I'm interested in hearing your opinions re: which way to go with these. They are taking up space and need to go. I don't shoot centerfire rifles anymore due to a disability, and don't hunt generally for the same reason. It seems to me that someone could still get a good bit of use out of them before they go to the recycler, but. . .?

Here are the major details: There are 276 cases, approximately 70% of which are military, and the rest mixed commercial headstamp. The vast majority of them are once-fired, and the rest are twice-fired. I tumbled them but wasn't able to remove all the stains on a number of them(2nd picture; some are cleaner, some not as clean as those pictured). However I haven't seen any corrosion on any of them after several inspections. A handful have small flat spots at the mouth(3rd picture); I'm thinking that the sizing die can correct that, but you tell me. They were stored in a dry but sometimes humid closet area for a number of years.

I thought maybe someone who shoots M1s a lot, or uses several different loads for various purposes, might be interested. If not, the recycler is just a few miles away.

What would you folks do with them in my situation?

Thank you for your time & input.
Andy

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Mixed headstamp 30-06 that has been tumbled but not further processed is about $20/100 at it's cheapest (bought in lots of 1000).,,plus shipping usually.
It's always advertised as 'once fired' of course.

I don't know what the recycle price of cartridge brass is today, some places won't even take it around here.

Weigh it and call and ask the days brass prices. See if you can score more by simply recycling than trying to sell it at a 'please go- away- quick price' for the lot in a pre-paid USPO Flat Rate Box included.

Just my thought..

I would offer it for sale here for around $40 plus shipping. I would think 276 cases would fit into a medium flat rate box, so that would put the total cost to the buyer at less than $55. As for the flats on the case mouths, that comes right out in the resizing die. They have a forum section for selling stuff like these cases right here on these forums.

I load "G1" and factory cases............... no big deal.

I am sure they will be bought, one way or another.
I am like you...... handicapped and slowing on shooting rifles.

Keep up those exercises !!

Sell it! What you will get for this amount of brass as scrap won't pay for the gas to drive to the re-cycler if it is much farther away than across the street.

__________________
Gunsmithing since 1961

...if I didn't already have a ton. I can't help but think that somebody would pay more for it than scrap value. Four years ago I would have paid much more for it.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

I'd "pay it forward" and give them to a new reloader. Free but pay for shipping...

I cleaned my reloading room a couple of years ago and ended up with 20 gallons of various calibers of brass, plus a couple of handguns that had forgotten about. I originally thought about selling the brass, but decided that scrapping it was the way to go because I could not find anyone that wanted to buy larger quantities. Small quantities are really a pain to deal with. People will question you on whether or not it is actually once fired even if it has crimped primers. I gave away brass like the .300 and .303 Savage and any other that was unique and hard to find.

My club has hosted a CMP program with monthly shoots for over 21 years. Some of the guys have accumulated hundreds of pounds of milsurp brass. My point is .30-06 brass is not rare and selling it may be a bigger hassle than it's worth.

Might be a good Karma for some reloaders here. That way you know they are going to someone who can use them.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

I appreciate the input; definitely some things to consider. I've sold .22 brass to my recycler before and got a current price from them several weeks ago. I guess that there's something in me that resists going that route when there appears to be a good bit of life left in whatever I'm wanting to dispose of, but MichiganScott may be right about the potential hassle involved in trying to sell. I'll think it over.

Thanks again,
Andy


P.S. I really like the giveaway idea; unfortunately I'm not in a good position to be doing that at this time.

You know, it doesn't cost anything to advertise it here in the forums in the "Accessories/Misc - For Sale or Trade" forum and see if there is interest. I personally think that if it were priced at $40-50 plus shipping it might get a buyer and give you a little spending money for something you need. I don't know your situation and whether it would be a major hassle to bring a box to the PO to mail, but the mid sized USPS Priority Flat Rate boxes are free to pick up and they ship for $13.65 anywhere in the US.

