A brass catcher can pose some benefits to you when shooting your weapon. To put it in simplest terms, a brass catcher is a device that was made to catch empty cartridges as they are ejected from a firearm. Ultimately, this will make your shooting session less of a mess when you finish.
These can come in a couple of different forms. The most popular kinds of brass catchers are bags, pouches, or boxes. None of them are necessarily better than the others, it is up to you to decide what your personal preference is.
This guide was created to help you determine what you need and even introduce you to the best brass catchers that are offered.
Best Brass Catchers
- TacStar With Picatinny Mount
- Caldwell AR-15 Brass Catcher
- Caldwell Brass Trap (Remote)
- No-M.A.R Brass Shell Catcher
- Flyland AR-15 Brass Catcher
- Gloryfire Picatinny Mounted Brass Net
- Graco Model 2 For Pistols
TacStar With Picatinny Mount
This is another one of the more attractive brass catchers due to the fact that at a quick glance of the rifle, you wouldn’t even notice it’s there. The cool thing about this bag is that it is fully enclosed, this is not a mesh or nylon material like most of the brass catchers are.
The TacStar Picatinny Mount is going to be great if you have a Picatinny rail on your rifle. Overall, this is going to be more on the expensive side, but that comes with an excellent level of durability.
Key Features
- Easily holds over 100 rounds
- Adjustable mounting bracket
- Easy to empty out
Caldwell AR-15 Brass Catcher
This brand is very popular among people who tend to shoot rifles often. They make accessories that are always of high quality and durability. Something to note is that users have reported a potential issue with this brass catcher. Sometimes the heat given off by the weapon can melt a hole in the nylon. It is rare that you see this hole grow big enough to drop cartridges, but it can certainly happen.
The Caldwell AR-15 Brass Catcher is one of the best that you will be able to find around. It will certainly save you the struggle of trying to pick up all of the empty cartridges one by one.
Key Features
- Holds 100 rounds
- High durability rating
- Quick-lock attachment feature
- Easy access for emptying
Caldwell Brass Trap (Remote)
Since Caldwell is such a reputable brand, it is worth mentioning that they also offer a brass catcher that does not attach to your weapon. As with any remote brass trap, you may notice that it doesn’t catch everything. This is because the cartridges will have more free space to fly around.
This is going to be one of the better options when it comes to remote brass catchers as this is an excellent company that always delivers quality products.
Key Features
- Quack assembly
- Zipper emptying section
- The opening is 19” high
No-M.A.R Brass Shell Catcher
This brass catcher is going to easily be one of the most visually appealing as it is basically a transparent case. As you fill it with empty cartridges it will look very interesting. When it comes to the actual use of this brass catcher, there is a major focus on durability. This is going to be more durable than just about any nylon net catcher.
Additionally, this brass catcher will hold more than the other ones reviewed here, but this comes with an increase in price. If your budget permits, this is a great brass catcher for you to use on your rifle.
Key Features
- Increased brass capacity
- Easy to empty out
- Similar length to most 30 round magazines
Flyland AR-15 Brass Catcher
If you are looking to stick to a tight budget then this is going to be the best option for you. This brass catcher is primarily made for AR-15s but you may be able to get away with it on some other similar rifles. This catcher isn’t quite as durable as other brass catchers, but it is certainly a good buy for less than $10.
Overall, this is a great for-value purchase. Typically, when you get a brass catcher for under $10 it will break on you pretty quickly. That is not the case with the Flyland AR-15 Brass Catcher, it may not be as durable as some of the top-of-the-line catchers, but it certainly pulls its weight.
Key Features
- Very basic design
- Zipper for easy removal
- Heat resistant mesh
Gloryfire Picatinny Mounted Brass Net
This is another brass catcher that allows you to stick to a low budget, and you are certainly not sacrificing durability with this one. The Gloryfure Picatinny Brass Net offers a traditional style that makes it nice and easy to use. It is a little more expensive than the Flyland but is likely to offer a little more stability.
If you are shooting a firearm with a Picatinny rail, this is going to be a perfect option for you.
Key Features
- Detachable basket
- Easy to attach Picatinny mount
- Heat resistant nylon construction
Graco Model 2 For Pistols
This is likely going to be the number one option for you if you are looking to use a brass catcher for a pistol. The reason being is that many of these brass catchers are not made for pistols. Finding one that is specifically geared towards a pistol is not easy to come by.
When using this brass catcher, you’ll experience a great level of durability as this has not been a product known to allow nylon to melt. This is much easier to accomplish with a pistol because they do not heat up at the caliber of a rifle. Overall, this is going to be your best bet if you are shooting a pistol.
Key Features
- Heat resistance
- Capacity for 15-20 45ACP casings
Benefits of Using a Brass Catcher
A brass catcher is not going to elevate your shooting game at all, but it will make the clean-up much easier after you are done. Since a brass catcher is meant to catch the empty cartridges as they are discharged from your weapon, you will not be stuck cleaning up all of the cartridges after you have completed shooting for the day.
When you are shooting your firearm, you definitely notice that the brass catcher is there, but these are not typically linked to poor accuracy. It is not likely to affect your shooting game on either end. This is an accessory that is typically not too expensive to buy which typically makes it a good add-on purchase while you are purchasing other accessories.
Tips for Choosing the Right Brass Catcher
As with any purchase, you will need some level of situational awareness in order to choose the right brass catcher. This just means that you need to know what firearm you would like to put the brass catcher on. Take a look through these different tips so you can get started off in the right direction.
Explore Your Options
As with any purchase, you should consider what options you have. This simply means to look around in the marketplace to compare some different features and prices. Something that you should certainly note is that there are two kinds of brass catchers you can use.
The first kind is one that attaches right to your firearm. This is great if you are going to be moving around while you are shooting as the brass catcher will go wherever you go. The other kind is referred to as a remote brass catcher. This means that the catcher will sit below you while you are shooting. This is best for you if you are going to be primarily stationary while shooting.
Mounting Options
Before making any purchase, you need to make sure that you have the ability to mount the brass catcher onto the firearm. Make sure to look out for any breaks in the seal from where the empty cartridges will be discharged.
There are many brass catchers that are made specifically for one firearm and there are others that can work as a multi-use brass catcher. It is a pretty good choice to go for the multi-use brass catcher if you have a collection of weapons that you are shooting regularly.
Your Budget
Since this is not an accessory that you really need, it is important that you do not spend too much money on a brass catcher. This is an attachment that is typically inexpensive but there are always going to be some outliers that will run you some extra money. For the most part, you don’t need to spend a whole lot to get a brass catcher, so figure out how much you are willing to spend on this, and then make sure to stick to the budget.
Wrap Up
Having a brass catcher mounted on your firearm is a great way to avoid having to clean up all of the empty cartridges after you are done shooting for the day. This will have you getting back to the car faster after you have been out in the sun for hours. It is not a necessary component of your tactical lineup, but you can absolutely benefit from the use of these catchers.
Make sure to keep the tips that were spelled out above in mind when you are doing your shopping. Although you do not need to look past this guide to see some of the best brass catchers available.
