What calibers are worth saving for reloading?

[Toprudder]

Of the ones listed, the 9mm is less worthwhile, but still worth more to reloaders than the scrap price. Scrap price here, last time I checked, was about $1.25 per pound. A while back I had collected way more 9mm than I needed, so I sold a 5 gallon bucket full of 9mm (about 70 pounds) to a friend for $100, which is a little more than scrap price but a lot less than 2cents each. If I counted my time spent picking it all up, I probably would quit picking it up. But when I find a 10mm case on the ground, I start picking up anything, since I am already on my knees looking for the other 10mm cases I am sure are there.

 

[Lennyjoe]

Yep 10MM is only left behind when the shooter can’t find all his cases. I hate losing them things!

 

[mdi]

Of the calibers listed the only one I haven't found at our local "range" is the 10mm. There is so much 9mm brass lying around and I have a big stash, I rarely pick it up any more. So of all those listed, I think 10mm would be "worth" the most.

For me, if I didn't have any $$ invested, I'd give it away. For a new reloader or to a forum member just ask for shipping costs. I believe in "pay it forward" as some reloaders have helped my quite a bit inn the past (one old guy dropped by my place with a box of assorted 30-06 stuff, including 200-300 fired brass and 200 military ball, in original military packaging, and a few clips, "I got rid of my Garand a few years ago and found this stuff under the bench, mebbe you can use it?"...).

 

[shootbrownelk]

Since I wasn't allowed multiple selections I couldn't vote.

I save ANY reloadable brass. If I can't use it I can use it as trading stock or just give it away.

I'll gladly take some 10mm off your hands if the price is right.

The thread says multiple votes allowed.

 

[dh1633pm]

Texas10mm called it well. Save all brass.

 

[TTv2]

Lot to cover here, I'll go by caliber.

All .32 brass because nobody else shoots it and those who do do not leave it at the range.

All revolver brass is worth keeping because even tho .38 and .357 are still popular and brass is relatively easy to get free, it lasts so long there's no reason not to keep it. .41, .44, and .45 Colt are all rare to find at the range, so don't throw any of that away.

As to semi auto, 9mm is useless to keep because you can scoop that stuff up by the bucket full at literally any shooting range. .380... I really don't know anyone who reloads that, but it's not as impossible to get as it use to be, however people do not shoot it in large amounts because the small guns aren't fun to shoot more than 50 rounds at a time.

10mm you must never let go of, it's popularity is increasing, but it's not there yet. I found near 200 cases of it at my range weeks ago and thought I hit the jackpot. Never seen any brass in 10 before, probably never will again. Which lead me to .40 in that if you already have 10mm and load for that, you don't need to bother keeping your .40 brass unless you really like shooting a .40.

.45 ACP is about the same category as 9mm, gonna be on the ground at every range you go to, no real need to keep any brass.

The one I can't touch on is bottleneck stuff like 5.7x38 and .357 Sig. I've read that 5.7 brass is basically toast after the first firing it stretches so much, .357 Sig IDK. I would just as easily tell people not to bother with either, the only bottleneck pistol I think is worth loading for is .32 NAA, but the guns and die sets are rare to find.

 

[Toprudder]

Funny thing, some times in the past I have seen once-fired 357mag and 10mm brass selling for almost the same price as brand new Starline. And some people will pay that. So, yes, those are definitely worth saving.

I have a fellow reloading friend that runs a scrap metal business. He occasionally gets range brass in, sometimes a thousand pounds or more. I take all the throw-away brass that I have collected, including spent primers, and will trade him pound-for-pound for the range brass. He has even taken one of the slotted brass sorting trays and sorted out the larger calibers for me.

 

[WestKentucky]

All of them. Scrap brass brings less than a penny per piece usually. Usable brass brings more than that, regardless of the caliber, unless it’s steel, aluminum, or if you see 2 flash holes for the primer.

 

[Ironicaintit]

I voted for all of them!
I save brass for calibers I don’t even own.... yet. I have friends that shoot too, so ya never know.

 

[Toprudder]

I voted for all of them!
I save brass for calibers I don’t even own.... yet. I have friends that shoot too, so ya never know.

That is how I decide when to buy a new gun. Once I got enough 50 AE brass to fill two magazines, I bought a DE 50.