Save your brass??

[IronmanDaremo]

I have no desire (nor the funding, or time) right now to load my own rounds, but I am thinking it will be the long range plan down the road. So my stupid question for the day is ...... Do you keep all the brass you police after shooting if you are using factory cartridges? Or are they generally unacceptable for future re-loading?

I bought four different types of Hornady 6.5 to try (120 eld-m, 140 eld-m, 143 eld-x, and 147 eld-m) and the Federal/Berger Gold OTM 130gr. Are these all one-and-done casings, or should I be saving them when I go to the range??

Thanks!

 

[TheGerman]

Depends on who makes the brass; but generally yes. It wouldn't hurt to save it and keep it seperated by gun and by headstamp.

Worst case you sell it as once fired to someone.

Oh, and if you ever go to a range where they have a 'any brass you shoot belongs to us' policy; promptly pick up your brass and tell them to get fucked.

 

[IronmanDaremo]

Thanks!

The range I'm going to just has a "police your brass and ammo" policy, so I'm good in that respect!

 

[1500varmint]

i picked up several hundreds of brass cases in multiple calibers before I started reloading.

Makes it MUCH easier to get started when you don't have to source/pay for brass.

It can also help you to ease into the reloading process by starting with cleaning/prep.

 

[BigBC]

Yes keep it. Especially with 6.5. Either someone will buy it off you or you can save it for later when you decide to try reloading or a wildcat round perhaps. Lots of options with 6.5.

 

[lash]

To specifically answer your questions, the answer is yes.






Yes to keeping it and keep it separated by manufacturer.




Yes to Hornady brass being perfectly fine for reloading, especially if you expect to ever reload.



Yes to keeping it and selling it in lots of 200-500 to guys that might want it. Sell it cheap enough and it all sells in one day, you ship it out and save that little bit toward your next ammo purchase.

 

[Backcountryguy]

Save it.

Keep it separated by Headstamp. I used factory fired Hornady 6.5 Creed brass and then reloaded it when I began reloading it. Reloaded it 4 times, and it’s still usable...but I had to get a new barrel, so with a fresh barrel I got fresh brass.

Before I reloaded, I sold all my once-fired Hornady 6.5 Creed brass to a local guy for $0.35/piece.

If you’re going to start reloading eventually...I’d just keep it.

 

[blbennett1288]

I save it not matter what. Worst case sell it in the reloading PX.

 

[Jmccracken1214]

Thanks!

The range I'm going to just has a "police your brass and ammo" policy, so I'm good in that respect!

Sell it if you don’t want to reload. Plenty of people wanting brass. I found 100 pieces of federal 300 win mag at my range, in their boxes... IN THE TRASH CAN. Got it all out and sold it for $30.

 

[NexTex375]

I am new to this and am currently not reloading but I still save all my brass because...you never know

 

[slodsm]

Always save it personally. I have reloaded for years but never .223 because I just used it for different things vs precision shooting and milsurp ammo was fine. Still kept all the brass.

3 months ago I decided I wanted to try stretching the legs of my 18” AR and doing a little work with it and possibly a really nice bbl.

Already had a literal bucket of nice once fired brass to swage, clean and start load work ups.

Always save it just in case.

 

[hlee]

When you finally decide to reload and are looking at brass for as much as $1 per piece, you'll be glad you kept your spent brass.

 

[IronmanDaremo]

Outstanding everyone. thanks! I will definitely be picking it up and saving it.

 

[308pirate]

if you ever go to a range where they have a 'any brass you shoot belongs to us' policy; promptly pick up your brass and tell them to get fucked.

+1000

 

[BullGear]

I stopped reloading years ago when my shooting time vanished, but whenever I do go to the range, I make sure to sweep up any and all brass. If I never use it, someone probably will. If not, I thought about melting them and casting brass knuckles and other less than lethal things.

 

[hlee]

Range brass sells for > $1 per lb around here. A 5 gal bucket of mixed range brass weighs around 50 lbs. Even as scrap, brass is relatively valuable.

 

[ebaas]

I also keep my brass. I don’t hand load yet, but know that I will in the near future.

 

[Keel Haul]

Knowing I was eventually going to be reloading, I saved my brass for a few years ahead of getting my Dillon. It’s a good idea to save it if you know you’re definitely getting into it. Worst case if you don’t decide to reload is you saved a bunch of brass that you can sell or recycle.

 

[jcam]

I saved my FGMM brass and started reloading with that. I’ve since moved to Lapua.

 

[tnichols]

Range brass sells for > $1 per lb around here. A 5 gal bucket of mixed range brass weighs around 50 lbs. Even as scrap, brass is relatively valuable.

This ^^^

 

[Anthonyc]

Yes! Keep your brass or save to sell!

 

[Diesel65]

Always save brass. Can be used for barter and gifts. Recently found half of a five gallon bucket in my shop of once fired .308 win Black Hills brass that I have had for years and forgotten, because I have been reloading only Lapua brass for a few years. Decided that once I get back home, I think I will use some for subs, and the rest i will FS, and reload plinking ammo for my MK14EBR. Glad I saved it, will give me a big project for the winter.

 

[Racer88]

No plans to reload in the foreseeable future. But, I've saved all my 6.5 brass since I started shooting my RPR. So, that means I've got 2,900 pieces of brass... a mix of Hornady, Federal, Alpha. I've got them all in bins, separated by brand.

I figure if I don't use it for reloading in the future, I can sell it to fund more factory ammo.

