

[Thomas O'Hawk]

I personally use the grabber and extended handle fish net.

With that said, I think Shotgun might be on to something there......

[Jefro]

I personally use the grabber and extended handle fish net.

That's what you'll find at most clubs, picker uppers and large live bait nets. Alot of us can't bend over like we used to, and why get yer hands burnt and greasy from my BP rounds We installed trays with rabbit wire at our unloading tables to help remove the dirt and sand. Good Luck

Jefro Relax-Enjoy

[TwoWalks Baldridge]

I was thinking a 22 year old Red Head in a Bikini, especially if I could keep her at my house between Shoots?

The upkeep and maintenance would just be beyond reason. 

[ChuteTheMall]

I was thinking a 22 year old Red Head in a Bikini, especially if I could keep her at my house between Shoots?

That would delay the next shooter as the attentive and observant peanut gallery keeps tossing brass back 

I like the rabbit mesh idea and I'll look at some bait nets too.

[Badlands Bob]

There ain't nothing faster at picking up brass than a 12 year old.  They have sharp little eyes, quick hands and they are already closer to the ground.  I think one should be assigned to each posse at every match.

[Stu Kettle]

There ain't nothing faster at picking up brass than a 12 year old.  They have sharp little eyes, quick hands and they are already closer to the ground.  I think one should be assigned to each posse at every match.

That's a great idea - a couple of years ago we shot Montezuma's Revenge at Cortez, & a local Boy Scout troop showed up & each posse had their own scout to pick up brass - we all liked it so much we passed the hat & raised about $40 or $50 to show our appreciation. After the last stage we set our Scout up with some guns & leather & let him shoot a couple of stages, so we not only got the convenience of having our brassing done, we recruited a new young shoooter.

[maarty]

I have two brass pickers.... both 13 years old.... they wanna shoot they have to pick brass and generally make themselves useful. If they don't they get to sit in the car for four or five hours till I'm ready to go home (and they don't get the keys either)