Another annealing question

[C Valentine]

I am a newbie to this but determined to learn this "art" so please bear with me!

Is properly annealed Lapua brass supposed to look like new Lapua brass, with the brownish oxide color on the neck to just below the shoulder?

I have been experimenting with some brass that was reloaded 6 times and each time had been tumbled with SS pins so it was fairly bright and shiny to begin with. I annealed until the 750 Tempilaq inside the neck melted but before the 450 on the lower 2/3 of the case began to melt. About a 5 to 6 second count. The neck and shoulder gets VERY shiny but the only color change is a iridescent bluish color at the bottom portion of the annealed section. It looks nothing like the new Lapua cases and I am wondering why and if I am doing something wrong. I have seen all sorts of images on the net from ones that look like mine to ones that look like toast and everything in between!

 

[MrMajestic]

If the templac was as you stated you're annealed. Polished brass won't get like Lapua. I ultra sonic clean and when I anneal they make all sorts of colors with the neck and shoulder getting Copper colored. Listen to your templac and don't worry about the color. It will come off, as does the Lapua, when run through the vibratory polisher with walnut shells.

 

[CatShooter]

Both sets of cases are "R-P"... both annealed at the same time, FOR the same time, and at the same temperature.

One had been polished prior to annealing, and one had not.

Don't worry - be happy!

You are doing fine.

 

[C Valentine]

Thanks guys! I feel a little better about it now. Brass is just getting too expensive not to get the most I can out of it!

 

[Road_Clam]

I use a 650F tempstik just below the shoulder to obtain correct temp. My annealed casings look exactly like CatShooter's. Depending on my flame intensity I heat the casings from about 5-8 seconds. Once I see the "blue ring" i'm good.