PDA

View Full Version : Ammo Case Recycling?


ZappBranigan
January 3rd, 2008, 11:11 AM
The threads posted below regarding .223 ammo got me to thinking:

I'm a reloader, so of course when I think of "recycling" ammo cases, I think of saving the brass cases so I can reload them (and even if I don't reload that particular caliber, I may be able to trade them to someone who does in exchange for something I do reload.)

But there is so much cheap, non-reloadable ammo out there, I started thinking, is it worth it to try and recycle nonreloadable cases?

Wolf ammo (and most of the other ComBloc 7.62x39) is steel cased. CCI blazer ammo is aluminum cased. Now I know Aluminum is supposed to be a very salvageable metal, but will aluminum recycling places accept aluminum cases? I would think they'd be concerned about possible contamination (after all, even that aluminum case has a brass primer in it, presumably containing some mercury residue, not to mention the powder and/or lead residue on the case itself.) Has anyone ever tried to recycle CCI Blazer aluminum cased ammo? If so, will they actually give you money for it? God knows they'll give you money for aluminum cans contaminated with Dr. Pepper and mouth germs and who knows what else :P .

And the same would go for steel-cased ammo. I know steel is low on the salvageable metal market, so I wouldn't expect to get any money for steel cases, but it would be nice to know that your cases are going to be recycled and not just dumped into a landfill somewhere.

cheftyler
January 3rd, 2008, 04:19 PM
The last time I learned anything about how recycling metal worked it all went through a smelting process where all the contaminants are removed as slag, so I don't think it'd be an issue.

newracer
January 3rd, 2008, 04:45 PM
As long as there is no live rounds or primers they should take it.

They will give you money for brass and aluminum. Aluminum won't get you much but the last I heard a 5 gallon bucket of brass cases will get you about $80.

You will not get anything for steel, they will take it but you will not get any money. Only way to get money for steel is if you have thick stuff and lots of it. When they were demolishing a building up here recently they were getting $300 for a 30 yard dumpster of steel.

I try to recycle everything. I keep a bucket in the garage to throw scrap metal, old bolts, etc into and take to the salvage yard when its full.

springsman
January 4th, 2008, 10:05 AM
since you reload already, you could just setup to knock the primers out of the aluminum cases and be a bit ahead of the game...after showing them the product they may take it...

ZappBranigan
January 4th, 2008, 10:46 AM
since you reload already, you could just setup to knock the primers out of the aluminum cases and be a bit ahead of the game...after showing them the product they may take it...

Nope, it wouldn't work b/c they are all Berdan primed as far as I know. In fact, I think they are deliberately Berdan primed so people can't reload them.

newracer
January 4th, 2008, 10:54 AM
I bet they will take them even with the primers.

bcw1284
January 4th, 2008, 05:15 PM
you can knock out a berdan, it's just a bitch to put one back in.

I'm hording my real brass for WTZC. till then I shoot cheap russian crap and just trash it all since it's berdan and steel.

The bit of brass 7.62x54 I do shoot is berdan too, so I don't always worry about picking it up off the range. It's not enough quantity to make it worth my time.