[ACP230]

Every now and then the ranges I use will yield a crop of once-fired pistol brass. Last year my son picked up about 40 once-fired .38 Specials for me in between shooting at one range. Recently I got some more .38s and a rare find, an assortment of .41 Magnum brass.

I squirreled away most of the centerfire brass I emptied starting about age 14. When I started reloading .45 ACP in the 1970s I had a couple boxes of brass to start with.

Why don't people, who obviously shoot quite a lot, just bag up their brass in case they start reloading?

Why don't they keep them to trade to reloaders they know, or "throw in" with a gun they decide to sell?

[sctman800]

I would love to find some .41mag brass, this is all I shoot that is reloadable, I also shoot .22lr. At the club range I belong to you are supposed to clean up your brass on the honour system, of course that doesn't work for some people. I guess people who shoot autos without picking up their brass are just too lazy to sweep it up, but if you shoot a revolver there is no reason not to dump it in the trash if you don't save it. Well, at least my revolvers don't throw brass all over the ground. Jim.

[Bacchus]

They probably don't think that the time is worth it. I know that I didn't save my brass before I started reloading and now I regret it. I just threw it in the trash.

Now I love scrounging for brass at the range. I once got 60 308 shells from a couple of SWAT guys who were running through their qualifying routine.

[Ky Larry]

Probably didn't want the bother. Some ranges sweep it up at the end of the day and put it buckets and let customers scrounge thru it. I recently found 2 boxes(40 rnds) of .264 Win Mag brass at an outdoor range. My cousin fed me a steak dinner for the brass. Evidently it's hard to get.

[WhoKnowsWho]

The indoor range I usually go to specifically says only your brass can be picked up... no scrounging for me, and I haven't started reloading yet.

[Ala Dan]

Greeting's All-

I don't like to shoot on a firearms range that won't
allow me to at least police-up my brass. Those that
do allow it, I generally ask the other shooter(s) if they
save their brass. If the answer is NO, then I quickly
gather in there's too!:D :uhoh:

That reminds me, I desperately need to scrounge
up some once fired .44 magnum brass; (he-he)
like that's really going to happen!:rolleyes: :)

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

[cool45auto]

I'm shooting the cheap stuff: 9mm, 22lr and 7.62x39 so it's not worth it to me right now. My dad is getting into relaoding now that he's got his Quigley Sharps rifle so I may, too, later on.

[euclid]

I reload for all of my centerfire hanguns except for 9mm. In my opinion, 9mm is too cheap to justify the time it takes to reload for it.

I have also noticed that once-fired brass is getting pretty cheap. Maybe folks are buying buckets of once-fired brass so they don't have to worry about gathering their spent brass at the range. Just a thought.

poof...

[jdege]

I save the brass from the first case I buy in a new caliber.

It's once-fired, clean, from a single lot. Perfect for starting to reload.

But after that, there seems to be little point.

How many thousands of spent cases should I have cluttering up the basement, against the off-chance that I'll someday start to reload?

I figure 1000 rounds per caliber is plenty.

[BenW]

I'm on one of those "every other Monday off" flex schedules, and when I'm in town, I make a Monday morning trip to the forest service "rambo range". There's hardly a time I go there on a Monday morning that I can't find at least a couple of hundred once fired .45ACPs left over from the weekend shooters. I've also hit the jackpot on 10MM brass many a time.

To answer part of the "why don't people pick their brass up" question, I also notice a lot of Wolf and Berdan primed brass just laying around. Don't get me started on why people can't pick that stuff up just to keep the area looking good. Between empty shotshells, brass, old appliances used as targets and BROKEN BOTTLES, it's no wonder people have the impression shooters are a bunch of lowbrows (and yes, I always take a bag full of other people's garbage out with me).

Rant mode off. Back to the subject.....

[Mike Irwin]

Because some people NEVER intend to start reloading.

I'd say that the majority of gun owners actually fall into that category.

I don't save my 9mm brass, I just leave it lay. I do reload, I just don't reload 9mm given that it's so cheap.

