Basic value of once fired brass

[kstrongsyj]

So I am trying to determine if this stuff is worth anything. I have been saving up brass this month, thinking I would buy a reload setup. Well, I decided I dont have the time or desire to learn to reload, so I am curious if this brass is worth anything.

In 3-4 weeks I have collected about 1000 rounds of .45, 1000 rounds of .40, maybe 500 or so 9mm, and about 100 38/357 spent shells. I also have maybe 150 or so 30-30, 50 or so 7mm, and some other misc rifle brass. Is this stuff of any value? If I could sell it for enough to buy a few boxes of ammo I would be happy, but I just dont know yet what the cost of reloading is, therefore if anybody would even want it.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[sargenv]

If I were you, I'd go take a look at the brass man's web site and offer it up for the same cost. His web site is http://www.brassmanbrass.com. You can then adjust your prices for this stuff accordingly.

[mike100]

Maybe you should hold onto it until you do decide to reload...but if not, the 45 and rifle brass is worth a little, but 9mm..not so much. I'll keep my 9mm when I can find it, but I wouldn't really pay for it.

[Corbin Dallas]

I keep most all my 223, 357sig, 40 and 9mm brass as I reload it. I can honestly tell you reloading is worth every penny. Where my friends are buying WWB at $20/100 9mm, I reload 1000 for $70. Similar with 357sig and 40S&W. 223 is now so expensive, I am forced to reload it.

Learning to reload - If you can assemble lego bricks and read instructions to program your VCR, you're set. Reloading is not rocket science, especially the stright wall case ammo like 9/40/45. You just need to invest some $ and time to get started.

[PistolPete75]

if you shot all that ammo to reload, you definitely need to start reloading. if you do want to reload, you'll probably want a dillon550 for the versatility.

if you don't want to reload, put that brass up for sale in the classified section.

[rksimple]

If I were you, I'd go take a look at the brass man's web site and offer it up for the same cost. His web site is http://www.brassmanbrass.com. You can then adjust your prices for this stuff accordingly.

If its in great condintion, then yes, ask what he is selling it for. If its typical range pick-up brass (dented, scratched, walked on) then its not worth as much, by any means.

[ar15barrels]

if you shot all that ammo to reload, you definitely need to start reloading.

That's what I was thinking.
That's enough of a shooting habit to pay off the press and all the tooling in a year or so.

[kstrongsyj]

OK, so here is a better question you guys can help me with. Several people I have talked to have said 9/40/45 arent really worth reloading cause you can get target ammo so cheap. Wal-Mart has cheap ammo, so is it really worth it? Course, to answer my own question I shoot between 1000-4000 rounds a month. The problem is, I have a brand new baby and a wife that doesnt understand my obsessio....er...hobby with guns Even with a progressive loader wont it take hours to load that kind of brass? Unfortunately, I have a little bit more money than time in life right now

[PistolPete75]

9mm can be easily loaded up for 8-10cents a round. 40 and .45 can be easily loaded for about 15cents a round. do the math. you will win, especially if you keep recycling that brass. a nice progressive is a must to reload pistol calibers in quanity.

[CSACANNONEER]

OK, so here is a better question you guys can help me with. Several people I have talked to have said 9/40/45 arent really worth reloading cause you can get target ammo so cheap.

???????? I can reload 9mm, .38 special/.357 and 45acp for between $2 and $2.50 a box. Can someone tell me where to buy loaded ammo that cheap. Yes, I do cast my own bullets.

[PistolPete75]

???????? I can reload 9mm, .38 special/.357 and 45acp for between $2 and $2.50 a box. Can someone tell me where to buy loaded ammo that cheap. Yes, I do cast my own bullets.

heck if you cast your own bullets, that takes it to a whole new level. might as well make your own gunpowder at that point.

[grammaton76]

Wal-Mart isn't cheap.

Heck, the reloads at my range are cheaper than WWB ammo.

Haven't done anything yet with 45ACP, but the last time I loaded 40S&W, I spent about 11.6c/rd. That's without really looking for major bargains on components, too.

[rksimple]

heck if you cast your own bullets, that takes it to a whole new level. might as well make your own gunpowder at that point.

Casting's a lot easier than making your own powder! I used to cast a bunch, but its tapered off as I spend so much time with precision rifle. Using a 6 or 10 cavity mould, 147 gr wadcutters and 2.7gr of bullseye, you can do a metric buttload of shooting for not much money or time invested.

[mike100]

I got some casting stuff from my Uncle and then bought a couple of moulds and whatnot. it's fun when you find some lead and time.

So you shoot 2500+ rounds a month?!..buy a progressive press and three caliber kits asap before your wife makes you buy a real expensive soccer mom SUV 'for the kid'. Even if you don't shop around and are forced to buy small quantities locally, you'll pay half price, plus you can tailor your loads to work great in sensitive pistols like 1911's, not to mention hand metered powder charges are really accurate-you'll notice right away as soon as you start shooting some of your home grown.

Time...well, to learn how, you will be playing with the press and reading books for about a month, but if you get a pet load, you can crank out hundreds in no time at all. changing calibers and trying new powders can take a little time- some people buy more than one press to get around this. Either that or make 5k rounds before you switch.

[tteng]

I reload. But hey, wife and baby are more important especially around the diaper/feeding time. If your time is tight (reloading does have learning curve, and you have to enjoy it) and money is less of an objection, by all mean buy the bulk ammo, help your wife, save the brass, and you can always come back to reloading later.