How much brass?

Gitsum · January 25, 2012, 02:29 PM

I am currently purchasing once fired brass (as necessary) from a range/gun shop. They are selling the pick-ups (sorted somewhat and mixed headstamps) for $10 per 10lb box. Any caliber that they have. Im guessing that depending on caliber its from 600-1000 cases. There is always lots of boxes of 9mm, 38special, and .40, but other calibers are available also. It has been recommended that I buy as much of this supply as possible. How much brass do you guys keep on hand or, would like to have on hand? Should I really buy as much as possible?

Kayser · January 25, 2012, 02:36 PM

It's going to depend how much you shoot. My multi-year supply is something like:

- 250-300 .308
- 400-500 .45 acp
- 250-300 .357
- 500+ 38 spl
- 2000+ 30-06 (I only have this much because it's surplus that I'm slowing going through)

These numbers pretty much just come down to how much of my own once-fired brass I've collected over the years. In 7 or so years of reloading, I've tossed out one batch of brass (400 or so .45 acp) but I think I was being conservative as that stuff had gone through maybe 5 reloads.

I've only ever bought one bag of never-fired brass - 1000 pieces of .45 acp. It's still sitting in the bag

I would wager that I probably shoot less than a lot of guys on this board though. 2000-3000 thousand pistol rounds, and 200 or so rifle rounds a year.

For me, brass lasts an incredibly long time.

Rockhanger · January 25, 2012, 02:36 PM

If you can get some 10mm or .45acp I would be interested. As far as how much I keep on hand to reload usually around 500 in 9mm & .40 and 3or4 hundred in .357&44mag.

10-96 · January 25, 2012, 02:54 PM

I wonder why someone would recommend that to you if they don't know your personal usage requirements? Could be that the person is one who keeps an eye out on raw matrial prices, political armchairing, or maybe he's heard the range may change policy on the sale of brass? Nothing in-valid about those issues I supppose. It would just be my curious nature to be asking the guy making the recommendations some "Huh? and Why?" type questions.

Shootest · January 25, 2012, 03:09 PM

10,000 - 9mm
5000 - 38 Spc and 223Rem
3000 - 357Mag, 45ACP, 40S&W
2000 - 44Mag, 30/06, 30/30
1000 - 270, 243, 308
I would buy all I could if I were you, it doesn’t go bad, and it’s nice not to have to worry about where to find more.

m&p45acp10+1 · January 25, 2012, 03:21 PM

When I can not see the floor in my closet due to full buckets of brass I have too much, and it is time to see if I can trade some off for components.

.45 ACP a two gal. wash pail full of sized/decapped, and flared brass
.9mm same as above
.41 Mag 400 or so
.38 spcl. currently have about 300, and will keep picking up more at the range for a while.
.221 Rem Fireball 300 factory R-P cases, and about 500 reformed from .223
.223 I have a couple thousand cleaned, sized, trimmed, and ready to prime, and load. With a couple of 3lb coffee cans full of need to do everything for a reserve. Fireformed I have 2 one gal. Ziplock containers full of them necksized ready to prime, charge, seat a bullet, and shoot.

Other calibers of the rare stuff I do not have a whole lot of so I do not shoot them very often to save the brass.

howlnmad · January 25, 2012, 05:22 PM

I take ALL I can get my hands on. Brass doesn't go bad sitting on the shelf.

Adamantium · January 25, 2012, 08:03 PM

I like to have at a minimum 3 times more than the most I could realistically shoot in a week. In a week I could burn through about 500 rounds which would be 2 range sessions and a weekend competition. This way I'm never rushed to tumble and reload to keep shooting. I bought my way up to that in 45acp and have just been collecting range brass since so I've got around 3,500 now.

More is better but buying something you can pick up for free doesn't make sense past a certain point.

orionengnr · January 25, 2012, 09:16 PM

I'd be buying all I could afford. As a previous poster pointed out, it doesn't go bad, and it makes good trade bait.

I probably have close to 10k .45acp, which is the round I shoot most. I still pick up whatever I can find at the range. I will never wear it all out...my widow can sell it.

