Any market for Non-Brass Casings?

JKilbreth · November 23, 2013, 03:16 PM

I was going to post in the Gun Show forum, but wanted to put my feelers out here first to see if there really was any market for it...

I have tons of steel, nickel, and aluminum casings I've collected from an indoor range. All kinds of calibers, headstamps, and materials. I wanted to sell them if anyone wants them, but I haven't even sorted them because the thought never occurred to me that anyone could or would want to reload them.

So, does anyone reload cases of these materials, and if so, what would be a good price for me to post them for? I was thinking 5+/$.01 for the aluminums, and maybe $.01 apiece for the steel and nickel...?

oldpapps · November 23, 2013, 04:03 PM

"steel, nickel, and aluminum casings"

Nickel cases are just plated brass and should have the same value as non plated or close to it.

Steel cases can be loaded. It is hard on dies and I don't recommend doing it. This is assuming that the cases are boxer primed.

Most if not all aluminum cases are not loadable (by me) as they are berdan primed. Look way down deep inside. Is there one or two primer flash holes? If two, it's derdan and scrap.

Just my views, other do reload berdan primed brass and steel cases.

Be safe,

OSOK

reynolds357 · November 23, 2013, 05:51 PM

Nickel plate has slightly higher value than un plated brass cases.
Aluminum and Steel? Whatever the going scrap metal rate is for each.

GJSchulze · November 23, 2013, 07:38 PM

Aluminum can be reloaded and seems to work fine. I'm currently experimenting with a few to see how long they will last. Brass 9mm cases can last 30 or more reloads. I don't expect aluminum to last anywhere near that. I also don't think anyone will pay for them.

reynolds357 · November 23, 2013, 08:07 PM

GJ, I think what you will find with Al is catastrophic failure with no warning. The only people I know who have dabbled with reloading them encountered that problem.

marine6680 · November 24, 2013, 01:00 AM

Never really considered aluminum for reload... but if it can be done, it seems like a one reload and toss kind of thing.

Steel would be similar, two or three reloads and toss. I have thought about doing this for times when I am going somewhere I am likely to loss a lot of cases.

You couldn't get much if anything for aluminum, you might be able to get a little for steel cases... At least the poly coated ones. Lubed well, the steel is very mild and soft, so it shouldn't hurt the dies. The lacquer and zinc coated are not really reloadable, most are berdan primed anyway. Some Wolf polyformance is the only ones I know that are boxer primed.

Nickel plated can go for a premium.

Valornor · November 24, 2013, 02:37 PM

Collect the aluminium case and take them to the scrap yard. Steel really isn't worth the time to pick them up. However still pick them up, because often our own worse enemy when it come to shooting locations is us.

Some environmental junk sees all the shot gun shells, shell casings and crap we shoot up and leave laying around and they get their panties all up in a bunch. Then they bring their friends and they get all excited, and before you know it we can't shoot their anymore.

To me that's the true worth of picking up casings and trash.

November 23, 2013, 03:16 PM	#1
JKilbreth Member Join Date: May 10, 2012 Location: Georgia Posts: 97	Any market for Non-Brass Casings? I was going to post in the Gun Show forum, but wanted to put my feelers out here first to see if there really was any market for it... I have tons of steel, nickel, and aluminum casings I've collected from an indoor range. All kinds of calibers, headstamps, and materials. I wanted to sell them if anyone wants them, but I haven't even sorted them because the thought never occurred to me that anyone could or would want to reload them. So, does anyone reload cases of these materials, and if so, what would be a good price for me to post them for? I was thinking 5+/$.01 for the aluminums, and maybe $.01 apiece for the steel and nickel...? __________________ "So if I lie to the government, it's a felony. But if the government lies to us, it's politics." "The Second Amendment ensures all the others."

November 24, 2013, 02:37 PM	#7
Valornor Senior Member Join Date: March 18, 2010 Location: Orem, Utah Posts: 244	Collect the aluminium case and take them to the scrap yard. Steel really isn't worth the time to pick them up. However still pick them up, because often our own worse enemy when it come to shooting locations is us. Some environmental junk sees all the shot gun shells, shell casings and crap we shoot up and leave laying around and they get their panties all up in a bunch. Then they bring their friends and they get all excited, and before you know it we can't shoot their anymore. To me that's the true worth of picking up casings and trash. __________________ NM M1A, HK Mk 23, Benelli M4, Ar-15 Lower, CZ 2075 RAMI (P) 9mm, Barrett MRAD .338LM Looking for a new blog dealing with firearms and reloading, check out http://theheadstamp.com/

November 23, 2013, 04:03 PM	#2
oldpapps Senior Member Join Date: September 22, 2011 Location: Middle America Posts: 518	"steel, nickel, and aluminum casings" Nickel cases are just plated brass and should have the same value as non plated or close to it. Steel cases can be loaded. It is hard on dies and I don't recommend doing it. This is assuming that the cases are boxer primed. Most if not all aluminum cases are not loadable (by me) as they are berdan primed. Look way down deep inside. Is there one or two primer flash holes? If two, it's derdan and scrap. Just my views, other do reload berdan primed brass and steel cases. Be safe, OSOK

November 23, 2013, 05:51 PM	#3
reynolds357 Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 2012 Posts: 6,165	Nickel plate has slightly higher value than un plated brass cases. Aluminum and Steel? Whatever the going scrap metal rate is for each.

November 23, 2013, 07:38 PM	#4
GJSchulze Senior Member Join Date: May 3, 2013 Location: Western New York Posts: 454	Aluminum can be reloaded and seems to work fine. I'm currently experimenting with a few to see how long they will last. Brass 9mm cases can last 30 or more reloads. I don't expect aluminum to last anywhere near that. I also don't think anyone will pay for them.

November 23, 2013, 08:07 PM	#5
reynolds357 Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 2012 Posts: 6,165	GJ, I think what you will find with Al is catastrophic failure with no warning. The only people I know who have dabbled with reloading them encountered that problem.

November 24, 2013, 01:00 AM	#6
marine6680 Senior Member Join Date: July 24, 2012 Location: Parker, CO Posts: 4,594	Never really considered aluminum for reload... but if it can be done, it seems like a one reload and toss kind of thing. Steel would be similar, two or three reloads and toss. I have thought about doing this for times when I am going somewhere I am likely to loss a lot of cases. You couldn't get much if anything for aluminum, you might be able to get a little for steel cases... At least the poly coated ones. Lubed well, the steel is very mild and soft, so it shouldn't hurt the dies. The lacquer and zinc coated are not really reloadable, most are berdan primed anyway. Some Wolf polyformance is the only ones I know that are boxer primed. Nickel plated can go for a premium.