How much 45 ACP brass fits in a 5 gallon bucket ?

[BigSlick]

Hi guys,

I have a chance to buy some brass being sold by the bucket. The seller is too lazy to count it all and I am trying to figure out how much it's worth.

I am sure some of you hardcore range rats or long time reloaders have buckets upon buckets of 45 ACP laying around

I know 6000 of 40 SW, 8000 of 9mm will fit from the local range guy, but they don't keep 45 ACP long enough to get a bucket full. It sells as soon as they get a 500 count bag.

Thanks for the help guys

BigSlick

 

[LAH]

Bigslick...........you get 1700 ea. 30-06 cases in a 5 gal. Pz. Longlife Oil bucket. 45 ACP has the same head so maybe 4000-4500 is my guess. I've had a couple buckets full from time to time but never thought to get a count.

 

[ReloaderFred]

If you have any .45 brass, weigh out either 500 or 1,000 and see what they weigh. Then weigh the bucket and brass. Then divide the amount of the 500 or 1,000 into the bucket weight and deduct the weight of the bucket and you'll have a pretty close count of what the bucket contains.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[Sunray]

Given that Winchester is making .45 brass with smaller primers, I'd be very leary about buying a bucket of unknown brass. You never know what you'll get.

 

[Rottweiler]

about 450 to a big coffee can. I probably have a 5 gallon bucket full in the basement if my little brother hasn't mooched it off me. I wouldn't want to count that many out unless I had to

 

[LAH]

ReloaderFred's got it together.............YEE HEE

 

[Art Eatman]

I'd guess around 4,600.

The case is about 1/2" x 3/4", for round numbers, or about four per cubic inch.

5 gallons is 2/3 of a cubic foot which is 1,728 cubic inches.

So, roughly, 2/3 times 1,728 times 4.

, Art

 

[LAH]

Art, Art, you da man.

 

[MikeIsaj]

I'd guess around 4,600.

That's not a guess, that's a calculation. I'm guessing Art's an engineer?

 

[Brian Williams]

No, He probably just listened to his Geometry teacher.

 

[bogie]

I listened to my geometry teacher. She said...

"Blah, blah, blah blah blah, blah."

 

[Lennyjoe]

What's Geometry?

 

[45lvr]

too much math stuff. im gone...

 

[BigSlick]

The grand total, found by using math.. 1+1=2, +1=3, +1=4

4400 fills it even with the top.

I picked it up today, about evenly mixed Winchester, Federal and Speer. I found a grand total of 33 dented, 11 mil crimps and 14 MFS. Otherwise it's all good

BigSlick

 

[The Bushmaster]

All this and you bought it anyway...You could just as well bought it, counted it then told us what you found. You sure that's not 4402 or maybe 4398 pieces??

Or was this a geometry test .

 

[BigSlick]

You could just as well bought it, counted it then told us what you found

Well...yeah...

I got two buckets for $50 each plus the gas and time to go get them, so I guess I could have done that. I just didn't want to spend all that time counting

BigSlick

 

[The Bushmaster]

O K...That's 0.0113636 cents apiece. A little over a penny each. Not bad...Not bad at all. Once fired?? Not good at geometry, but I can add, subtract, multify and divide. Actually know advanced algabra. Geometry? Flunked it for a pretty girl... Married-'er

 

[trickyasafox]

tell you what if art was within 200 pieces thats a darn good guess if you ask me and thats a great buy on 45 acp brass! congrats! im starting to poke around form some myself. think anyone would trade 45 for 40 snw once fired from a police range? i have access to a police range for part of the year and i figure if i offer enough 40, someone will trade

 

[fecmech]

.45 brass is about 79 per pound. Weigh a couple or three cases, average the weight, divide that number into 7000 (number of grains in a pound). Nick

 

[BigSlick]

think anyone would trade 45 for 40 snw once fired from a police range? i have access to a police range for part of the year and i figure if i offer enough 40, someone will trade

I don't know how much you would have to offer to make that deal. I see 40SW on the 'net advertised for $7.50 per thousand.

Locally it is available (mixed, uncleaned) for just picking it up if you want it. Most of it is third world origin with every headstamp you can imagine. Lot's of it looks pregnant too. Too much hassle to pick it up, sort then segregate by headstamp. 9 mil is the same way.

EBay has a ton of 40 brass from time to time, a lot of it never even gets one bid. Nickel, Winchester, R-P and Speer will sell, but the others usually don't move well.

I guess if someone offered me enough of it, I would swap a little, but it would have to be an insanely lopsided trade. I would swap for 10mm brass in more reasonable proportion, but you almost never see the stuff.

BigSlick

 

[trickyasafox]

yea i figured as much. i thought maybe 8-10 cases to 1?