[stans]

Most of the center fire handgun brass that I see at the range is 9mm and 40 S&W. This ammo, especially the 9mm, is just so cheap in bulk that it is barely worth reloading. Also, law enforcement agencies will frequently give ammo to their officers with instructions to go practice. They don't want the brass returned.

[AZTOY]

Because some people NEVER intend to start reloading.


I have a new Lee reloading kit still sitting in the box. It';s been in the box for the last 2 years:banghead: . I have never used it.:scrutiny:

[Hkmp5sd]

I pick up all of my brass and reload and/or sell it, with the exception of 9mm. I have two 9mm subguns and do not shoot reloads in either of them. I buy 9mm bulk ammo and as a result, I'm normally up to my ears in once fired 9mm brass. Far more than I will ever reload for my 9mm handguns. I still bag them after the session, but generally give them to friends.

[Zedicus]

this reminds me of some questions I had on reloading, IE: how many times can you reload, how much does it cost vs buying new etc...

[Standing Wolf]

I always keep my own brass, but never scavenge: I assume it's worth something to the range owner, and don't know who's shot what through it.

[Ala Dan]

When I pick up "range brass", once home I sort it by
caliber; and each piece of brass goes into corresponding
empty five gallon pail's. I always discard any and all
brass that looks defective; spurs, burrs, case mouth splits,
cracks, etc. I'm very, very pickey about what goes into
and out of my firearm's!:rolleyes: :D :uhoh:

As an extra bonus, any one that is too lazy to police-up
"range brass" can get some really good deals from an
outfit called Scharch Manufacturing Company in the
great state of Colorado. It comes pre-packaged, and
has been inspected, cleaned, and full length resized.
I recently ran out of reloadable brass, and had to turn
to the alternative method of purchasing 500 each of
.38 Special, 9m/m* Parabellum, and .45 ACP. If you
like their brass; you will love their prices!

*FootNote- yes, I do handload 9m/m. Why? Cuz, its
target grade ammunition tailored to my SIG-Sauer
P228.

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

[MoNsTeR]

Many (most?) new and casual shooters, particularly those not familiar with internet information centers like this one, don't even know that such a thing as reloading exists. A few weeks ago at the range, there was a guy shooting a bunch of factory .45, and he wasn't picking it up, so I asked him if he intended to save his brass. He sort of stammered, as if he didn't know what one would save brass for.

Most of the rest either have decided not to reload, or just don't know how much they can save. Another guy who put 150 or so pieces of fresh brass on the floor, and who graciously let me take them, asked me if I reloaded. "Yep," I says, and he asks how much it costs me, and I say about $6 a box. On hearing that, his eyes got really wide and he just says "Wow." The poor soul had just bought at least 3 boxes of .45 at $14 a box. I bet he asked his shooting buddies about reloading soon after that.

As an aside, if anyone out there doesn't reload, doesn't ever want to, and doesn't know anyone who does, you can always sell your brass. 45 and 357 in particular fetch decent prices on eBay ($25-$40 per 1000).

[Navy joe]

I guess even the ones that never intend to reload don't know the sight of money laying on the ground. Many don't shoot enough to shoot and collect, I guess that's why I'm there to help them. I will save for reloading, sell, or give to friends that load that caliber. I'm back up to my need a Dillon levels of a 20mm ammo can each of .45 and 9mm. Best find recently was about 30lbs of FC .308 on a training range. All commercial with no crimp, all nice and shiny, all mine. I pick up the .50 BEO there too, as soon as I get enough I will hopefully sell the brass. The alternative is to buy an AR upper for it.

Absolute worst. Saw a guy shooting .50AE and tossing the brass.

[David4516]

"how many times can you reload"

That depends on the reloader. You can make "light" loads and your brass will last longer. Or you can make your own "+P" stuff and reduce the lifespan of your brass (and maybe the lifespan of your gun too...).





" how much does it cost vs buying new etc..."

Again, depends on the reloader. If you shoot cast lead bullets for example, you can save alot more, but the downside is that it takes time to do the bullet molding.

Saving $ isn't always the best reason to reload. Alot of people like to reload because you can customize your ammo to match your gun, or you can make loads that you couldn't normally buy, or some people just think it's fun...

