Annealing question

[Drolds72]

I just annealed my first few cases using 2 torches and 750 degree tempilaq on the inside of the neck. Exposed to heat until the tempilaq turned clear and then removed. Usually about 4 seconds. I did not get the discoloration on the case that new brass comes with. Am I overthinking or do I need to keep in heat longer?

 

[Preacher]

All cases do not show color like some do...

 

[Falfan2017]

I just annealed my first few cases using 2 torches and 750 degree tempilaq on the inside of the neck. Exposed to heat until the tempilaq turned clear and then removed. Usually about 4 seconds. I did not get the discoloration on the case that new brass comes with. Am I overthinking or do I need to keep in heat longer?

If you ask for opinions on annealing on the internet you'll get 200 different responses. I'm only using one torch and rotating the brass but I give it 6 seconds and it does create a bit of annealed look about a quarter inch down the neck on a 6 br case. Also I notice seating tension is more consistent with annealed than on annealed.

 

[Drolds72]

If you ask for opinions on annealing on the internet you'll get 200 different responses. I'm only using one torch and rotating the brass but I give it 6 seconds and it does create a bit of annealed look about a quarter inch down the neck on a 6 br case. Also I notice seating tension is more consistent with annealed than on annealed.

I loaded them up and did notice seating effort was a bit more and much more consistent. I am going to shoot them tomorrow vs some unannealed loads and see if it shows up on paper. I just thought the lack of discoloration was odd.

 

[lpreddick]

One does feel he has a perfect anneal if his cases look like Lapua's, but some cases don't respond. My most accurate measure as to whether a case has been annealed is to torch (Annealeze machine) a case untill it just starts to suggest an orange glow, then back off heat or reduce torch time...

 

[Richard Coody]

like most things in shooting and.reloading consistency is the key. pick a method that you feel you can be most consistent.

 

[Clancy]

Most of the time I do not get a full discoloration of the brass. Consistent accuracy and 20 plus reloads tells me I’m doing it right.

 

[Drolds72]

Thanks for the replies! Just wanted to make sure I was mostly on the right track to begin with. This brass is straight 6br, and probably has 8 firings on it with no annealing. I could tell the last time I seated bullets, that the neck tension was more, hence the reason to start annealing.

 

[Gb300wm]

The brass will also be smooth below the anneal and have a rough feel at the annealed section. This is because the grain structure has changed.

 

[rwj]

Thanks for the replies! Just wanted to make sure I was mostly on the right track to begin with. This brass is straight 6br, and probably has 8 firings on it with no annealing. I could tell the last time I seated bullets, that the neck tension was less, hence the reason to start annealing.

I don’t understand how neck tension decreased if you were not annealing...

 

[pirate ammo]

no shrinkage,,mabe just that simple,,

 

[jepp2]

I don’t understand how neck tension decreased if you were not annealing...

Springback.

The color change is a function of how bright/tranished the cases were when you anneal, and how long it has been since they were annealed. If cases are tumbled/cleaned to a bright shine, you will get very little color change.

 

[Drolds72]

I don’t understand how neck tension decreased if you were not annealing...

my error. Meant to type increased

 

[Drolds72]

Springback.

The color change is a function of how bright/tranished the cases were when you anneal, and how long it has been since they were annealed. If cases are tumbled/cleaned to a bright shine, you will get very little color change.

I had just polished them with 0000 steel wool, so pretty clean! Makes sense

 

[jepp2]

These were all annealed the same. The 3 cartridges on the right had been tumbled recently. The rest it had been a while and you can see the distinct rainbow color from the transition.

 

[Drolds72]

These were all annealed the same. The 3 cartridges on the right had been tumbled recently. The rest it had been a while and you can see the distinct rainbow color from the transition.

View attachment 1056277

Ok. This is helpful. All of mine looked like the one on the far right.

Let me ask this, since this brass was overdue, and Assuming they were annealed properly, is it possible that they shoot worse than if I had done nothing? Have a match next weekend, and a little nervous about changing something that had been working ok.

 

[jepp2]

Let me ask this, since this brass was overdue, and Assuming they were annealed properly, is it possible that they shoot worse than if I had done nothing?

I would expect them to shoot similarly to how they shot the 2'nd and 3'rd firings. The neck tension should be more consistent (cartridge to cartridge) than it was prior to annealing.

 

[Falfan2017]

My annealed brass seem to shoot the same as my non annealed.

 

[dickn52]

My annealed brass seem to shoot the same as my non annealed.

The theory is they will be useable longer.

 

[divingin]

I've heard several people (who shoot a lot better than I do) say that their annealed brass doesn't shoot well until it gets a couple of firings on them, or they work the necks in a sizing die a few times. I'm assuming it's like loading - every rifle likes what it likes.