Question about selling once fired brass

[Shoebox1.1]

So I shoot 38 special and some 357 magnum. I keep all my brass. Throw it in a box. What’s the industry standard for pricing? Per pound? What’s the going rate? I’m not a reloader ( I wish I was). Any reputable stores out there I could sell it to? I have no idea what do to with it. Thank you.

 

[GBertolet]

I would consider offering it for sale on this forum, in the classified section. You could entertain best offer. Be sure to read the rules section at the top.

 

[Krogen]

Check out fired brass suppliers online. You'd need to undercut their prices to sell it. They offer different grades and processing at various prices. Some will buy your brass from you.

However . . .

You mention that you wish you were a reloader. You may want to keep your brass for that day. I did that when I bought my first revolver. On a kid's wages, it wasn't long before factory ammo costs turned me into a reloader. I was glad to already have a supply of brass.

 

[Shoebox1.1]

I hear ya Krogen that’s why I keep it. I thought if poop hits the fan I’ll have to. My mentor that was a master reloader is with The Lord now so I don’t have his guidance. I don’t want to reload without someone experienced to show me the ropes. I guess I’ll just hang onto it. Probably not worth much anyway. Thanks much fellas

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

So I shoot 38 special and some 357 magnum. I keep all my brass. Throw it in a box. What’s the industry standard for pricing? Per pound? What’s the going rate? I’m not a reloader ( I wish I was). Any reputable stores out there I could sell it to? I have no idea what do to with it. Thank you.

I have been reloading for 40+ years and I started with 38 Special and 45 ACP. So I recommend reloading especially if you shoot monthly. Actually I plan on making 200 38 Specials today.

I looked at the Classified Section and $60/1000 pieces or six cents each.

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

I hear ya Krogen that’s why I keep it. I thought if poop hits the fan I’ll have to. My mentor that was a master reloader is with The Lord now so I don’t have his guidance. I don’t want to reload without someone experienced to show me the ropes. I guess I’ll just hang onto it. Probably not worth much anyway. Thanks much fellas

How much brass you have?

My mentor told me to read the RCBS Manual first. Then follow the directions. If you have a Gun Shop that is big on reloading they may know who gives classes and such. YouTube is 50/50

 

[tlawler]

I hear ya Krogen that’s why I keep it. I thought if poop hits the fan I’ll have to. My mentor that was a master reloader is with The Lord now so I don’t have his guidance. I don’t want to reload without someone experienced to show me the ropes. I guess I’ll just hang onto it. Probably not worth much anyway. Thanks much fellas

If you consider yourself to be careful and methodical with good attention to detail, not easily distracted, then reloading isn’t that complicated. I’m mostly self taught: I bought the Lee and Lyman books and read them, watched a lot of videos from Midway, then slowly waded my way into the shallow water. All of the mentoring I got in the way of reloading was here on this site. I found that some of the most tenured and experienced reloaders are right here. I’ve also spent some time on a couple of other forums, like castboolits.com and honed some skills.

Don’t be afraid to learn something new just because you don’t have the training wheels afforded by a flesh and blood mentor. In the old days it was like that, but in the Information Age, things have changed.

I do repeat my caveats of slow, methodical, attention to detail, double check everything, ask multiple people to form a consensus, etc.

 

[PeteC]

So I shoot 38 special and some 357 magnum. I keep all my brass. Throw it in a box. What’s the industry standard for pricing? Per pound? What’s the going rate? I’m not a reloader ( I wish I was). Any reputable stores out there I could sell it to? I have no idea what do to with it. Thank you.

About $20~25/250, $75/1000, for .38 spl at a range local to me, not sorted or cleaned. If there is an industry standard, at all, it is for cleaned and resized brass.

Republic Ammo is $70/1000, cleaned, plus tax and shipping.
38 Special Brass Cases - Republic Ammunition

 

[Miracle Man]

So I shoot 38 special and some 357 magnum. I keep all my brass. Throw it in a box. What’s the industry standard for pricing? Per pound? What’s the going rate? I’m not a reloader ( I wish I was). Any reputable stores out there I could sell it to? I have no idea what do to with it. Thank you.

If I was you I'd keep it and ease into reloading.

Buy 3 or 4 reloading manuals and read every page in the instructions on reloading sections. Then go back and read them all again. Start out simple/easy. Single stage press, scales, dies, and so on. You won't need every gadget known to man to get started.

Check, double check, and then recheck all your data and sources. Back before the internet was a thing I'd reference 3 or 4 manuals powder load weights before I'd get started on a given round. You can still do the same today + internet.

