Anneal before case prep or after case prep?

[Boomer79]

I opened a new box of loaded Lapua ammo and saw signs of annealing on the brass. I concluded wrong or right that on my fired brass I should do all of the case prep and anneal as the finale procedure. Is the correct sequence or should I anneal first and then do the F/L sizing, trimming, etc.?

 

[firearmdoc1]

I would anneal first

 

[Terry]

I agree.

 

[Shynloco]

All new Lapua (as well as many manufacturers) brass is annealed. I've not seen anyone who preps brass first and then anneals.

 

[CatShooter]

All new Lapua (as well as many manufacturers) brass is annealed. I've not seen anyone who preps brass first and then anneals.

I do.

 

[geordiesniper]

The correct sequence is to anneal first then resize your brass.
If you resize first, then anneal, the heat will most likely expand your case/case mouth and you will have to resize again for correct neck tension. Just common sense to anneal first.

 

[Steve Blair]

The correct sequence is to anneal first then resize your brass.
If you resize first, then anneal, the heat will most likely expand your case/case mouth and you will have to resize again for correct neck tension. Just common sense to anneal first.

[br]
Yes, and as a result, you will get more consistent neck and shoulder sizing.

 

[Boomer79]

Thanks good info.

 

[Rustystud]

I inspect and clean first, lube, full length size, de-prime, trim with carbide cutter, clean the primer pockets, chamfer inside and out with brass prep station, then clean again, anneal with Bench Source, lube and load, then clean lube off. Yes, it is labor intensive for match grade ammo.
Nat Lambeth

 

[Luke_NL]

Given that annealing is done to ensure that each piece of brass is of the same softness and springback is the same on each piece, it totally makes sense to anneal first and then size the neck. Uniformity of the necks and tension on the bullets would profit from that order. If you anneal after every loading the effects of one or the other may be negligible though. When annealing only every once in a bunch of loadings, I would size (again) after annealing.

 

[amlevin]

I opened a new box of loaded Lapua ammo and saw signs of annealing on the brass. I concluded wrong or right that on my fired brass I should do all of the case prep and anneal as the finale procedure. Is the correct sequence or should I anneal first and then do the F/L sizing, trimming, etc.?

Lapua Brass as a rule is totally prepped through their manufacturing process. Don't know when they anneal but the box I opened up yesterday looked like it had been through a final expanding process just before being boxed, probably with a mandrel.