When a handgun is shot, the shells fly out, and to prevent that, the shooter can use a Brass Catcher. The best brass catchers on our list are Caldwell Pic Rail Brass Catcher, Caldwell Brass Trap, and GLORYFIRE Pic Rail Brass Catcher. The main advantage of a brass shell catcher is to save time rather than wasting it on manual collection. Below we will look at each product in more detail.
List Of The Best Brass Catchers
So, what about Brass Catchers by customer choice?
- 【Heat-Resistant Mesh】 With its robust and heat-resistant mesh construction, the ar brass catcher can withstand even the hottest brass without melting, and the bottom zipper provides a quick and easy release.
- 【Easy to Attach and Detach】 The ar shell catcher mounting piece can be easily installed on the picatinny rail, and the quick detach feature allows for effortless installation and switching between ar shell catcher equipment.
- 【Customizable Settings】 The CVLIFE brass catcher features 4 adjustable settings that allow you to adjust the distance between the catcher and ejection port to your liking for optimal performance.
- 【Extra Picatinny Rail Mount】 This shell catcher comes with an extra picatinny rail mount that can be attached to different equipment, providing added versatility and convenience.
- 【Unrestricted Ejection Space】 The large ejection space of the brass catcher ensures that it won't interfere with the ejection process, allowing you to focus on your process without any distractions.
- DIMENSIONS: Brass Catcher 4.5" L x 5.5" W x 3.5" H, Pic Mount 1.4" L x 0.8" W x 0.5" H
- SPECS: Holds 100 pieces of .223 brass
- INCLUDES: 1 Pic Rail Brass Catcher and 1 Picatinny Mount
- FUNCTION: Mounts to any small platform extendable magazine rifle with a flat top or picatinny rail hand guard, not compatible with large platform rifles
- DURABLE: Heat resistant mesh will not melt during use and the internal wire frame maintains the bag’s shape even when it is full of brass
- 【Large Ejection Space】 This CVLIFE brass catcher come with two iron frame. The two iron frames would keep more space for the brass ejected, even if the brass mesh during with a large weight.
- 【Fixed Firmly】 The tacti net brass catcher with a narrow iron frame, which is more firmly fixed on the rail and will not slide easily due to recoil.
- 【Quick Installation】 This especially Ar shell catcher with buckle strap design and soft nylon hook is convenient and quick to install on the rail.
- 【Easy to Release Brass】 The zipper closure on the bottom of the brass shell catcher, that for quick release of the shell. It would not waste your time picking up brass from the range.
- 【Heat-Resistant Mesh】 The mesh material of ar attachments is heat-resistant mesh, which prevents hot brass from melting a hole during ejection.
Last update on 2025-01-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The best Brass Catchers by expert choice are below!
Last update on 2025-02-01 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Best. Caldwell Pic Rail Brass Catcher is one of the best brass catchers if you want to get a quality and pretty durable product and begin immediately.
Runner-up. If you are a serious shooter and prefer only quality equipment that will improve your shooting, then this Caldwell Brass Trap is for you.
Best budget. This product would be a great solution if you are on a tight budget but still want a good product for your money, then this GLORYFIRE Pic Rail Brass Catcher going to be good for you.
We will examine the products in more detail and find out what their pros and cons are.
Caldwell Pic Rail Brass Catcher
- DIMENSIONS: Brass Catcher 4.5" L x 5.5" W x 3.5" H, Pic Mount 1.4" L x 0.8" W x 0.5" H
- SPECS: Holds 100 pieces of .223 brass
- INCLUDES: 1 Pic Rail Brass Catcher and 1 Picatinny Mount
- FUNCTION: Mounts to any small platform extendable magazine rifle with a flat top or picatinny rail hand guard, not compatible with large platform rifles
- DURABLE: Heat resistant mesh will not melt during use and the internal wire frame maintains the bag’s shape even when it is full of brass
Last update on 2025-02-01 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Rail-mounted Caldwell Pic Rail Brass Catcher is one of the best brass catchers, strong safe, light, and secure. With a dimension of 10 inches tall x 7 inches wide x 4 inches deep, and weighing only 4.8 ounces this is the perfect choice for a brass catcher that isn’t obtrusive that is easy to use. It fits well over the ejecting port and can hold more than 100 rounds of .223 casings.
Your mileage could vary when shooting a bigger caliber However, in our tests we discovered that if you’re changing your mags well in advance of reaching 100 rounds it’s simple to get it cleaned out when you’re done.
