Annealing question for processed brass

[Fishjager]

I have a question that may have been hashed over before here. Would you anneal brass before loading it, or wait until after you shoot it. The reason is there are many places out there that have LC processed brass for sale. So you buy a case of the stuff and want to anneal it. Due to the price of powder, bullets, and primers these days you hate to shoot it first. So if you are going to anneal it would you just load it and shoot it, then anneal. The other option is to anneal it before you shoot it. It is my understanding that the sequence is to anneal it after firing and then size and trim it. Your patience will be appreciated with your answer. I am from the old days where you just loaded and shot the stuff. Annealing was not really addressed. Do you do any harm to the brass by annealing the processed brass first?

 

[Blaster 1]

I have a question that may have been hashed over before here. Would you anneal brass before loading it, or wait until after you shoot it. The reason is there are many places out there that have LC processed brass for sale. So you buy a case of the stuff and want to anneal it. Due to the price of powder, bullets, and primers these days you hate to shoot it first. So if you are going to anneal it would you just load it and shoot it, then anneal. The other option is to anneal it before you shoot it. It is my understanding that the sequence is to anneal it after firing and then size and trim it. Your patience will be appreciated with your answer. I am from the old days where you just loaded and shot the stuff. Annealing was not really addressed. Do you do any harm to the brass by annealing the processed brass first?

I shoot alot of range brass 223 necked down to 20 cal and I always anneal first

 

[Straightshooter1]

I have a question that may have been hashed over before here. Would you anneal brass before loading it, or wait until after you shoot it. The reason is there are many places out there that have LC processed brass for sale. So you buy a case of the stuff and want to anneal it. Due to the price of powder, bullets, and primers these days you hate to shoot it first. So if you are going to anneal it would you just load it and shoot it, then anneal. The other option is to anneal it before you shoot it. It is my understanding that the sequence is to anneal it after firing and then size and trim it. Your patience will be appreciated with your answer. I am from the old days where you just loaded and shot the stuff. Annealing was not really addressed. Do you do any harm to the brass by annealing the processed brass first?

If it's virgin brass, I wouldn't bother annealing them. If they've been fired, I'll anneal them every time afterwards . . . before any other processing of the brass (other than depriming the very first thing), then load them.

 

[NZ_Fclass]

I just loaded some new LC 223. FL sized/mandrel. Seating force seems fine (Wilson die/KM press)

 

[Blowout]

Anneal before sizing is the normal process. If the cases were bought preprocessed they might have been annealed prior to FL sizing or they may not. After dry tumbling to remove lube the case color change from annealing is not as apparent.

Check with the where you bought the brass whether they anneal as part of their case prep process. Most do not or they state the brass has been annealed as a selling point and usually charge more.

I anneal every time prior to sizing. Annealing again after sizing can be done... it's just another step I haven't found necessary.

 

[ricco1949]

If the processed LC brass fits your chamber I'd shoot it as is then anneal. If you need to bump the shoulders I'd anneal it first.

 

[DiRTY DOG]

Anneal it, then run it thru your sizer yourself.

 

[9146gt]

I have brass is a similar condition. I have a lot of 300 .308 twice fired cases. I have sized half of the lot when a buddy offers to anneal them on his AMP. Do I have him anneal the whole lot now or wait until the next firing when the all will not have been sized?
Tom

 

[ricco1949]

@9146gt

Have your friend anneal them all then re-size whole batch.

BEWARE:
You will probably need to reset your sizing die since spring back may be significantly reduced.

I suspect your headspace variance will also be reduced.

 

[coldboreshot]

I have a question that may have been hashed over before here. Would you anneal brass before loading it, or wait until after you shoot it. The reason is there are many places out there that have LC processed brass for sale. So you buy a case of the stuff and want to anneal it. Due to the price of powder, bullets, and primers these days you hate to shoot it first. So if you are going to anneal it would you just load it and shoot it, then anneal. The other option is to anneal it before you shoot it. It is my understanding that the sequence is to anneal it after firing and then size and trim it. Your patience will be appreciated with your answer. I am from the old days where you just loaded and shot the stuff. Annealing was not really addressed. Do you do any harm to the brass by annealing the processed brass first?

There are those who anneal after firing and there are those who anneal after a certain number of firings by which they have established. And then, there are those who don't anneal at all. Your not missing anything by loading that processed brass and anneal after that firing, if that is a sequence you prefer. But its been my experience that processed brass does not include sizing (F/L) and neck expanding. If this is the case, anneal it if you like, you still have to finish the process. If fully "processed", load and shoot. Just check for dented necks and attend to accordingly. Anneal next time.