 

[Backcountryguy]

No plans to reload in the foreseeable future. But, I've saved all my 6.5 brass since I started shooting my RPR. So, that means I've got 2,900 pieces of brass... a mix of Hornady, Federal, Alpha. I've got them all in bins, separated by brand.

View attachment 7154636

I figure if I don't use it for reloading in the future, I can sell it to fund more factory ammo.

That’s close-ish to $1,000 in brass you have there...if it were me I’d sell the Hornady and Federal...keep the Alpha should the day come you do reload

 

[BullGear]

Since I have no life, I actually de-prime everything and then I tumble them in walnut shell media AND then I polish them. All this to put them in a box and sit on a shelf. Retirement is kinda nice for stuff like this.

 

[IronmanDaremo]

Well, went to the range Saturday and popped off 80 rounds ...... kept all the brass.

 

[hlee]

One warning. Even if you never EVER have any desire to reload. All of that brass will stare at you accusingly, until you give in and start reloading.

 

[Racer88]

One warning. Even if you never EVER have any desire to reload. All of that brass will stare at you accusingly, until you give in and start reloading.

That's why I think I'm going to sell it! Just ordered a plastic bag sealer thingy. Will divide it up into 100-rd sealed baggies and put them up for sale.

 

[Vodoun daVinci]

In making a round of ammunition, the brass case is the most expensive component....if one who handholds doesn't have to pay for brass it cuts the cost of producing rounds literally in half. If you don't want the brass sell it or give it to a friend who reloads.

VooDoo

 

[supercorndogs]

Unless I screw up, my amortized cost for brass is always lower than the cost of bullets.

I still take all the free brass I can get. I have 5 gallon buckets full of moistly calibers I don't shoot.

 

[lash]

Unless I screw up, my amortized cost for brass is always lower than the cost of bullets.

I still take all the free brass I can get. I have 5 gallon buckets full of moistly calibers I don't shoot.

Me too on the bucket of brass. My wife thinks I’m a hoarder, but I’m not ready to admit it yet. ? ?

 

[canezach]

Oh, and if you ever go to a range where they have a 'any brass you shoot belongs to us' policy; promptly pick up your brass and tell them to get fucked.

Are there really ranges like this?? That's absurd!

 

[TheGerman]

Are there really ranges like this?? That's absurd!

I've heard it multiple times from different people that they've encountered it.

My run in was at the Manatee range in Florida years ago, when a self appointed 'head RO' sort of managed to take over the operations on the shooting line. All of a sudden shit like chamber flags were required, and of coarse no one had one because they had never been a thing before then. Ill let you guess who wouldn't let you shoot without one for each rifle, and who was selling them for $5 a piece?

Around that time the 'leave the brass on the ground' thing started which I ignored. It wasn't around very long as there was quite a bit of pushback to it.

 

[BullGear]

There was once a range that would tell the shooters that they would sweep up the brass and you didn't have to. They would call a cease fire just to tell us this about every hour. I looked at him like he had 3 eyes and told him that I reload and I'll pick up my ammo and any other ammo around my shooting lane. He just looked at me and turned around and left the shooting area. You should have seen the smiles I got from the other shooters. I had 1 shooter sweep up his ammo and then swept it over to my lane where I was shooting, I thanked him and he thanked me. The "RO" didn't come back out to make that announcement while I was there.

 

[hlee]

There is a range with the "if it hits the floor, its ours" policy around here. They also have a "no aluminum or steel cased ammunition" policy. I police every piece of brass I can. It is an indoor pistol range, so I leave what goes forward of the shooting bay. I'm an unrepentant brass hound, and they can kick me out if they like. That said, I haven't been there in quite a while and the sign now reads some Airsoft BS. Maybe they had problems getting interest with their BS policies? I like to think that anyway.

 

[BullGear]

Talk about BS policies, we had one range that was bought out by some out of town person. Their policy was their range, their ammo. You couldn't bring ANY ammo into their range. They even frowned upon you bringing your own targets. NO human looking targets at all. Of course, they didn't even have brooms to sweep up your area. Some guy would come out and sweep all of the brass down range.

That owner ended up selling the range after about 2 years.

Now, the new owner is a great guy. Just what a range owner should be.

 

[canezach]

Does anyone want to partner with me to open one of those "your brass belongs to me now" ranges? We can be selective about it.

"Oh, are you shooting 6.5x47 Lapua? 6.5 Creedmoor with Alpha small primer brass? And you converted Lapua small primer brass to 25 Creedmoor???" Time to enforce the rule!

 

[308pirate]

There is a range with the "if it hits the floor, its ours" policy around here. They also have a "no aluminum or steel cased ammunition" policy. I police every piece of brass I can. It is an indoor pistol range, so I leave what goes forward of the shooting bay. I'm an unrepentant brass hound, and they can kick me out if they like. That said, I haven't been there in quite a while and the sign now reads some Airsoft BS. Maybe they had problems getting interest with their BS policies? I like to think that anyway.

I'd rebox a bunch of russian steel case shit in normal boxes then spray that shit all over the place and leave

 

[308pirate]

Oh yea I forgot......FUCK indoor pistol ranges

They all suck ass

 

[Racer88]

Alrighty... I just counted out and bagged 1,000 rounds of Hornady once-fired brass. 10 heat-sealed bags of 100 cases. I'll be putting it up for sale. What is the best / easiest / economical way to ship brass like this?

 

[lash]

When I was shipping brass, I used usps flat rate padded envelopes. You are allowed up to 70 pounds and I never had any damaged brass that way.

 

[Blitzy]

I also don't reload yet but keep all brass bigger than .223. Get a bulk set of clear plastic containers from Costco and segregate by caliber.