Not finding brass like I used to

[Catpop]

I stocked up wen it was available as pick ups
only thing short on is 38 spl for my wife's hand gun
not many shoot 38 spl any more

Mike

Yeap, 38 spc once most common of all, is becoming harder to find in the wild.
Ironically, 38 spc is becoming MY most reloaded range round
Coming full circle at 71 I guess.

 

[ballman6711]

Why stock up on blammo-crappo shelf ammo? We’re handloaders. We don’t need any stinking cheap crap box stuff.

I still see the value in cheap 9mm ball stuff. I shot plenty before buying a press and it worked every time. Stuff like Blazzer Brass, Winchester white box! goes bang and shoots straight

I can see both sides of this. As a reloader, I don't need to buy factory ammo IF I have the components to make it myself. But sometimes I don't have the components.

I decided to start loading 7.62x39 a couple months ago and am currently hunting for components. I have found LRP's (which I didn't have since I've never needed them before), powder, and bullets. I have also found some factory 123gr FMJ's , which my rifle likes, and will also give me once fired brass for reloading. I couldn't find brass when I made the decision to load for this rifle, but factory ammo was available. I can find brass now, but have no need for it (due to buying factory) and will likely wait for prices to stabilize/drop before stocking up.

chris

 

[jmorris]

Well, that’s good news. Maybe someone is using the primers after all…

 

[johnjohn]

I'm in the group that get's overjoyed when I find .38 special brass. I have plenty but always want MORE.

 

[Mark_Mark]

I'm in the group that get's overjoyed when I find .38 special brass. I have plenty but always want MORE.

keep an eye in the for sale section, I recall .38 brass going for really cheap… maybe in the $.05 range and someone had 3-6 thousand for sale.

 

[allisd17]

I can see both sides of this. As a reloader, I don't need to buy factory ammo IF I have the components to make it myself. But sometimes I don't have the components.

I decided to start loading 7.62x39 a couple months ago and am currently hunting for components. I have found LRP's (which I didn't have since I've never needed them before), powder, and bullets. I have also found some factory 123gr FMJ's , which my rifle likes, and will also give me once fired brass for reloading. I couldn't find brass when I made the decision to load for this rifle, but factory ammo was available. I can find brass now, but have no need for it (due to buying factory) and will likely wait for prices to stabilize/drop before stocking up.

chris

My rifles seem to like only the expensive bullets. I can't get good results out of FMJ, not even Lapua

 

[allisd17]

I'm in the group that get's overjoyed when I find .38 special brass. I have plenty but always want MORE.

I'm still using brass that I got from military ranges back in the 70s but I still love finding new range pickups.

 

[Wildbillz]

9mm, 40 S&W and 5.56mm (223Rem) I pickup pretty regular when I am shooting. I even manage to find a little 380Acp. But most every thing else gets snarffed up before I get there.

WB

 

[warnerwh]

I check the brass buckets every time I go and have noticed the amount of brass is less. I figured it could be due to the fact inflation could be eating into people's budget.

 

[Mark_Mark]

I check the brass buckets every time I go and have noticed the amount of brass is less. I figured it could be due to the fact inflation could be eating into people's budget.

Gas is back to spiking up. In CA it’s near $7. So hunker down and save your brass people. Rough ride still ahead. Keep up the mentality of 2021 and we will be OK

 

[LiveLife]

Not finding brass like I used to ... Inflation maybe?

Anyone else notice it too?

Even when pistol ammo was $1 per round, I still saw similar amount of brass on the ground at BLM shooting areas as pre-pandemic. Yes, mostly once-fired with plenty of factory ammo boxes.

I have noticed an increase in NATO marked 9mm brass during the shortage but commercial 9mm brass is what I mostly see now.

I have noticed a drop in less popular caliber brass but still see plenty of 9mm/40S&W/.223 brass along with a sea of 22LR brass.

Nope. Attending Action Pistol matches there is plenty of brass on the ground.

That's because 9mm Major shooters are leaving their overly expanded brass for reloaders to wonder why their range pick up brass is so hard to resize?

Just kidding.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

That's because 9mm Major shooters are leaving their overly expanded brass for reloaders to wonder why their range pick up brass is so hard to resize?

Just kidding.

Maybe. Maybe not.
I have to think a lot of the slowdown in my part of the world may be the result of people being really busy. I’m not the only salaried employee putting in extra hours because we have lost staff to attrition and haven’t been able to replace them. I don’t live in one of the retirees parts of Florida so most people are still working full time and then some.

