NOS Brass and when to anneal.

[CJ6]

So I picked up a TC Venture in 280 Remington . I am using NOS Remington brass from the 80s. I found today that ALL the necks are splitting (56grs IMR 4350 115gr. SPEER hp Rem. 9 1/2). ZERO pressure signs. Now seeing as these are 100 % NOS (REMINGTON) how old does brass need to be before you need to anneal before loading? BTW I will anneal the rest before any more loading.
I have 700 pieces 500 Rem. and 200 Norma total. I haven't tried any of the Norma yet, but they will get annealed as well.

 

[PopCharlie]

I anneal after each firing with an AMP annealer.

PopCharlie

 

[CJ6]

I anneal after each firing with an AMP annealer.

PopCharlie

I understand that, but these were 100 % NEW (NOS stock).

 

[PopCharlie]

I understand that, but these were 100 % NEW (NOS stock).

That is a head-scratcher. Does brass harden with age? I don't know.

 

[Webster]

So I picked up a TC Venture in 280 Remington . I am using NOS Remington brass from the 80s. I found today that ALL the necks are splitting (56grs IMR 4350 115gr. SPEER hp Rem. 9 1/2). ZERO pressure signs. Now seeing as these are 100 % NOS (REMINGTON) how old does brass need to be before you need to anneal before loading? BTW I will anneal the rest before any more loading.
I have 700 pieces 500 Rem. and 200 Norma total. I haven't tried any of the Norma yet, but they will get annealed as well.

You cannot go wrong annealing everytime. You don't know when the necks might split.

 

[CJ6]

Popcharlie....That's what I'm thinking myself.

 

[CJ6]

You cannot go wrong annealing everytime. You don't know when the necks might split.

But do you anneal new brass before loading the first time ?

 

[Webster]

That is a head-scratcher. Does brass harden with age? I don't know.

There is no evidence brass hardens with age. Guys keep repeating the story. I had a 45-70 black powder cartridge that was about 125 years old. I pulled the bullet with pliers. The brass was soft and easily bent. Also annealing each time you get more uniform neck tension.

 

[DocBII]

CJ6,

I've reached the point where I anneal new brass before processing. Doesn't matter what brand, it may be a lot harder than I wish to have when starting processing. Brass usually hardens during processing.

HTH,
DocBII

 

[piie]

But do you anneal new brass before loading the first time ?

That depends - if you buy decent brass, like Lapua, it is annealed from factory - ready for first load/firing.

 

[CJ6]

That depends - if you buy decent brass, like Lapua, it is annealed from factory - ready for first load/firing.

To my knowledge Lapua didn't make 280 Rem. brass in the 80s. They may have, but I didn't know about it then.

 

[Walt Krafft]

That depends - if you buy decent brass, like Lapua, it is annealed from factory - ready for first load/firing.

All brass is annealed at the factories as one of the last steps. Most factories wash the brass as a final step with a solution that removes the discoloration of the annealing.

 

[bozo699]

All brass is annealed at the factories as one of the last steps. Most factories wash the brass as a final step with a solution that removes the discoloration of the annealing.

This is spot on and usually several times during the drawing process.
Wayne

 

[BAT6ppc]

There are Mar Aging red metal alloys that age sitting on the shelf. Who knows the brass manufacturing QC spec tolerance for their brass before shipping. Best to run old brass through an annealer. No down side.

 

[Straightshooter1]

That is a head-scratcher. Does brass harden with age? I don't know.

Yes, brass does age harden. How much over a given time depends on the make up of the alloy and the environment it's stored in (chemicals that might be in the air).

 

[PopCharlie]

Yes, brass does age harden. How much over a given time depends on the make up of the alloy and the environment it's stored in (chemicals that might be in the air).

Straightshooter1,
Thanks for the response. This is interesting. Could old (say 40 year old) unfired brass that has hardened, be made useable again by annealing?

PopCharlie

 

[TrapperBR549]

I was working up loads for my wife's 280AI when brass was non-existent. I was having terrible luck with Nosler brass and I ran across some unprimed 280 Remington brand from the 80's. I fireformed them with COW and Red Dot and have loaded them all 4-5 times now and haven't lost a piece without annealing.
Just wondering out loud and probably silly but is it possible the chamber is a little on the big side?

 

[Straightshooter1]

Straightshooter1,
Thanks for the response. This is interesting. Could old (say 40 year old) unfired brass that has hardened, be made useable again by annealing?

PopCharlie

Yes. But. . . keep in mind that not all the case gets annealed.

 

[PopCharlie]

But do you anneal new brass before loading the first time ?

I normally don't. But I've never had 40 year old unfired brass.

 

[CJ6]

I "USE TO" buy a case of new brass for every new rifle. Well I picked up a 700 bdl in 280 in the early-mid 80s and bought brass and other components for it. I never ended up shooting it, so I traded the rifle and kept the components. So the brass just sat on the shelf (temperature controlled) till recently.