I also have almost that much 9mm, because once again, I can pick it up at the range.

About three months ago I gave about 1600 9mm (big red plastic coffee container full) to a friend who was just getting into reloading.

A week or two ago I gave the same sized container full to a co-worker who is starting to load.

I only have about 1000 .357 Mag, and I'd like to double or triple that.
I'm trying to get to 1000 each 10mm, .41 Mag, .45LC. If you can get them, pm me and you can make some money on that.

His friend is interested in loading .40, so I gave him all I had (about 1000).

medalguy · January 25, 2012, 11:45 PM

At $1 a pound, I would buy all he has or can get. You do realize even at scrap prices that brass is worth around $2 a pound? For reloaders even more.

As to how much brass, I keep on hand no LESS than 10K each of 45 and 9mm, maybe 8K of .38 Special, and more in the range of 20K of 5.56 and 7.62 NATO, and about 5K of .30 carbine and .380. Oh yeah, that's brass, not loaded ammo.

And yeah I give common brass to newbies too. Good karma.

oldreloader · January 26, 2012, 12:11 AM

My goal is to keep about 1,500 each 9 MM and 45 ACP 500 .223 Rem and 250 30-06. I'll take all I can scrounge.

Stick_man · January 26, 2012, 01:55 AM

As said before, that is a very good price. I try to keep about 5k of the .40s and .38s and want to have about 3-5k of .357mag. 10k for .223 and about 1k of '06.

I am currently way below my preferred levels on the .38s and .357s so if you can get them I'd be interested in some.

Marco Califo · January 26, 2012, 03:22 AM

308 1000+
223 1000+
40 S&W 500+
9MM 1000+

These quantities are largely based on economies of scale when acquiring. Also, military brass is cheaper. I am finding 500 nickel 40 S&W to be a good stock to rotate through. They are also easier to spot and collect.

For handguns, beyond these quantities, I grab what I can use at the range. But sorting and processing that stuff is a low priority until I need them.

FrankenMauser · January 26, 2012, 05:10 AM

As I stated in the other thread, that's less than half of scrap value.
Selling to reloaders (if you feel like doing so), will net even more. Don't plan on having it available for the rest of your life, but definitely buy what you can, when it's available. (My opinion, and what I would try to do.)

Gitsum · January 26, 2012, 08:22 AM

WOW. Thanks guys. I go past the place about every month or so and will definitely load up on some more. As long as I have room for it... lol.

grumpa72 · January 26, 2012, 08:30 AM

First off, those are very good prices. Using the internet as a source for number per pound I have the following -

Cartridge Weights per 1000
380 Auto- 8.5 lbs
9mm-9 lbs
357 Sig-10 lbs
38 SPL-10 lbs
357 Mag-12 lbs.
10mm-11 lbs.
40 S&W-10 lbs.
45 ACP-12.5 lbs
223 13.25lbs

And here is another

CASES per POUND:
.380: 145
.357 Sig: 96
.45 GAP: 86
.32: 168
10mm: 96
FN 5.7: 124
.25 acp: 260
.30 Luger: 120
.38 S&W: 120
.38 Super: 104
9mm MAK: 124
.45 Colt: 60
.30-M1: 100
.308: 40
.30-06: 35
7.62x39: 54
.50 AE: 48
.30-30: 52

I keep a minimum of a one gallon bag filled with cleaned brass - probably 7-800. In addition, I keep an ammo box filled with my standby brass, probably 2-3000 in 9mm, .40 S&W, and .45 acp each. Like the one post said, brass doesn't go bad. I am fortunate that I have an outdoor range and there is lots of free brass. I have probably picked up 10000 pieces (easily) over the last four years. Now I just need to get rid of all that .223 brass.

Uncle Buck · January 26, 2012, 10:03 AM

Brass does not go bad? You aren't shooting enough.

I finally found a recycling yard that will take my bad brass, some places will not do it. They claim it is for safety reasons.

I just paid $32.00 for 100 pieces of .222 brass. I could not find it anywhere but at one shop I frequest and I wanted it now, not in four days - eight weeks.

