I've been thinking about getting into reloading. One variable that seems to be inconsistent is the availability of brass - specifically .223.

I've found a place where I can get 2000 for under $200. Is that a decent price? I think the guy has 14k or so left....

What kind of brass is it? Be aware of "brass" that can't be reloaded.

Its either standard primed or berdan. Berdan is not reloadable. If its 'normal' primered then its a decent buy for once fired.

Its either standard primed or berdan. Berdan is not reloadable. If its 'normal' primered then its a decent buy for once fired.
Keyword "boxer" primed.

Has anyone bought a huge lot of brass from the govt.? Gov Liquidation has 2 1000+ lb lots of .223 That's 75,000 or so cases. I figure I could keep what I wanted 10k or so sell the rest and basically reload for free.

Most mil 5.56 is Berdan primed, isn't it?

Depends on the military. Lake City is boxer primed, AFAIK.

So there is no way to know without inspecting it, if it can be reloaded. I don't think inspection was allowed on the auctions I saw.

I found this today

$65 per 1000

http://www.cbbullets.com/shop.html

berdan primed ammo can be reloaded - it needs a specific deprimer.
It's another step, from what I understand.

berdan primed ammo can be reloaded - it needs a specific deprimer.
It's another step, from what I understand.
everything that I researched when looking for reloading stuff in 7.62x39 Berdan said it can be done.
but the primers are triple what boxer primers cost, if you can find them, and most people were using some sort of jerry rigged water in the casing hydraulic nonsense to pop the primers.
in other workds it looked like a huge PITA.

YES. berdan can be reloaded. Its just usually not worth reloading steel cased berdan shit.

Military 5.56 is 95% all boxer. I have never even seen a non-'wolf' berdan primed 5.56.
The primer pocket is definitely crimped though.

US military surplus 5.56 and 7.62 ball ammo is Boxer primed.
Tracer is sometimes Berdan, but more often then not it's boxer also.
You can relload Berdan primed rounds but its additional tools, time, and more expensive primer.
$100 per k of 5.56 brass is high. Most places I have found it runs 60-80. I sell mine for 75.
I have yet to find a DRMO auction for sorted brass. All the ones I have looked at have been mixed. The scrappers pay more then I want to for it. Not sure right now, but I now that last summer brass was high enough that the scrappers were grabbing all of it.

There are 3 auctions in Texas for brass coming up next month. One is mixed the others say all 5.56. I will keep an eye on them and see what they go for. Problem is they are all 5-6 hours away.:(

And, like aloha said, scrap-metal recyclers pay more for brass than we're usually willing to... at least for dumpster-sized lots.