Best Budget Annealer

[Dr.J]

I want to begin annealing and am looking for recommendations. I understand that the AMP is the best, but I’m not prepared to spend that kind of money yet. I’m looking at the AGS and Anealeez, due to price. I am open to other machines. i look forward to your comments. Thanks, Tom

 

[CAS01]

You could check this video.
I bought the parts and it works
I use it for 6br .243 and .308

 

[JamesinAsheville]

I like my Bench Source

 

[Hiredgun81]

I have the AGS and am very happy with it. I have used it for 17 hornet to 300 prc and it has worked well. The only negative I have found is you have to pay close attention that the there is room for the next case to drop freely.

 

[450BM]

The Ugly Annealer! Made very well in Australia from all stainless parts. Large hopper holds over 200 223 sized cases. Large and small wheels for different length brass, all the inserts needed for all diameter brass. I’ve used mine for 17 Fireball up through 300 WSM. I’d buy it again without any hesitation.

 

[Oso]

I have a Annealeez and have used heavily on a variety of different cartridges. Like all innovation, it is much easier for the next competitor to have an advantage basing his design around a proven product but then being able to incorporate updates and improvements. As a result, the Ugly Annealer beats out Annealeez (Gen 4).

The next step up in direct flame is the Bench Source.

Edit: The Ugly Annealer is the way to go for your 1st annealer. You may find that it serves all of your needs for the duration of your shooting. AMP and expensive units only make sense if you either are competition shooter or have no budget concerns.

 

[neckturner]

I want to begin annealing and am looking for recommendations. I understand that the AMP is the best, but I’m not prepared to spend that kind of money yet. I’m looking at the AGS and Anealeez, due to price. I am open to other machines. i look forward to your comments. Thanks, Tom

I would stay electric for ease of use and safety.

Which leads us to the Quick Anneal. Mine works perfectly. https://quick-anneal.com/

 

[SEM]

I have a home made water cooled induction annealer I shoot mostly rimmed cases, with out adjustment of wheels drops and flame postion I can anneal a 22 hornet then a 45-70 case not fancy I do hold the larger cases in place with a gloved hand the smaller cases with a jig I make, A gentleman in New Mexico made them in is spare time I think it was 1850.00 some years ago

 

[Knotwild]

I would stay electric for ease of use and safety.

Which leads us to the Quick Anneal. Mine works perfectly. https://quick-anneal.com/

How much does it cost? Website is all hype without even a hint of price.

 

[D Coots]

I have the AGS and am very happy with it. I have used it for 17 hornet to 300 prc and it has worked well. The only negative I have found is you have to pay close attention that the there is room for the next case to drop freely.

I made some leg extenders to solve that. I believe he offers a kit for that also.

I don't anneal PPC brass, but have saved a lot of PD brass with my AGS.

The man responds to inquires on problems I created and gives good service. Decent price for the AGS also. Believe mine was under $400

Later

Dave

 

[Oso]

Since someone mentioned the Quick Anneal,,, I might as well give an opinion. Induction Annealers are the next step/evolution in achieving precision case annealing It is more expensive and not really beginner/budget friendly. Moreover, it may not be practical to the style of shooting or budget for everyone.

For those who aren't skilled in designing/building computers, writing code, or electrical appliances then maybe some of the DIY Induction Annealers, such as the Annie (fabulous build thread here on the forum), may not be for you.
https://forum.accurateshooter.com/threads/induction-brass-annealer-redux.3908353/page-53

There is an induction annealer that spans the gap between the DIY HomeDepot Hand Held Unit and the AMP. Basically, it is a commercial version of the DIY Annie Annealer (see thread above) with the advantage of it being a plug and play unit. It doesn't have the bells and whistles of the AMP, but at 40%-50% of the cost it is hard to ignore.

The Fluxeon Annie Induction annealer setup is streamline and affordable ($680), which is the same price as the best torch annealer, the Bench Source ($700). Anyone conteplating a Bench Source should also be looking at the Fluxeon.
https://fluxeon.com/product/31302/

 

[Dimner]

I want to begin annealing and am looking for recommendations. I understand that the AMP is the best, but I’m not prepared to spend that kind of money yet. I’m looking at the AGS and Anealeez, due to price. I am open to other machines. i look forward to your comments. Thanks, Tom

Ugly annealer. I looked at both that you are looking as well as the ugly annealer. Did a bunch of research... The ugly annealer won out and no regrets. I have not even thought of upgrading once in 2 years. I loved how it came with everything I needed. I anneal 223, 6.5x47L, 6.5 Swede, 270 win, 308, 7x57, 8x57, 3006, 7.7 arisaka, probably some others I can't remember.

It really has helped my neck tension be more consistent. Three main selling points were

1) price
2) anneal all cartridges I use without having to buy extra accessories
3) clamps the flame in place so it cannot be bumped. I did not like how some other machines you have a free floating torch that could be elbow bumped. Or moved a bit if you adjust the flame length.

 

[DDRanch]

Been using the Giraud annealer for a couple of years now. Just load it up and go.

 

[TTE]

Best Budget Annealer​

is a torch, socket, drill and timer (add a bucket of water if your budget allows).
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I have a Bench Source and like it very much and it works for me.
So ... I am not going to be trading it in on one of the Green New Deal annealers
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Because I am happy with my annealer, I don't keep up with which other one is good or best for the buck.
However, I do see comments here that many are quite happy with the one's you mentioned in your OP.
Choose one or the other and I am sure you will be happy with the performance/results
(if the torch, socket, drill and timer method is not for you).

 

[nmkid]

My AGS has served me well for almost 2 years. No problems.

 

[Bill Norris]

After being introduced to annealing by a shooting buddy (SVT_Tactical) I watched these two videos below and decided to build a unit. I believe induction annealing has it's prompts over the torch method. This seems to be the simplest way to go for quality and ease of annealing.

Adding a pic of my set-up as well. Pic # 4 is unit mounted on the wall at my work bench. I plug a drop cord into the male plug (right) to power up the control panel and the induction device.

Then plug the device into the female plug (left) to get power and signal from the timer/delay module. The red button on the induction device activates the unit as the timer/delay allows.

Very easy to program the timer/delay module for the determined length of time for each size/caliber of brass. Only takes a few mins. and you are off to annealing.

Built a small revolving turn-table from two cheap pizza pans (Walmart) which allows 20 pcs. of brass to be loaded. Once those 20 pcs. are annealed simply place them back in your loading block and refill the turn-table until finished. About as easy as it gets.

Total cost @ $235.00

 

[reloaderguy]

EP2. I had an early AGS. It worked but there was no way to set the speed exactly the same when switching between different cartridges. The EP2 is simple, inexpensive, and has a digital readout to set speed.

 

[gmr4]

Ugly Annealer

 

[Andy Work]

I have the one that CAS01 and Bill Norris linked to and it works perfectly.

 

[Hoekight]

is a torch, socket, drill and timer (add a bucket of water if your budget allows).
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That’s exactly what I use. I don’t mind spending money reloading. But I use everything you mentioned and add a jar of 450° templac. I can’t justify in my mind the cost of annealing machines when a drill and a socket works for me.