Keep it or Sell it?

CMV said:

So "trading among your buddies" in reality is screwing your buddies or making them feel uncomfortable about it or having them take a loss (even if everything cost you both the same 10 yrs ago). If I have 20 shares of Sears stock, you have 20 shares of Amazon stock, we each paid $100/share when we bought them years ago, is it a fair trade today to swap them 1 for 1?

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If you're forcing an uncomfortable trade or screwing over your "buddy", then they're not your buddy.
The trade should be something you come to an agreement on that will be mutually beneficial.
Or with some friends I'd just give it to them, knowing they would or have done the same.

I help out friends in need. Give it to them if it's not hurting my own stash. This is another reason I buy factory ammo at fair pricing. I hardly ever shoot factory ammo but I have it if someone needs it. Components I seem to keep around. Had a set of dies for years for a caliber I didn't have. Recently bought a gun in that caliber and was up and running reloads for it in no time. Helped that I pick up all brass that I find on the ground. Had enough brass in the mixed lots for the caliber I needed.

As part of cleaning up my I pulled some ammo from the odd-lots cabinet and posted it on GB. None of my buddies want/need it and it is truly odd stuff. Nambu, 7.5 Nagant, etc. I'm never going to again have a gun for those items. I am trading some extra Kynoch 577/450 to a buddy for some 32 Long Colt. I'd be seriously ahead if we did it by weight!

CMV said:

Trading is all well & good, but reality is no one else wants that stuff either. I mean that like they aren't equal for 1:1 trade in many cases.

You might find situation where someone actually does want yours and they just happen to have surplus of what you want. But with only a few individual caliber exceptions, I pretty much load what my friends & family do. So if I don't want it, they probably don't either.

But people tend to think in terms of:
"This .40cal die set cost me $50, it's worth the same as the 9mm die set you gave $50 for."
"This brick of large rifle magnum primers has 1,000, it's worth the same as the brick of 1,000 small pistol primers you have."
"This pound of Reloader 33 is worth almost 2 pounds of HP38."

So "trading among your buddies" in reality is screwing your buddies or making them feel uncomfortable about it or having them take a loss (even if everything cost you both the same 10 yrs ago). If I have 20 shares of Sears stock, you have 20 shares of Amazon stock, we each paid $100/share when we bought them years ago, is it a fair trade today to swap them 1 for 1?

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Your making a lot of assumptions here. Where does the OP list that he's looking to offload .40 or some other less popular caliber in hopes of getting say 9mm or .223? He did say he loads for fun and hunting. He could be getting rid of 9mm and SPP and such powders and looking to only load 30-30 even.

NTSO2150 said:

I happen to have ammo and reloading components for calibers that I no longer own, but my buddies do own.

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Like what exactly?

Do whatever fits the situation. I’ve sold and traded to strangers. Traded and given away to friends. You never know how it can be useful down the line. But one thing for sure unless absolutely necessary don’t be in a rush to get rid of stuff.

I didn’t acquire any of my gear, guns, whatever as financial investments to make money. I got them because they provide enjoyment for me (or by extension my family, my friends, etc.) If I don’t need stuff any more I keep it to do a good turn sometime, or as a backup, or in case I get a gun in that caliber. So I’d say hold on to em. What’s a bit of cash?

On the other hand, if you know for a fact that you’re done with them and your friends won’t need them, sell them now.

Mosin77 said:

I didn’t acquire any of my gear, guns, whatever as financial investments to make money. I got them because they provide enjoyment for me (or by extension my family, my friends, etc.) If I don’t need stuff any more I keep it to do a good turn sometime, or as a backup, or in case I get a gun in that caliber. So I’d say hold on to em. What’s a bit of cash?

On the other hand, if you know for a fact that you’re done with them and your friends won’t need them, sell them now.

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or take them to Goodwill!

I would trade them, if I knew for sure I would never have that caliber again. I foolishly sold my 45 colt dies and components and I was looking at getting a vaquero just yesterday. I will never sell dies again that was a mistake, I would also keep all components you never know what you could end up with horse trading or a good deal and you could be wishing you kept the stuff

Trade for something you can use or give some to a friend that can use it .
Bartering is best when both parties get what they wanted or need !

pairof44sp said:

Maybe some of those people have a ton of primers and powder and are just gloating about their good fortune, by going pew pew pew with abandon.

I know I’m feeling pretty smug myself. Brazos lead bullets are still 3.2 cent a piece last I checked.

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I have deep reserves as well, but sure wont be burning thru it with reckless abandon. To each their own tho.

I sold 2 guns early in life, at 16 and at 20.

Both were fair deals but both times I felt like the loser since I no longer had that gun, and think I can remember what I used the cash for?

