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A question for those who recycle spent primers
- Thread starter FITASC
- Start date
Their mass is mostly brass plus some nickel plating plus some primer combustion residue, which includes water-soluble lead compounds. So, while brass would be the predominate mass, the presence of lead residue may make them less attractive to some recyclers. But I don't know that for a fact.
Crankylove
New member
My local yards classify primers and cartridge cases as “dirty brass”. I get about 1/2 the price per pound as their “clean” brass.
“Dirty” or “clean” referring not to actual dust or dirt, but any coatings (nickel plating), impurities/inclusions (valves and fittings with build up of whatever was flowing through them, or different metal types, plastics, rubber, etc) inside, or in some way not removable from the brass scrap.
I don’t take it on very often, since it’ll take me a couple years to fill up my scrap brass jug with spent primers and unusable brass cases, but, when I do, it’ll buy me lunch, and a couple boxes of bullets or bags of new brass. Worth the effort for something I would otherwise be tossing in the trash.
“Dirty” or “clean” referring not to actual dust or dirt, but any coatings (nickel plating), impurities/inclusions (valves and fittings with build up of whatever was flowing through them, or different metal types, plastics, rubber, etc) inside, or in some way not removable from the brass scrap.
I don’t take it on very often, since it’ll take me a couple years to fill up my scrap brass jug with spent primers and unusable brass cases, but, when I do, it’ll buy me lunch, and a couple boxes of bullets or bags of new brass. Worth the effort for something I would otherwise be tossing in the trash.
AVirginian
New member
I have taken them to the recycler several times with my other junk brass, nothing said and full price paid. I just put them in the box.
Geezerbiker
New member
At one time I was considering making gas checks for .224 cast bullets from spent large rifle primers. In the end I decided it was too much work. Now with powder coating as an option, I really haven't given it much thought in a very long time...
Tony
Tony
Prof Young
New member
Hmmm . . .
The one time I had enough unwanted brass to take it to the recycler they never said anything about all the spent primers that were mixed in.
Prof Young
The one time I had enough unwanted brass to take it to the recycler they never said anything about all the spent primers that were mixed in.
Prof Young
FrankenMauser
New member
Dirty brass, here.
Mixed with brass cases is fine, since they classify it all the same, anyway.
Last time I took my brass jug in (about 1.75 gallon capacity, former kitty litter container), prices were pretty crappy. But I needed to empty the jug.
I got about $58 for the contents. Normally, it should pay out $75-95.
One of the guys did comment about the primers, though. He told me that on the days when he is working, he'll give 'clean' brass price on casings if there are no primers. So the primers going into a big, plastic soy sauce bottle, now.
Mixed with brass cases is fine, since they classify it all the same, anyway.
Last time I took my brass jug in (about 1.75 gallon capacity, former kitty litter container), prices were pretty crappy. But I needed to empty the jug.
I got about $58 for the contents. Normally, it should pay out $75-95.
One of the guys did comment about the primers, though. He told me that on the days when he is working, he'll give 'clean' brass price on casings if there are no primers. So the primers going into a big, plastic soy sauce bottle, now.