Effective Mounting System
We’ve tried thousands of dollars worth of equipment for our guide to products among the items we’ve put the test the one we’ve tested is this. Caldwell brass catcher is among the handful of items that we bought for shooting too.
It comes with a user-friendly mounting system that is compatible with any Picatinny rail. So should you don’t have a top-rail it won’t be a good fit for you, but for the majority of AR users it’s a straightforward and functional accessory. The internal wire frame inside keeps it in the right form, and the ability to put the Caldwell anyplace on your rail allows it to protect the ejection port and allows spent casings to enter the bags without disrupting the bolt’s functionality or affecting cycling.
Mesh & Catch Bag Quality
Important note: the heat-resistant mesh is sturdy, but with time the bottom of the mesh bag will wear away because of the way hot brass is positioned to land nose down (the hottest part of the cartridge).
A slight mod makes it almost perfect
Although it’s not realistic to believe that something will endure for eternity, our research did find that putting a tiny piece of leather on the bottom stopped any visible wear and extends the longevity of the item substantially.
Caldwell Brass Trap with Heat Resistant Mesh and Tripod Mount for Range Brass
- DIMENSIONS: 19" H x 17" W x 16.5" D
- EASE OF USE: Zipper at the bottom of the mesh bag makes emptying simple and the brass catcher features a 1/4"-20 thread to mount to a tripod (not included)
- VERSATILITY: Can be used to catch casings from pistol or rifle shoots and can be weighed down with shooting bags, screwed down or mounted to a tripod
- DURABLE: Heat resistant mesh will not melt during use and the internal cage design maintains the bag’s shape even when it is full of brass
- CONVENIENT: Collapses down to fit into small bags, like range bags and comes with a carry bag for easy storage and transport
Last update on 2025-02-01 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Other brass catchers are mounted directly to your rifle should you prefer not to mount anything on your handguard (but want to utilize the trap) this Caldwell Brass Trap is capable of clearing, catching brass, and getting rid of all the discharged brass much easier than other trap we’ve ever observed.
Stand-alone trap
The fact that it’s an individual catch means that it can be a good fit for all firearms such as pistols, and rifles, you know what you’re looking for. The mouth is also huge measuring 19” x 20″ which means it’s able to catch whatever you throw at it, and it’s much simpler to clean than other traps.
The heat-resistant mesh made of nylon utilizes Hook and Loop webbing, which makes it more rigid and the internal wire frame helps to hold the fabric together and helps keep it in an even shape. It can be mounted to a tripod to allow you to move it around to suit the location you’re shooting, whether standing either seated or standing. It’s an all-purpose brass catcher.
Ideal when secured down
Its size is large but very light we discovered that even without a tripod, this catch performed best when used using a sandbag or bungee cords to secure it down. It’s the right brass catcher for anyone who would like to capture spent brass, without attaching anything to their firearm.
Once you’ve secured it, however, it’s not going to move. It’s also important to have more shooting space since the catch needs to be placed 5-6 feet away from you to be in line with the brass ejections out of empty cartridges.
Because of these reasons and many more we believe that a top-quality AR 15 brass catcher that makes the task of cleaning considerably easier is worth the price.
GLORYFIRE Pic Rail Brass Catcher
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If your budget isn’t enough and you’re looking for a Caldwell Pic Rail Brass Catcher that is the best brass catcher. The GLORYFIRE Pic Rail Brass Catcher is simple to install on your rifle, holds the same number of rounds (100 rounds capacity), and is priced lower than our top choice. However, it’s also a fairly reliable brass catcher.
Easy to attach, if somewhat inconsistent quality
It can be attached using the supplied mount and Allen wrenches. It also has an open bottom that is zippered for simple emptying. It also keeps you from flipping brass at your neighbor on the range.
It’s also light enough not to interfere with shooting position, bolt function, or optics, and the heat resistant mesh uses hook and loop webbing – it showed no signs of melting in our 100+ round fire tests, preventing hot brass from spewing across our range.
The Picatinny rail mount performed well on our test device, but there are instances of it not milling as per the specifications, which may cause it to become canted when it is mounted. Quality assurance can also be a concern, but absent that the product works as intended.
