Value of shotshell hulls?

[fatelk]

I have acquired a large quantity of shotshell hulls, and have been trying to determine a fair value so I can put them up for sale.

I think they are all Winchester; some obviously once-fired, some look to be more. I have 12 ga., 20 ga., 28 ga., and .410. Obviously the .410s and 28s are worth something, as I saw some selling pretty good on gunbroker when I checked, but most listings I saw for especially 12 ga. had no bids. Good 1x 12 gauge AA hulls have at least some value, don't they? Seems like they used to go for a nickel each way back when I loaded for shotgun. Does nobody load shotshells anymore?

There are also MEC sizemaster loaders, and a bunch of other stuff that will take me a while to go through, clean up, and figure out where and how to sell.

 

[Rembrandt]

About 5-6 cents per for AA's.

 

[oneounceload]

Once-fired AA or STS in 12 or 20 are worth 3-5 cents each; if they're not once-fired, give them to a friend who reloads. 28 gauge will depend on which ones - there are 3 different Winchester hulls. Again if once-fired you can get 12-15 cents for certain AA hulls, others might bring 8-10. Multi-fired, give them away. 410's will be worth a little less than 28's, around 5-8 cents each for once-fired.

Instead of listing them and dealing with shipping and other hassles, go to your local shotgun club (the trap/skeet type), and post your stuff on the bulletin board and talk to folks there - if priced right, you will probably sell the stuff before you leave

 

[fatelk]

Thanks for the advice. I don't know anyone who reloads for shotgun anymore, but there is a shotgun club down the road. I might go down there and ask around next weekend.

When some start to split a little around the crimp are they just trash, or good for another loading? Nearly all the 12 ga look to be 1x, but there are a lot of 28s and a huge box of 410s that look more than 1x. I might load some of the 410s for myself, just because they are so expensive to buy. If the other multiple-fired hulls are just trash, I'll chuck them.

It looks like I have a couple thousand of each gauge, maybe twice that of 20 ga, but the 20s are not all WW. I'll do some sorting and counting, maybe put some on the trader here soon. Anyone in the Willamette Valley Oregon area: I'll make you a good deal on some hulls!

Thanks again for the info.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I'm sorry to tell you this but most of those hulls look like they've been fired many times and look to be at the end of their use. I could be wrong but that's how they look in the pictures...

 

[medalguy]

I agree, worn out. Trash 'em.

 

[twofifty]

Piggybacking a question here if the OP doesn't mind:

Please edumacate me on why Fatelk's hulls are considered ready for the trashbin:

- Is it because they would not resize properly and therefore be hard to feed?
- Or have the crimps been worked so much that they would lead to uneven start pressures, or erratic shot column behaviour?
- Maybe they're unsafe for some reason that escapes me?

 

[fatelk]

For the record: those are the worst ones that I was talking about trashing anyway. There are many others that are clearly once fired.

 

[oneounceload]

Piggybacking a question here if the OP doesn't mind:

Please edumacate me on why Fatelk's hulls are considered ready for the trashbin:

- Is it because they would not resize properly and therefore be hard to feed?
- Or have the crimps been worked so much that they would lead to uneven start pressures, or erratic shot column behaviour?
- Maybe they're unsafe for some reason that escapes me?

I reload my hulls till they split down the middle or until 2 petals of the crimp fall off; however, I would not PAY for hulls in that condition.

When I run low, I but a few flats of factory on sale, shoot them up and then have more empties to reload.

Folks who are willing to buy them want once-fired because then they know about how many reloads they'll get - no way to tell if others are twice fired or ten times fired. After a while the case head becomes weak, the crimp folds come loose - in short the hull is worn out. Some wear out faster than others; some will wear faster depending on the powder and the charge used (hot loads wear them out faster)

HTH

 

[fatelk]

Thanks, oneounceload, just the info I was looking for. I think I'll sort through and sell the once fired, keep some of the multiples I might use myself, and give away or trash the rest.

410 hulls seem to be so hard to find I think I'll keep a bunch of even the ugly ones and see if I can work up a good load for them.

 

[oneounceload]

If you reload metallic. maybe you could work out a swap for brass cases or similar, or trade them to a guy for getting to try his gun for a few rounds of trap or something similar - -get creative. Or just give those away to someone and maybe make a new shooting buddy

 

[snuffy]

- Or have the crimps been worked so much that they would lead to uneven start pressures, or erratic shot column behaviour?

Exactly! Crimps get "soft" with repeated use. The softer the crimp gets, the less pressure it requires to open. This results in less velocity. Once fired shells give velocities that you expect from whatever load you chose. Meaning, the primer,powder,wad, and weight of shot should always produce the listed velocity. The velocity will begin to drop off around the third loading, and continue to decline after that.

That's assuming CF,(compression formed), one piece, hulls. The riefenhauser tube type hull is another beast entirely. Like the Federal game load and winchester expert. They're load once and let lay.

 

[loadedround]

As a trap shooter, I say trash them. Most shooters wouldn't take them for nothing.

 

[fatelk]

Trash all of them, including once fired, or just the ones I already said I was going to give away or trash?