6ARC brass observation

[KMW 1954]

Just finished processing more brass for my 6ARC, to be used in our local bench matches.

At hand are 100pcs or Hornady and 100pcs of Starline. All of which have been loaded and shot in this same gun. The Starline does have at least two more cycles through it.

My process is to deprime first, wet wash, w/o pins next, anneal, FL size, trim, tumble in cob media, load.

As I was processing both of these brands at the same time, I paid closer attention to what I was experiencing and seeing. What I seen to start was at annealing. The Starline brass appeared to discolor more so than the Hornady and also appeared to take more time to change to a red color. Next, the Starline brass sized much more consistently to the same length when using a Hornady comparator. Next, the Starline brass required much less neck trimming than the Hornady. My habit is to trim brass .005" shorter than the max length. Lastly, I noticed that the discoloration on the Hornady brass reduced much greater than on the Starline.

Not sure what all this means, but I found it interesting. To actually compare one next to the other at the same time and see these differences. Now I would be interested to see where Peterson 6ARC brass would line up to these two.

 

[DHD]

Different formulations of brass? I've noticed difference of color after annealing between highly polished and brass that has just been wiped down after firing (same brand and lot# brass). Reformed Lapua shows different color than Starline for me. I don't take color after annealing to mean much.

The only Hornady 6mmARC brass I have is from some factory ammo I bought some time back to test and break a few barrels in. I cleaned it, sized it, and it is in a plastic bag somewhere probably never to be seen again. I do know where it is, but don't really care....

Trying to decide whether I want to get 100 pieces of Peterson brass, but I cannot see it being any better than my reformed Lapua Brass.

 

[divingin]

I'd think that thickness at the neck and shoulder could account for a lot of those differences. I find that cleanliness of the brass surface has a lot to do with how much the brass "colors" on annealing. Cartridge brass is a pretty standardized formula, but I have no idea how closely manufacturers (or suppliers to manufacturers) stick to that.

 

[KMW 1954]

I'd think that thickness at the neck and shoulder could account for a lot of those differences. I find that cleanliness of the brass surface has a lot to do with how much the brass "colors" on annealing.

I have read repeatedly that oxidation also has an effect on coloration. Though in this case, both examples were all treated the same way, washed, dried, annealed, finish polish in cobb. Still reacted differently. What it means, I have no idea, just an observation.

I use both of these as Match ammunitions out to 300yds and I cannot shoot the difference.

 

[Killing Time]

The Starline brass appeared to discolor more so than the Hornady and also appeared to take more time to change to a red color.

I bought a new annealer a few months ago and had some Hornady brass laying around and used it to set up the timing for the annealing process. I noticed as well that the Hornady didn't really change color much at all. This was first fired uncleaned brass.

 

[divingin]

I bought a new annealer a few months ago and had some Hornady brass laying around and used it to set up the timing for the annealing process. I noticed as well that the Hornady didn't really change color much at all. This was first fired uncleaned brass.

I run 200 pieces of brass per barrel, and cycle those 200 in batches of 50, so they all get treated the same and are all at the same point in their lifespan. I anneal all 200 every 5 firings, and see differences in individual pieces as they cycle through the annealer. No idea why. [note: I do not track which do and don't mark. I just run with the fact they all went through the machine.]