730waters
Active Member
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Everyone I know that reloads does it first and foremost because they enjoy it and secondly to save money. I wouldn't do it myself because I'd rather be doing something else and I get all of it for cheap
I take my brass to the Chantilly show, where Georgia Arms buys it, or trades ammo for it.
I don't have the rate sheet from Georgia Arms anymore, but the $1.40 sounds close.What kind of rate does Georgia Arms pay for brass, and how clean does it need to be?
Freedom Munitions will also take in brass, although they offer credit towards purchases rather than straight up payment for brass. As previously mentioned, the main obstacle with Freedom Munitions is that the cost of shipping really cuts down on how much of a total return you get for the brass.
Price-wise, Freedom Munitions offers to reimburse returned brass at the current market value, while the local scrappers I have spoken to offer a lower rate citing the difference to market value as the profit for their business. So, while Freedom Munitions is currently offering $1.40/# (https://www.freedommunitions.com/brass-credit-program), local scrappers quoted me $1.00/# (+/- $0.15).
In terms of clean, most scrappers I spoke to insist that nickel cases be removed, otherwise the load will be considered "dirty brass" with a price rate perhaps half that of clean brass. One scrapper also said that the cases must be de-primed, otherwise again the "dirty brass" price would apply.
I don't have the rate sheet from Georgia Arms anymore, but the $1.40 sounds close.
The brass can be in the condition it was when you picked it up off the range floor. No need to de-prime, tumble, or anything. Just make sure it is sorted according to caliber, and there is no debris mixed in.
I tote it in using plastic grocery bags, and they weigh it using a hand-held luggage scale. You can get cash, but they prefer, and I want, credit for fresh ammo. I've been shooting their stuff for years and am very happy with it.
Back in early April I scrapped 15 pounds of cartridge brass. $1.50/pound. In Cumberland. It was a mix of rimfire and centerfire with primers.
Ok, when you reload you don't want to compare your reloads to bulk ammo prices, you want to compare it to match ammo prices, due to the QC you are maintaining, that keeps everything consistent across multiple batches.
Match grade 223 is going for $1 a trigger pull, roughly. You can make stuff on your press that is the equivalent of match grade ammo, without using match grade components, for about 25-30 cents per round.
I would love to find a scapper within a reasonable traveling distance of Harford county offering such rates. If anyone has suggestions, I would be much obliged.
Given how cheap new 9mm ammo is, and how plentiful the discarded brass is, I have several 5-gallon buckets full that I cannot sell to reloaders.