Caldwell Brass Retriever
- EASE OF USE: Picking up spent brass has never been so simple! Roll the Caldwell Brass Retriever over your brass casings (.223 caliber or bigger) to collect them quickly, without bending over
- VERSATILITY: The telescoping handle adjusts from 22” to 50”
- RELIABLE: Works on many surfaces including concrete, pavement, gravel, and short grass
- CONVENIENT: Emptying the brass catcher is a breeze with the included metal separator
- DESIGN: The Caldwell Brass Picker is compact to store in your range bag and take on the go
Last update on 2025-02-01 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
If you’re not a fan of having a catcher attached to your gun, or prefer to clean up your mess after your time at the range is over (but you don’t want to be bending over to pick up the brass yourself) The Caldwell Brass Retriever is durable and light. It is easy to put together and an excellent performer in removing the casings that have been used up and making it easier for you to get your back.
It did better at removing .223 and 5.56 cases than the other divers we tested. It did this on light gravel, cement, and packed dirt well. The long handle and the opener are made of metal let that you can stand while cleaning and then swiftly put the casings in the bucket and take them home.
Easy to put on the back
This reduces the strain on your back, and its compact handle makes it small enough to be tucked away in the range bag.
The concept is simple. You extend the handle and remove the casings moving them around using an electric wire.
There’s a learning curve
It’s not advisable to overdo it once it has taken around 20 cases it will begin falling off the head if continue moving it around. You will know that you’re “full” (even when it’s not filling your head) and you can then drop the casings into a bucket using an opener.
It’s also not omnidirectional, so you must position your head in the correct direction to ensure it is always picking up the casings (or it’ll slide on them.) It’s great in indoor ranges that have smooth flooring.
In the outdoors, your mileage can differ, and it can take in stones and other objects along with the casings that you don’t need. However, it’s an excellent tool that does excellent work if you utilize it within the limits of its design.
TacStar Industries 1081240 Brass Catcher
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Another solid attachable brass catcher option is the TacStar Industries, available on Amazon.
It’s approximately identical in terms of size and cost as our top pick and includes all the features you’d want from a brass catcher. This particular catch, however, is robust and well-built. The material (while not transparent like mesh alternatives) is extremely tough. It’s impervious to hot brass casings and stiff enough that it doesn’t need a wire frame.
Survived our speed run with flying colors
We conducted a speed run that involved firing 30 rounds at a time. The spent brass that was fired up was too scorching to handle, however, the catcher was in good condition even though it was half full of hot casings. It’s quite impressive.
It can be mounted using the standard Picatinny rail onto any flat top AR and is a good option If you have the space for the rail.
Less mounting flexibility
A note about the mount the Caldwell mount can slide across the opening, and the Tacstar mount can slide halfway across, from the front towards the middle of the unit.
This means that your Picatinny mount must be set forward of the center point of the catcher to protect the ejection port – you cannot mount the bracket further to the rear of the rail.
While it’s not a huge design issue, this could be a problem for those on rail slots for forwards or who have the scope mounted in this space.
There is no zipper, but it’s easy to empty
There are no bottom zipper-like other models, and the bag has to be empty before it can be used however it can but it slides off the mount smoothly.
You can also remove bags from top brackets using the swing-open design, to make sure it is thoroughly cleaned whenever it is deemed sensible.
This Picatinny rail isn’t the most durable. So don’t tighten too many of the screws, or the threads could break. There’s also no option to buy a standalone bracket, so if you overdo it on the bracket you’ll need to replace the entire unit.
Graco Models Mark II
- Handgun case catcher, mounts on picatinny rail
Last update on 2025-02-01 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
There are vanishingly few mounted pistol brass catchers as well as this pistol brass catcher made by The Graco (not the stroller manufacturer) utilizes a basic bottom Picatinny rail mount that allows you to put the catch on top of the port for ejectors.
Naturally, this easy-mount will mean a smaller chance of catching brass – and you’ll likely find maybe 3 magazines worth of brass inside before it begins to sway and affect your ability target.
Graco pistol brass catcher a black, heat-resistant bag that is strong enough to stand up to hot casings with no issue.
6 Tips When Shopping for a Brass Catcher
1. Examine all choices
The majority of the time, you’ll see two basic types:
Remote Brass Catchers: Consider them as tactical buckets that have only one purpose: to catch the steamy brass that is hot when firing from a fixed location. They’re typically used in situations where shooters are firing at an unmoving target from a single location.
