Cartridge Brass — Better than Cryptocurrency?
Paper cartridges were the precursor to cartridge brass.
Our forefathers shot flintlock muzzleloaders when settling our Republic. From flintlocks, they progressed to caplock rifles. As time went on, someone came up with the idea of wrapping the black powder charge in paper, with the projectile tied ahead of it for faster loading. The paper cartridge evolved into a brass cartridge containing the black powder charge, with a bullet seated on top. A primer was seated at the base of the brass cartridge for powder ignition.
Brass, whether empty, or loaded, is worth every nickel.
Now, individual cartridges could be carried and loaded more quickly. Repeating rifles and handguns made repeat shots even faster. A box of “shells” usually came with 50 per box for handguns and 20 per box for rifles. After most people shot, the brass cartridge was usually discarded and left where it lay. Before long, a few industrious (i.e., cheap) individuals started reloading the brass cartridges.
Market buffalo (bison) hunters were probably the first of the handloaders. Hell, they even recovered their lead alloy slugs when they could from the buffalo, remelting them to cast new bullets for their rifles. They were ahead of the game for sure, as they didn’t want to waste profits on store-bought ammunition or face the inconvenience of going back to town to buy ammunition.
They’d rather melt their recovered bullets, cast new ones, stuff the brass cartridges with black powder, and hand-seat their paper-patched slugs. Since single-shot rifles were the most popular and powerful buffalo guns, full sizing of brass wasn’t necessary.
Bonus brass from one of Tank’s friends — in the box!
Today
Modern handloaders have it a lot better today. There are more components, tools, dies, presses, and any other loading apparatus available today. You can keep it simple or make it as technical as you choose, whatever makes you happiest.
A few years ago, brass was approximately 70% the cost of a handload. Today, I’m not so sure. Powder and primers have appreciated in value as fast or faster than any hot stock in today’s market, and bullets aren’t far behind. For instance, back in my day, when I started handloading over 40 years ago, give or take, a pound of powder or 1,000 primers went for $10 or less! One hundred pieces of .30-06 brass went for around $20.
Today’s prices are certainly well ahead of the inflation rate for other products. I haven’t calculated it out recently, but I even wonder if handloading is cheaper than factory fodder anymore? If I were just starting out today, I’d have to think long and hard about handloading. Luckily, I have stockpiled powder and primers to the point of charging them rent.
Casting my own bullets surely helps the cause, saving me “mucho dinero” as well as the convenience of shooting custom bullets whenever I need them — without ever having to leave the house. Besides, what would I do with the pile of bullet molds I’ve accumulated over the years?
A box of gold — brass that is! In the Lord’s cartridge, .44 Special.
Brass
Brass is the glue holding it all together. You can always tell when a salty handloader hits the range. The first thing they do after dropping their gear on the bench is make a beeline to the brass buckets, looking for the golden nuggets they shoot. They don’t need to read headstamps; their eyes are well-versed in the dimensions of every cartridge they use. The good ones can even tell how many times the brass has been fired, leaving fatigued brass for “rookie” scroungers.
I’m lucky, I have several shooting friends who don’t handload, and I gratefully accept their precious gifts of spent brass – in the factory box they came in — like a boy on Christmas morning. Over time, your brass stockpile looks like a long setting 401K, growing by leaps and bounds over the years.
Now I have trading stock for any brass I may need from other hoarders/handloaders. Handloaded, the brass goes up exponentially in value, at least 50-fold! Handloads are pure gold, always holding market value and considered a hot commodity. You can have all the cash and guns in the world, but they’re useless if you don’t have ammunition or a source to buy it.
If I need hard-to-find brass, I can usually trade with other scroungers who may have it. The barter system is alive and well, conducted with the straight-faced demeanor of world-class poker players.
Save Your Brass!
If you don’t handload and aren’t inclined to start, save your brass for a handloader and work out a deal. Trade your empties for some handloads. Invest in the true precious metals of brass, lead and copper; they’re more valuable than gold or cryptocurrency ever will be, in that they just might save your life one day.
Get More Guncranks Every Week!
By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: . You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact
