How to value reloading equipment.

[Captain Quack]

Based on how many bad loads I've done in the last 6 months, I'm giving serious though to selling off my press and all the fixins. It's a safety thing. I just have no idea how to price things. It's a lee Loadmaster and a turret press. Dies for .38/.357. 9 mm. 30-06. .303 British. Plenty of powders unopened. About 6000 primers. Hundreds of cases for the .38/9 mm/'06. Lots of accessories. I just don't know where to start figuring out what it's worth. And one here have any advice on looking at this?

Captain Quack.

 

[shoebox1.1]

Sounds like maybe your a lil in the doldrums over it.. I could see me feeling the same way. Maybe step back, let the equipment sit and think about what they’re doing and what they plan on doing to improve themselves. Meanwhile you relax and take it easy. Don’t watch the news. It’s poison.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

When my father in law passed last November we told my wife’s mother to get ahold of the current president of the shooting club where he had been a member. The club president came by after the funeral and gave her a rough number to expect for a total based just on what he thought it would bring at the weekly clubhouse open house until it was all sold.

He was close to within a couple of C-Notes (low).

I asked how he got his prices and he told it was an educated guess. In short, he took half of the new wholesale prices based on the club’s various group-buy accounts and other catalog values.

He said that way the stuff that tends to get overvalued is balanced by the stuff that gets undervalued.

Look up what things cost around 2019, subtract 20% and that’s going to be your top-dollar asking price. Your market remembers $20 bricks of large rifle.

Newbies and folks looking for that item will pay it, probably gladly. If you want to sell at buddy prices, subtract 50% from the 2019 regular catalog prices. Forget the current inflated prices. Even the flea market guys are hustling to sell those prices.

By the way, the club wrote my mother in law a nice letter and put up a tribute to pops. He was a great guy and everyone loved him.

 

[LV Gun]

Based on how many bad loads I've done in the last 6 months, I'm giving serious though to selling off my press and all the fixins. It's a safety thing. I just have no idea how to price things. It's a lee Loadmaster and a turret press. Dies for .38/.357. 9 mm. 30-06. .303 British. Plenty of powders unopened. About 6000 primers. Hundreds of cases for the .38/9 mm/'06. Lots of accessories. I just don't know where to start figuring out what it's worth. And one here have any advice on looking at this?

Captain Quack.

I have been selling quite a bit of reloading equipment in the last 3 years at swap meets what I can tell you is if you really want to part with it you will not get what you think it’s worth. I had a lot of extra ammo boxes tried selling them the first time for a $1.00 each sold none second time put the at .50 cents each sold every one I had. Brass like 9mm is hard to sell every one seems to have it and if you have it they don’t want to pay much for it I was selling containers of 3000 for $40.00 but sold all I had . The Load Master you may get a$125.00 for and the Turret depending on how old it is you may get $50.00 for your problem with the Load Master is Lee has quit making them. The dies I sold were all RCBS I got $15.00 a set for one set and I had to push to get that ,,the other three RCBS sets I sold for $10.00 a set they were nice dies. I sold a extra Dillion SDB press with 3 caliber setups for $225.00 it was all I could get I was asking $275.00.. Primers you will have no problem selling you will get close to current Retail. Powder I actually bought some at the last swap meet I bought 4lbs of Titegroup for $80.00 and a pound of W296 for $30.00 . Accessories I find are hard to sell you have to get the right person you will find you won’t get a lot for them .
This has been my experience in the last 3 years I hope this helps you out.

Edited Note- based on my experience you will have a hard time getting 50 to75% of new price for any brand ,, that has been my actual experience selling used reloading stuff . I inherited a lot of my father in laws stuff before he passed away it was all Hornady I got about 35% of new price.

 

[Show Me]

I was hoping sensible people would answer. There you go. Sounds like work. To me a bird in the hand beats two in the bush.

 

[Hugger-4641]

When my father in law passed last November we told my wife’s mother to get ahold of the current president of the shooting club where he had been a member. The club president came by after the funeral and gave her a rough number to expect for a total based just on what he thought it would bring at the weekly clubhouse open house until it was all sold.

He was close to within a couple of C-Notes (low).

I asked how he got his prices and he told it was an educated guess. In short, he took half of the new wholesale prices based on the club’s various group-buy accounts and other catalog values.

He said that way the stuff that tends to get overvalued is balanced by the stuff that gets undervalued.

Look up what things cost around 2019, subtract 20% and that’s going to be your top-dollar asking price. Your market remembers $20 bricks of large rifle.

Newbies and folks looking for that item will pay it, probably gladly. If you want to sell at buddy prices, subtract 50% from the 2019 regular catalog prices. Forget the current inflated prices. Even the flea market guys are hustling to sell those prices.

