Buying .223 brass - an honest question.... why?

[NapalmCheese]

You need a decent de-capping die. I processed a whole bunch of military brass with crimped in primers, and the Lee die has never had an issue popping them out. Sometimes I get the "domed" ones that resist, but they always come out. I have broken RCBS pins, and I've even broken pins on a Lyman universal de-capper (twice!). I have never broken a Lee pin, ever.

I AM using a Lee die!

I think I'm just being a pansy about tightening down the decapping pin. I picked up a couple of spares just in case, but I've not broken one yet either (probably because I tighten them like an 11 year old girl).

That said, I've had good luck with the RCBS swager for ironing out the crimp. That things been great.

It also caused me to buy a second press since it didn't work well on my turret.

[mycrstuff]

I don't know where the OP goes to shoot but all the outdoor ranges I go to require your brass to be picked up before you leave. One in particular won't let you pick up brass in front of the table the RSO picks it up and keeps it.

When I first started reloading I thought why would anyone buy brass why don't they just save their brass from commercial load and use that. Well shooting at an indoor you can lose up to a third of you brass by it hitting the side of the lane and landing in the front where you can't get it. That is called the "Angels Share".

[L4D]

I don't know where the OP goes to shoot but all the outdoor ranges I go to require your brass to be picked up before you leave. One in particular won't let you pick up brass in front of the table the RSO picks it up and keeps it.

When I first started reloading I thought why would anyone buy brass why don't they just save their brass from commercial load and use that. Well shooting at an indoor you can lose up to a third of you brass by it hitting the side of the lane and landing in the front where you can't get it. That is called the "Angels Share".

When shooting 300 BO that I spent the time to create from .223 brass. The angels get none. Brass catcher goes on.

[NapalmCheese]

I don't know where the OP goes to shoot

I don't know about OP, well, I kind of do; but I've found that I can get a lifetime supply of .223 and 9mm by heading to the popular BLM shooting areas and looking down.

It seems the same people that like to shoot at TVs, propane tanks, spray paint, and other trash they'll leave also tend to leave their brass. And for some reason they seem to shoot a lot of Fiocchi.

[M1NM]

Yeah if you make 40-50 an hour you shouldn't take off work to scrounge brass. But during your off time you're making zero - except for the value of the brass you pick up. Don't be selective grab it all and sort it at home. Sell the stuff you don't want/use to some other reloader or the scrap man.

[L4D]

What is this hourly wage nonsense when talking about anything to do with reloading?

[bigbossman]

That said, I've had good luck with the RCBS swager for ironing out the crimp. That things been great.

I have one of those, used to use it, too. But I'm lazy, so I just chuck an RCBS chamfer tool in the drill press and cut 'em out after I trim.

It also caused me to buy a second press since it didn't work well on my turret.

Second press? Rookie. I have three progressives for pistol, a RockChucker for rifle, and a couple of smaller single stage presses that are dedicated priming station - one for small, one for large.

[NapalmCheese]

I have one of those, used to use it, too. But I'm lazy, so I just chuck an RCBS chamfer tool in the drill press and cut 'em out after I trim.



Second press? Rookie. I have three progressives for pistol, a RockChucker for rifle, and a couple of smaller single stage presses that are dedicated priming station - one for small, one for large.

Lol, I'll have to step it up. I need a 20 gauge press now too and probably ought to look into getting a progressive for some pistol caliber stuff!

I probably need to start making my own jacketed rifle bullets too, so I can have a couple more presses

[JackEllis]

Through the first year of the pandemic I had picked up and sold enough range brass to self-supply components for the rest of my life. Probably won't do it any more because all that bending down is getting to be tough on an ageing body.

I have more LC .223 than I'll ever use once, let along the four or five times I was planning on reloading before it goes off to the recycler.

[bigbossman]

Through the first year of the pandemic I had picked up and sold enough range brass to self-supply components for the rest of my life. Probably won't do it any more because all that bending down is getting to be tough on an ageing body.

I have more LC .223 than I'll ever use once, let along the four or five times I was planning on reloading before it goes off to the recycler.

I shoot at a couple of local ranges, as well as BLM. One range I volunteer at, and they sort brass for resale. I help them with that, doing the sorting and packaging for them.

The other range is a private member only range about 20 minutes from my house. I frequently go there to sight in, test, tinker, and practice. There is always a carpet of .223 and 9mm. I usually pick that up, just to do my part in keeping the place clean. I was saving it for a while, but like you I collected enough in short order to satisfy my lifetime needs. BTW - mostly LC, Hornady, PSD, and a few other head-stamps. I have enough processed LC to shoot it exclusively, so most of the rest goes into the recycle bucket.

BLM near the house - same deal. I pick it up when I see it, just to help keep the place clean.

[19K]

Why does anyone buy it? Every time I go to one of the local ranges or BLM land, the ground is literally carpeted with it. Good stuff, too.... LC, Hornady, etc.

I have half a 5 gallon bucket of the stuff that I've collected in 4 or 5 trips. It's everywhere.

How much time did you spend driving/collecting it?

[kris smith]

I pick up anything I can. I learned from the old retired brass Gobblins. Also I sometimes find odd calibers and save those. And I also have a passion for scrapping as much 40 s&w I can get my hands on.

[bigbossman]

How much time did you spend driving/collecting it?

I was already at the range shooting my rifles. I policed my brass afterwards, and while I was at it picked up the mess others left behind. Spending 10 extra minutes picking up brass left behind just isn't the huge financial burden or time sink that people are trying to make it out to be.

I didn't drive to the range just to scrounge bass, if that's what you're driving at. I was already there testing loads, practicing, and generally having fun. I don't get paid for camping, hunting, and fishing, either.

[19K]

I was already at the range shooting my rifles. I policed my brass afterwards, and while I was at it picked up the mess others left behind. Spending 10 extra minutes picking up brass left behind just isn't the huge financial burden or time sink that people are trying to make it out to be.

I didn't drive to the range just to scrounge bass, if that's what you're driving at. I was already there testing loads, practicing, and generally having fun. I don't get paid for camping, hunting, and fishing, either.

I could buy it in about 30 seconds lol.


Are you saying picking up trash is a hobby like camping, hunting, or fishing?

If you only got half a 5 gallon bucket I?m betting most of it was your brass.
I wouldn?t spend an hour picking up half a bucket full of brass when I can buy 1000 pieces of cleaned 5.56 brass for about $100.

I don?t even like picking up my own brass but I do it out of respect.

[fnlrun]

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say" cause it's not on the ground where other people shoot" I'm just spitballing here