I have a lot of extra brass. I try to keep about one thousand rounds of pistol ammo loaded for each caliber I have.

For rifles, I try to keep about 300 rounds loaded for each one.

I do not shoot as much as I would like to anymore. But I have nephews who help me make sure my ammo is rotated.

When I am not able to get out, I might sit in my room and reload a couple of hundred rounds of caliber XYZ ammo.

My .38 Special box of brass is marked 1,251. I know there is not that many in there because I take a piece out to replace the ones that are cracked or just not usuable anymore.

30-06 is a favorite rifle round (Again, thank you to everyone who helped me with the reloading of this darling!). I think I have only about 500 total pieces of brass for this caliber.

So, my advice, buy what you can afford. Store what you do not use as replacement brass. But... Don't go broke buying it.

CrustyFN · January 26, 2012, 10:13 AM

With the brass being $10 for 10 pounds I would get a bunch, that's a very good price. I don;t shoot at a public range, I belong to a private club so I get back all of the brass I shoot except that one the brass fairy steals once in a while. Most of the time there is brass on the ground so I come home with more than I brought. I have around,

9mm - 15,000
38 spl - 500
357 mag - 500
45 auto - 4,000
223 - 2,500

jrdavidson · January 26, 2012, 01:10 PM

I've found one can never have too much serviceable brass.

That said, you can often pay too much for the next batch when range picking of once-fired doesn't keep up with your need.

Sounds like you found a cost-effective source.

Good on you.

kealil · January 26, 2012, 10:12 PM

1000 9mm
1500 45
350 38spl
500 223

This is all oncefired brass of my own 'creation'. I shoot as much as possible. I also keep some other brass in stock just for funsies

AFK · January 27, 2012, 11:43 AM

I usually keep the following:

45 ACP - 2k (no less then 300 loaded)
9mm - 2k (no less then 500 loaded)
380 Auto - 1k (no less then 300 loaded)
38 Special - 1k (no less then 200 loaded)

FM12 · January 27, 2012, 04:04 PM

Enough? Never!

Steviewonder1 · January 27, 2012, 08:25 PM

I have about the following Pistol only brass for reloading.
38 Spl 6000 bought it for $50 back in 1974 from a Pawn shop in Atlanta all nickle plated RP shot by the APD.
9MM about 7000 left from a large lot of it from an indoor range I worked at in the early 90's, along with 5000+ 45ACP.
I have picked up and purchased lots of 40S&W to the tune of about 5000 rounds of both new and once fired processed. The new is used for competetion and the once fired for practice. Lots of lead (FMJ) for all rounds. You can never have enough brass to load. Getting the other components can be an issue from time to time so it is prudent to stock that in quantity also.

ScottRiqui · January 28, 2012, 09:25 PM

Has anyone here weighed a five-gallon bucket of mixed brass (or a one-gallon pail, for that matter)? The range where I shoot sells brass for $3/pound (and you can pick out just the calibers you want, if you wish to).

Their scale only goes up to five pounds, though, so the manager told me "that five-gallon bucket you have should be about 35 pounds." Personally, it felt heavier than that to me, but it's not like I pick up 35-pound weights all day, so what do I know?

thedaddycat · January 28, 2012, 10:18 PM

I just started reloading, but for years I only bought factory ammo. The thing is that I saved all the brass from the ammo I bought, even though I didn't reload. Well, I've been going over the brass with a friend and man did I ever get a suprise.

I have one 6.5X55 Swedish Mauser, and I know I've shot it a fair bit in the past. I remember buying a case of PMC for it at one time, and I did have some milsurp FMJ, too. Well, today we sorted through about 300+ PMC for it with another 200 PMC and maybe another hundred assorted brass to get preped. Most of it is once-fired and I have maybe another 150 or so that my friend reloaded for me plus 240 factory loads. All this for a single hundred plus year old rifle... I never thought I had that much in just 6.5.