[Mike Irwin]

"I guess even the ones that never intend to reload don't know the sight of money laying on the ground. Many don't shoot enough to shoot and collect, I guess that's why I'm there to help them."

If they don't shoot enough to make a reloading press worth the cost, then it's not money lying on the ground all around them.

It's garbage.

Some people just never will shoot enough to make the purchase of a press and all the associate equipment worthwhile.

There's nothing quite as funny as finding out someone has sunk $300 or more on a reloading press and only shoots 2 or 3 times a year, and fewer than 100 rounds a session.

I know quite a few people who have done that, and have expensive rigs just gathering dust.

[Navy joe]

That's why I'm there to buy their (barely)used reloader! :evil: It just annoys me to no end that folks will toss 200 empty .45 casings only to have the range staff sort them into a bucket. All the brass gets boxed up to sell! I'm never shy asking them for their g

[10-Ring]

I only pick up brass if I need it which I suspect that is what most do. I have buddy that gets a discount from the guy he buys his reloads from if he turns in brass with his purchase...

[444]

I encourage this practice. Why should I pay for brass when other people are nice enough to give it to me ?

I load for every caliber I own. Any cost savings due to handloading has never been of even the slightest concern to me. Can I buy factory ammo cheaper than I can handload ? I don't know, or care. Never did, and I have been handloading for over 20 years.


"I figure 1000 rounds per caliber is plenty." :what:

[V-fib]

I shoot exclusively at my own range outback. I save all brass even the .22lr. I lay a small tarp on the ground and collect it. When I get a large box full I stop off at the metals dealer and maybe I get only a few bucks, but I’m a firm believer in recycling. I don’t reload never plan to. I save my 30:06, .38, and .357 with the idea of selling it in the future. If I can’t sell it I’ll throw it in with the other shells and scrap brass I save and sell it to the metal dealer.

:cool:

[MoNsTeR]

You have a range "outback" and you don't reload? :what:
The mind boggles!

[clubsoda22]

after going through a box of 9mm and 45, maybe another box in one gun or another. and every so often a sleeve or two of shotgun shells i'm satisfied. I don't shoot every weekend so i don't find it woth my time to reload. So i just donate my once fired brass to the range. After i sweep up, i put it in the bucket and let them sort and sell it to people who do reload. Way i look at it, my time is worth more than the couple of bucks i'd save monthly reloading .

[ruger357]

I save mine. My gun dealer knocks a few bucks off of a box of ammo for every box of empty shell casings I bring in.

[Majic]

Something to think about for those who don't think it's not worth saving brass and reloading because they only shoot a few times a month.

10 years from now count up what you have spent shooting and compare the amount vs reloading.

[Z_Infidel]

In principle, I like the idea of reloading but I haven't started yet. I normally shoot approx: 500 rounds per month in various calibers - mostly 5.56, .38 Special, and .357 magnum along with some 9 mm and .45 ACP. I have started saving my brass even though I'm not reloading yet.

The reason I haven't started reloading is that I keep thinking I just won't have time with all the other things I am involved in. But then I get to wondering just exactly what kind of time investment is involved. I realize there is a learning period that will necessitate some extra time, but can anyone give me a good impression of the kind of time that would be involved with reloading at a volume sufficient to meet the number of monthly rounds I listed above?

[TonyB]

I shoot alot,and I don't reload......no time,no space for a loader if I had the time.I'd rather spend time shooting than picking up brass.That said I DO save brass for friends that reload.I'm just not religous about it.Some times it bugs me when I want to shoot and they're spending time crawling around picking up brass........I always tell them"why don't you just get a revolver and put the empties from your gun,to your hand,into your pocket?"
lots of times I get Blazer just to not feel guilty about not getting brass for my buds.:cool:

[jdege]

10 years from now count up what you have spent shooting and compare the amount vs reloading.


Then count up the hours you spent reloading, and work out just how much you you really saved.

If I shoot 1000 rounds in a month, it's a busy month.

1000 rounds of commercial 9mm ammo costs me $90. 1000 9mm FMJ bullets and primers alone cost $60. So if I reloaded frequently enough for the cases and the press to be effectively free, I'd be saving only $30 cash, and costing myself a couple of hours worth of work.

