Bad back picking up brass at the range

[Dddrees]

Basically my back had gotten to the point I had to sleep in my chair for days at a time because it was so bad I couldn't sleep in my bed. Anybody experience a pinched nerve knows this is not a good thing.

Anybody have or use something that really works well instead of just bending down and having to pick them up? For the most part we would be talking about picking them up off of concrete. I was thinking broom and dust pan but I wondered if there might be something better.

 

[Reverend Dreed]

several people who shoot at our little range throw down a tarp and then just fold in the edges and get most of it all at once when they pick up the tarp.

 

[KMaC]

Picking up off a concrete floor sounds like an indoor range and a tarp would probably not be allowed.

 

[AngryRooster]

several people who shoot at our little range throw down a tarp and then just fold in the edges and get most of it all at once when they pick up the tarp.

I've done this before and it works well with handgun rounds. Rifle rounds wanted to melt the tarp and either stick or melt a hole all the way through.

Caldwell has a wire ball that works well. There are other brands that are cheaper if you look around.
https://smile.amazon.com/Caldwell-1...&qid=1492980692&sr=8-1&keywords=brass+pick+up

[video=youtube;IUdy040L5aY]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUdy040L5aY[/video]

 

[Dddrees]

I've done this before and it works well with handgun rounds. Rifle rounds wanted to melt the tarp and either stick or melt a hole all the way through.

Caldwell has a wire ball that works well. There are other brands that are cheaper if you look around.
https://smile.amazon.com/Caldwell-1...&qid=1492980692&sr=8-1&keywords=brass+pick+up

[video=youtube;IUdy040L5aY]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUdy040L5aY[/video]

Thanks, and I saw a few different ones when conducting a few searches, however the mixed reviews tended to give me pause. But you say it's worked well for you so I'll still keep this in mind. For right now it's just handgun rounds.

 

[GNRPowdeR]

I've done this before and it works well with handgun rounds. Rifle rounds wanted to melt the tarp and either stick or melt a hole all the way through.

Caldwell has a wire ball that works well. There are other brands that are cheaper if you look around.
https://smile.amazon.com/Caldwell-1...&qid=1492980692&sr=8-1&keywords=brass+pick+up

[video=youtube;IUdy040L5aY]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUdy040L5aY[/video]

Got one of these for Christmas and I encourage you to either get a tarp or one of these. YMMV, but my back and knees are thankful for the investment!

 

[red_zr24x4]

I've done this before and it works well with handgun rounds. Rifle rounds wanted to melt the tarp and either stick or melt a hole all the way through.

Caldwell has a wire ball that works well. There are other brands that are cheaper if you look around.
https://smile.amazon.com/Caldwell-1...&qid=1492980692&sr=8-1&keywords=brass+pick+up

[video=youtube;IUdy040L5aY]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUdy040L5aY[/video]

My local Ace Hardware has something similar, don't remember a price though. might be worth checking it could save a few $

 

[Dddrees]

Got one of these for Christmas and I encourage you to either get a tarp or one of these. YMMV, but my back and knees are thankful for the investment!

My local Ace Hardware has something similar, don't remember a price though. might be worth checking it could save a few $

Thanks guys and I probably will.

 

[cce1302]

I use an old cotton sheet instead of a plastic tarp. Cotton doesn't melt.

 

[Kirk Freeman]

I first used pecan rollers at the Chapman Academy *ahem, cough, clearing throat* years ago. Work really well on hard-packed soil or concrete.

You can get them for $30 and in the Deep South they sell them at Wal-Marts and hardware stores.

Garden Weasel 39.5 in. Aluminum Medium Nut Gatherer (95306) - Specialty Tools - Ace Hardware

 

[hopper68]

Doggy pooper scooper. Just get a new one for range use only!!!!

https://www.amazon.com/Arm-Hammer-7...qid=1492987892&sr=1-5&keywords=pooper+scooper

 

[BGDave]

Doggy pooper scooper. Just get a new one for range use only!!!!

https://www.amazon.com/Arm-Hammer-7...qid=1492987892&sr=1-5&keywords=pooper+scooper

Or this, get the longest handle you can find.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Pet-Pooper-Scooper-Spring-Loaded-Shovel-Black/50035461

 

[johntheplinker]

Doggy pooper scooper. Just get a new one for range use only!!!!

https://www.amazon.com/Arm-Hammer-7...qid=1492987892&sr=1-5&keywords=pooper+scooper

I use something very similar. Works good!

 

[senork]

After back surgery I had to find an alternative method to picking up my brass at the range. I bought a what I call a "picker upper" at CVS, it has fairly long handle, you squeeze the grip and it closes on two pincers, Normally I can pick up only one piece at a time, but it beats bending.

 

[Gabriel]

It's amazing that we can send someone to the moon, but nobody has invented a brass magnet. Science has failed us.

 

[dudley0]

Once they perfect the aluminum magnet the brass one is right around the corner.

 

[Johnny0]

Last time I went to the range there was an old timer there with one of those trash picker upper things. It seemed to work well, but he could only pick up 1-2 cases at a time.

 

[gglass]

Shoot steel-cased ammo and use a magnet on a stick for pickup. Easy peasy!

 

[Spike Jones 5 2002]

I really suffered for over a year from loading a heavy load into my pickup.
Finely I seen a Chiropractor. I felt the difference after the first session. After a couple it was like it never happened. After about a dozen. I have been pain free for years to date.

I did see several doctors who all said I would need surgery.

 

[Dddrees]

Last time I went to the range there was an old timer there with one of those trash picker upper things. It seemed to work well, but he could only pick up 1-2 cases at a time.

Thanks for the suggestion however I'm hoping to get something that picks up more than one or two at a time. As stated it's too bad there's no such thing as a brass magnet, but I'm not willing to use a steel jacketed round at this point. Not sure how much of a problem that is but it does seem to make sense that a brass casing would be easier on a gun.

The pooper scooper although it might work I know I would always be dropping some when I pick some up. Just not convinced that would be ideal at this point. I'm still leaning towards the nut roller thingy at this point.

Thanks for the suggestions everybody.