Range Scrounge Brass...to keep or not to keep?

[Woodstock45678]

So I've heard both sides of the story - One side says scrounge as much range brass as you can find, separate, inspect, and reload.
The other side says don't scrounge because alot of range brass is cast off from other reloaders who have used their brass 5-6 times.

Whenever I scrounge I usually scrutinize the range brass more thoroughly than my own brass. I check the necks and shoulders, and see if there's a ring at the bottom near the case head, indicating separation. If something just doesn't look or feel "right" then I chuck it to the scrap pile.

So...should I keep scrounging or just leave it for someone else?

I want to keep my fingers eyes and toes, if that makes a difference.

 

[1SOW]

OOps---please delete

 

[1SOW]

Keep It!!

If you decide not to keep it, please send it to me especially if it's pistol cases. I WILL PAY THE POSTAGE. Thank you for sorting that old worn out brass for me. I'll try to think of something useful to do with it.

 

[Five of Clubs]

I shoot any pistol brass that passes a visual inspection first. I have never bought the first piece of brass to reload, instead I just pick up everything in the bay I'm shooting in at my local club. However, my reloads are softball target-only loads. I'm not sure I would "hot" load pistol brass of unknown origin (or possibly even rifle brass). I haven't had any problems after about 5K rounds. That doesn't mean I won't eventually, but I'll keep on using freebie brass until I have a reason not to.

 

[bedwards1]

ditto, I'll give you a finders fee for it

 

[Chawbaccer]

Pistol brass I grab, I have some with most of the headstamp worn off it has been used so much. Rifle brass, pretty much just the factory stuff. If it looks like it has been reloaded I will pass on it.

 

[472x1A/B]

I'd keep scrounging if I was you. Inspect-sort-inspect-tumble-inspect-deprime-inspect etc. etc.. If you can get it free, get it, you might not be able to later.

 

[SciFiJim]

Pick up all that you can. I even pick up the steel cases if they are not rusty. I save them is a separate bucket in my workshop against the day that there is nothing else available. If I die before they are used and if no one wants to use them then they can be sold for scrap.
Check all the brass before reloading. If it not usable, then work on building up a bucket's worth to take to the recycler. Thars gold in that thar brass.

 

[bullseye308]

Like said above, if you decide not to take the chance, I'll give a nice home.... If you have any doubt about it, set it aside and worry about it later. Use what you know to be good now and as you get more experienced, go back through what you have set aside.

 

[tbtrout]

I will pick up whatever I find. I will inspect it when I get home. If it is not any good, it goes in the scrap bucket.

 

[Woodstock45678]

I appreciate all the information. Usually I scrutinize my range brass pretty well. But I got a little nervous when I heard a few THR members mention that they leave their dead (aka non-salvageable) reloading brass at the range.

 

[SciFiJim]

That's probably the guys that have thousands of each caliber brass on hand. Most (including myself) are too cheap to leave money on the ground. If it's not reloadable, its worth money at the recyclers.

 

[evan price]

I'm a totally unrepentant brass rat. I will take whatever I get my grubby paws on. I inspect it all several times. MOST (I would say over 90%) of the brass I get is 100% 1X fired. The stuff that is reloaded is usually revolver stuff (.38s mostly) but I do see a good bit of reloaded .45 ACPs.

I personally just chucked out about 50 nickle R-P 9mm cases that I had shot so many times the headstamp was almost illegible and the nickle was worn nearly off in the tumbler.
Into the scrap bucket for a trip to the smelter!

So far I've had a handful of brass fail while shooting- a couple .38's, .45's, and 9mm's- but other than that I lose them before I destroy them.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I agree, most of the brass I find at the range is 1X fired. I'm guessing that's because the reloaders pick up their brass and only the only the non-reloaders leave brass at the range. (which is from factory fresh ammo)

 

[Kernel]

I pick up range brass all the time. Most the time if you look around (ie. check the trash cans) you'll find the factory box it came in. Then you know it's 1x fired. Makes it easy to keep the brass organized too.

