Range Rats, Scavengers & Brass Hogs

Oh, Rats?

Every range has them — Range Rats. They’re not beady-eyed, long-tailed rodents, but die-hard shooters who frequent the range almost daily. They hate sitting around the house but love shooting. Usually retired, they have plenty of time on their hands.

Their cars are pre-packed with guns, ammo, targets and range essentials, allowing them to leave at a moment’s notice. Sound familiar? They are salt-of-the-earth shooters and are known affectionately as Range Rats.

Scavengers

Some Range Rats are also scavengers. Oppotunists, they go on daily forays checking brass buckets and firing lines, scouring for their favorite morsels: range brass. Club members complain of shooters failing to police brass but the scrounger secretly loves them.

Scroungers think of brass as gold! And free gold is the best! After every empty is gathered, scroungers sneak back to their vehicle, stashing their secret bounty. Only now will they shoot, if the urge strikes.

True Confessions

I admit to being a scrounger. It’s in my nature, I guess. I search the range for every last brass morsel I can find, keeping everything, whether I shoot those calibers or not. Believe me, someone will. And it’s always nice to help out a fellow shooter, especially a beginning handloader.

I ecstatically recall finding rare-caliber rifle brass I do shoot, neatly returned in its factory box, waiting to be collected. For scroungers, this is the golden egg. It’s what we live for. I know, we’re sick! However, all this range brass can influence shooting habits, too. Let me explain.

Free Range Brass …

Two of the most common calibers recovered (rescued?) are 9mm and 5.56/.223. Ejected and rejected, they litter the earth. Finding these treats by the bucket load, I had to do something. Being mainly a revolver shooter, all this free 9mm brass got me thinking. I pull my 9mm semi-autos from the safe, becoming friends once again, all because of this free offering.

And 9mm reloads are efficient, using less lead and powder than my big bores. Plus, I have a few Ruger Blackhawk convertibles with 9mm cylinders, to keep my revolver skills in check.

Delivery System?

Having a “few” AR-15 platforms, I could have built/ordered a .300 BLK upper. But I’d risk losing some of my hard-earned brass, plus I enjoy savoring each shot, confirming just how accurate my handloads are. I ended up getting an H&R AAC Hand-Rifle single-shot, break-action carbine. I have a blast shooting it, my handloads being everything I could ask for, accuracy wise.

Ruger Ranch Rifle

The H&R single-shot displayed the kind of accuracy achievable from the 300 BLK, but I wanted a repeater of some sort. The Ruger Ranch rifle fit the bill perfectly, shooting a tad better than the H&R single shot.

Cast-bullet loads mainly consist of H110 powder with bullets weighing between 115-150 grains. All loads go under 2″ at 100 yards, many much better, for perfect plinking, hunting and varmint rounds, especially with HP slugs. Jacketed bullets weighing 125-130 grains shoot within an inch, at 100 yards.

Cast bullets add versatility and are an economical way of shooting. The 300 BLK shoots best with bullets sized 0.310″.

In Closing …

Being a Range Rat is beneficial, especially during ammo shortages caused by panics, pandemics and politicians. Remember the 6 P’s — Proper Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance. When this latest panic ends, take advantage. Learn to handload, stock up on powder and primers and hit the range.

And if you happen to see me, don’t bother checking the brass buckets. They’ll be empty — but I’m happy to share. Just ask, because that’s what it’s all about.

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