Annealing brass...

[CT10ring]

I read "here" and couple other places about annealing. I have 22-243 Lapua 3x firedbrass that is getting harder & harder to re-size. So, I thought I would anneal 5cases which I did using a drill & die base as holder, Propane,etc.
Cases don't look quite the same as new Lapua, but generally have the blue gray coloration on necks & shoulder.
I did not drop cases into water after heat, just took off holder w leather gloves, laid on metal tray.
Do cases have to be quenched immediately after annealing? I resized afterwards and they seemed to sized easier...
info appreciated.

 

[kelbro]

Quenching does nothing (metallurgical) for brass annealing. It only makes it easier to handle the brass.

 

[bozo699]

The purpose of dropping the cases into water is to assure the heads don't get to hot,..
400 degrees I believe is too hot!!
Wayne.

 

[kelbro]

The heads will not get too hot unless you get the neck/shoulder way over temp.

I will condition that assertion on the fact that I have never annealed any of the new shorty cases but I have annealed thousands of cases down to the tiny 25-20 just holding them with my fingers. I use a socket now

I would probably also quench the shorty cases, just to be sure.

 

[markm87]

Practice on scrap brass. I basically do it the same way you did, but I just set the cases down on my clothes dryer.

There's a learning curve to it.... but one you get into your groove, you can be very good at it. Start in low light and don't get them glowing red hot.

I can now do my annealing in a lighted room using a time count.

 

[CT10ring]

thanks, all. I had low lighting while annealing & looked for a dull maroon glow just starting, then took flame off.
sounds like the water quench is not necessary if case necks are not overheated. I was concerned about safety- oversoftening the brass, sounds like it should be fine w/o water.

 

[lpreddick]

water is for drinking, bathing, washing cars,etc. i set a steel plate on one of those bags of something that you freeze and use in a cooler instead of ice(another use for water). once used gloves to take brass out of the chuck on my drill but noticed they melted onto the brass. i now use forceps to set the brass on the steel plate and they are finger friendly in a few seconds.

 

[CT10ring]

Ah, water & it's many uses, right. Forceps nice tip. ;D.

Another question re annealing: Shot my 5 annealed cases.

The cases were a bit sticky for 1st time ever in this rifle (temp 40 deg.) , primers looked fine, rounded edges.
not super flat.

New Question: Is the sticky bolt typical of just annealed cases in your experience...? Seems like that is the cause....

thanx for any info.

 

[Juma]

A mate of mine puts water inside up to bottom of shoulder to avoid heat spread. Done this for years on 270 222 and 223. Running my 223 off a deep socket as recommended here with Dewalt 18v. All you need is the adaptor.

 

[lloydx2]

This can be a condition of over annealing. Can you take your fingers and easily bend the necks? If so there to soft. You really should use tempilaq so you know where you are.