Brass, Looking For Suggestions

[hotrod13]

I've been reloading for the last 8 years and I acquire a lot of brass each time I go to the range. A usual range trip will end up with me picking up 1,000 to 2,000 pieces of brass usually mainly 9mm, 40 sw, etc. Well I was out of town for a week and watched a little TV and saw that hoarder show and I feel like that is me with brass. First let me state that a lot of the brass is IPSC shot so it is not once fired, but I've reloaded with it for years with no problems. My next problem is I have 2 55 gallon drums of mixed brass and maybe (40) 5 gallon buckets of it. So being the brass is somewhat well used I don't feel like it is great brass to sell for reloading due to the fact a lot of brass for sale is once shot, and locally they sale 9mm for 1.5 cents each cleaned and deprimed. I don't feel like it is worth my time to sell at $15 per thousand. I also don't want to scrap it and waste good brass to just be remelted. So there is my problem. I can't stop picking it up when I'm out there I have tried, I just hate seeing it laying there. I have bought dies to make 40 bullets out of 9mm brass and that is helping a little but still have thousands of pieces of 9mm. So any suggestions? I do shoot quite a bit and I'll admit I've never reloaded brass I have shot because I have 1000's already cleaned and ready to go when I reload. Oh, one other thing I have given away a bunch to friends and family, but I still can't seem to get my stash down.

[DocSavage]

Perhaps you can gift some of your brass to a beginning reloaded. I feel your pain I am a member of brassaholics anonymous my self don't have as much brass as you but going to the range is a struggle seeing all that pretty brass on the ground begging to be picked up. How about your local scrap yard do they buy brass? Sounds like you might have a few bucks in your house.

[jdfoxinc]

I'll swage some. .40 to .45, 9mm to .40. PM me. I'll pay posrage.

[dverna]

Wow...8 posts in 8 years...might be a new record.

Anyway, some people will buy it for $10/1000, just be honest in your description. If it is not worth your time to sell it, it is not worth your time to pick it up and store it. BTW, my opinion is even "used" 9mm and .40 brass is probably going to have a lot of life left in it. Not many people will keep shooting it until it is bad because it is so cheap and easy to get.

[Pressman]

With the amount you have You could fill a medium or large flat rate box and offer it for sale for the postage after you meet the 30/30 requirement for Swap & Sell.

I have the same problem though on a much smaller scale and that's how I am thinking I need to pass it along.

[skeettx]

Hotrod
Yes, you are a hoarder
Oh yes, it takes one to know one, I am guilty.

Looks like you could sell your present brass and still
have a source to get much more laying on the ground.

Sell your brass at the local scrap dealer.
Use the money you get to set up a GUN FUND.
I also use the money to pay for the annual dues at gun clubs.
Mike

[redhawk0]

9 and 40 brass is plentiful for sure....here is what I'd do. I'd take the 2 - 55 gal drums to a scrapper and sell them....then take that money and offer up the rest of the brass on the Helping Hands forum. The scrap sale would pay for the postage to help someone else. You won't be out any "cash" but you will rid yourself of the bulk of the brass and help someone else in the process. You don't need 30/30 rule to give it away on Helping Hands.

just my 2 cents.

redhawk

[Mytmousemalibu]

You probably have some brass I have left down there! Me and a few others from our club drive down from Wichita fairly regularly to shoot USPSA matches in Ponca, OKC, and Tulsa. I hate leaving brass behind but we don't have time to pick brass during the match. Afterwards is fine but by then, especially when it's sweltering hot, we're beat tired, we don't feel like bending over to pick it up.

I would probably be open to getting some brass from ya. If you ever sort any of it, I am especially keen on 38 Super and Super Comp

[Pb Burner]

Wow, that's a pile of brass...I'm jealous, I'm a brass hoarder too. On the ranges I go to, almost no one leaves any brass behind. It would take me 30 yrs to collect that much brass.

[Dusty Bannister]

While I would never discourage helping a new reloader. I would suggest that if you have the time, you consider sorting by HS. Just to help the new reloader avoid the issues of having random case issues such as crimp, and thick brass which might result in sizing down the bullet in the case, resulting in leading of the barrel.

It might be that you have no local scrap buyer for the cartridge brass as some avoid it to prevent live rounds in the smelter. If you have a price for scrap cartridge brass, that might be a decent asking price for bulk sales of well used brass as well. I hate to see reloadable brass go to the scrap dealer.

[farmerjim]

Before you take the drums to a scrapper, offer them for sale unsorted at scrap price locally.
I only have about 15 k 9mm, but would like to have 45 k.

[rockrat]

Where in OK? PM me your location and maybe I can come by and relieve you of a 5 gal pail of 9mm brass!!!

[lefty o]

if you wont sell it, and you wont stop picking it up, and you cant possibly use it all, you are a hoarder. scrap it and buy a new gun.

[slim1836]

if you wont sell it, and you wont stop picking it up, and you cant possibly use it all, you are a hoarder. scrap it and buy a new gun.

This is what I would do, you deserve a new weapon (or several) for all your hard work.

Slim

[kerplode]

Personally, I'd just haul it all to the scrap yard and put whatever you get back into components, loaded ammo, or a new blaster.

If you got nothing better to do, you could sort through it all and sell it. Honestly, though, I doubt you'd get much over scrap price after all that effort and you'll have to deal with internet cheapskates and the post office and all that nonsense. No thanks.

IMO, unless you put literally no value on your time, the commodity calibers just aren't worth the effort to mess with. Either reloading or brass collecting. I stopped picking up 9mm and 5.56 when I filled up a 5gal bucket each, and I haven't picked up any 40S&W in ages. Last time I pulled the press handle for anything other than large bore revolver or 30 cal and larger rifle was probably more than 10 years ago.

[JimB..]

I could use some for swaging bullets, but I doubt that you really even want to sort it. If you’re inclined to sort it then I’d offer it up at scrap price plus shipping. Otherwise I’d start calling the scrap yards, you can probably get $3,500+ for the 40ish 5 gal buckets. Keep on collecting and convert to cash once a year.

[lightman]

I would sort out a nice quantity of matching headstamps for myself and sell the rest for scrap. I would call around and compare prices. Then I would either buy something that I needed or wanted. If I didn't want anything I would stash the cash for the next bargain that comes my way.

Most things other than 9mm, 40 S&W and 223 would sell but you have the labor involved sorting and mailing them.

All in all, I guess thats not a bad problem to have.

[Todd N.]

Sell it in bulk- unsorted, dirty, as is- to a LGS or pawn shop that deals in used brass. They will offer you a price and then haul it away to be processed at their leisure. All you have to do is make a phone call or two, meet someone interesting, and deposit a check.

[jdfoxinc]

Ok, unsorted mfrb or lfrb at scrap prices plus postage.

[bikerbeans]

Ok, unsorted mfrb or lfrb at scrap prices plus postage.

I am trying that right now with no luck, so far. What price are you fellows getting per pound? I was quoted $1.50 per pound, NW Ohio.

BB