I also just went through about 700 .30-06 brass, sorting and preping it. A couple hundred 7mm Mauser, again it's just for one rifle. All my brass is now at his house except for the stuff I'm working on, but there's probably 500 or so each of .38 Special, .357 Mag, and .44 Mag. I know there's some .303 British brass around, but I shoot them little enough that for now I'll just keep buying factory ammo until I have enough brass that it's worth it to invest in the dies.

For the cost vs. the time and effort involved, it's not really worth it to me to reload .380 Auto, 9mm and .223 at this time. Again, I save all the brass from them anyhow. Maybe at some point I'll load them, until then the brass pile just grows.

January 25, 2012, 02:29 PM	#1
Gitsum Senior Member Join Date: September 23, 2011 Location: Delawhere? Posts: 146	How much brass? I am currently purchasing once fired brass (as necessary) from a range/gun shop. They are selling the pick-ups (sorted somewhat and mixed headstamps) for $10 per 10lb box. Any caliber that they have. Im guessing that depending on caliber its from 600-1000 cases. There is always lots of boxes of 9mm, 38special, and .40, but other calibers are available also. It has been recommended that I buy as much of this supply as possible. How much brass do you guys keep on hand or, would like to have on hand? Should I really buy as much as possible? __________________ Want Some?... GITSUM!

January 25, 2012, 02:36 PM	#2
Kayser Senior Member Join Date: May 29, 2002 Location: Illinois :( Posts: 550	It's going to depend how much you shoot. My multi-year supply is something like: - 250-300 .308 - 400-500 .45 acp - 250-300 .357 - 500+ 38 spl - 2000+ 30-06 (I only have this much because it's surplus that I'm slowing going through) These numbers pretty much just come down to how much of my own once-fired brass I've collected over the years. In 7 or so years of reloading, I've tossed out one batch of brass (400 or so .45 acp) but I think I was being conservative as that stuff had gone through maybe 5 reloads. I've only ever bought one bag of never-fired brass - 1000 pieces of .45 acp. It's still sitting in the bag I would wager that I probably shoot less than a lot of guys on this board though. 2000-3000 thousand pistol rounds, and 200 or so rifle rounds a year. For me, brass lasts an incredibly long time. __________________ ----------------- Box Of Truth Afficionado!

January 25, 2012, 02:54 PM	#4
10-96 Senior Member Join Date: October 19, 2005 Location: Tx Panhandle Territory Posts: 4,159	I wonder why someone would recommend that to you if they don't know your personal usage requirements? Could be that the person is one who keeps an eye out on raw matrial prices, political armchairing, or maybe he's heard the range may change policy on the sale of brass? Nothing in-valid about those issues I supppose. It would just be my curious nature to be asking the guy making the recommendations some "Huh? and Why?" type questions. __________________ Rednecks... Keeping the woods critter-free since March 2, 1836. (TX Independence Day) I suspect a thing or two... because I've seen a thing or two.

January 25, 2012, 03:09 PM	#5
Shootest Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2011 Location: Just outside Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 722	10,000 - 9mm 5000 - 38 Spc and 223Rem 3000 - 357Mag, 45ACP, 40S&W 2000 - 44Mag, 30/06, 30/30 1000 - 270, 243, 308 I would buy all I could if I were you, it doesn’t go bad, and it’s nice not to have to worry about where to find more. __________________ The private ownership of firearms is an American Heritage. Anyone who disputes that is Anti-American and unpatriotic. NRA Life Member

January 25, 2012, 03:21 PM	#6
m&p45acp10+1 Senior Member Join Date: May 3, 2009 Location: Central Texas Posts: 3,930	When I can not see the floor in my closet due to full buckets of brass I have too much, and it is time to see if I can trade some off for components. .45 ACP a two gal. wash pail full of sized/decapped, and flared brass .9mm same as above .41 Mag 400 or so .38 spcl. currently have about 300, and will keep picking up more at the range for a while. .221 Rem Fireball 300 factory R-P cases, and about 500 reformed from .223 .223 I have a couple thousand cleaned, sized, trimmed, and ready to prime, and load. With a couple of 3lb coffee cans full of need to do everything for a reserve. Fireformed I have 2 one gal. Ziplock containers full of them necksized ready to prime, charge, seat a bullet, and shoot. Other calibers of the rare stuff I do not have a whole lot of so I do not shoot them very often to save the brass. __________________ No matter how many times you do it and nothing happens it only takes something going wrong one time to kill you.

