How worthwhile is it to save my .38 and .357 brass?

[bushmaster1313]

If I had saved the brass from all the .38 special ammo I have shot I would have buckets of spent cases.

How worthwhile is it for me to save brass going forward.

For example, 500 rounds of Remington White/Green box can be had in my neck of the woods for $18.99/box = $189.00

If I save all 500 of once fired brass, how much would it be worth to a reloader?

I do not plan on getting into reloading, but if I did, how much would I have to pay in normal times for 500 rounds of once fired brass, assuming I could find it? How much for new brass?

 

[arjay]

New 38 brass is running $24/100.

 

[max]

It is good trading material. If you were close to me, I would ask you to come over and I would let you reload it on the Dillon.

 

[bushmaster1313]

New 38 brass is running $24/100.

That is $12/50, which is more than half of what I paid ($18.99) for 50 brand spanking new rounds, complete with primers, powder and boolits.

What has to be done to a fired case before it can be reloaded?

 

[125JHP]

Just drop them where you fire them and someone will come along and pick them up for you...

Now your starting to see the economy in reloading.

 

[arjay]

Cleaned,resized and deprimed.They are definitely worth saving even if you don't reload.
Somewhere near you is a reloader that would buy them or do some trading.
The brass is the most expensive part of a round.

 

[ballistic]

You could get 25.00-35.00 for 500 .38 Special brass pretty easy. Right now an online retailer has it for 63.00 per 1000 delivered.

 

[BobC357]

At today's prices for .357 rounds, they are definitely worth saving and reloading.

 

[bushmaster1313]

The brass is the most expensive part of a round.

That makes sense, assuming that cartridge brass contains 70% copper at $3-$4 per pound.

 

[arjay]

Just keep saving them.There have been periods when ammo was cheap and I was short of time and I just tossed the brass in coffee cans,but when things change,it's nice to have all that brass.

 

[Titegroups]

That makes sense, assuming that cartridge brass contains 70% copper at $3-$4 per pound.

Exactly. Save it.

 

[blujax01]

New 38 brass is running $24/100.

And dirty mixed-stamp range brass about $8/100.
http://www.reloadersauction.com/Once-Fired-Brass,category,2849,parent_id,categories

Bushmaster, Max has the best idea. Find a reloader and do some bartering.

 

[silentflyer]

The way things have been at the LGS and GS's as far a reloading compenets, don't throw anything away...

 

[Cdog]

Many companies like Ga. Arms would love to get large numbers of once fired .38 Special brass.

Since cops stopped using them their access to cheap quality .38 brass has dried up.

I have a couple of friends that save theirs for me. They don't mind saving them from a revolver, but they ain't bending over to pick up brass from a selfloader.

If nothing else, the recycling guys were paying about $1.50/lb a few weeks back.

 

[Steve in Vermont]

Even if you don't have a use for in now, save it. It won't eat or drink anything and stores well. You never know when it will come in handy (or you can send it to me, I'll pay shipping).

 

[fatman73]

They are not worth saving just send them to me i'll get rid of them for you. I kidding save it all you never know.

 

[MarkDozier]

brass is 2.30 a lb at the last recycling run at my club.

 

[bushmaster1313]

brass is 2.30 a lb at the last recycling run at my club.

Reloading sounds a bit like recycling, but more bang for the buck -- so to speak.

This should make gun enthusiasts who reload the darlings of the Left.

Saving the planet, one spent case at a time!

 

[fyimo]

Reloading does save you money if you shoot a lot but it does take time to save enough money from reloading to pay off the equipment. The brass is the most costly part of a pistol or rifle round but they can be reloaded several times which brings it's average cost down per round.

There are other factors and reasons for reloading not tied to cost or cost savings and that is if you have the components on hand you will always have ammo even when in times like right now the stores have bare shelves and people can't buy ammo.

The next factor is when you reload is that you can taylor the ammo you reload to your needs. You want some light 38 special loads for just plinking then you reload them to be a light load several hundred feet below max and you have an enjoable plinking load. You want a defensive load you load them with hollow points and max recommended powder charge and you have your defensive load.

Lastly, I find reloading fun and rewarding in it's own right as there is a great deal of satisfaction when you reload you own ammo and go to the range or hunting. I find a special satisfaction in the case of rifle rounds when you kill your Deer or Elk with a round that you loaded.

 

[Trooperdan]

Just think of fired brass as nickles and dimes.. would you leave a pile of them on the ground?