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Old 01-10-2021, 10:19 PM
SS57 SS57 is offline
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223 brass-throw or keep 223 brass-throw or keep 223 brass-throw or keep 223 brass-throw or keep 223 brass-throw or keep  
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Default 223 brass-throw or keep
I reload several handgun calibers but no rifle. Therefore I save my handgun brass. Yesterday, in 15 degree weather, I was shooting one of my AR's with factory ammo. I normally would throw away the 223 brass but I got to thinking about the shortage of reloading supplies lately. Should I be hanging onto the brass?

I don't plan on reloading it. I don't shoot a ton of it. Might someone else want/need the brass. I hate to throw things away if it is useful to someone. Thoughts?
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Old 01-10-2021, 10:30 PM
STORMINORMAN STORMINORMAN is offline
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223 brass-throw or keep 223 brass-throw or keep 223 brass-throw or keep 223 brass-throw or keep 223 brass-throw or keep  
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"Brass may get you through times of no money better than money gets you through times of NO BRASS...?"

(With apologies to the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers!)
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Old 01-10-2021, 10:52 PM
kbm6893 kbm6893 is offline
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Save it all. I began saving pistol and rifle brass 5 years before I decided to reload. Nearly 8 years ago I started loading pistol and had all I needed. Last year I started loading .223 and had the brass.

In fact, I still hit the county range to pick up brass. If and when this madness ends, I plan to get serious about stocking up on components. I’m good for the next year at least but want to have far more than that in hand.
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Old 01-10-2021, 11:24 PM
Liftrat Liftrat is offline
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I would keep it. Even if you don't use it yourself, it might make suitable trade goods, or, if you have enough, could be sold. Like kbm6983, I've saved my brass for years, recently sold a bunch, and still have plenty to use. It only gets to be a problem when you can't get the car in the garage because of the brass ;-).
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Old 01-11-2021, 12:24 AM
jjfitch jjfitch is offline
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223 brass-throw or keep 223 brass-throw or keep 223 brass-throw or keep 223 brass-throw or keep 223 brass-throw or keep  
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If nothing else recyclers pay around $1.00 per pound.

Even if you don't recycle give it to a Junior shooting program!

Smiles,
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Old 01-11-2021, 09:12 AM
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Default Reloading Lapua Brass
I reload Lapua .223 mostly, and some Starline. Currently, when you can find Lapua, it is running for $0.73 EACH.

IOW, ~$730.00 per 1,000 + SH&TX FWIW, I currently have 2k as yet unloaded and hundreds more already tumbled & Full-sized ready to go.

Your choice on just how generous you want to be to other local range shooters. Just saying.

If we were neighbors, I'd swing by and take it off your hands, but I live just a wee bit South of ya'll...
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Old 01-11-2021, 09:48 AM
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Keep it .... You may also want to start looking for dies .

One of the smartest things I ever did was start reloading and casting bullets in 1967 . I also began collecting once fired brass ... any / all reloadable brass left lying on the range floor . I made sure to have at least one bullet mould and a set of dies for every firearm I owned or thought I would like to own or if the dies were free or nearly free.

You Never Know What The Future Holds !
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Old 01-11-2021, 10:04 AM
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I've saved all the 223 and 308 I could get my hands on. I have the dies and components for 308 but have only reloaded 200. I don't reload 223 currently and do not have the components but have traded 223 brass for loaded ammo.
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Old 01-11-2021, 01:56 PM
dla dla is offline
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I thought I'd never reload .223 either, but I'm sure glad I can now. I saved some brass and even started scrounging at the range. I don't like reaming primer pockets and trimming, but it's the only way for me to keep shooting. I can't/won't afford $.80/round.
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Old 01-11-2021, 03:37 PM
robrossk robrossk is offline
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I would save it. Never know what it might trade for at certain times
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Old 01-11-2021, 05:11 PM
iouri iouri is offline
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I've reloaded 223 even when it cost me almost same as cheap imported steel cased ammo. With current prices ($0.70 per round for cheapest stuff, which makes it over $20 per magazine !) it's a no brainer.
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Old 01-11-2021, 05:38 PM
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Quote:
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I thought I'd never reload .223 either, but I'm sure glad I can now. I saved some brass and even started scrounging at the range. I don't like reaming primer pockets and trimming, but it's the only way for me to keep shooting. I can't/won't afford $.80/round.
Too bad. Keep working until you CAN afford ammo...
BTW, got mine! Yep, a bit of a brag, but I make a conscious effort to never run out of ammo. IOW, never say never...
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Old 01-11-2021, 05:46 PM
gmiller0737 gmiller0737 is offline
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223 brass-throw or keep 223 brass-throw or keep 223 brass-throw or keep 223 brass-throw or keep 223 brass-throw or keep  
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Keep it a rainy day may come (hopefully not) and you may need it


