Are spent primers recyclable?

[BeerSleeper]

I don't mean like for reuse, as the periodic thread that comes along about SHTF primers made with matchhead parts. I mean recyclable like scrap metal. They look rather brass-like, but are they, actually?

If they're a recyclable metal, I can start collecting the spent ones in coffee cans, or if a recycler will treat them the same as brass casings, they can go in the same can as unusable casings. For that matter, I've never actually taken spent casings to a metal recycler, do they take those too?

 

[WNTFW]

I would say it depends on the recycler you are dealing with.

I did have one guy tell me he uses the anvils in the tumblers to help polish brass. Not sure is he was pulling my leg. Sounds labor intensive to get all the anvils out of the primers.

 

[rg1]

My wife takes them to our recycler. They are mixed together with scrap brass. Recycler runs the entire batch over a magnet just to remove any steel. No issues.

 

[TonyT]

Some shotgun primers are made of soft steel.

 

[Walkalong]

Don't know about shotgun primers, but pistol and rifle primers are brass, both the cup and the anvil.

If the recycler gives you any grief, it will be about the nickle plated ones.

 

[mactex]

My recycler takes them as brass. Worth a call to the ones in your area to see.

 

[evan price]

I mix them in the buckets with scrap brass shell casings, old keys, plumbing pieces, etc. No problems... they are brass.

 

[Jesse Heywood]

What are they paying for scrap brass these days?

 

[BeerSleeper]

Looks like I can start saving them, then. Thanks!

I'm also interested to know recent recycled brass price. Do they take primers/casings as clean brass, or dirty?

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I also mix them in with the other scrap brass and have had no issues with them.

 

[RustyFN]

I have heard of people getting $30 for a full one gallon paint can. I haven't saved enough to sell yet myself.

 

[ThePunisher'sArmory]

Jesse its up to $2 a pound her in southern Illinois.

 

[W.E.G.]

price paid for "scrap brass" may be lower than price paid for "cartridge brass"

keep that in mind when dealing

 

[bullseye308]

They better be brass. I have been saving them for 3 years now. I have almost a gallon jar full.

 

[evan price]

Been getting about $1.25 a pound as "Scrap yellow brass".

You need to be sure there's no steel or aluminum cases mixed in, though.