The remote brass catcher does not connect to the firearm but is intended to be put aside in the area where your casings are being ejected into. Place it on the tripod or bench close to you, and then put it away. All of your brass casings are spotless and tidy when you’re finished.
Attached Brass Catchers: These catchers are a bit more invasive approach but certainly the most effective as well. They attach to the ejecting port of your firearm and hold snugly, ensuring all spent casings fall directly into the enclosure.
It doesn’t matter where you are and which direction you’re shooting in (hopefully the safest one) or what angle you’re in it’s possible to pour fire at your foes with confidence that the casings you’ve used will be clean and safe no matter the circumstance.
2. The connection between your gun, the situation, and your brass catcher
Your gun along with the brass catcher needs to be compatible since they’ll likely get married for a considerable amount of time. Be sure that the shell catcher you buy is compatible with your gun and provides an adequate seal around the ejection port.
Certain brass catchers are designed specifically for each firearm, however, there are also brass catchers that are referred to as multi-purpose or universally adaptable. Whichever you pick make sure you read the manual to determine if it’s suitable or consults the gun shop in your area for help.
3. Situational awareness of your finances
As stated earlier that brass catchers could certainly be considered an investment item. Other attachments only cost you money, and will rarely provide any economic value however, the brass catcher is not one of them. Spent brass casings with a deterioration can be used again to load cartridges on your own or sold to other ammunition recyclers, or sold to earn scrap metal.
No matter what you choose to do with these spent casings, you’ll first need to consider your initial budget when shopping around. The majority of brass catchers perform the same function and offer limited practical value that is exemplified above the options you have in your budget.
The primary difference between low-cost alternatives and their more expensive counterparts is their style and endurance. The mesh bags tend to tear and shred, dispersing casings over the floor, and catchers made of plastic that are not high-quality could break when dropped or placed under intense usage.
Our recommendation to choose a budget is to look at the pressure you are planning to put your firearms under and then take into consideration the longevity that each item. It is better to purchase a higher-end brass catcher before you blast through some training sessions.
4. Design and quality options.
You might think that a catcher is something that doesn’t be much different from a standard box and bag, which connects to your firearm however, you’re wrong.
There are a variety of alternatives when it comes down to style and quality and many of the top brand names in firearm accessories may have their ideas of what a brass catcher must appear like. As a guideline, make sure your brass-catching bag has heat resistant materials
Some of the options you could be interested in are:
5. Child labor is a method of implementation.
Possibly the most economically friendly approach to brass catching is having your kids do it! Okay, maybe they’ll throw a fit, maybe they’ll require an ice cream cone as payment, or maybe they’ll want to shoot your “nobody shoots my” special rifle.
Whatever the case, my father always took me to the range regardless of the weather, picking those brass casings following a day at the range. I was once crazy, but if ever have children, they’ll do the same thing.
I believe there’s a worthwhile lesson to be learned from this. If the layout you select in #4 isn’t compatible with your situation financially #3, you’ll be able to make use of #5 in the hopes of pleasing all three!
6. Make your
The DIY brass catchers for brass are extremely popular and can help you save money if you have old fishing nets magnets, nylon bags, or other items lying around. With how cheap brass catchers are, we’re not entirely sure it’s necessary to make your own other than the satisfaction of adding your ingenuity to your firearm.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the function of the brass catcher?
When a handgun is fired by a person, the spent brass is released, and to avoid this from happening, the shooter should make use of the Brass Catcher. It allows them to gather and take the shells out easily in addition to the fact that it stops the shell from falling in random directions and it is likely to harm someone who isn’t safe.
How do you attach a brass catcher to your rifle?
Many brass catchers utilize a top rail to attach the slide-in base on which you can lock the brass catcher to the rifle’s ejection port. This makes them a simple upgrade to other platforms for rifles.
Are Brass Catchers legal?
The legality of Brass Catchers varies in different states across the USA. They are legal in certain states but are banned in other states. It is recommended that you study the laws surrounding this in your state to be sure you are on the right side.
What makes a Brass Catcher good?
A Brass Catcher could be composed of netting or plastic and is usually made from whatever is strong enough to hold shells and allow for easier removal following the collection of shells.
Final words
Each brass catchers have various strengths and use, however, one of the best brass catchers would be the Caldwell Pic Rail Brass Catcher because it’s extremely efficient, user-friendly, and meets the requirements of any brass catcher that we’d recommend:
There are a lot of alternatives available in this field however we hope that this article can guide you in the proper direction.
