Blaster "Gold" -- Retrieving Cartridge Brass for Money

[bobm]

Our club has a dozen 50 yd. deep shooting bays adjacent to each other. They are very popular with the action pistol shooters and the AR "blaster" crowd. It got too windy yesterday for any more rifle shooting for me, so off I went for some brass collection.

I have about 1.5 hours into this easy effort on my knees. 64 lbs., a full 5 gallon bucket of mostly .223 brass. Still is $2.25 lb. at my usual metal salvage place.

I make the one hour scrap run when I have at least 2 buckets. At present there are two buckets worth of handgun brass on the ground. Too much work for hand picking up, need a rake, shovel and sifter as the bay floors are dirt.

Someone will get it soon. Our club has no hard rule for cleaning up brass.

My cash goes right back into reloading components.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

Our club has a dozen 50 yd. deep shooting bays adjacent to each other. They are very popular with the action pistol shooters and the AR "blaster" crowd. It got too windy yesterday for any more rifle shooting for me, so off I went for some brass collection.

I have about 1.5 hours into this easy effort on my knees. 64 lbs., a full 5 gallon bucket of mostly .223 brass. Still is $2.25 lb. at my usual metal salvage place.

I make the one hour scrap run when I have at least 2 buckets. At present there are two buckets worth of handgun brass on the ground. Too much work for hand picking up, need a rake, shovel and sifter as the bay floors are dirt.

Someone will get it soon. Our club has no hard rule for cleaning up brass.

My cash goes right back into reloading components.

I would buy beef with it and enjoy every bite from your prudence.

 

[ShtrRdy]

@bobm -- how clean does the brass need to be when you sell it as salvage?

 

[GotRDid]

Ammo-Up 8-inch Mini Brass collector - Range Systems

The Brass mini™ Will pick up 9mm, 10mm, 40, 45 Auto, 38 Special, 367 SIG,308 (7.62mm), .223 (5.56mm) and much more. 8 inch pick up width Front wheel for maneuvering in tight areas Removable basket Maintenance free

www.range-systems.com

No more hands and knees.

Forum Boss: That unit looks amazing, but it's $399.00.

Here is a simpler unit for $54.99: Caldwell Brass Retriever

 

[jelenko]

That is very cool.
You do have to get 177 lbs before you've paid for it.

 

[Lee Whitsel]

Our club has a dozen 50 yd. deep shooting bays adjacent to each other. They are very popular with the action pistol shooters and the AR "blaster" crowd. It got too windy yesterday for any more rifle shooting for me, so off I went for some brass collection.

I have about 1.5 hours into this easy effort on my knees. 64 lbs., a full 5 gallon bucket of mostly .223 brass. Still is $2.25 lb. at my usual metal salvage place.

I make the one hour scrap run when I have at least 2 buckets. At present there are two buckets worth of handgun brass on the ground. Too much work for hand picking up, need a rake, shovel and sifter as the bay floors are dirt.

Someone will get it soon. Our club has no hard rule for cleaning up brass.

My cash goes right back into reloading components.

What state are you in? Scrap brass is at best $2.00 where I live.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

That is very cool.
You do have to get 177 lbs before you've paid for it.

?

 

[bobm]

I would buy beef with it and enjoy every bite from your prudence.

We hit the Chinese restaurant down the road from the scrap yard......often. Their beef chowmein is very good.

 

[bobm]

Ammo-Up 8-inch Mini Brass collector - Range Systems

The Brass mini™ Will pick up 9mm, 10mm, 40, 45 Auto, 38 Special, 367 SIG,308 (7.62mm), .223 (5.56mm) and much more. 8 inch pick up width Front wheel for maneuvering in tight areas Removable basket Maintenance free

www.range-systems.com

No more hands and knees.

$400. ???... would not work well on loose pebble rich dirt and weed debris I would think. Even those nut cage rollers struggle to collect decently. My two hands both working in concert are the best method for me, like a well oiled machine.

 

[bobm]

What state are you in? Scrap brass is at best $2.00 where I live.

CO metro Denver. That price per pound for brass shells has been steady since Jan.

This is a high price at the moment. Scroll down on the left side. Pricing is based on the region I was told.

Scrap Metal Prices - J.R.'s Advanced Recyclers

Scrap Metal Recycling

jrsadvancedrecyclers.com

 

[bobm]

@bomb -- how clean does the brass need to be when you sell it as salvage?

The yard does a quick magnet sweep check. They take it as shown.

 

[jelenko]

?

Ah. The roller costs $400. At $2.25 per pound of brass, it takes 177 lbs of brass to pay for the roller.

 

[GotRDid]

I did not price check it; my apologies.
Our Training Range at the Academy had similar devices, but certainly not that price point.
Perhaps more practical?……..

Compact Ammo-Up Rifle & Pistol Brass Picker - Ammoup

Pick up brass without bending over or crawling around on your hands and knees. The Ammo-Up Compact Brass Picker is an easy-to-use handheld device.

ammoupusa.com

 

[bobm]

The demonstration videos made me look into buying one of the compact models.

The FedEx $54.00 shipping from Florida was a deal breaker. No other options mentioned.

Very cool tool, though.

 

[DGP4]

Our public range uses two of the 36-inch model. They work great on the concrete surface. Whatever goes into the dirt in front gets shoveled into barrels the old-fashioned way.

 

[Charlie-NY]

I very selectively collect brass from the range buckets this time of year. Lots of once-a-year whitetail shooters using factory ammo. I don't use any of the brass personally, but I always find guys who are happy to get it for reloading.

 

[GotRDid]

The demonstration videos made me look into buying one of the compact models.

The FedEx $54.00 shipping from Florida was a deal breaker. No other options mentioned.

Very cool tool, though.

If it is attractive for your needs, why not email or call them and explain your need for cheaper shipping alternative?
I’m sure they could make allowances to make a sale.

 

[spencerhenry]

Why not sell the brass for reloading? Even in bulk probably get a nickel a piece for 223.

 

[JayHHI6818]

Recyclers around here won’t take fired brass for afraid of a live primer. I’ve called 3 or 4 and all tell me the same thing

 

[bobm]

If it is attractive for your needs, why not email or call them and explain your need for cheaper shipping alternative?
I’m sure they could make allowances to make a sale.

I will do that today and report back.

Two months ago while at that scrap yard, an off duty LEO ahead of me had four buckets of mixed range brass with some aluminum and steel cases included. He was offered 50% of current price and took it rather than bring it back with him.