January 25, 2012, 02:36 PM	#3
Rockhanger Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 2010 Posts: 111	If you can get some 10mm or .45acp I would be interested. As far as how much I keep on hand to reload usually around 500 in 9mm & .40 and 3or4 hundred in .357&44mag.

January 25, 2012, 05:22 PM	#7
howlnmad Senior Member Join Date: April 29, 2009 Location: Harriman Tn Posts: 424	I take ALL I can get my hands on. Brass doesn't go bad sitting on the shelf.

January 25, 2012, 08:03 PM	#8
Adamantium Senior Member Join Date: June 6, 1999 Location: El Paso, TX Posts: 1,021	I like to have at a minimum 3 times more than the most I could realistically shoot in a week. In a week I could burn through about 500 rounds which would be 2 range sessions and a weekend competition. This way I'm never rushed to tumble and reload to keep shooting. I bought my way up to that in 45acp and have just been collecting range brass since so I've got around 3,500 now. More is better but buying something you can pick up for free doesn't make sense past a certain point. __________________ New gun, same ol' shot.

January 25, 2012, 09:16 PM	#9
orionengnr Senior Member Join Date: July 9, 2004 Posts: 5,173	At that price... I'd be buying all I could afford. As a previous poster pointed out, it doesn't go bad, and it makes good trade bait. I probably have close to 10k .45acp, which is the round I shoot most. I still pick up whatever I can find at the range. I will never wear it all out...my widow can sell it. I also have almost that much 9mm, because once again, I can pick it up at the range. About three months ago I gave about 1600 9mm (big red plastic coffee container full) to a friend who was just getting into reloading. A week or two ago I gave the same sized container full to a co-worker who is starting to load. I only have about 1000 .357 Mag, and I'd like to double or triple that. I'm trying to get to 1000 each 10mm, .41 Mag, .45LC. If you can get them, pm me and you can make some money on that. His friend is interested in loading .40, so I gave him all I had (about 1000).

January 25, 2012, 11:45 PM	#10
medalguy Senior Member Join Date: August 31, 2009 Location: New Mexico Posts: 1,033	At $1 a pound, I would buy all he has or can get. You do realize even at scrap prices that brass is worth around $2 a pound? For reloaders even more. As to how much brass, I keep on hand no LESS than 10K each of 45 and 9mm, maybe 8K of .38 Special, and more in the range of 20K of 5.56 and 7.62 NATO, and about 5K of .30 carbine and .380. Oh yeah, that's brass, not loaded ammo. And yeah I give common brass to newbies too. Good karma.

January 26, 2012, 12:11 AM	#11
oldreloader Senior Member Join Date: May 31, 2009 Location: Magnolia, Arkansas Posts: 251	My goal is to keep about 1,500 each 9 MM and 45 ACP 500 .223 Rem and 250 30-06. I'll take all I can scrounge. Last edited by oldreloader; January 26, 2012 at 11:17 PM.

January 26, 2012, 01:55 AM	#12
Stick_man Senior Member Join Date: October 18, 2008 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Posts: 241	As said before, that is a very good price. I try to keep about 5k of the .40s and .38s and want to have about 3-5k of .357mag. 10k for .223 and about 1k of '06. I am currently way below my preferred levels on the .38s and .357s so if you can get them I'd be interested in some.

January 26, 2012, 03:22 AM	#13
Marco Califo Senior Member Join Date: April 4, 2011 Location: LA (Greater Los Angeles Area) Posts: 2,598	308 1000+ 223 1000+ 40 S&W 500+ 9MM 1000+ These quantities are largely based on economies of scale when acquiring. Also, military brass is cheaper. I am finding 500 nickel 40 S&W to be a good stock to rotate through. They are also easier to spot and collect. For handguns, beyond these quantities, I grab what I can use at the range. But sorting and processing that stuff is a low priority until I need them. __________________ ............