Told myself I’d never sell another gun, and I haven’t. I’ve traded a few, gifted some to my kids and actually gave 2 away.

reloading components are the same to me. I’ll trade or gift, but not sell.

LightninST said:

Trade for something you can use or give some to a friend that can use it .
Bartering is best when both parties get what they wanted or need !

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Yes.
Do you want to trade your $200 brick of primers for my $125 Lee dies and a $75 pound of powder?
How about your $40 primers for my $20 dies and a $20/lb of powder?

Past prices, current prices...whatever. If both sides get what they need/want and move something they don't, nobody should be complaining.

Howland937 said:

Yes.
Do you want to trade your $200 brick of primers for my $125 Lee dies and a $75 pound of powder?
How about your $40 primers for my $20 dies and a $20/lb of powder?

Past prices, current prices...whatever. If both sides get what they need/want and move something they don't, nobody should be complaining.

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EXACTLY!!!

I’ve done deals before where I knew I got the worst of the deal financially, but walked away with a smile on my face.

Howland937 said:

If both sides get what they need/want and move something they don't, nobody should be complaining.

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My Grandfather told me years ago;
The definition of a fair deal is whatever both sides agree to.

He was a man that was a 40% disabled WWI combat vet. His wife died and left him 5 children to raise, during the Depression. He was a self employed drainage contractor, and knew how to make a deal.

I don't sell. I give. But only to newbies or widows.
If you are a grown up, long time gun owner, your lack of planning is not my problem.

I'm retired on a good pension and SS. So rather than be a Scrooge and try for a few pennies more in my pocket, I'd either offer to trade, or give it to good friends.

A few years ago I got a Garand and told a friend at church about my purchase. Next Sunday he called me over to his car and gave me a box that weighed about 40 lbs, full of mil surplus 30-06 ammo (M2 ball? still in the paper boxes). I was speechless and I'll never forget old Al...

I also learned long ago the when I give something away to some one who has a need, I am blessed. Don't matter what is done with the gift, the blessing is already mine...

I'm probably the odd man out but... you know...

I wouldnt sell reloaded ammo, but factory ammo, unopened components and dies and such you're not using or going to use? I'd sell it in a heartbeat. (I would honestly trade it for silver, but that's a whole other can of worms.) Assuming your friends pass at it first for what your in it.

Sell when others are buying.
Buy when others are selling.

While I see the good in sitting on stuff, I also see the good in letting it go.

I like to buy, trade, barter, and sell. I do it so that I can continue to shoot and enjoy our sport, no matter when the time. I’m pretty well set up with stuff, there’s no doubt; however, when I buy a new to me caliber (e.g. 204 Ruger) and can’t find any components on my shelf since I have no other cartridges in that caliber, I have limited choice. I can pay inflated prices, I can wait to shoot until things come back, I can barter / trade with someone to get something we each need, or I can sell something to cover the costs of what it’ll take for me to get what I need.

They all have a time and they all have a place. I also agree with helping out other loaders. The amount of stuff that I’ve been blessed with over the years from people giving me, is countless. I try to do the same for others.

If I were in your shoes, and had components or equipment that haven’t been touched in years, this is what I would do:
1) Try to barter / trade your stuff for items you do need. Find a website (Graf’s, Midway, Powder Valley, etc.) and agree to use the prices from there to determine trade fairness.

2) If you can’t manage a trade, sell it off to get the stuff you need. Deciding on the price is up to you. I often do a WTB first to see what it’ll cost me, and then sell stuff to cover the dollars.

3) If your covered and don’t need the supplies, sell it reasonably to those who are looking or give it to shooters who may be in need. I realize that we are in a crazy market right now, but if you’ve had supplies you haven’t touched in years, are you really going to touch them before things come back? If not, part with them. They aren’t helping you, but could definitely help others.

I used to own three guns that shot the .380 AUTO caliber now I have one. Back years ago right before the Obama panic I bought a full case of cheap steel case ammo because I didn't want to be without when the panic hit.
I now reload for the .380 so I don't need cheap factory loaded ammo for one gun. So I sold the case off to buddies for a little profit but much lower than the $1 a shot it is selling for now.
I think it is important that we try to keep everyone shooting because if the new shooters stop shooting & sell off their guns the shooting population voice will get smaller & smaller. With the strong anti-gun force taking the white house we need all the voices we can get.

I use it as trade fodder. I give my buddies first crack at pre panic prices, but most of them don't need it. I've gotten a lot of stuff I wanted this way. If you have non-mainstream stuff and you're done with it, now is definitely the time to sell it.

How close are these buddies?
Very close? Keep 'em.
Otherwise sell.

That's my story & I'm stickin' to it.