Sell or throw away inherited brass, primers, powder, etc?

[Bbear]

As others have said, all of what's in that picture can be sold. If I were to sell, I'd list the various brass by cartridge and the primers and powders I'd either sell locally or, pour it out on the yard, it makes great fertilizer.

 

[johan851]

Thanks. The pistol calibers are all very mainstream, and most of the rifle brass is too. The $0.15 to $0.10 ballpark is helpful, thanks.

 

[edwardware]

Thanks. The pistol calibers are all very mainstream, and most of the rifle brass is too. The $0.15 to $0.10 ballpark is helpful, thanks.

To clarify, that price range includes the boxes, for rifle brass. Common caliber pistol brass is less expensive.

 

[Charlie98]

I don't think you will have a problem getting rid of that IMR4350... it's Unobtanium, mostly, right now. For that matter, all that powder is mainstream, I think it will move quickly. It looks like your dad was very organized and responsible... I don't think there is any question of whether or not all your stuff is serviceable.

 

[mdi]

The only component that is questionable is the powder, and you've gotten a lot of suggestions on what to do with it. I would smell it and fire a couple "test rounds", but that's just me. The primers will still be good and not much can go wrong with normally stored brass. Lead bullets are normally sized for a specific gun so mic the diameters and note, if you plan to sell them...

 

[George P]

You can sell it on Craigslist or some of the local Facebook groups. You cannot ship powder or primers without a hazmat license.

Neither site likes guns or anything related to them. There are better alternatives like local gun clubs

 

[Reloadron]

Those powder containers are not that old, I still use powder that is in older containers than those.

Hell, I still pour some from cans.

Ron

 

[Walkalong]

Thanks. I have a picture of the brass and powder attached, I'll continue to unpack and document this evening.

You are free to get help with what to sell stuff for, but please do not turn this into a for sale thread, we do not allow that outside of the Buy, Sell, & Trade, area.

 

[Tilos]

Primers and powder stored in ammo cans.

Earlier in life I had several hobbies that I rotated thru, usually from boredom, besides reloading.
So I have components that are as old as/or older than the stuff you inherited that I have dragged on several moves/ coast to coast/north to south/humid to desert, and it has always gone bang.
I haven't sold any of the powder or primers though,

 

[Muddydogs]

Really give sell the stuff some thought. Are you sure your never going to want to reload. Basically your going to get peanuts for the components and not much more for the tools, if you ever decide to take up reloading it will cost you $1000's to replace the stuff you have. I would oil all the tools really well, box them up and store them away for a while until your dang sure you want nothing to do with reloading. If the powder and primers worry you sell them off otherwise box these for storage as well.

If you get into reloading it will be cool using your dad's old stuff and might mean something to your kids if they get into it as well.

 

[doubleh]

Hell, I still pour some from cans.

Ron

I'm still using from a 3# container of WW 230. How long has that been obsolete? I still have manual that has loads for it and it's still doing it's job in 38 special, 9mm and 44 special. I have some other powders in 1# cans that are still viable. Stored correctly powder can last a long time.

If I were buying powder from an individual like the OP I would take a chance on unopened containers but I wouldn't buy opened containers from anyone.

 

[lightman]

That powder looks like its in the latest style bottles so it should be fresh. If you open it, don't remove the inner seal on any of those cane that have the seal intact. Your dads ammo makes me think he was a careful and orderly person. I probably would trust using the powder. More pictures would be nice.

Oh yeah, sorry for your loss!

 

[tightgroup tiger]

There really isn't that much stuff there compared to a lot of us. It does look like a good mix for getting started in reloading if you were so inclined. I wouldn't sell any of it. Especially if you have the guns to go with the calibers of cases he has there.
I would tuck it away somewhere safe and just wait until your ready to try the craft.
If you sell that stuff you will take a bath on what it will cost to catch up if you decide to try reloading. Just pack it away and sit on it. It doesn't cost you anything for it to sit.
As others have said your father must have been a very organized person. I'll bet the cases are already resized and ready to load also.
Just remember we are here for you if you decide to try this at some point in time.
Good luck with your decision.

 

[otisrush]

I'll offer a couple of thoughts re the hard assets and holding onto stuff for practical reasons vs sentimental ones. I think you're very smart to look at it that way.

I don't *think* you said what stage of parenting you're in (i.e. young ones, elementary school, middle school, etc.) but when my kids were in that stage there is no way I would have been able to pursue reloading. So I know completely where you're coming from. Heck - I had a hard time finding time to just shoot what I bought in stores, let alone spend time loading.

That being said, now my kids are grown and out of the house and I'm retired. Loading/shooting has easily and happily become my #1 hobby and I spend hours on it. Shooting brought me tons of joy. Combining that with loading multiplied that joy many times over.

In my opinion the most important factor in deciding to get into loading or not is whether it sounds fun. If one doesn't find it fun I think the chances of not dedicating enough brain cells to do it safely go up.

In my case when I got my dad's reloading stuff I put it in a box figuring I'd get into reloading. But after a while I knew it would be years before I could dedicate the time, so I gave the stuff to my nephew. Then when I did decide to get into it I had to buy stuff.

In hindsight I'm glad it went that way. My dad's stuff was pretty old. While I'm sure it would have met my needs (and although I bought used stuff from a friend) I got some really good stuff that I'm really happy with.