By the way, the club wrote my mother in law a nice letter and put up a tribute to pops. He was a great guy and everyone loved him.

This is pretty much how I would approach it, maybe 70% on stuff that still looked brand new and 50% on well used items.

 

[Highland Lofts]

Lee presses are not a big seller. I friend upgraded from a lee progressive to a Hornady AP progressive pressand has had his lee up for sale and no one is even looking at it.
On the lee stuff I'd ask 50% of cost .
On rcbs stuff and dillion stuff I'd ask 70%.

Maybe all you need is a local mentor.

 

[Soonerpesek]

Based on how many bad loads I've done in the last 6 months, I'm giving serious though to selling off my press and all the fixins. It's a safety thing. I just have no idea how to price things. It's a lee Loadmaster and a turret press. Dies for .38/.357. 9 mm. 30-06. .303 British. Plenty of powders unopened. About 6000 primers. Hundreds of cases for the .38/9 mm/'06. Lots of accessories. I just don't know where to start figuring out what it's worth. And one here have any advice on looking at this?

Captain Quack.

Unless you are gonna give up shooting all together, and for the time and effort of trying to find a buyer, I suggest you sit on it for a bit and shoot some factory stuff until the desire comes back…..
Sounds like you shoot some stuff that is hard to come by, or expensive, or both.
Having the ability to load that kind of stuff is really advantageous…..

 

[shoebox1.1]

Lee presses are not a big seller. I friend upgraded from a lee progressive to a Hornady AP progressive pressand has had his lee up for sale and no one is even looking at it.
On the lee stuff I'd ask 50% of cost .
On rcbs stuff and dillion stuff I'd ask 70%.

Maybe all you need is a local mentor.

I can attest the local mentor is the way to go for
Those who need one like me!!

 

[kmw1954]

As has been demonstrated here I will admit that this second time around in the reloading game nearly everything I have on my bench was purchased second hand. Resulting in a substantial savings. Still it all produces quality ammunition. So over the years when topics come up asking advice on equipment from new loaders I always suggest looking in the used market. This stuff is such that unless it's abused it is near impossible to wear it out.

Hard tools I suggest pricing new and then figure 50-60%, consumables such as primers and powders if unopened 70-80% of current prices. Or try to list a spreadsheet of all and offer as a complete sale.

 

[ericuda]

I'd ask current price with free shipping and no tax or I'd just keep.

 

[WestKentucky]

A whole lot of it depends upon local market and that’s totally unpredictable unless your in that local market. Things change quickly too. I bought several whole benches from people retiring from the hobby, or who had retired from this side of the topsoil, but that was several years ago. I basically would throw out a number of about 1/3 normal new price for the whole lot. I would then sell off what I wouldn’t use and usually ended up close to even moneywise but have extra stuff. Things have certainly changed and prices on used stuff has jumped to about 2/3 of new price and higher demand too. I no longer buy used stuff because the savings just isn’t there when compared to brand new.

If I were to kick the reloading habit and sell out I would take exactly half what new cost is on used stuff. If it’s discontinued I would use 75% of eBay price as my price guide.

 

[Buzznrose]

Based on how many bad loads I've done in the last 6 months, I'm giving serious though to selling off my press and all the fixins. It's a safety thing. I just have no idea how to price things. It's a lee Loadmaster and a turret press. Dies for .38/.357. 9 mm. 30-06. .303 British. Plenty of powders unopened. About 6000 primers. Hundreds of cases for the .38/9 mm/'06. Lots of accessories. I just don't know where to start figuring out what it's worth. And one here have any advice on looking at this?

Captain Quack.

Were it me, I’d keep it simple…and sell it fast.

Primers: $50-70 per thousand
Lee Die sets: $25-30 set
Powder: $25-30 per pound unopened
Brass: I’d add it to the deals to help incentivize the buyers.
Presses and other equipment: 25% of new

 

[twarr1]

Last year I had about 10 lbs of unopened powder I no longer use that I ended up offering for $20/lb. No takers. Ended up in a bonfire.

 

[shoebox1.1]

Were it me, I’d keep it simple…and sell it fast.

Primers: $50-70 per thousand
Lee Die sets: $25-30 set
Powder: $25-30 per pound unopened
Brass: I’d add it to the deals to help incentivize the buyers.
Presses and other equipment: 25% of new

I like this.

 

[JFrank]

So.. is the OP just giving up, tossing in the towel ?

 

[CQB45ACP]

When I sell stuff it's because I want it gone not because I want money, so I take offers. I accept most and make counteroffers sometimes. And I don't care if the other guy is going to flip it and get even more.

Oh yeah, we had a similar thread a while back and I checked with both the Salvation Army & Goodwill stores nearby...neither would take reloading stuff.

