Can you reload....

[Afy]

rimfire cartridges like .17 or .22?

I know that everyone says that you can not, yet at the range I always see people gathering up the empties and taking them home...

Also would like to understand why you cant reload rimfire stuff..

 

[presspuller]

The primer in rimfires are poured into the case and spun out into the rim. Once its gone its gone.
They are probably just keeping the brass to sell for scrap.

 

[mscott]

The guys you see picking them up are probably selling them for scrap or maybe somebody gives a crap about keeping the range clean.
I've never known anyone that reloaded rimfire ammo.

 

[hankpac]

A third reason to pick up .22 lr brass is to swage .22 bullets, using a swaging tool and lead wire. The tool makes a hollowpoint .22 cal flat bottom spirepoint bullet in one squeeze.
No you cannot reload .22 cases. the primer is the issue.

 

[Afy]

Is .22lr worth selling as scrap... there must be a few hundred pounds of the stuff lying around in drums at the range I frequent...

 

[cdrt]

You can get anywhere from 75 cents to $1.40 a pound for yellow brass...depends on your scrap yard and what they're looking for. If you're real dedicated, save your spent primers and sell them as well.

Navy Vet

 

[mek42]

My range uses spent brass recycling as part of the club's fundraising activities. People are definitely encouraged to police their own brass either for reloading or for putting into the drums and it is also ok for people to scavenge from the drums for reloading, but taking from the drums for scrap recycling kinda crosses that theft line a little.

Every range is going to be different. Even the ranges that do recycle their own spent brass probably wouldn't have too much issue with someone picking up off the lawn for whatever reason, but taking from the drums for cash might be a different issue.

 

[RustyFN]

Is .22lr worth selling as scrap... there must be a few hundred pounds of the stuff lying around in drums at the range I frequent...

It's brass. It sells for the same price as other brass it just takes a lot more to make a pound. Personally I don't mess with it I only pick up reloadable cases.
Rusty

 

[scrat]

i save it i just keep filling up a large water bottle with primers .22 .17 and bad brass that i cant use any more. NOW what i usually do to the cases. Tumble them. Primers i just throw in. that way the brass is all nice and shiny. The recylers will not give you any hasstle and will take it no problem. i have one water bottle full right now.

 

[Sunray]

"...My range uses spent brass recycling as part of the club's fundraising activities..." Exactly. Most ranges will get very upset with you if you take the spent brass bin.

 

[Afy]

I doubt if the range I shoot at is recycling... they should start though...

 

[Gnarkill]

Omnisource gives about $1.50 per pound rifle now for cartridge brass. Do not mix brass and steel or they'll rape you.