Fair price for .38spl reloads

idahogun

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A friends father just passed and he had 350 rounds of .38's that my friend wants me to take,what's a fair price to give him for reloads?
Thanks
 
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Sorry if this sounds harsh, but the value is "nothing".
What's the value of the gun you'd be using them in if the gun blows up from a double charge, or whatever?
Keep in mind that these loads, even if OK, were worked up in his gun, not yours.

Well, maybe the raw components have value. But, it's a bunch of work to tear them down.
You can't take it back if you drop the hammer on a defective round.
 
Sorry if this sounds harsh, but the value is "nothing".
What's the value of the gun you'd be using them in if the gun blows up from a double charge, or whatever?
Keep in mind that these loads, even if OK, were worked up in his gun, not yours.

Well, maybe the raw components have value. But, it's a bunch of work to tear them down.
You can't take it back if you drop the hammer on a defective round.

I agree. I've tossed reloads that I was given in the past. I sure wouldn't pay for them.
 
Sorry if this sounds harsh, but the value is "nothing".
What's the value of the gun you'd be using them in if the gun blows up from a double charge, or whatever?
Keep in mind that these loads, even if OK, were worked up in his gun, not yours.

Well, maybe the raw components have value. But, it's a bunch of work to tear them down.
You can't take it back if you drop the hammer on a defective round.

Your points are valid, this man was a gun nut and I do know he reloaded for years. I was also able to purchase his beautiful 686 a few months back that was well cared for.
 

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Here is a label on some, sorry can't seem to get the picture to load correctly
 

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I will not speak ill of the departed. That said, the label that you shared tells me that I would not shoot that ammo, it doesn't identify the powder or charge!

However, I would purchase the ammo from him for two to three times the MSRP of a box of the bullets. While it would be time consuming, I would break the ammo down for it's components, especially with the shortage of components. I would toss the powder, because you have no idea of what powder was used, or how much!
 
Beings how 38 special ammunition is very hard to find now, I would offer $20.00 for it. Shoot it in a L frame or N frame 357 revolver for their added strength. I would not shoot it in a J frame or K frame. Shoot the rounds slowly and listen for the sound of a squib load.
 
I belive I have spoken of it before, A good friend that reloaded for years died and I obtained hundreds of 9mm, .357 and several other caliber rounds from his wife. Apparently while he was on chemo and other drugs to fight cancer he screwed up on powder charges. Came close to blowing up a nice Ruger Blackhawk with a round that felt like a .44 magnum in a .38special. Been harvesting components for years. Don;t risk shooting any rounds you didn't load yourself.
 
I belive I have spoken of it before, A good friend that reloaded for years died and I obtained hundreds of 9mm, .357 and several other caliber rounds from his wife. Apparently while he was on chemo and other drugs to fight cancer he screwed up on powder charges. Came close to blowing up a nice Ruger Blackhawk with a round that felt like a .44 magnum in a .38special. Been harvesting components for years. Don;t risk shooting any rounds you didn't load yourself.

Wow, thanks, I'm tossing them now because his health was as you described.
 
I do not shoot other peoples reloads. After shooting all my adult life and seeing how many careless mistakes were made by friends and fellow club members, I would not shoot their reloads.

I reload my own and just keep it simple.
 
If you have a M28 to shoot them in, I might consider it. It would take at least a 38 special triple-charge of powder to damage one of those tanks.
Otherwise, the only value would be for the components. If you don't mind doing the work to tear them down the brass, primer, and bullet are worth 8 or 10 cents apiece.
 
I have to agree with the above comments about not shooting them... but in today's situation, maybe the primed cases have a worthwhile value.

I distinguish that from the bullets, because while you could use a kinetic puller and recover all the components, it looks to me like it's a lot less work to use one of those press fittings that lets you clamp on to (and probably damage) the bullet to extract it and leaves you with a usable primed case.

And either way, it's only 350 rounds. Just spare time no-brain work.
 
Not too long ago I came into several hundred reloaded .45 Colt cartridges, apparently all in new cases for a really cheap price. They were boxed and labeled as to bullet and powder. The labeled load was definitely OK and fairly mild. I picked a couple of random rounds, pulled the bullets, and weighed the bullets and powder charges - exactly what the label said. I have a digital scale so I weighed every loaded round, it didn't take long. All were within a few grains of each other so no problems evident. When I fired them there were no mishaps.
 
I agree, don't shoot it, but if you have the time, break it down. My own experience: About a month ago I was reloading 308's, a small run of about 30 or so with 3031 powder. It was Dupont in an orange can, which ran out. I picked up another Dupont orange can of 3031 and started using it. Finished reloading the 308 ammo. All good. Next day I was checking out my reloading bag, and going to switch powders for pistol loading - Bullseye. Glanced at the Dupont orange can and then looked again - it was not 3031, but was 4831, which according to my manual is about the slowest rifle powder in existence. I reckon I had it from when I was loading 45-70 or such. I would have sworn I was using 3031 at the time, but no. Not particularly a dangerous situation, but it got my attention, and so I got out the old bullet puller, and pulled them all.
 
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