I'd rather have the two hours than the $30.

[Okiecruffler]

I never worry about how much time I spend reloading because I kind of enjoy the whole process. If it felt like work it probably wouldn't be worth the effort.

I'm the guy who will dive into a trash can for boxes of empty brass. Just last week I scrounged 3 boxes (150rds ! ) of R-P .38 sp brass. Since I bought my Contender I've managed to scrape up 100+ .44mag brass. I don't have a 44 mag barrel yet, but I see one in the near future. My best find ever tho' was a box of 20 Norma 7.62X54R brass sitting on a bench. That stuff runs about $35 for 50.

[Hkmp5sd]

With the cost of bulk ammo, especially in military calibers, I think it is more cost effective to buy bulk ammo for general shooting than to reload. Of course, there are some calibers in which reloading is significantly cheaper than purchasing factory ammo. If you are going to frequently shoot those calibers, reloading can be a big savings.

The reloading I do is primarily so I can tinker with the combinations of power type, powder load, bullet composition, bullet shape and bullet weight to see what happens. Sort of a giant chemistry/physics experiment. That's what makes it fun for me.

[MoNsTeR]

The costs of reloading must be THE most frequently discussed topic on internet gun forums, ahead of even 9mm vs. 45, 1911 vs. Glock, and AR vs. AK. So THR has a special floating thread dedicated to it:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=18835

The story in a nutshell off the top of my head:
- cost savings for .357 and .45 can exceed 50%
- the accuracy of premium factory ammo (Fed Classic, Win Super-X, etc.) can be achieved or exceeded at less than the cost of "practice" ammo (Win USA, Rem UMC, etc.)
- you can easily produce high-powered loads that match the feel of defense ammo, or low-powered plinking ammo with no additional effort or cost, more if you're dedicated to mass production
- with a good progressive press you can turn out 100 rounds in under 20 minutes
- I shoot about 300 rounds a week in a mix of calibers, by my rough estimate I save $25 each range session by reloading. In reality though, the benefit comes from being able to shoot that much, as there's no way I would shoot every week if it cost me (est.) $52+tax in ammo each time. In fact, I probably wouldn't even own a .45 at all!

[MMcCall]

For many of us, reloading is only cheaper if your time isn't worth anything to you.

[BryanP]

I've started gathering my brass lately, but I don't reload yet. There's one outdoor range I go to where a local guy sells .45acp he reloads. He sells it at quite a reasonable price, so I make a point of gathering up the empties and I give them back to him before I leave.

[BenW]

For many of us, reloading is only cheaper if your time isn't worth anything to you.

Of course if, like me, you enjoy reloading as much as you do shooting, time is of no consequence. :)

[ambidextrous1]

I agree, Ben.

At my favorite range, I watch for the Yuppies to arrive. Wednesday seems to be a favorite day,

Clue #1: They arrive in a SUV.

Clue #2: They come to the firing line in a white shirt and dark blue or black pants; red suspenders are a nice fashion statement, occasionally.

Clue #3: They are shooting a plastic gun.

Clue #4: They're generally lousy shots.

OF COURSE they leave their brass where it falls: "Just wanted to get out of the office for an hour; no, I don't bother with the dirty stuff".

As a courtesy to the range master, I pick up the empties; and as a reward, I carry it home.:D

[Snake Eyes]

1--I have enough crap around my house already
2--I have absolutely NO interest in reloading
3--I have enough money to buy CARRY ammo and shoot it in lots of 50 every time I go to the range for all of the 3-4 guns I carry regularly
4--My time is worth 92 cents per minute when I'm on the clock and 100 times that when I'm off. No way on God's green earth reloading is going to pay.
5--I just don't care.
6--Somebody has to keep the poor schmucks with no married life in empty brass.

[MMcCall]

BenW: if reloading is a hobby for someone, God bless 'em.. I'm just approaching it from a financial standpoint.

[Okiecruffler]

"6--Somebody has to keep the poor schmucks with no married life in empty brass."