Don't take Bubba's load suggestions for granted. Check with a reloading manual.

It's not that dangerous if you pay attention to detail. And it's a lot of fun.

 

[Mike0251]

And if you do sell it, don't bother cleaning or sorting, no need for your time to do that. We reloaders got this!

 

[Imissedagain]

I don’t want to reload without someone experienced to show me the ropes.

You might want to get a recommended loading manual and start reading anyway.
READ every word ALOUD.
Then ask any questions you have here.
After, you may feel more confident about proceeding forward.

 

[Racer X]

9mm is close to the break even point on reloading vs new by the case on sale. But when you get into revolver calibers, or someting like 10mm or .357 Sig, you really start to save money once the cost of the reloading outfit is paid for.

The beauty is you can create lower powered target loads, and some hotter self defense/woods loads.

Just a general FYI for anyone reading this now, or in the future. Of course relods get labeled, but one thing I do is hot loads only go in nickel plated cases. I have enough 38 SPL +P, 357 Mag, 357 Sig and 40S&W nickel cases that it works out well for me doing that. Just one more safety check so to speak. 10mm are always hot. If I want a target load, I just shoot 40 S&W.

 

[dbell54]

I hear ya Krogen that’s why I keep it. I thought if poop hits the fan I’ll have to. My mentor that was a master reloader is with The Lord now so I don’t have his guidance. I don’t want to reload without someone experienced to show me the ropes. I guess I’ll just hang onto it. Probably not worth much anyway. Thanks much fellas

When the poop hits the fan, it will be too late to acquire what you need. Just a simple Lee single stage press, a 38/357 die set, and a scale (and the Lee reloading manual) will let you get your feet wet w/o breaking the bank. I'm sure others will chime in with something I overlooked.

 

[tmd17]

If all you are going to be loading is 38 or 357, then you can jump into the game fairly cheap. If you are a low volume shooter and patient, then a single stage is a fine place to start.

If you think you may want volume and speed in your loading, a Dillon 550 can be used as a single stage, then when you feel more confident, you can begin to use it as a progressive.

Most of what the others have already stated is pretty good information, but they have all failed to warn you of the hidden danger of rolling your own ammo. It is addictive. Addictive to the point that you may eventually enjoy the hand loading side of the shooting sports as much as you do pulling the trigger.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

I have a bout 60 lbs of 9mm and 60 lbs. of 223. Most common so probably not much interest. Might make more at the scrap yard. I don't need it as I have plenty and more comes my way from my B_I_L that shoots on my private range.

 

[DWalt]

Several weeks ago I sold around 40 pounds of .38 Special brass for $100. I built up way to much inventory, needed to cut back. Am keeping only about 500 .38 Special cases now. I am about as bad with .45 ACP brass, and I need to sell it also.

 

[LostintheOzone]

I've sold a lot of brass here on this site. Describe it appropriately and price it fairly. A good rule of thumb is 1/2 of what new brass sells for if it's once fired. Starline probably sells more new brass than anyone so start there. Going rate for new brass from SL now is 0.20/ea. for .357 and 38.

Ship it Priority mail with tracking.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

When the poop hits the fan, it will be too late to acquire what you need. Just a simple Lee single stage press, a 38/357 die set, and a scale (and the Lee reloading manual) will let you get your feet wet w/o breaking the bank. I'm sure others will chime in with something I overlooked.

I agree, buy a simple setup to be sure you don't get caught short.

Lee single stage press ($49)
Lee 38/357 Carbide dies ($40)
Lee powder scoops ($12) or inexpensive digital scale ($27)
Basic load manual (used $15 - $20)
Lee hand priming tool ($25)
Funnel ($4.50)

I.think.that will.get you.going in an inexpensive way. ($175 or so)

 

[Shoebox1.1]

You know the cheap tool bags from let’s say dewalt? Looks like a big doctors bag. That’s what I have my used brass in and it’s full to the top. I’m going to hold onto it and one of my buddy’s at work has a lee single press and ALL the stuff to reload. I had a chance to buy it at one time but passed. It’s not going anywhere. I could easily go over there and use it. He got the stuff from a gentleman that passed. Boxes and boxes of new primers,bullets and used brass. Just so happened that it’s all 9mm,38 special and 45acp!! Should have bought when I had the chance!!!!!

 

[TIMETRIPPER]

Midway USA lists new Starline 38 Special brass for 22 cents apiece ($21.99 per 100).
I've a fair amount of used brass here over the past few years and usually looked to get 50% of retail, unless it was some hard to get brass like 25-20, 32-20 etc.

John