 

[Walkalong]

When I fire brass that is ready to scrap I still pick it up and take it home for the scrap bucket. I may miss some of course. I hope other reloaders do the same. Once fired is usually easy enough to spot.

 

[Dark Skies]

It depends what kind of range you're at. When I visit my inlaws I make it my mission to shoot at least three or four times whilst I'm Stateside. I shoot at a couple of ranges tacked onto gunshops. They tend to insist that any ammo shot there is bought from them. So you know it's only once-fired stuff. If you ask nicely and you've been a paying customer on the range they're usually OK with you scrounging spent cases from the bins - providing there's no-one shooting at the time and you don't get greedy. I walked off with 500 spent magnum cases last time I was in Ohio.

At regular ranges where people bring their own you're taking pot luck.

 

[rondog]

I consider every brass case I see on the ground to be the same as 5 cents. You'll see me all hunkered over picking them up and cackling "nickle-nickle-nickle-nickle..."

 

[mp43sniper]

Me and my 4 year old needed something to do tonight, so we went to the range to look for brass. On the rifle side, we found 2 (TWO) .223 cases. That was it!!!! On the pistol side we found a handful, but it was assorted - .45, 9, .380. No more than 4 of each. There was tons and tons of aluminum and steel cases all scattered about. I'd say I'm not the only one "concerned" around here!

Craig

 

[RustyFN]

"nickle-nickle-nickle-nickle..."

Thanks Ron, now every time I scrounge range brass I'm going to think of that.

I pick up all the range brass I can find. I shoot straight wall pistol brass until the primer pockets get too loose, case mouth splits or I lose them. Basically It doesn't matter to me how many times they have been fired but I usually pick them up after an IDPA or GSSF match and most of those are once fired. I would be more careful with used rifle brass.
Rusty

 

[depoloni]

PM me if you'd like pistol brass.

I'm talking about brand-new-cleaned, decapped, headstamp-sorted pistol brass. In most "common" calibers. I've got a great hookup and some disease that makes me keep hoarding, sorting, and cleaning.

I did hand-decap, sort, inspect (twice) and thoroughly clean the brass so don't expect me to start up a welfare house... but I'd like some extra cash to supplement my "other component" list (primers and bullets mainly) so please let me know.

Not talking nutso here... but if you're not willing to pay $35/500 shipped or so for ready-for-your-loader brass for example (9mm is cheapest), PM me.

 

[bullseye308]

All brass has value, either to be loaded or to be scrapped. I don't leave any at the range when I see it. I don't shoot at an actual range, just a large opening in the woode that others use too. Apparently most of them don't reload.

 

[WNTFW]

I get the brass. I get the plastic too. (shotgun shells).
I have given away plenty of brass (locally) to other guys. I figure it helps support the sport, other reloaders, etc. I also trade & sell some.

Saturday I went to a shoot & they had guys there complaining about ammo availability but not picking up their brass. 1 guy brought a bag of mainly .308 (120 cases) & .30-06 once fired brass in case somebody reloaded. I got em! Another guy gave me some .45-70 which I don't need but will pass along to someone who does. Then I got 3 cases of 12 & 20 ga hulls.

I have found that me being generous about giving away brass seems to get me alot in return. I also look out for my friends. I got one some 8mm, but it was berdan primed, so at least it will get recycled.

 

[D. Manley]

Never, EVER use range brass. That stuff is nasty, dangerous and known to cause testicles to shrink in laboratory mice. Best to avoid at all costs and just leave it be (while adding your new brass to the mix). It is perfectly acceptable to just kick it into neat piles to more easily avoid it, though.

 

[rdhood]

Yes, pick up all the brass you can. DO NOT, (I repeat) DO NOT keep or use this brass. Package it all up in a USPS flat rate box and send to me. I will dispose of it properly.