Some of us poor schmucks have a pretty good married life. Just who do you think is shooting up all of the .38's I'm reloading?:neener:

[Wanderer]

If everyone scrounged for their own brass, not only would the ranges be cleaner, but people would be more careful about just spraying away at their target, well, at least in an ideal world. But you never know when you might need to load your own in a post-nuclea apocolypse.

[Majic]

We poor schmucks really do appreciate folks looking out for us. Keep up the good work.

[BenW]

BenW: if reloading is a hobby for someone, God bless 'em.. I'm just approaching it from a financial standpoint.
And no dissing of your viewpoint was intended by any means. In fact, the way I reload now my savings are minimal because I like investing in new equipment and playing around with things. I will argue that I do in fact still save both time and money since I can pump out a good 700 rounds an hour on my Dillon, but nowadays saving isn't a major factor for why I reload. Twenty five years ago when I was a young buck on a small salary, savings was a big factor. But back then I was working with only $75 worth of reloading equipment versus $2000 worth of contraptions that I have now. :) Reloading was not only a hobby, it was the only way I could afford to shoot.

[Ringer]

Why are some folks so concerned about picking up every single piece of brass? To each their own.

I was at the indoor range at lunchtime today. The guy next to me is frequently crawling around picking up brass. When I finished and started sweeping up my area (.22's and 9mm's) he was like frantic picking up brass. I was being careful to only sweep up the .22 casings. He never said a word even when I handed him a handful of brass that I picked out of what I swept up.

I don't reload and don't save brass but I do sweep it up when I'm done. I would gladly give my 9mm, .38, .357 and .45 brass to anyone if I knew they wanted it. Maybe someday I will regret it if I start to reload. Even if I did reload I can't see myself crawling at someone else's feet picking up brass. I will say that most people I see grabbing brass do it with far more "tact" than this fellow :D

Like I said above, to each their own.

[blades67]

Folks Don't Save Brass. Why?


Because they don't think I should have to buy brass anymore. I have over 2500 pieces of .45 ACP brass that I have picked up in the last year. I have over 8000 pieces of 9mm brass that I've picked up at the same range, at the same time. I love free brass.:D

[martin]

I only use brass that goes through my guns. If anyone else just leaves brass lying around I sweep it up and leave it for the brass scroungers.

Scrounging brass is like a disease sometimes. I've had dirtbags encroach on my firing area(while I'm firing) just to scrounge brass. Thats extreme and seriously annoying when you are shooting.

[JohnBT]

I could reload my empty milk containers too if I bought a cow, but I only have so much time and too many hobbies(and a job!).

JT

[clubsoda22]

Hmm, i see some arguments for reloading and when i have a place of my own i might start. My main interest would be in making some kicka$$ defensive loads. I wonder if aguila sells just the IQ bullets? They load those things light because when loaded hotter they would consistantly penetrate bullet proof vests....Loading them to +P would be fun, though i probably couldn't shoot them in an indoor range if i did.

[themic]

my wife and i live in a 600 sq ft apartment. about half of which is balcony. simple answer: no place to keep it!

instead, i save money by shooting aluminum and steel cased ammo. let the other guys scrounge for my brass if they want.

[Akurat]

Because the time spent buying the powder, bullets, picking up brass, setting up the machine, getting everything laid out, and pressing cartridges is worth more to me than the negligible few dollars I'd save reloading.

[JPM70535]

Don't really know why I still save brass, but I do. I consider it a crime to let something as potentially valuable as a once fired casing lie on the range floor. For over 25 years, all scavemged brass has been cleaned, ploished and stored in coffee cans after being sorted by caliber.


I reload for most of the calibers I shoot and with the exception of 9mm, I find the savings over factory ammo to be substantial. Since I cast for all my handgun calibers, I can turn out a box of any one of them for considerably less than $6 per box. More like $2.50-$3.

As to having too much stored brass, what is too much? During a recent change of address involving a distance of 10 miles, it took me a full pickup truck load to move all the empty brass, and approximately 1500 pounds of lead ingots I had stored. At that time I definitely felt I had too much. Now with it all safely stored away, I revert to my feeling that one can never have too much of a good thing.

[Flash Hole]

I have a large garden that takes a lot of time and work. I can buy food cheap.
I have a dog I feed and clean up after all year, and only get a couple of weeks work out of her each year.
I pick up brass and spend a lot of time reloading.
Why?
Because I LOVE IT.