 

[ballman6711]

I'm in the camp of "hang on to it awhile". You may change your mind in a month or two, and wish you hadn't sold it. And replacement cost will certainly be more than you get for your current equipment.

So rather than selling it, sit on it and re-evaluate your current loading procedure to figure out why you are making "bad" ammo.

Write down step-by-step how to load xx cartridge. Every step from tumbling to shooting. Laminate it, and keep it on your bench. Then walk away from it all for awhile.

If, after a period of time, you still want to sell your equipment, see if your LGS will sell it for you on consignment. They'll get a lot more potential buyers than you will.

chris

 

[CQB45ACP]

I'm in the camp of "hang on to it awhile". You may change your mind in a month or two, and wish you hadn't sold it. And replacement cost will certainly be more than you get for your current equipment.

So rather than selling it, sit on it and re-evaluate your current loading procedure to figure out why you are making "bad" ammo.

Write down step-by-step how to load xx cartridge. Every step from tumbling to shooting. Laminate it, and keep it on your bench. Then walk away from it all for awhile.

If, after a period of time, you still want to sell your equipment, see if your LGS will sell it for you on consignment. They'll get a lot more potential buyers than you will.

chris

You're always so logical. Where's the fun in that?

 

[ballman6711]

You're always so logical. Where's the fun in that?

I guess my thought process is a bit different than some.

If the OP wants to quit reloading, and doesn't think he'll want to start up again in the future, then he should get rid of his equipment.

But if he enjoys reloading, and is thinking of getting rid of his stuff due to a few bad rounds, then he should take the time to re-evaluate his loading process. Figure out what he's doing that makes the ammo bad, unsafe, inaccurate, or whatever. He may change his mind, or he just delays getting rid of the stuff for a few months.

I sold my uncle everything he needed to get started reloading last year except a bench to put it on. With the exception of the tumbler, everything fit in a medium size moving box. So storage shouldn't be an issue, at least for most people.

Sometimes I am too logical. Maybe I'll be the grasshopper today and see how that works for me!

chris

 

[Buzznrose]

Lee presses are not a big seller. I friend upgraded from a lee progressive to a Hornady AP progressive pressand has had his lee up for sale and no one is even looking at it.
On the lee stuff I'd ask 50% of cost .
On rcbs stuff and dillion stuff I'd ask 70%.

Maybe all you need is a local mentor.

Agree, Lee is economically priced gear and widely available. Not saying it isn’t functional, but it is what it is.

May be good for the shooting community to simply find a deserving newbie and gift the Lee equipment to them…just a thought.

You might also price all the components and offer the equipment for free with the package.

I’ve bought Lee gear. It works, but I do prefer RCBS or Hornady dies and pay up for them. I won’t pay up for Dillon or Redding at this point, as I don’t see a reason yet. We all have our preferences and price points.

But for sure, your powder and primers have some value and are very sellable, based on the simple fact they’ve gone up in price and shipping/hazmat charges add to the costs.

 

[N555]

I'm in the camp of "hang on to it awhile". You may change your mind in a month or two, and wish you hadn't sold it. And replacement cost will certainly be more than you get for your current equipment.

So rather than selling it, sit on it and re-evaluate your current loading procedure to figure out why you are making "bad" ammo.

Write down step-by-step how to load xx cartridge. Every step from tumbling to shooting. Laminate it, and keep it on your bench. Then walk away from it all for awhile.

If, after a period of time, you still want to sell your equipment, see if your LGS will sell it for you on consignment. They'll get a lot more potential buyers than you will.

chris

Yeah the internet wasn't around when I started reloading. I learned it from reading reloading manuals.
Biggest problem I had in my early days of reloading was my sizing die worked lose and ended up with several hundred cases that had a false shoulder. Didn't figure it out til it was all loaded ammo that wouldn't go onto battery.

 

[N555]

Based on how many bad loads I've done in the last 6 months, I'm giving serious though to selling off my press and all the fixins. It's a safety thing. I just have no idea how to price things. It's a lee Loadmaster and a turret press. Dies for .38/.357. 9 mm. 30-06. .303 British. Plenty of powders unopened. About 6000 primers. Hundreds of cases for the .38/9 mm/'06. Lots of accessories. I just don't know where to start figuring out what it's worth. And one here have any advice on looking at this?

Captain Quack.

What do you mean by bad loads?
Like won't go into battery, squibs, bullets that fall out of cases, blown up guns?

 

[red rick]

I would say price the equipment at about 50 percent off plus shipping and the primers and powder about $10 below market price local .

 

[jmorris]

I just have no idea how to price things.

Start at 80% of new price, unless you wait for the next panic, then I'd put it on ebay, might double your money...