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Are you tired of spending the back half of your day at the range searching for spent brass on the ground?
All that clean up can put a damper on your day, and it’s taxing on your back. Plus, if you like to reload your cartridges, you don’t want them on the ground getting dirty and dented, either.
This is where a brass catcher comes in. These ingenious devices eliminate all that tedious time spent cleaning up at the range, so you can focus more on putting lead downrange than picking up spent casings. Read on as we take a closer look at the best AR-15 brass catchers and share some tips on how to select the perfect one for your gun and the way you shoot.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks for Best AR-15 Brass Catchers
- OUR TOP PICK: Caldwell AR-15 Picatinny Rail Brass Catcher
- RUNNER-UP: TACSTAR - BRASS CATCHER
- BEST BUDGET OPTION: E&L MANUFACTURING, INC. - BRASS CATCHERS
Comparison of the Best AR-15 Brass Catchers
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What is a Brass Catcher, and Why Are They Handy?
They may not look like much, but once you own a brass catcher, you’ll be wondering how you went so long without one. Here are a few of the reasons why every shooter should own a brass catcher for their rifle.
Keeps Things Clean
Most riflemen like to leave the range the same way they found it after their day is done. If that sounds like you, you’re probably used to spending an hour at the end of your day doubled over and combing the ground for spent casings.
A brass catcher eliminates this chore, allowing you to spend more time shooting and less time cleaning up.
Keeps Cartridges Damage-Free For Reloading
If you’re shooting on grass, this is less of a concern. But, most ranges have hard floors, and there’s typically plenty of dust and grime around. As your cartridges hit the floor, they’re getting dinged up and dirty, which presents a serious problem if you plan on reloading your cartridges.
Many savvy shooters will hold on to their spent casings so they can reload them. Shells are far from cheap, and doing a bit of recycling can save you some serious coin at the range.
Characteristics of Our Favorite AR-15 Brass Catchers
Many of the best AR-15 brass catchers share some features and details that differentiate them from the rest of the pack. Here’s what our favorite models have in common.
Heat Resistant Material
Whether the brass catcher is made from mesh, canvas, or metal, it’s critical that it can resist heat and stand up to thousands of hot shells hitting the bag. Heat resistant mesh is an excellent option as it offers outstanding ventilation to cool the casings down faster. But, other materials can work well, too, provided they aren’t going to melt from the shells' heat.
Low Profile
When it comes to your rifle, you want to ensure that none of the accessories you use make it more difficult for you to fire your weapon. Poorly designed bags take away room for you to mount other accessories or obstruct your view as you look downrange. Always look for a bag with a low profile that isn’t going to negatively affect any aspect of firing your weapon.
Capacity
A brass catcher with limited capacity can turn into a hindrance on the range, as you’ll need to empty it often, and you’ll also need to worry about whether or not you’re firing downrange with an overflowing brass catcher.
The best brass catchers can hold at least 50 .223 caliber cartridges, so you won’t need to empty your catcher as often or worry about how full it is when you’re shooting.
Caldwell AR-15 Picatinny Rail Brass Catcher
Review of the Best AR-15 Brass Catchers
Without further adieu, let’s take a closer look at the best AR-15 brass catchers that are on the market today.
These well-designed catchers are exactly what you need to maximize your time on the range without having to worry about your spent casings.
Best Overall:
Caldwell AR-15 Picatinny Rail Brass Catcher
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
Most owners of this Caldwell brass catcher are thrilled to focus on shooting instead of chasing down spent brass all afternoon. Recent buyers also report loving how adjustable this brass catcher is, as it can be mounted without getting in the way of many different accessories.
Why it Stands Out to Us
Beyond the characteristics we’ve already mentioned, this catcher stands out for its heavy-duty frame and heat resistant mesh construction. It may not look like much, but this catcher can stand up to many years of regular use, provided you take decent care of it.
The zippered bottom is another great feature as it allows you to empty spent shells without removing the brass catcher or fumbling with latches or locks. Simply unzip the bag, let gravity do its thing, and you’re ready for action again.
