There's a guy I met a few years back out at my range. I've seen him quite a few times and we chat a bit. Nice guy. A few times, he gave me his brass that he shot that day. He always shoots 38 Special and occasionally 38 Long Colt. It's almost always Geco brand - I don't know what that is; as he's the only guy I've seen with Geco ammo. He doesn't load and doesn't plan on it - fair enough.
Anyway, last week, he was out there, and he told me he has a bucket of 38 Special brass (all once-fired) that he's collected over the years and wants to give it to me. I told him I'd be out Wednesday. He said he'd be there. He was. He had the brass. He gave it to me . . .
Bonanza
It's kind of hard to tell from the pic, but it's a 5 gal bucket and it's only about 3-1/2" from the top. Must be at least 80% full - probably closer to 85%. He estimates there's something over 10,000 pcs, and I believe him.
After getting it home, I grabbed about a half dozen hands full and checked the headstamps. About 80% of it is Geco (which is good brass - been using some I've got from him previously for a couple years now - I think it's the same as Winchester); and about 20% is Starline - which I bet is some other boutique brand he buys that uses Starline brass. And I found a single piece of Federal. All this brass looks fantastic and I have no doubt whatsoever that it really is once-fired from his guns (a couple single actions and a Uberti 24" lever action). It's been kept dry and out of the elements - again, looks great. (I wouldn't be surprised if there's some 38 LC hiding in there. He didn't mention it; and I haven't seen any - yet - just a guess.)
Okay, I am never going to use this much brass. This is quite literally more than a lifetime supply of 38 Special brass. I'm first going to separate it by headstamp, to see exactly what I have. That's going to happen before any firm decisions are made.
I'll likely keep the Starline - as I already have 2000 pcs of the same. And I'll likely keep some amount of the Geco too - as I already have a few hundred pcs of it in use.
After that, I don't know. There's a good chance I'll do a "pay it forward" and donate the remainder in some way. I believe in karma - I will not sell it. Also, the next time I see him, I'll put up a standing offer to return some to him in the event he ever takes up loading.
This is gonna be a lot of work
.
Anyway, last week, he was out there, and he told me he has a bucket of 38 Special brass (all once-fired) that he's collected over the years and wants to give it to me. I told him I'd be out Wednesday. He said he'd be there. He was. He had the brass. He gave it to me . . .
Bonanza
It's kind of hard to tell from the pic, but it's a 5 gal bucket and it's only about 3-1/2" from the top. Must be at least 80% full - probably closer to 85%. He estimates there's something over 10,000 pcs, and I believe him.
After getting it home, I grabbed about a half dozen hands full and checked the headstamps. About 80% of it is Geco (which is good brass - been using some I've got from him previously for a couple years now - I think it's the same as Winchester); and about 20% is Starline - which I bet is some other boutique brand he buys that uses Starline brass. And I found a single piece of Federal. All this brass looks fantastic and I have no doubt whatsoever that it really is once-fired from his guns (a couple single actions and a Uberti 24" lever action). It's been kept dry and out of the elements - again, looks great. (I wouldn't be surprised if there's some 38 LC hiding in there. He didn't mention it; and I haven't seen any - yet - just a guess.)
Okay, I am never going to use this much brass. This is quite literally more than a lifetime supply of 38 Special brass. I'm first going to separate it by headstamp, to see exactly what I have. That's going to happen before any firm decisions are made.
I'll likely keep the Starline - as I already have 2000 pcs of the same. And I'll likely keep some amount of the Geco too - as I already have a few hundred pcs of it in use.
After that, I don't know. There's a good chance I'll do a "pay it forward" and donate the remainder in some way. I believe in karma - I will not sell it. Also, the next time I see him, I'll put up a standing offer to return some to him in the event he ever takes up loading.
This is gonna be a lot of work
.