January 26, 2012, 05:10 AM	#14
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,424	As I stated in the other thread, that's less than half of scrap value. Selling to reloaders (if you feel like doing so), will net even more. Don't plan on having it available for the rest of your life, but definitely buy what you can, when it's available. (My opinion, and what I would try to do.) __________________ Don't even try it. It's even worse than the internet would lead you to believe.

January 26, 2012, 08:22 AM	#15
Gitsum Senior Member Join Date: September 23, 2011 Location: Delawhere? Posts: 146	WOW. Thanks guys. I go past the place about every month or so and will definitely load up on some more. As long as I have room for it... lol. __________________ Want Some?... GITSUM!

January 26, 2012, 08:30 AM	#16
grumpa72 Senior Member Join Date: April 5, 2009 Posts: 487	First off, those are very good prices. Using the internet as a source for number per pound I have the following - Cartridge Weights per 1000 380 Auto- 8.5 lbs 9mm-9 lbs 357 Sig-10 lbs 38 SPL-10 lbs 357 Mag-12 lbs. 10mm-11 lbs. 40 S&W-10 lbs. 45 ACP-12.5 lbs 223 13.25lbs And here is another CASES per POUND: .380: 145 .357 Sig: 96 .45 GAP: 86 .32: 168 10mm: 96 FN 5.7: 124 .25 acp: 260 .30 Luger: 120 .38 S&W: 120 .38 Super: 104 9mm MAK: 124 .45 Colt: 60 .30-M1: 100 .308: 40 .30-06: 35 7.62x39: 54 .50 AE: 48 .30-30: 52 I keep a minimum of a one gallon bag filled with cleaned brass - probably 7-800. In addition, I keep an ammo box filled with my standby brass, probably 2-3000 in 9mm, .40 S&W, and .45 acp each. Like the one post said, brass doesn't go bad. I am fortunate that I have an outdoor range and there is lots of free brass. I have probably picked up 10000 pieces (easily) over the last four years. Now I just need to get rid of all that .223 brass.

January 26, 2012, 10:03 AM	#17
Uncle Buck Senior Member Join Date: June 21, 2009 Location: West Central Missouri Posts: 2,592	Brass does not go bad? You aren't shooting enough. I finally found a recycling yard that will take my bad brass, some places will not do it. They claim it is for safety reasons. I just paid $32.00 for 100 pieces of .222 brass. I could not find it anywhere but at one shop I frequest and I wanted it now, not in four days - eight weeks. I have a lot of extra brass. I try to keep about one thousand rounds of pistol ammo loaded for each caliber I have. For rifles, I try to keep about 300 rounds loaded for each one. I do not shoot as much as I would like to anymore. But I have nephews who help me make sure my ammo is rotated. When I am not able to get out, I might sit in my room and reload a couple of hundred rounds of caliber XYZ ammo. My .38 Special box of brass is marked 1,251. I know there is not that many in there because I take a piece out to replace the ones that are cracked or just not usuable anymore. 30-06 is a favorite rifle round (Again, thank you to everyone who helped me with the reloading of this darling!). I think I have only about 500 total pieces of brass for this caliber. So, my advice, buy what you can afford. Store what you do not use as replacement brass. But... Don't go broke buying it. __________________ Inside Every Bright Idea Is The 50% Probability Of A Disaster Waiting To Happen. Last edited by Uncle Buck; January 27, 2012 at 07:59 AM.

January 26, 2012, 10:13 AM	#18
CrustyFN Senior Member Join Date: June 4, 2006 Location: West Virginia Posts: 2,258	With the brass being $10 for 10 pounds I would get a bunch, that's a very good price. I don;t shoot at a public range, I belong to a private club so I get back all of the brass I shoot except that one the brass fairy steals once in a while. Most of the time there is brass on the ground so I come home with more than I brought. I have around, 9mm - 15,000 38 spl - 500 357 mag - 500 45 auto - 4,000 223 - 2,500 __________________ I don't ever remember being absent minded.