Bottom Line
The Caldwell pic rail brass catcher is one of the most popular and well-used models on the market. Countless riflemen rely on this brass catcher day in and day out to deliver the performance they can count on.
Runner-up:
TACSTAR - Brass Catcher
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
Many TACSTAR enthusiasts report that this is the last brass catcher they’ll ever need. Provided you’re able to mount this catcher to your rifle (it presents a problem with certain sights), you should find that this is one of the most well-designed brass catchers on the market.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This brass catcher makes use of a heavy-duty nylon bag instead of mesh, so it provides the best heat resistance of any catcher you’ll find. When it’s time to remove the bag, it snaps off its aluminum frame so you can empty it and get back to business in seconds flat.
Lefties and shooters with unusually large sights may have a problem mounting this catcher to their rifle, so it’s best to try it out for fit before you buy it.
Bottom Line
A smartly designed and affordable brass catcher that’s arguably the best in the business provided it fits your AR and doesn’t get in the way of your sight.
Best for the Money:
E&L Manufacturing Inc. - Brass Catchers
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
Owners of E&L’s no-frills brass catcher find this option to be the simplest and most stock looking option for collecting spent shells. This model is incredibly easy to use, and it’s ideal for rifle enthusiasts who want to keep a sleek and streamlined look with their AR.
Why it Stands Out to Us
It’s tough to beat the simplistic design of the E&L brass catcher, which is compatible with virtually every rifle and sight on the market today.
Depending on the model you purchase, this catcher will set you back around $60, making it one of the most expensive brass catchers on the market.
That said, it’s effortless to use, it looks great, and it gets the job done. Plus, E&L stands behind their product with an unconditional lifetime guarantee, and they’re happy to replace your catcher if it breaks or becomes damaged.
Bottom Line
This brass catcher is perfect for anyone who has had an issue finding a catcher that’s compatible with their rifle or accessories. It looks great, it’s effective, and it’s backed for life.
Best AR-15 Brass Catcher Flat Top:
3 BUCC INC. - AR-15/M16 Brass-savr Brass Catcher
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
Rifle enthusiasts love the sleek and rugged looks and reliable performance of the brass catcher from 3 BUCC Inc. Some users who have rail-mounted accessories didn’t like having to temporarily remove those accessories to install this catcher, but it provides rock-solid performance once it’s in place. Flat top owners find that model to be an ideal design for their rifles.
Why it Stands Out to Us
As one of the more unique designs on our list, this brass catcher offers a rare blend of style and function, and it’s built to last for the lifetime of your rifle. Many others provide a universal fit, but 3 BUCC Inc. provides a more customized approach, offering two different models to suit different style rifles' needs.
Bottom Line
For flat top rifles, this brass catcher is one of the best options. This model looks great, it gets the job done, and it offers a substantial capacity of 70 spent casings.
Editor's Pick:
Caldwell AR15 Universal Brass Catcher
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
This brass catcher is arguably the most popular on the market, and users love the versatility it provides. It’s designed for ARs, but it also works well with bolt-actions and practically any other rifle, for that matter. Users also appreciate the high capacity and ease of emptying that this model from Caldwell provides.
Why it Stands Out to Us
Caldwell included some innovative features with this catcher, such as a swing-out brass chamber, a zippered bottom for easy emptying, and a simple mounting system that’s compatible with many different rifles.
But, if it isn’t mounted correctly, it’s easy for the catcher to move forward or back, allowing it to hinder ejection or fail to catch brass. Getting the catcher properly aligned and tight enough to stay put takes a little longer than what you can expect from other brass catchers.
Bottom Line
The universal mount Caldwell catcher is a reliable option for any sportsman who needs a well-made brass catcher that’s compatible with ARs as well as many other rifles. Attaching it to your rifle may be a little less intuitive than with other catchers, but that’s the price you pay for the added versatility of being able to use it with practically any rifle you own.
Safety Considerations for Brass Catchers
A few small things to consider when shopping for a brass catcher will help ensure that you’re operating your weapon as safely and carefully as possible. Here’s what you’ll need to consider.
