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1/11/2009 1:03:42 PM EDT
Speaking to my clubs armourer tonight and he was telling me that the scrapyard will not take the used brass. Is anyone else having this problem or is it just us.
1/11/2009 1:52:41 PM EDT
[#1]
I was told at my local scrappy last year it is now 'hazardous waste' if it has primers in because of the chance of mercury content.
1/11/2009 2:12:47 PM EDT
[#2]
The one near me will take it - but you have to provide a certificate saying there's no live ones in with the brass!
1/11/2009 2:17:17 PM EDT
[#3]
Arse, that's just devalued the pile of spent mil-surplus cases I've been building up over the last couple of years!

1/11/2009 10:40:18 PM EDT
[#4]
They will take it but there's no value at the moment
1/11/2009 10:49:55 PM EDT
[#5]
Having never reloaded I always think I might want to start one day (when I get some free time...) so I've always kept my empty cases against that day. However, the box is full and I'd like to get rid of those that are duff.

Is there a simple list of those cases that are worth keeping and those that are not? e.g. I seem to remember that RG cases are no good for reloading (something to do with the design of the primer?) but it would be good if there was a simple list of which .223 cases are OK.

1/11/2009 11:01:04 PM EDT
[#6]
Commercial, unless it's Federal factory with FC on the headstamp
1/12/2009 1:58:05 AM EDT
[#7]
I'm using Lapua Match .223 brass at the moment, which is very consistent and good quality.

Problem with Lapua is that it's very expensive. I got my last lot from the states at about £18 per 100 but i've seen it over here at over £45 per 100.....reckon I'll be lookiing at using Federal or Remmington in future if Lapua stays as expensive as it is currently.

Keep an eye on prices when it comes to scrap brass......light iron went up on friday to around £110 per ton and non ferrous metals tend to follow with a proportional increase....Prices are unlikely to rise to july/aug2008 levels but there is an increase anticipated around end Feb/March.

While mercury is a Hazardous Waste and most scrappies are not permitted to accept it, I understand that modern primers shouldn't contain any List 1 substances (somebody else might know a lot more about this than I do) so potentially the brass could be weighed in as normal controlled waste which if you are a householder requires no documentation.

1/12/2009 2:26:19 AM EDT
[#8]
Both Federal and Remington brass tends to be a bit on the soft side.  IMHO Winchester is probably a better subsitute for the more expensive Lapua.
1/12/2009 2:32:40 AM EDT
[#9]
Most scrapyards won't touch the stuff, they cannot risk any live ones and have to hand sort the containers. Also when it's shipped overseas there is always a chance it will be rejected if any live ones are found - that's what they always tell me.
I do tons of metal recycling and only found one local place that would take brass cases but they have just gone under since the price of scrap has nosedived.

I would love to recycle any of your old milsurp brass as I make bullet belts etc.....
1/12/2009 2:56:40 AM EDT
[#10]
Quoted:

I would love to recycle any of your old milsurp brass as I make bullet belts etc.....



I'm sure you would but the scrap yard round the corner from me is happy to take them, although they do give a lower rate than tap brass
1/12/2009 8:09:16 AM EDT
[#11]
Just did some ringing around most said no, but one said yes if you provide a certificate(basically your clubs headed paper saying all the brass has been checked and is free from live rounds).Signed by someone just to cover the scrap arse.75p per kilo today.Hope this helps someone.
1/12/2009 10:22:51 AM EDT
[#12]
My local scrap yard wont take spent brass either they say its something to do with the possibility of a live primer when it goes to smelt
1/12/2009 11:44:15 AM EDT
[#13]
Quoted:

I would love to recycle any of your old milsurp brass as I make bullet belts etc.....


I bet you would DANSUBARU [cough]flebay[cough]

1/12/2009 12:59:16 PM EDT
[#14]
Quoted:
Quoted:

I would love to recycle any of your old milsurp brass as I make bullet belts etc.....


I bet you would DANSUBARU [cough]flebay[cough]



That's me well on a good day a 5.56 case is worth ~0.4p so you would need several thousand just to cover your petrol to the scrappy........

1/12/2009 2:56:42 PM EDT
[#15]
Quoted:
I seem to remember that RG cases are no good for reloading (something to do with the design of the primer?)


Not true, the 5.56 RG is reloadable, primer is crimped in and harder to punch out.  Lee sell a tool to de-crimp the pocket afterwards.  PITA but only needs doing the first time.  Later brass is better and good enough to make plinking ammo.

7.62 RG is berdan primed.
1/13/2009 1:27:20 PM EDT
[#16]
In the meanwhile over here a Club I go to has had to lock the lid on the barrel they use to hold used brass.
1/13/2009 2:12:16 PM EDT
[#17]
Quoted:
In the meanwhile over here a Club I go to has had to lock the lid on the barrel they use to hold used brass.




It's not long since they caught a guy raking the backstop for lead to weigh in at one clubs I go to....
1/13/2009 2:47:06 PM EDT
[#18]
Quoted:
It's not long since they caught a guy raking the backstop for lead to weigh in at one clubs I go to....


Send him to my club, we need the sand de-leading
1/14/2009 9:48:28 AM EDT
[#19]


Checked into weighing in brass today....the primer issue is not a problem for weighing in. It is purely down to the fact that the brass must be checked to ensure no live rounds are present before it is smelted.

It's not hazardous waste.

Spoke to a scrappy that currently takes brass from several gun clubs in our area abd they said there should be no problem but it is down to the discretion of the scrapyard owner as to whether they want it or not.

I'll keep you all informed if I find out any more info which may be of use.
1/15/2009 9:38:16 AM EDT
[#20]
Yeah, but it's not worth a light now.

It'll cost more to take it to the scrapyard than you'll get. Wait until the next compulsory hand-in and get 10p for each fired case. It was making the same money as live rounds at the pistol hand-in fiasco.