Good time to sell off brass?

veprdude · October 10, 2021, 11:32 PM

I've been collecting brass I've shot for the last 15 years or so. I pick it up because one day I might get into reloading. I never get around to it. With all the hoopla is this a good time to sell some of it off? Or are the other components the limiting reactant here?

TJB101 · October 11, 2021, 06:46 AM

Certain brass is hard to find. (44Mag for me), others abound. Depends of what you have. Primers and certain powders are the biggest supply issues right now outside of brass.

armoredman · October 11, 2021, 07:05 AM

Agreed, primers and powder are the hardest to come by, but also agreed, some specialty brass is also harder to find, because people are shooting the oddballs less, due to supply chain issues. Sure, put it up for sale - you'll probably get some bites. Heck, people are buying 9mm and 5.56mm brass right now, too.

std7mag · October 11, 2021, 07:18 AM

Primers & bullets are hardest to find in my area.
I'm shooting my "obsolete" cartridges more. The local shops didn't sell out of my oddball as quickly.

List up the brass you have.
If nothing else, price of scrap is up.

Shadow9mm · October 11, 2021, 09:05 AM

The only thing that has been hard for me to find is primers and 357 mag brass. Powder selection has been limited, but I have always been able to find something. Longest wait on bullets was about 2 months. But they mostly seem to be in stock now too.

If you want to get into reloading it's not impossible by any means, just a bit challenging. I would still with straight wall pistol cartridges starting out, as they are a lot easier than bottle necked rifle

MarkCO · October 11, 2021, 10:44 AM

Why would you not get a press and get set up to reload, at least over a few months when you can find what you need. Brass and bullets are pretty much available now. Powder, less so and primers less. But it is loosening up and I have seen prices fall. Presses are more available too.

jag2 · October 11, 2021, 12:34 PM

As others have indicated, if you have it sorted and have some hard to find calibers maybe yes but 9mm, 45 ACP and a few others, sell as scrap metal. I just don’t see it being worth the trouble to clean, sort, package, and ship.

Shadow9mm · October 11, 2021, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jag2

As others have indicated, if you have it sorted and have some hard to find calibers maybe yes but 9mm, 45 ACP and a few others, sell as scrap metal. I just don’t see it being worth the trouble to clean, sort, package, and ship.

Not so much. Sorted is important, dirty does not matter, package is easy, shipping is covered by the buyer.

I buy my brass from No Bull Tactical. It comes diry, swept up off indoor range floors, sorted, and dumped into 1gal ziplock bags with the mouths taped closed. 9mm is going for $59.99 per 1000 plus shipping and tax. Just bought 1000pcs of 38spl for $64.99 ended up being about $85 with shipping and tax. I decap, wet tumble, and it looks like new.

FrankenMauser · October 11, 2021, 04:00 PM

Now is a good time to sell. A year ago was better. But if you're going to sell it, now is a good time.

Nick_C_S · October 11, 2021, 06:47 PM

Per MarkCO, You should get into loading. Just not right now

. Might wanna wait 'till these shortages pass.

But to answer your question directly, what FrankenMauser said: NOW is a good time to sell brass.

Average Joe · October 11, 2021, 07:44 PM

Primers are hard to find, and expensive if you do. Brass is not much of a problem.

veprdude · October 12, 2021, 01:21 AM

I bought a Frankford Armory wet tumbler at a pawn shop for $60 and it got me thinking about cleaning and sorting it. I think I have about 4-5 5 gallon paint buckets full of brass.

I've considered reloading for years but I always have another project or hobby. I think if I ever do it, it'll be for the M1 Garands and magnum revolver cartridges. Hard to justify reloading the common stuff unless you have a fancy progressive press.

veprdude · October 12, 2021, 01:24 AM

For those interested what I have is probably 90% 9mm, 40 s&w, 45acp, 223/556, 308.

I found a few 458 socom and 300 win mag from random brass collecting. Some 5.7 and 300 blk too. But probably not enough oddball stuff to fill a ziplock.

tangolima · October 12, 2021, 11:23 PM

If you have any .32 s&w short, I will buy them from you.

-TL

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

Shadow9mm · October 13, 2021, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by veprdude

I bought a Frankford Armory wet tumbler at a pawn shop for $60 and it got me thinking about cleaning and sorting it. I think I have about 4-5 5 gallon paint buckets full of brass.

I've considered reloading for years but I always have another project or hobby. I think if I ever do it, it'll be for the M1 Garands and magnum revolver cartridges. Hard to justify reloading the common stuff unless you have a fancy progressive press.

wet tumblers are fantastic. just keep in mind they also have to dry. nocking out the primers first seems to speed things up a lot.

armoredman · October 13, 2021, 09:15 PM

Brownells was advertising SPP on their site, but for $125 per thousand...