Unobtrusive
One of the most important things to consider is how large and cumbersome the brass catcher is and how it attaches to your AR. The attachment points are most critical, as brass catchers with large velcro straps can interfere with your ability to sight downrange.
Caldwell AR15 Universal Brass Catcher
Correct Installation
Brass catchers are straightforward products, and they’re easy to install to practically any AR-15 in seconds. However, if the brass catcher is incorrectly installed, it can interfere with the gun’s ability to fire and cause damage to the inner workings.
Best Practices
Whether you’re using a brass catcher or not, always make sure you’re exercising best practices and safety considerations when you’re operating or servicing your weapon. The best way to ensure your safety and the safety of those around you is to follow safety protocols and guidelines to the letter.
Pros and Cons of Brass Catchers
Brass catchers are a handy piece of engineering that most riflemen think makes their life easier and their time at the range more enjoyable. But, they aren’t for everyone. Consider these pros and cons before deciding to add a brass catcher to your cache.
No Clean-up
A significant benefit of brass catchers is they eliminate the need to clean up spent shell casings from your area after a shooting session. Instead of bending over and searching for spent rounds, just empty the catcher into the garbage or into a container to save them for reloading later on.
Keeps You and Others Safe
There are plenty of worse things that can happen to you than being hit with a hot shell casing, but it’s certainly far from pleasant. Brass catchers keep your hot shells safely away, so you don’t have to worry about one burning you or someone nearby.
Ideal For Reloading
Reloading spent casings is a great way to save money, as ammunition is far from cheap. A brass catcher allows you to easily reload spent casings so you can save money on ammo. Plus, it keeps casings from hitting the ground where they can become dented, dirty, and non-reusable.
Balance Issues
One of the few negatives about brass catchers is that a full catcher can sway your weapon's balance, hindering your ability to shoot with precision accuracy.
Savvy shooters are aware of this quirk and will regularly dump their brass catcher to avoid it throwing off the balance of your gun.
Sight Concerns
Depending on how the catcher mounts, there may be some slight issues with the sighting. Picatinny rail-mounted models may take up space that could otherwise be occupied by a larger scope, while the hook and loop-mounted models may obstruct the iron sight.
Conclusion
A brass catcher is an ingenious addition to any AR-15 that can help save you time and effort at the range, and they’re especially helpful for thrifty riflemen who like to reload their spent casings.
The models above are all ideal choices for most AR enthusiasts, and you should consider each one as you search for a brass catcher with the ideal features and design to fit your gun and the way you shoot.
People Also Ask
When gun enthusiasts are interested in learning more about the best brass catchers, they typically have a few other questions, too. Read on for answers to common questions that you may also have.
Why Do Civilians Need Brass Catchers?
Believe it or not, brass catchers are most applicable to civilian use. Brass catchers are most effective when used at the range to corral spent casings. A brass catcher makes it easy for you to manage your spent shells, reload them if you like, and keep other patrons and yourself safe from hot shell casings.
How Common Are Brass Catchers in the U.S.?
Brass catchers are slowly becoming one of the most popular accessories to add to your AR, particularly if you do most of your shooting at the range. Many of the top accessory manufacturers in the game now have one or more brass catchers in their product catalog.
TacStar - Brass Catcher
How Useful is a Brass Catcher?
Brass catchers can be exceptionally useful when used correctly. Not only can a brass catcher save you the time you’d have to spend collecting spent casings at the end of your day, but they also make it far easier for you to keep track of and reload your old shell casings.
Are Brass Catchers Universal?
Brass catchers are nearly universal, in the sense that they’re designed to fit practically any AR-15. Depending on your particular model and any accessories you may have added, it’s possible to come across a brass catcher that doesn’t fit your gun.
Since these accessories are nearly universal, you can expect to find some models that aren’t an ideal fit for your gun, and they can obstruct your iron sight or prevent you from taking advantage of the full area you have to mount a scope. It’s always best to try out different brass catchers to make sure they’ll work perfectly with your gun without interfering with performance.