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2/14/2016 2:49:46 PM EDT
So the "How cheap are you" thread got me thinking about selling scrap brass to the junk yard.  I have a big container full of spent primers, damaged brass and berdan primed brass that I don't reload.

Questions for you guys that sell your scrap:

Do you lump primers and brass together or turn them in separately?

Do you get the same rate for each or are they considered different types of metal?

How much does the scrap yard pay?
2/14/2016 3:05:01 PM EDT
[#1]
I suggest you hold on to it for now. Scrap metals are way down in price right now. Most people I know are "sitting" on there brass, copper and aluminum cans. Including me.

Motor
2/14/2016 3:50:41 PM EDT
[#2]
I called my local scrap yard and they wouldnt take my brass. Talked to a woman soI didnt ask why.
2/14/2016 4:29:33 PM EDT
[#3]
Your "local" scrap yard may not be the best choice. Shop around at other such yards.
The first time I scrapped brass, I weighed it before taking it to my local place. He weighed it and told me the weight. I took the cans off the scale and stepped on. My reply to him was "Look at that, I lost 27 pounds since breakfast". He mumbled something about his helper not correctly calibrating the scale.
I went to another yard and they said that they paid 20% less for cartridge brass since "there might be a live primer in the collection".
The last place was run by a young guy. He gave me a better price than the other two. When he paid me, I just stood there. He asked if I needed anything else and I said that I was waiting for him to do a "pour over".
I told him that I would wait until he poured out the pails to verify there were no rocks or bricks in the bottom. He said that that wouldn't be necessary. He has had all my brass business ever since.
Point is: shop around.
2/14/2016 4:50:13 PM EDT
[#4]
OP:

-I do sell to a local scraper, who takes it without questions (ie heart burn over a live primer).

-I just throw it all in the bucket.  They did run a magnet thru it to get the steel cases out, but otherwise as is.  I already keep those separate...... since I know they look.  
But they also pay a separate rate for the steel or lead pieces I have.  They weigh it separate and pay me the going rate.

-Those rates are set by the market.  Right now commodity prices are low.................    

You could call and ask the going rate for "yellow brass" (which is what it is called here) or steel etc.  It shouldn't be a secret.    
2/14/2016 7:37:10 PM EDT
[#5]
I had a place try to pull the "firearm brass" thing.. I ask him "how about I make it look like machine shop debris"... he got mad

Dont get in hurry to recycle scrap metals right now.. prices WAYYYY down... I unloaded 130lb of aluminum can because I was being over run here at house, took a $0.30 /lb licking on them, and a some copper wire from cords.. lost $40 on the wire alone, and $30 on the cans..

I am just going to keep collecting and sitting on my stuff till prices come back up, even if I am over run with materials... separate all your materials for maximum pay
2/14/2016 7:45:12 PM EDT
[#6]
I keep all my primers,brass shavings from trimming and case's separate. Down here they all pay a different price. With the primers being the cheapest. I've been sitting on my scrap for awhile now.
2/14/2016 10:52:51 PM EDT
[#7]
Wait I can sell the spent primers for scrap SOB.  I've thrown away enough to fill probably half a 5 gallon bucket.  (Insert face palm meme of your choice)
2/14/2016 11:07:11 PM EDT
[#8]
Quote History
Quoted:
Wait I can sell the spent primers for scrap SOB.  I've thrown away enough to fill probably half a 5 gallon bucket.  (Insert face palm meme of your choice)
View Quote


Yeah and the little anvils by themselves bring a premium price.(I think they are actually copper)(The cups are brass) I visited a place and saw them separated (cups in one bucket and anvils in another) and asked why.

I should have asked how they separate them. It seems it wouldn't be worth the time.

Motor
2/14/2016 11:16:15 PM EDT
[#9]
Is this why there are so many people scavenging for brass at the pits and all say it's because "my so an so reloads it for me" but they are never ever seen shooting and they have buckets full of even rusted steel cases that you know "so an so reloads it for me" is a blatant lie? What's wrong with being honest?

2/14/2016 11:33:38 PM EDT
[#10]
I dump spent primers in with scrap brass. Last time I took brass to a recycler I got $1.70 per pound. Looks like yellow brass scrap prices are down in the $1.20-$1.30 range but different recyclers can pay different rates.
2/14/2016 11:57:59 PM EDT
[#11]
I keep primers separate from brass cases.



When at recycler ask if they want them together or sepatate.
2/15/2016 7:32:59 AM EDT
[#12]
As said earlier, make sure to find out beforehand if they will even take cases. I had a bunch of brass I took along with other scrap metal. Not realizing they might not want cases, I just dumped them into the trash cans they gave me to hold the metal for weighing. They freaked when they saw empty cases, and I had to separate all my stuff as they wouldn't take them. Luckily a couple of their guys helped me out. Another scrap yard down the street will take them no problem though.
2/15/2016 8:09:21 AM EDT
[#13]
Quote History
Quoted:
I had a place try to pull the "firearm brass" thing.. I ask him "how about I make it look like machine shop debris"... he got mad

Dont get in hurry to recycle scrap metals right now.. prices WAYYYY down... I unloaded 130lb of aluminum can because I was being over run here at house, took a $0.30 /lb licking on them, and a some copper wire from cords.. lost $40 on the wire alone, and $30 on the cans..

I am just going to keep collecting and sitting on my stuff till prices come back up, even if I am over run with materials... separate all your materials for maximum pay
View Quote

Is there a local place that will take the primers and brass?   I've been saving them but I haven't shopped around.
2/15/2016 9:07:10 PM EDT
[#14]
Quote History
Quoted:

Is there a local place that will take the primers and brass?   I've been saving them but I haven't shopped around.
View Quote View All Quotes
View All Quotes
Quote History
Quoted:
Quoted:
I had a place try to pull the "firearm brass" thing.. I ask him "how about I make it look like machine shop debris"... he got mad

Dont get in hurry to recycle scrap metals right now.. prices WAYYYY down... I unloaded 130lb of aluminum can because I was being over run here at house, took a $0.30 /lb licking on them, and a some copper wire from cords.. lost $40 on the wire alone, and $30 on the cans..

I am just going to keep collecting and sitting on my stuff till prices come back up, even if I am over run with materials... separate all your materials for maximum pay

Is there a local place that will take the primers and brass?   I've been saving them but I haven't shopped around.


I been doing First Street in Dayton, but it been long time.   At 1 point they wouldnt go near it.. the gallon jug of primers I have, fella waved his magnet on string in the bottle, and some of them stuck.. I suspect there might be something in the nickle plating that let magnet get ahold of..   COHEN  has bought up a few of the smaller places around, like Manns on 571..  Cohen not paid as well for anything as First St has..  I went to place on east side of Springfield.. HUGE MISTAKE !!  Dump a drum with 130lb brass in it back in 2002,,, fella says it not worth anything, got like $0.02/lb for it.. I should have dumped it back in car and left with it.

I think if I had a way to do it, I'd run the stuff to look like machine shop debris, and try to get more for it
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