Observations after sorting several months worth of range pickup brass

[DenverGP]

Finally sorted all my range pickup brass from the past several months.

It seems like I've been getting lots more AR brass lately. When I first started reloading for the AR, I was lucky to collect as much as I shot. I feel like I've been seeing more ARs at the range over the past 6 months or so.

And I saw a large dropoff in 40s&w brass. After sorting a 5 gallon bucket full of brass, I was under 50 cases. Wondering if maybe there is a trend away from this caliber?

Not sure if these are general trends, or just random trends, or maybe even some kind of selection bias based on when I'm at the range or when I collect brass....

[beast556]

The last 5 years there have been lots of AR's at the range. For many years I would be the only one at the range with an AR getting dirty looks. I still see lots of 40 brass left behind at the gun club.

[Great-Kazoo]

Probably due to people not reloading with ammo prices.
After a sorting range brass a few times, i no longer pick up brass. As i mentioned in another thread, it's left there from too lazy a shooter, not a reloader, or a reloader who knows it's about past it's prime.

Not worth my time to figure out which is which.

[ben4372]

My thinking is lots of newer shooters that don't know that you can reload. Or folks that have been hording for a while and are lousy with brass. Last time I went to the range I really only worried about my less common stuff.

[rondog]

I still pick up all the brass I see, but sometimes I'll pass on 9mm, I just have too damn much and it's just too common. But yes, .40's have been dropping off, they used to be much more common. Strange, but sometimes I'll find an assload of brand-new shiny 10mm all in one area.

One day, I found a big pile of .44mag and .44 specials, and about 60 LIVE new factory .44's as well! That was wierd, why would anybody would just dump those and leave.....

[Gman]

One day, I found a big pile of .44mag and .44 specials, and about 60 LIVE new factory .44's as well! That was wierd, why would anybody would just dump those and leave.....

Might have got a squib and said "Screw these crappy cartridges! I'm done messing with this dangerous crap."

[Irving]

I think USPSA might be keeping .40 alive, and I bet most of those shooters reload.

[Ridge]

.40 becomes more popular when the popular rounds like 9mm and .45 are harder to find, because there isn't as much of a run on them. During 8 years of Obama, .40 S&W and .357 SIG were the ones I could always find at the store.

[ruthabagah]

.40 becomes more popular when the popular rounds like 9mm and .45 are harder to find, because there isn't as much of a run on them. During 8 years of Obama, .40 S&W and .357 SIG were the ones I could always find at the store.

Yep. Thats why i keep a couple of 40 handgun around for shtf situations. G22 with 9mm barrel conversion. Best of both world for me.

[Martinjmpr]

With all the cheap Russian 5.56 (Tula, etc) on the market I'm surprised anybody reloads .223. Ditto for 9mm at least at outdoor ranges. Most indoor ranges don't let you shoot the cheap steel case 9mm so I can see buying brass case ammo for that.