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Old 01-11-2021, 06:59 PM
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Default Here is something to try...
...if the primers are still in the cases, fill them with water and get a tight fitting dowel that fits the neck of the case. Put on a firm surface (outside) Whack the dowel with a mallet and see if that doesn't blow the bigger dents out.
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Old 01-11-2021, 07:06 PM
AlHunt AlHunt is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SS57 View Post
I reload several handgun calibers but no rifle. Therefore I save my handgun brass. Yesterday, in 15 degree weather, I was shooting one of my AR's with factory ammo. I normally would throw away the 223 brass but I got to thinking about the shortage of reloading supplies lately. Should I be hanging onto the brass?

I don't plan on reloading it. I don't shoot a ton of it. Might someone else want/need the brass. I hate to throw things away if it is useful to someone. Thoughts?
If you're leaving it lay at a public range, you can bet it doesn't lay for long. Those of us who don't use public ranges have to BUY the stuff ...

I'm fortunate that one of our fine members here recently fixed me up at .06/round shipped.
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Old 01-11-2021, 08:39 PM
zeke zeke is offline
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For years they laughed at me for crawling around picking up brass. Even the 9mm, 40, 223 and berdan primed 308. Then during one of the shortages they stopped laughing cause i was still shooting. This goes through cycles, the laughing and not laughing.

With so many 5 gallon buckets full of range pickups, get a certain chuckle now and again.
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Old 01-11-2021, 09:16 PM
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I don't reload (yet) but I police my brass behind the firing line at the membership ranges.

The local countryside range always has people tickled pink to get my brass.
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Old 01-11-2021, 09:48 PM
SS57 SS57 is offline
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Thanks guys for the pep talk. Looks like I will be adding another ice cream bucket for 223 to the brass family.
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Old 01-15-2021, 01:43 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SS57 View Post
Thanks guys for the pep talk. Looks like I will be adding another ice cream bucket for 223 to the brass family.
NEVER throw brass cases away. Absolutely keep that brass!
And if you dont use it, there are plenty of people that would love to have it.
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Old 01-15-2021, 01:59 AM
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Theses days I am keeping all my brass, even if I don’t yet reload for a particular round. When practical I load milder to save powder and extend brass life.
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Old 01-15-2021, 11:55 AM
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I say get rid of it. If you need, send it to me and I will dispose of it properly......again and again.
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Old 01-15-2021, 01:35 PM
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I keep all my brass because I reload for everything. I do appreciate the factory ammo guys leaving it on the ground, more for me. I have even picked up one fired brass for calibers I dont reload if I think I might. How I started with my 6.8/ar15.
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Old 01-15-2021, 02:15 PM
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Quote:
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Theses days I am keeping all my brass, even if I don’t yet reload for a particular round. When practical I load milder to save powder and extend brass life.
That's how I ended up with 357 Sig barrel for my M&P 40 (and dies) - accumulated few hundred cases of brass and just _had_ to load it and shoot from something
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Old 01-15-2021, 06:20 PM
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Well, for about 15 years I had 6 loaded rounds of 44 special that somehow ended up in my ammo box....figured one day I would get me a 44 special to shoot them out of...now I have 4 of em...that's how those things go...

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Old 01-15-2021, 08:12 PM
zeke zeke is offline
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Bought a .40 646 revolver just to be able to shoot all that .40 brass picked up in a fully supported chamber. Course then needed a semi, so got a .40 BHP
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Old 01-18-2021, 07:10 PM
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Save it, unless it says G F L or P P U on the head.
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