JOHN

[Majic]

Amen Flash.
Alot of people see a firearrm as nothing but a tool and everything associated with it as a job. Some of us do appreciate the other aspects of shooting and reloading gives you the ability to admire the shots just fired as something you really created. Duplicating factory performance is really very easy, but there is great joy in creating a load you have use for that the factory doesn't offer.
Reloading isn't for everyone, but for those of us that do it serves a very useful purpose.

[P0832177]

Personally, I love to reload adds satisfaction the shooting sports. I reload for the economy of it. And, some contend it is a false economy at times as you just shoot more. But, for me I enjoy it! It is fun to put bullets in the same hole! Now, when it happens then a fellow has to find a new gun to tinker with the right loads.

I will never reload shotshells as there is not the need for me! If I were to own a 9mm I would have to think long and hard about reloading for it when the Winny VP's are so readily available at Wally World!

[coldshot03/04]

Today was my 1st visit to an indoor range and there was brass all over the place. The owner said that he just collects and reloads.

[Midnight]

You ever lived in a 600 ft^2 apartment? It doesn't make sense for me to compromise an entire closet for brass when I don't even reload.

[foghornl]

I don't reload, but I have a commercial reloading company close by. So, I save the brass; however, after 3 reloads, the 45ACP brass gets chucked.

[EJ]

a

[Hypnogator]

For my part, it's just too much trouble to pick up and save brass. I live in a motorhome, and all my reloading eqpt is in permanent storage. :(

Never had dies for .40, and I don't anticipate starting to save 9mm and .45 brass until I'm ready to "settle down" and start loading again.:)

[Dorrin79]

I don't save brass because I don't reload.

furthermore, the guns I shoot a lot are in extremely common calibers (.22, 9mm, 7.62x39) so it's not like the brass is worth much (in some cases, like the .22 and the 7.62x39, it's not even reloadable (rimfire/ berdan primers)

[John Ross]

Comment regarding cost savings, time value, etc.:

Rifle ammo is where reloading has the greatest savings, but it seems everyone here is talking about reloading handgun ammo, so we'll use my favorite, the .44 Mag., and go all out.

FIXED COSTS

Star Universal w/ Hulme case insert and Dillon electric casefeed bowl $1500
Pair H&G 8-cavity molds $1000
RCBS ProMelt and two Saeco 20-lb. ladle pots $500
Star luber $200
Misc other stuff $250
Total $3450

Variable costs per 1000 rounds, everything bought in bulk

40 lbs wheelweights $8
1000 primers $15
4 lbs powder $40
1000 cases based on 10 reloadings per case, 1/10 of $110 = $11
Lube $1
Total $75 per 1000

Cost of factory .44 Mag from ammoman $369

Savings $294 per thousand. Fixed costs of $3450 will be offset in 12,000 rounds.

Given that I have fired well over 100,000 rounds of .44 Mag so far, my equipment investment seems justified.

TIME

Time to cast, size, & lube 1000 bullets 2 hours

Time to load 1000 rounds on a Star 1 1/2 hours

$294 savings/3.5 hours work = $84/hr for your time. Shooting 10,000 rounds of .44 a year (200/week) means you are spending 3 hours a month creating ammo. I don't find this burdensome, no matter how active my social life.

Other benefits--Your cast bullets will shoot more accurately than Federal jacketed and be easier on your gun esp. forcing cone. Also more velocity/energy than jacketed at the same pressure level.

JR

P.S. I would NEVER reload for a semiato. bending over to pick up brass rates as one of my least favorite activities.

[Majic]

Dorrin,
Berdan brass is reloadable, it's just that not alot of reloaders are set up for it.
Spent 22lr cases are used by some bullet swagers for forming bullet jackets.
About the only thing left that's not used is the spent primers.

[Okiecruffler]

Today, after a rather nice morning of shooting, I found 2 boxes of 30-30 brass, one box of 357 brass, and 3 clips for my Mosins, now who in their right mind would leave those on the bench.

[sturmruger]

Good Call Snakeeyes :D