Thanks, muddocktor. I think what MichiganScott was referring to as a hassle had more to do with several people wanting smaller lots, resulting in multiple shipments, finding boxes to fit all of them, keeping track of several different names and addresses, etc., etc. -that, or just the difficulty of finding a buyer at all, given the already plentiful supply. I live in a village and the PO is only a couple blocks away, and there is no traffic to fight nor lines when you get there. A week or so ago I took the brass in and they weighed it and recommended the box you mentioned. I've also sold items in the Misc. for Sale forum in the 15 years I've been a member here, and that is where I will list the brass should I decide to try to sell it. And I may well do that in the next day or two. I do appreciate your desire to help.

Regards,
Andy

I hate seeing good brass in any caliber sold for scrap. Either post it for sale or karma it to a reloader.

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NRA Cert. Inst. IDPA CSO

It sounds like the money is important here so you may have to go through some hassle to get money for it.

What will you get for it as scrap? If that's not enough:

If you have to do multiple orders each will have to pay shipping.

Can you add value to it? Cleaned, sized, primed, sorted?

Maybe the stuff is 'common as dirt', but when I need some, it doesn't just fall into my front yard. I see people selling it on the net.

Because of that, I think it's worth advertising as long as it's free. The more you buy, the lower the unit cost. Minimum 100, or 250 or 500 or whatever you want.

PS There are other reloading forums that have for sale sections.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

...doesn't mean that it will be in the future. During the shortages of the past years, brass was like gold, especially calibers like .357 or .44 mag.

If the stuff gets melted down, it won't do us or our progeny any good in the future.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

On the forum selling the 1911'a and M1 Garands, brass that has the military crimp intact is sold there regularly from .16 to .18 cents apiece which includes shipping. Sellers that state their brass has the military primer and crimp intact, get their brass bought.

Sell it to someone. Don't destroy usable brass.
Price it ~$45 shipped and send it all to a forum member. Good deal for them & you get extra $...win-win.

People want crimped brass? I suppose that if the primer and crimp are intact it shows that they are once fired.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

Do you still want to shoot center fire rifles? I make 'gallery loads' with light bullets (100-110 gr) and reduced charges of power. Makes my 30-06 feel like a .22.

IMR 4895 can be reduced by fully 30% for velocities down to 2200 fps....

SR 4859 can be loaded in the 1500 to 1700 fps range.

Unique can go even lower but I haven't tried it.

I have a light rifle (Savage), therefore it kicks with full loads and my wife is sensitive to recoil and blast.

I just like to shoot them because they are really fun. So you might want to save out some cases if you think you'll try this.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

Nobody wants crimped brass, but that crimped primer pocket proves its truly once fired. Lot of life left in a piece of brass that has only been in a chamber once. It does take a little effort to remove the crimp. I hope snowman decides to keep this brass in "use" and not send it off to the scrape and recycle people.

I use WWII military brass for my own reduced loads, or as my wife likes to call them"diet coke loads". I use 16 grains of 2400 with 150 grain pulled M2 bullets in 30-06, puts a huge smile on your face seeing a nice big hole at 100 yds after about 20 shots.

Gentlemen:

I intend to advertise them soon here on the forum -as soon as I can find the time(have a few other items to put in the same ad, and I've been having a difficult time learning how to post the pictures). I've appreciated all the helpful words.

rwsmith: I don't have any problem handling recoil, blast, etc.; my disability prevents me from setting up, checking, and retrieving targets beyond 50 yds. or so. I have damaged hips and knees which require crutches to walk, and I can go only short distances before having to sit for awhile. A partner would help, of course; but no such person is available. I'm content shooting my revolvers; I enjoy them more anyway.

Thanks again for the responses, friends.
Andy

Being able to enjoy yourself is the mainest thing. Good luck to you.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

You might want to visit the CMP blog: thecmp.org>forums>marketplace>parts for sale or trade>reloading. You may have to register to visit the listings as well as to post.
These are the 'hard-core' .30-06 shooters competing with bolt 03's and M1 Garands, and always search for sources for good USGI surplus once-fired brass. I sold a large quantity of .30-06 mixed (LC, FA, TC) on the blog )after selling my .30-06 rifles and moving up to 7.62x51 M1-A competition and made enough to pay for new reloading components. There IS a market for your brass.
Echo47

I've had the brass listed here since 6/25; no bites. I may try Echo47's suggestion, and/or see if anyone at my club is interested. I welcome any other suggestions.

