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$300.00 Annealers information please pros cons

South Paw Sammy

As the title says I’m looking at annealers in the $300.00 price range and this has probably been covered before.
Does anyone have experience with any of the three below?

Burst Fire, Ugly Annealer, or Annealezze(don’t know if I spelled it right)

And if you do would you list the pros and cons of each.

And I already know the buy once cry once thought process but right now $300.00 is my budget.

Any advise or help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank yall.
 
South Paw Sammy said:
As the title says I’m looking at annealers in the $300.00 price range and this has probably been covered before.
Does anyone have experience with any of the three below?

Burst Fire, Ugly Annealer, or Annealezze(don’t know if I spelled it right)

And if you do would you list the pros and cons of each.

And I already know the buy once cry once thought process but right now $300.00 is my budget.

Any advise or help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank yall.
Click to expand...
I've got the old Annealeez, which some some people have had an problem with annealing short cases resulting in the rubber wheels melting to some extent where they couldn't get a good consistent anneal. The new one comes with metal wheels, solving the problem.

In comparing all three, I don't think it really matter since they all work the same way and have the same way of controlling the timing the brass stays in the flame. Consistent timing is key along with having the brass turned several time while in the flame.

The Burstfire has an additional feature that the other two don't having the ability to use deburring and chamfer tools and a pocket cleaning tool on its top. I don't particularly like that set up as doing those functions on top of the annealer can make quite a mess. And who know how much of that mess get inside the workings of the annealer over time. In terms of annealing quality and the time it takes to do the annealing, there's really do difference that I can see with their designs.
 
One tank of Mapp Gas, Torch head, deep socket stuffed with steel wool so the case sticks out to the height YOU want, electric or rechargeable drill to turn the case in the flame. When you're done, still got the Mapp Gas/Torch and the drill motor that WON'T be sitting on the shelf wasting $$$. Use the extra unspent $$$ for bullets and powder. ;)
 
I have an early gen Annealeze. Bought it used for $75 from someone who had upgraded to an AMP Mk II.
The torch tip mine came with, and the mounting apparatus both sucked.
I had a spare magnetic base articulated gauge mounting tool that I removed the base and mounted to the Annealeze frame, and a torch tip that gives me much better control and turn down to my flame.
It really cranks them out. I can do 500 .223 in an hour, ~350 308 or 300 Savage in an hour. Significantly faster than doing by hand.
Rather than the small green propane bottles, I bought the adapter, an extension hose, and connected it to a 10# propane tank (my spare grill tank).
The annealing is consistent.
Because I can easily adjust my torch position and flame shape/heat, I don't cook my wheels.
You cannot load it and walk away. But, you can load and start it, then do other reloading tasks while it churns away.
In > 5,000 cases annealed, I can only remember two jams where a case got stuck and the wheels stopped turning.
It's the 2nd biggest reloading time saver in my toolset beyond my Dillon XL650 press. Third would be my Lyman electric case trimmer.
 
I bought a Anal-Eez used.
A few thousand rounds later a 22N case stuck to the wheel and cost me a 40 cent case.
Took the wheels and belt sanded and tapered the outer edge back a little. I tilt the unit back a little to keep the flame from heating the upper wheel (heat rises :) ).
I weigh the 1 pound bottles to monitor remaining gas (liquid) and am on the third bottle now.
I replace when the liquid is about gone.
The pressure regulator is a good idea (I don't have one, yet).
Bottle pressure is a function of bottle temperature. If the tank gets cold, pressure drops so I load about 50 to 100 cases then stop.
Think I will replace the now SLICK blue tape with some grip tape.
 
Not on your list, but look at the EP annealer, no complaints. Easy to use, adjustable back plate for different size brass, it does take a bit of fiddling to get the torch set right, but not any different than others I would guess. Base unit and the associated "stuff" I use with it all fit in a small mailing box on top of the file cabinet in my gun room.
 
Straightshooter1 said:
I've got the old Annealeez, which some some people have had an problem with annealing short cases resulting in the rubber wheels melting to some extent where they couldn't get a good consistent anneal. The new one comes with metal wheels, solving the problem.

In comparing all three, I don't think it really matter since they all work the same way and have the same way of controlling the timing the brass stays in the flame. Consistent timing is key along with having the brass turned several time while in the flame.

The Burstfire has an additional feature that the other two don't having the ability to use deburring and chamfer tools and a pocket cleaning tool on its top. I don't particularly like that set up as doing those functions on top of the annealer can make quite a mess. And who know how much of that mess get inside the workings of the annealer over time. In terms of annealing quality and the time it takes to do the annealing, there's really do difference that I can see with their designs.
Click to expand...
Are the metal wheels able to be retrofit to the older machines?
 
I have the AnnealEZ but had problems with the rubber wheels and the case not turning. Came across the Ugly Annealer at a gun show and like the inserts to feed different size cases, and the metal wheels, so bought one and happy with it so far. When annealing a lot of cases you have to re-adjust the flame after a bit as the propane bottle cools off and flow is reduced. Make a list of the settings for different cases and possibly even different brands as my Nosler and Starline 6.5 Cr. cases take different settings
 
Depends on how many cases would you be annealing at a time? I easily do 100 in 20-25 minutes with a $20 mini potters wheel, a primal rights case holder, a spring and a pair of pliers. The bonus is I can do any mix of cases with no fiddling. Usually I do 50 at a time and it is only 10 minutes. No set up time no burning rubber no experimenting with the timer setting. Some things are best kept simple stupid.


IMG_3466.JPG
 
I've had both an Annealeez and a flat plate with two torches style. They are both temperamental to set up and use. Propane flames are a real pain in the back side to keep consistent, but with patience both styles do a very good job.

That said, save up and get an AMP if you can.
 
Ugly annealer is the easy button on your budget annealers. Mine is so easy to use, I'll pull it out even if I have to anneal 6 cases.

Never once had a feeding problem. I honestly cannot think of a downside. I looked hard at all the other annealers in this price range andnever regretted buying this one.

Pretty much as good as it gets until you go-to an AMP. And even then, I'm not sold on AMP. (But I don't compete)
 
Another vote for the AGS. I have two now, and they work perfectly. I sold my Annealeze because it wasn’t spinning the cases reliably and tended to melt the wheel when doing 6BR.
 
EP 2.0 is compact but has no hopper, single feed only. The Ugly is larger but has a big hopper to store 100-200 cases. They operate basically the same other than the hopper. I chose the Ugly.
 
AGS for me as well, I can run thru about 500 cases in a few hours, usually less! does all I need it to do, I also purchased the taller stand and case holder for my 6.5 Grendel,
 
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New user of the EP annealer. I have no complaints easy to set up. I follow their video and run crappy brass through to set the timing but i am a low volume shooter so it works well for me and my needs
 
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