 

[CQB45ACP]

Maybe. Maybe not.
I have to think a lot of the slowdown in my part of the world may be the result of people being really busy. I’m not the only salaried employee putting in extra hours because we have lost staff to attrition and haven’t been able to replace them. I don’t live in one of the retirees parts of Florida so most people are still working full time and then some.

Probably part of it. Up here there also seems to be an enthusiasm gap. I can’t explain it of course and look forward to the endless PHD candidates’ papers that will try.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Probably part of it. Up here there also seems to be an enthusiasm gap. I can’t explain it of course and look forward to the endless PHD candidates’ papers that will try.

It’s regional most likely. Just like the shortage. Some fellas were hooping and hollering about empty shelves while others were posting pages of pictures of full shelves with sales prices. The “I got plenty so too bad for you” crowd is really annoying.

 

[Mark_Mark]

Check the Scrap yards, and ask if you can buy their bucket of brass. Tell them 2x what you paid. I bet you can get a tuck load

 

[CQB45ACP]

It’s regional most likely. Just like the shortage. Some fellas were hooping and hollering about empty shelves while others were posting pages of pictures of full shelves with sales prices. The “I got plenty so too bad for you” crowd is really annoying.

Yes regional and that in itself is annoying for folks like me whose region is internet only. Seems great until you always fight shipping, hazmat, and not wanting every delivery driver to know your business.

 

[CQB45ACP]

Check the Scrap yards, and ask if you can buy their bucket of brass. Tell them 2x what you paid. I bet you can get a tuck load

What’s a scrap yard? Seriously who takes brass to a scrap yard?

 

[Mark_Mark]

What’s a scrap yard?

metal scrap yard are everywhere. they might be named recycling center or something similar. Grease some palm and get some brass

 

[Soonerpesek]

Seriously who takes brass to a scrap yard?

At $2-3 per pound.....................................a lot of people.....................!

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

I take my worn brass to the scrap yard.

 

[Mark_Mark]

At $2-3 per pound.....................................a lot of people.....................!

my Shooting club, a huge one, took their unwanted brass to the yards. Members had a chance to buy brass by the scrap pound and what was not sold when to the scrap yard

 

[LiveLife]

Check the Scrap yards, and ask if you can buy their bucket of brass.

One time, I was helping my sister's family get prepared for their move to Texas and BIL and I took some scrap steel/aluminum to the scrap yard.

BIL pointed out two 5 gallon buckets filled with what seemed to be wheel weight cast .38 Spl bullets. I quickly inquired and was able to buy for $1.50/lb when then scrap price they paid was $1.00/lb.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

metal scrap yard are everywhere. they might be named recycling center or something similar. Grease some palm and get some brass

Once again, highly regional. Most of Florida the only metal scrappers around are either part of the local solid waste management system or privately owned and regulated by the state department of professional services. They aren’t allowed to sell scrap as delivered because of hazardous waste management regulations and the government agencies have to abide by public sales laws. Florida is a Sunshine State in terms of regulation too. That means all public records are accessible and not fully protected from the press or courts. I know a little about this from talking to my friends who own the indoor range. Once they invoice the scrapper they sell to for a load of brass they lose access to it until he has processed it. Environmental regulations in this state are no joke. You do not want to cross the crazy conehead currently in charge of the state department of agriculture, either. Even bats think she’s crazy.

 

[Mark_Mark]

Once again, highly regional. Most of Florida the only metal scrappers around are either part of the local solid waste management system or privately owned and regulated by the state department of professional services. They aren’t allowed to sell scrap as delivered because of hazardous waste management regulations and the government agencies have to abide by public sales laws. Florida is a Sunshine State in terms of regulation too. That means all public records are accessible and not fully protected from the press or courts. I know a little about this from talking to my friends who own the indoor range. Once they invoice the scrapper they sell to for a load of brass they lose access to it until he has processed it. Environmental regulations in this state are no joke. You do not want to cross the crazy conehead currently in charge of the state department of agriculture, either. Even bats think she’s crazy.

for such a cool State… you sure do have issues with government

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

for such a cool State… you sure do have issues with government

The environmental protection laws here are extremely reasonable and necessary. You have to live here to understand. We’re a sandstone and limestone peninsula, not solid granite like other parts of the world. Our water is in a sand table, not an aquifer like the valleys and plains. Once a metal dangerous to humans like lead gets into the water table it is almost impossible to remove. Sadly, we are constantly inundated by ignorant yayhoos who don’t understand or take the time to think about these things and pollute our environment without a care. I wish we could keep those dangerous idiots out but we can’t. All we can do is try to keep them from spreading harm with simple precautionary measures, like regulating businesses. It’s not a 100% fix but it’s a start.