January 26, 2012, 01:10 PM	#19
jrdavidson Member Join Date: June 29, 2011 Posts: 17	I've found one can never have too much serviceable brass. That said, you can often pay too much for the next batch when range picking of once-fired doesn't keep up with your need. Sounds like you found a cost-effective source. Good on you.

January 26, 2012, 10:12 PM	#20
kealil Senior Member Join Date: July 27, 2011 Posts: 270	1000 9mm 1500 45 350 38spl 500 223 This is all oncefired brass of my own 'creation'. I shoot as much as possible. I also keep some other brass in stock just for funsies __________________ "A weapon without a name is nothing; Just another hunk of steel, wood, or what have you. A weapon with a name is more. It is a partner, a friend, and a comrade to the end"

January 27, 2012, 11:43 AM	#21
AFK Senior Member Join Date: May 28, 2010 Posts: 151	I usually keep the following: 45 ACP - 2k (no less then 300 loaded) 9mm - 2k (no less then 500 loaded) 380 Auto - 1k (no less then 300 loaded) 38 Special - 1k (no less then 200 loaded)

January 27, 2012, 04:04 PM	#22
FM12 Senior Member Join Date: February 5, 2007 Location: Monroeville, Alabama Posts: 1,683	Enough? Never!

January 27, 2012, 08:25 PM	#23
Steviewonder1 Senior Member Join Date: February 16, 2009 Location: John's Creek, Georgia Posts: 328	I have about the following Pistol only brass for reloading. 38 Spl 6000 bought it for $50 back in 1974 from a Pawn shop in Atlanta all nickle plated RP shot by the APD. 9MM about 7000 left from a large lot of it from an indoor range I worked at in the early 90's, along with 5000+ 45ACP. I have picked up and purchased lots of 40S&W to the tune of about 5000 rounds of both new and once fired processed. The new is used for competetion and the once fired for practice. Lots of lead (FMJ) for all rounds. You can never have enough brass to load. Getting the other components can be an issue from time to time so it is prudent to stock that in quantity also.

January 28, 2012, 09:25 PM	#24
ScottRiqui Senior Member Join Date: January 27, 2010 Location: Norfolk, VA Posts: 2,905	Has anyone here weighed a five-gallon bucket of mixed brass (or a one-gallon pail, for that matter)? The range where I shoot sells brass for $3/pound (and you can pick out just the calibers you want, if you wish to). Their scale only goes up to five pounds, though, so the manager told me "that five-gallon bucket you have should be about 35 pounds." Personally, it felt heavier than that to me, but it's not like I pick up 35-pound weights all day, so what do I know?

January 28, 2012, 10:18 PM	#25
thedaddycat Senior Member Join Date: September 25, 2011 Posts: 388	I just started reloading, but for years I only bought factory ammo. The thing is that I saved all the brass from the ammo I bought, even though I didn't reload. Well, I've been going over the brass with a friend and man did I ever get a suprise. I have one 6.5X55 Swedish Mauser, and I know I've shot it a fair bit in the past. I remember buying a case of PMC for it at one time, and I did have some milsurp FMJ, too. Well, today we sorted through about 300+ PMC for it with another 200 PMC and maybe another hundred assorted brass to get preped. Most of it is once-fired and I have maybe another 150 or so that my friend reloaded for me plus 240 factory loads. All this for a single hundred plus year old rifle... I never thought I had that much in just 6.5. I also just went through about 700 .30-06 brass, sorting and preping it. A couple hundred 7mm Mauser, again it's just for one rifle. All my brass is now at his house except for the stuff I'm working on, but there's probably 500 or so each of .38 Special, .357 Mag, and .44 Mag. I know there's some .303 British brass around, but I shoot them little enough that for now I'll just keep buying factory ammo until I have enough brass that it's worth it to invest in the dies. For the cost vs. the time and effort involved, it's not really worth it to me to reload .380 Auto, 9mm and .223 at this time. Again, I save all the brass from them anyhow. Maybe at some point I'll load them, until then the brass pile just grows.