Report: Government to destroy fired military brass

According to this JPFO report, evidently from Montana Shooting Sports Association, the Defense Logistics Agency has apparently ordered that once-fired military brass from all calibers be destroyed, and sold as scrap, rather than as usable brass suitable for reloading or remanufacturing. Here's the order, reportedly from Government Liquidation:

Recently it has been determined that fired munitions of all calibers, shapes and sizes have been designated to be Demil code B. As a result and in conjunction with DLA's current Demil code B policy, this notice will serve as official notification which requires Scrap Venture (SV) to implement mutilation as a condition of sale for all sales of fired munitions effective immediately. This notice also requires SV to immediately cease delivery of any fired munitions that have been recently sold or on active term contracts, unless the material has been mutilated prior to sale or SV personnel can attest to the mutilation after delivery. A certificate of destruction is required in either case.

MSSA President Gary Marbut's letter to Montana Sen. Max Baucus notes that this DLA decision will increase the current overall ammo scarcity, as well as cost taxpayers due to less revenue from scrap brass, versus usable brass:

... Max, I have a lot more information about the national ammunition shortage, too much to put in one email. It is both a supply and demand problem. Without that lengthy detail, take my word for it that U.S. gun owners are very at-risk for their effective RKBA because of existing ammunition shortages. This administrative decision by DLA places a log on the back of a camel already sagging in the middle.

We sincerely hope that you can do something to turn DLA around, and reauthorize the flow of once-fired, undestroyed military brass from the military to civilians and civilian entities.

One final thought. The military can sell reloadable brass for $2.00 per pound. Brass that has been destroyed for reloading purposes and value sells for about 35 cents per pound. So the DLA is expecting taxpayers to pay DoD extra to make reloadable brass unavailable to civilian gun owners. ...

Here's a notice on the Georgia Arms website, which sells ammo and reloading supplies, that appears to confirm that the government is indeed requiring the destruction of once-fired brass:

Due to new government regulations concerning the purchasing of surplus brass, we are removing sales of all 223 and all 308 until further notice. Below is a copy of the email we received from Government Liquidations.

"Effective immediately DOD Surplus, LLC, will be implementing new requirements for mutilation of fired shell casings. The new DRMS requirement calls for DOD Surplus personnel to witness the mutilation of the property and sign the Certificate of Destruction. Mutilation of the property can be done at the DRMO, if permitted by the Government, or it may be mutilated at a site chosen by the buyer. Mutilation means that the property will be destroyed to the extent prevents its reuse or reconstruction. DOD Surplus personnel will determine when property has been sufficiently mutilated to meet the requirements of the Government." ...

This is evidently more "Change Chains We Can Believe In".

Please consider contacting your elected servants to have them exert pressure on DLA to have them reverse this destruction order. This order hurts ALL gun owners, not just the "Black Rifle" and self-defense crowd, by decreasing overall ammo availability for all calibers, including traditional hunting calibers. Manufacturers will now have to expend more resources on acquiring brass, leaving less resources available for hunting calibers. The natural consequence of this will be an increase in ammo prices, particularly for defensive calibers like 5.56mm, .308 (7.62 NATO), and 9mm Luger.