Regards,
Andy

Hi Andy!

How far are you from Port Clinton? I will be doing the CMP pistol matches there next weekend. I should have free time during the late afternoon into early evening. While I am also disabled, I push myself to shoot. Would you be interested in striking up an arrangement on the '06 brass?

Ed

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Judge control not gun control!

Hello, Ed. Thank you for your interest. I am over an hour and a half from Port Clinton. I can check and see if my better half has any interest in a day trip up to that area next weekend. I'll let you know what I find out.

Regards,
Andy

Andy,

I wouldn't mind driving all the way or meeting you part way. I should be finished for the day by 4p. Just let me know.

Ed

__________________
Judge control not gun control!

Which day are you thinking, Ed? I might be able to meet you in Findlay late in the day Friday or Saturday. I'd have to see.

Andy

Due to my work I accumulate scrap copper & brass. Steel ans Alumilum
too but it takes up to much space to fool with. I have guys who stop by
my shop and pick them up. The copper and brass I throw into drywall
buckets and basically accumulate until they are in the way. At home I
have a scrap bucket to throw brass that is no longer of loading value.
If I didn't have to make a scrap run 2 or three times a year anyway the
money for scrap cartridge brass wouldn't be worth the effort. I goes in
the bucket with junked valve bodies. The small amount of 272 brass is
not worth worrying about. I have seen 5gal buckets of 38s & 9mm at
the recycle place. If I didn't already have more than I need I would have
dealt them out of them.

Andy,

Saturday would probably be better for me. I am not sure when I will roll in to Camp Perry, but I have to check in Friday afternoon for the small arms firing school.

Andy, is the Finley that you mentioned kinda in the vicinity of 250 and I80, rather close to Norwalk?

Ed

__________________
Judge control not gun control!

The reason for no bites... is because what you have doesn't really have a great deal of (monetary) value.

Mixed brass, part of it military, part of it commercial, of unknown provenance...

No serious handloader or hunter is going to waste his time and (component) money trying to develop loads from such a mix.

What you have is plinking brass. It has some monetary value, but not a lot.

Driving a long way to sell it is likely to cost you more in (the somewhat hidden) costs of gasoline and wear and tear on your vehicle than any cash you're likely to get in return.

As has been suggested... pay it forward by giving it away.

Sorry to hear of the physical challenges. And God bless for continuing to pop those caps in spite of them.

Ed,

I would switch to PMs with you here, but they aren't working for me right now for some reason. Findlay is the county seat of Hancock County, around 40,000 population. From Port Clinton you would take Route 2 West to St. Rt. 53 South, follow 53 at the U.S. 20 junction around Fremont & head south around 6 miles until you reach St. Rt. 12 which angles off to the right. 12 will take you all the way to Findlay. Travel time for you from Port Clinton to Findlay would be around an hour and a quarter. If you want the brass I will give you precise directions in Findlay and meet you there late Saturday afternoon. If your PM function is working let me know there and we will make final arrangements. If it's not working I guess we'll have to finalize matters here. I appreciate your interest.

Regards,
Andy


[Moderators: Please pardon me for conducting personal business on the open forum. My Notifications & PM functions aren't working properly right now, and I don't know how to correct the matter.]

Hi Andy,

Like you, my notifications are not working. Please email me at: [email protected].

Moderators: please excuse my conduct of personal business in the open. My notifications have not been working since Friday and I will be enroute I a few days. Uncertain when my notifications function may be working.

Thanks,
Ed

__________________
Judge control not gun control!

Don't forget that .30-'06 brass is an excellent starting point for forming numerous other rifle caliber cases that are not so plentiful. Ditto for .308/7.62mm brass. For example, one pass of a .30-'06 case through a .270 FL sizing die, and you have a .270 case. I have made hundreds of 8mm Mauser and 7mm Mauser cases from .30-'06 brass. Just size and trim to length. I have also formed hundreds of .300 Savage cases from .308/7.62mm GI brass.

The brass has been sold. Thanks for your input.

Regards,
Andy