If you’re lucky to have spent brass casings, hang on to them. Ammunition shortages are cyclical, and we’ve reached the point when it’s hard to come by the parts needed to manually reload your ammo, or buy it new from manufacturers.
Buying New vs Reloading Brass
The ammo shortage that began in 2020 is expected to continue well into the next couple of years. In January 2021, a box of 50 9mm rounds cost $22.99, whereas just a few months later in April the cost had risen to $26.99. Manufacturers are facing increased costs that trickle down to consumers, making everything from components to complete ammo itself more expensive.
If you can get your hands on all the components needed to reload your own brass, it is usually less expensive than buying new ones. It will take up a lot of time, though, so it’s important to factor that in as part of the cost.
Reasons to Reload Your Brass
Did you know it’s not only a practical financial choice to reload your ammunition, but it can affect your accuracy as well? Let’s take a look at the reasons why many gun enthusiasts choose to reload their brass.
It Saves Money
Depending on what you carry, the type of ammunition you use, and how frequently your shoot, you can save a lot of money by reloading your brass. Anywhere from a few dollars to 50% of the cost of buying new can add up over time, making it a worthwhile endeavor for many gun owners.
It Can Improve Accuracy
When you reload your spent casings yourself, you can fine-tune how the bullets are seated, and how much gunpower is in each. This can improve accuracy in shooting, and allow you to make other customizations for your firearm.
It’s a Teaching Tool
You can learn a lot about your gun when you load your own ammo. If you’re mechanically inclined and like taking things apart to see how they work, this is a perfect opportunity for you to get to know your firearm better.
It May Allow You to Shoot More
With the cost of ammunition steadily rising, you may be discouraged from stocking up. Not having enough ammo means you’re probably missing out on opportunities to visit the range or participate in matches. If you invest in the components you need to reload, you’ll have them on hand and ready to go the next time you want to enjoy some target practice.
What’s in My Ammunition?
Each standard round of ammunition is comprised of the following:
- A cartridge
- Lead (or other metal) bullet
- Brass or steel casing
- Gunpowder
- A primer
Can Unused Ammunition Be Recycled?
Unused ammo can be recycled, but it can be a more complicated process. The spent metal casing can be recycled, and the gunpowder can be repurposed as fertilizer. This often leads people to believe it’s okay to bury ammo since gunpowder can benefit the soil. However, the metal, especially lead, can contaminate the ground and leach into water supplies. Additionally, unused ammo should never be thrown away, as compression in a garbage truck or compacter can lead to unintentional firing.
Ways to Dispose of Unused Ammo
- Contact local law enforcement
- Donate it to the gun range
- Donate to another shooter
- Contact a hazardous waste center
Used ammo can more readily be recycled since the gunpowder is spent and you’re just left with the brass. Casings can be reused by the manufacturer for new ammo, or you can reuse them yourself.
Ways to Dispose of Used Ammo
- Hazardous waste drop off
- Donate to a collector
- Recycle the metal as scrap
- Reuse the brass for new ammo
What You Need to Reuse Your Brass
As mentioned, another way to recycle used ammo is to reuse your brass. Rather than leave those casings littered on the ground next time you shoot, gather them up and bring them home. With a few supplies, you can recycle your casings for the next time you’re at the range. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Reloading press
- Brass casings
- Primers
- Bullets
- Powder
Once you have these supplies, the process for reloading your ammunition is simple but time-consuming.
Prep the Casings
Inspect all your casings to ensure they aren’t cracked or dented. Take a look at the bottom of the casing and see if the primers are in good shape as well.
To clean your casings, all you need is a soft cloth that will fit inside, and a neck or bottle brush. After you’ve cleaned the casings, they need to be lubricated so you can efficiently move them through your sizing die. You can coat a lube pad with lubricant to make it easier to roll casing across it simultaneously and prep them.
Remove the Primers
Using your loading press, remove the fired primers from the bottom of each casing. Lift your press handle up, and press it down to remove the spent primer and resize your casing. To remove your casing, lift the press handle up and repeat the process for the next case.
Place a New Primer
To insert a new primer into your case, raise the handle on your press to its highest point and put a new primer in the primer arm. With a new case in the shell holder, you’ll then push the primer arm into the ram slot to lower the case onto the new primer. Remove the casing to inspect your handiwork, ensuring the primer is flush with the base of the casing, or slightly lower.
Reload the Casing
With the new primer in place, it’s time to reload the casing with gunpowder. You’ll need to weigh out the correct amount of powder for each casing and pour it in using a funnel.
Seat the Bullet
With a seating die, you can push the bullet to the proper depth in the casing. The die also crimps the shell and positions the lock ring on the casing.
As you can see it’s an involved process, but it can become habitual when you do it often enough.
Remember that it’s just as important to be responsible with your ammunition as it is to be responsible with your firearm. Whether you want to save money, get to know your gun better, or simply enjoy the hands-on experience of reusing brass, it can be a good choice to reload vs buying new ammunition.
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