I guess this is a long way to say: I would tend to lean toward getting rid of it if unless you're quite confident it's a hobby you'll take on. If you get rid of it and then decide to start loading, getting the base equipment is not *that* big of an investment.

 

[Jack Ryan]

First off, though I created an account yesterday to post this, I've read a number of helpful threads here over the years. Thanks to everyone for the all the informative posts!

My father passed away about three years ago, and he left me all of his reloading equipment. Although I'm sure I'd enjoy the hobby, and there's certainly a sentimental factor, I just don't see having time anytime soon to get into reloading. I have two kids and plenty of hobbies as it is.

Among the gear are several containers of smokeless powder, primers, clean brass in boxes with primers already inserted, and bullets. I won't go into my location or quantities or anything like that, because my intent is not to turn this into an advertisement.

I know that some of the equipment is worth selling - the press, dies, and other things of that nature will probably end up on an auction site. Cast bullets certainly don't go bad either, so I imagine I can find a buyer for those.

What I don't know is whether the brass, primers, and powder is worth anything. This has all been stored fairly dry and sealed in my basement for about three years, but I don't know whether the primers or powder will go bad over time. I live in a moderately humid climate.

I was thinking of selling it as a lot, but is it worth anything? Or, if it's near worthless, can anyone tell me the appropriate way to dispose of it?

Sounds dangerous. I wouldn't risk it if you are just learning about all this.

Send it to my house for safe disposal.

 

[johan851]

Sounds dangerous. I wouldn't risk it if you are just learning about all this.

Send it to my house for safe disposal.

Thanks! Problem solved.

 

[johan851]

I got through inventorying the rest of it this evening. Fortunately, none of the powder smells off, and a lot is actually sealed, so that's nice.

All the rest of the things I found were things I had no concerns about deteriorating. Mostly bullets, a few odds and ends.

I put together a list and wrote down retail values for everything, so I think that's a good enough starting point for setting a price. I'll just discount it all by a decent margin. I'll refrain from posting additional pictures because I don't want this to turn into a for sale thread. Thanks for the suggestions to post on Armslist, I'll give that a try first.

 

[Scooter22]

That all looks pretty current and clean components. Put that pic on your add.

 

[troy fairweather]

I got through inventorying the rest of it this evening. Fortunately, none of the powder smells off, and a lot is actually sealed, so that's nice.

All the rest of the things I found were things I had no concerns about deteriorating. Mostly bullets, a few odds and ends.

I put together a list and wrote down retail values for everything, so I think that's a good enough starting point for setting a price. I'll just discount it all by a decent margin. I'll refrain from posting additional pictures because I don't want this to turn into a for sale thread. Thanks for the suggestions to post on Armslist, I'll give that a try first.

when you get it up on armslist, i would like the link to the stuff there maybe some things i am looking for.

 

[edwardware]

There really isn't that much stuff there compared to a lot of us. It does look like a good mix for getting started in. . .

Yup, that's a starter kit quantity for me.

 

[Jack Ryan]

I got through inventorying the rest of it this evening. Fortunately, none of the powder smells off, and a lot is actually sealed, so that's nice.

All the rest of the things I found were things I had no concerns about deteriorating. Mostly bullets, a few odds and ends.

I put together a list and wrote down retail values for everything, so I think that's a good enough starting point for setting a price. I'll just discount it all by a decent margin. I'll refrain from posting additional pictures because I don't want this to turn into a for sale thread. Thanks for the suggestions to post on Armslist, I'll give that a try first.

You can't be too careful with that. I'd hate to see anyone get hurt. Plus there is all the legal ramifications and responsibilities...

 

[billybob44]

There really isn't that much stuff there compared to a lot of us. It does look like a good mix for getting started in reloading if you were so inclined. I wouldn't sell any of it. Especially if you have the guns to go with the calibers of cases he has there.
I would tuck it away somewhere safe and just wait until your ready to try the craft.
If you sell that stuff you will take a bath on what it will cost to catch up if you decide to try reloading. Just pack it away and sit on it. It doesn't cost you anything for it to sit.
As others have said your father must have been a very organized person. I'll bet the cases are already resized and ready to load also.
Just remember we are here for you if you decide to try this at some point in time.
Good luck with your decision.

Winner-Winner=Chicken Dinner..
tightgroup is correct..I don't know if this is all of your powder in the picture, but "Real" handloaders usually buy powders in the 8# containers for cost savings if they load in bulk.
Your Dads 1# powder containers are of recent Mfg. and should be fine.
I would be avoid opening each one at this time, due to breaking the seal if they are full.
As far as life span of powder/primers, stored properly, there are threads here and elsewhere of stored components from WW II that are still usable.

Not to "Open another Can of Worms", BUT--
Back in my younger days I had==Well let's just say a "Drinking Problem"!!!
Over the years, previous to this problem, I had assembled a very nice reloading/bullet casting system.
I quit loading for over 10 years while going through this Life Change-At least I was smart enough to NOT place powder into cases-HA. HA...

I got my "Life Style" straightened out, and went back to one of my FAVORITE Hobbies, and have been very happy that I did NOT sell any/ all of my equipment/materials.

Again, just another take on this subject as it relates to selling off reloading/ hobby equipment...Bill.

BTW: I have NOT had another drink in over 12 years due to a Program that works!!!