October 10, 2021, 11:32 PM	#1
veprdude Senior Member Join Date: March 18, 2019 Location: Texas Posts: 477	Good time to sell off brass? I've been collecting brass I've shot for the last 15 years or so. I pick it up because one day I might get into reloading. I never get around to it. With all the hoopla is this a good time to sell some of it off? Or are the other components the limiting reactant here?

October 11, 2021, 07:18 AM	#4
std7mag Senior Member Join Date: June 23, 2013 Location: Central Taxylvania.. Posts: 3,611	Primers & bullets are hardest to find in my area. I'm shooting my "obsolete" cartridges more. The local shops didn't sell out of my oddball as quickly. List up the brass you have. If nothing else, price of scrap is up. __________________ When our own government declares itself as "tyrannical", where does that leave us??!! "Januarary 6th insurrection". Funny, I didn't see a single piece of rope...

October 11, 2021, 09:05 AM	#5
Shadow9mm Senior Member Join Date: March 21, 2012 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 4,603	The only thing that has been hard for me to find is primers and 357 mag brass. Powder selection has been limited, but I have always been able to find something. Longest wait on bullets was about 2 months. But they mostly seem to be in stock now too. If you want to get into reloading it's not impossible by any means, just a bit challenging. I would still with straight wall pistol cartridges starting out, as they are a lot easier than bottle necked rifle __________________ I don't believe in "range fodder" that is why I reload. Last edited by Shadow9mm; October 11, 2021 at 09:26 AM.

October 11, 2021, 10:44 AM	#6
MarkCO Senior Member Join Date: October 22, 1998 Location: Colorado, USA Posts: 4,362	Why would you not get a press and get set up to reload, at least over a few months when you can find what you need. Brass and bullets are pretty much available now. Powder, less so and primers less. But it is loosening up and I have seen prices fall. Presses are more available too. __________________ Good Shooting, MarkCO www.CarbonArms.us

October 11, 2021, 04:00 PM	#9
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 26, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,775	Now is a good time to sell. A year ago was better. But if you're going to sell it, now is a good time. __________________ -Unwilling Range Officer -Unwilling Match Designer -NRL22/PRS22/PRO -Something about broccoli and carrots

October 11, 2021, 06:46 AM	#2
TJB101 Senior Member Join Date: January 2, 2017 Posts: 498	Certain brass is hard to find. (44Mag for me), others abound. Depends of what you have. Primers and certain powders are the biggest supply issues right now outside of brass.

October 11, 2021, 07:05 AM	#3
armoredman Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 5,480	Agreed, primers and powder are the hardest to come by, but also agreed, some specialty brass is also harder to find, because people are shooting the oddballs less, due to supply chain issues. Sure, put it up for sale - you'll probably get some bites. Heck, people are buying 9mm and 5.56mm brass right now, too.

October 11, 2021, 12:34 PM	#7
jag2 Senior Member Join Date: June 30, 2009 Location: dallas Posts: 779	As others have indicated, if you have it sorted and have some hard to find calibers maybe yes but 9mm, 45 ACP and a few others, sell as scrap metal. I just don’t see it being worth the trouble to clean, sort, package, and ship.

October 11, 2021, 06:47 PM	#10
Nick_C_S Senior Member Join Date: March 21, 2013 Location: Idaho Posts: 5,619	Per MarkCO, You should get into loading. Just not right now . Might wanna wait 'till these shortages pass. But to answer your question directly, what FrankenMauser said: NOW is a good time to sell brass. __________________ Gun control laws benefit only criminals and politicians - but then, I repeat myself. Life Member, National Rifle Association

October 11, 2021, 07:44 PM	#11
Average Joe Senior Member Join Date: August 29, 2005 Location: Central Florida Posts: 1,332	Primers are hard to find, and expensive if you do. Brass is not much of a problem.

October 12, 2021, 01:21 AM	#12
veprdude Senior Member Join Date: March 18, 2019 Location: Texas Posts: 477	I bought a Frankford Armory wet tumbler at a pawn shop for $60 and it got me thinking about cleaning and sorting it. I think I have about 4-5 5 gallon paint buckets full of brass. I've considered reloading for years but I always have another project or hobby. I think if I ever do it, it'll be for the M1 Garands and magnum revolver cartridges. Hard to justify reloading the common stuff unless you have a fancy progressive press.

October 12, 2021, 01:24 AM	#13
veprdude Senior Member Join Date: March 18, 2019 Location: Texas Posts: 477	For those interested what I have is probably 90% 9mm, 40 s&w, 45acp, 223/556, 308. I found a few 458 socom and 300 win mag from random brass collecting. Some 5.7 and 300 blk too. But probably not enough oddball stuff to fill a ziplock.

October 12, 2021, 11:23 PM	#14
tangolima Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2013 Posts: 5,178	If you have any .32 s&w short, I will buy them from you. -TL Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

October 13, 2021, 09:15 PM	#16
armoredman Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 5,480	Brownells was advertising SPP on their site, but for $125 per thousand...