Most people want to buy "once fired" brass that comes from factory rounds while some will buy "range pick-up" brass which has unknown numbers of firings. Brass sold in lots that are all the same brand will bring more than mixed manufacturers. Some factory once fired brass such as 40SW or 9MM is
cheap because it's shot in such large amounts. Other calibers especially rifle calibers is expensive. You can get an idea by looking at auction sites such as Gunbroker.com, ReloadersAuction.com, or GunsAmerica and other forums that have "brass for sale"
Here's a sampling of once-fired brass that has sold within the last week on GunBroker:
.223----$65-$68 per 1000_____________.380---$40-$70 per 1000
.45ACP--$40-$88 per 1000____________ 9MM--$21-$35 per 1000
.40SW--$12.50-$15 per 1000__________30-30 Winchester $10-$11 per 100
.38 Special $35-$59 per 1000__________.357 Sig $30-$36 per 1000
.44 Magnum 150 pieces-$16___________.270 Win 250 pieces $25-$26
25-06 100 pieces $29_________________6.8 Rem SPC 100/ $26
.243 Win 200 pieces $30-$50__________30-40 Krag 100/$84
.308 Winchester 500 pieces-$79..200 pieces $15.25..220 pieces match $53
.357 Magnum 500/$46...200/$26...300/$41________50 BMG 100/$56
300 Win Mag 50 pieces $15.50....500 pieces $150______30 Rem 100/$24
375 H&H 20 pieces $20..20 pieces $10______300 Weatherby 173 pieces-$52
7MM STW 100 pieces $32______________338 Lapua Mag 200 pieces-$330
30-378 Weatherby 28 pieces $56________10MM 250 pieces $25--1000/$115
These are auctions where somebody bid and bought the above. There were 100's of auctions within the last week that nobody bid on. So you can see that plentiful brass is cheap while rarer rifle calibers is quite expensive. Hate to see good brass sold for scrap, unless it needs salvaged. Plus the above bidders paid approximately $10 or so for shipping too. Good luck helping your friend who lost his Dad! Your friend may just want to get it sold quickly because of the painful memory of his Dad's passing?