Annealing

[dbaird]

How often do you anneal cases. After each firing or after multiple firings?

 

[Sniper338]

Each firing

 

[Dub]

multiple firings

 

[Gb300wm]

Each firing here too

 

[jepp2]

How often do you anneal cases. After each firing or after multiple firings?

Are you trying to get the most uniform case necks, OR do you anneal to prevent neck cracks from work hardened brass?

Some of how often you need to anneal is how much work are you putting into your case necks each firing cycle. Post firing case neck OD? Case neck OD after sizing but before your expander passes through the case neck? Case neck OD after expanding? Case neck OD after bullet seating?

Some/most sizing dies seriously undersize the case neck, making the expander re-open the neck to the proper size for neck tension. And most factory chambers allow the neck to expand substantially during firing. All of this can cause you to anneal more often.

 

[Bob L.]

Each firing

 

[dcali]

If you're just trying to prevent split necks, then every 5th is more than enough. If you're trying to increase accuracy, sit back and grab some popcorn. I think the reason you get so many differing answers is that what annealing does for you, if anything, is dependent on lots of other things, many of which we just don't really understand. And the effect is small, so hard to pin down.

That said, most accuracy minded annealers will say every firing.

 

[Dub]

I anneal with a torch and my fingers and am still learning the significance of it. If I have to do so every firing to maintain superb accuracy , then I will.

 

[Big_Daddy]

I anneal after every other firing.
Does annealing help with accuracy....
Damn straight.
These two targets are the EXACT same specs except for the annealed vs non-annealed

Both targets are 12 rounds.

 

[INTJ]

Each firing with my AMP in Aztec mode

 

[Sniper338]

I anneal with a torch and my fingers and am still learning the significance of it. If I have to do so every firing to maintain superb accuracy , then I will.

How do you hold brass with your fingers and anneal? Brass gets too hot to hold if your getting it to the right temp to do anything..

 

[PopCharlie]

Each firing with my AMP in Aztec mode

Me too. I really like my AMP annealer with Aztec. Money well spent.
My process is as follows:
Clean brass
Decap
Anneal
Complete prep.
PopCharlie

 

[Papa Charlie]

Each firing.
We strive for consistency, why skip steps. This is one of the steps that helps to ensure the same neck tension on every firing.

 

[PopCharlie]

Depending on your cleaning method it may be best to decap first, that way your primer pockets get cleaned as well. I use ss pins and they come out clean. YMMV.

Joe

I use corn cob media. I clean the primer pockets after annealing, sizing and dimensional checks. I've thought about changing my cleaning process. I may switch to ss pins. What type of tumbler to you have?

 

[Dub]

How do you hold brass with your fingers and anneal? Brass gets too hot to hold if your getting it to the right temp to do anything..

what are you using?

 

[D-4297]

Anneal after every firing . Got a Annealz last year , and now I don't have to ship brass here , there & everywhere . Great machine , and super easy to learn to use .

 

[Intheshop]

On my *"slightly" reduced cast,bottleneck rifle loads..... depends on several,don't need to go into factors but,If I wasn't so lazy would anneal every firing. You can watch,or track carbon blowback on fired case neck correlate to the necks "hardness". Rarely go past 3 firings.

* my bugholers are usually right @book starting JB loads so isn't "technically" reduced,but you get the idea.

2nd part;

Put drill motor/socket thing in a sniveling vise. Torch is placed to coincide with a "stop" for turning vise..... turn vise/drill motor out of the flame,pull case with gloves. This way the case is always presented exactly the same into the flame. I drop in water,just because.... but this is my biggest gripe about annealing. I hate the drying aspect. May just start laying them on a towel but,then you don't get the little sizzle of gratitude?

I've also gotten right dang "picky" with cases after firing. Once done with a string,am really looking at that spent case. Then before packing up,have been LIGHTLY wiping neck/shoulders with 0000 steel wool. Seems to be making a difference...... before and after annealing. I don't clean cases otherwise and am perfectly satisfied with their performance/appearance.

Good luck with your project.

 

[Intheshop]

FART (Frankford Arsenal Rotary Tumbler). This one.

I like easy to remember names