[Crankylove]

I only buy new brass for my odd balls, stuff that I can't find laying around at a range (i.e. .22 Hornet, .358 Winchester, .41 Mag, .45 Colt, .32 S&W Long, and .327 Federal Mag).

When I do buy new brass, I buy a couple hundred cases when I get the gun, and they'll last me for years.

For my common calibers (.270, '06, 9mm, .45 Auto, .38 Special, 7.62x54R, etc.), every case I have was either picked up when left by other shooters, or it was a hand-me-down from friends or family. I have about 50lbs of .45 Auto brass that was picked up by myself and my brothers, just in the last 2-3 years.


I do form some .358 Winchester from picked up .308, but I don't come across enough to make that my sole supply, so I picked up 100 factory cases before I bought the gun.

I can see buying brass to keep track of # of times loaded, keeping it grouped for competition, load development, etc, but I'm not that picky and am happy to use brass somebody else paid for whenever I can.