case annealing

[brunr6mmBR]

Have been considering getting a case annealer machine, just wondering what people think that have them, my most consist reloads as far as velocity spread seem to always be with new brass, as I continue to reuse the same brass, the amount of verticle at 600 yards goes up, was hoping annealing machine may restore the brass. Any body with real world experience with one of these machines.

 

[pdog2225]

brun, I have been shooting for 40yrs and the last 12yrs has been about accuracy. I shoot pdogs at what I call long range.
For me that is 400 to 1000+yds. I have three toys I could do without but really like them. They are my hawkeye borescope, the Oehler 35P chrono and my Ken Light BC1000 annealer. Since starting to use the BC1000 (does 1000 cases per hour) my accuracy has greatly improved. Using a bullet/cartridge checker on my loaded rounds is so consistant its scary. And now two of my shooting buddies have also bought one. I would not hesitate to buy one again today. They are said to be the cadillac of annealers and I believe that. Oh and I compare it to an aquarium. I just never get tired of watching that slight glow appear on the neck in the dark and then fade, case after case. pdog2225

 

[Steve Blair]

I share pdog's opinion and equipment except I have a Kurzzeit PVM-21 chrono. To the toys, I would add the Forster Co-Ax press. The Co-Ax would have to be pried from my cold, dead fingers.

My regular routine is to neck size but every three reloads, I anneal the cases and body size, touching the shoulder. My reloads maintain single-digit ES/SD in several calibers.

Pdog is also right about the amusement factor. I wish I had more cases to anneal. Ken is a good man with whom to do business.

 

[hedditch]

What is a bullet/cartridge checker?

 

[BobLor]

Has anything new developed with the induction heating case annealer that some guys were experimenting with?

 

[pdog2225]

Hedditch, In my case I use the Davidson brand. It is two steel pieces that attach by set screws to my 6" caliphers. The base is multi-caliber, such as .378", .473" etc. There are several bases for this setup. The bullet end is caliber specific. This lets the reloader measure from the base of the cartridge to a specific point on the ogive (pronounced "O Jive")of the bullet. This is a must for accuracy shooting. You can also use it to segregate the bullets in the boxes you intend to load. I do not have experience with the other types that are available these days. I think Brunos and Sinclair are still handling these. Hope this helps. pdog2225

 

[hedditch]

pdog2225, If I read you right, you are talking something comparable to the Stoney Point Compare All that measures from the bottom of the case to the Ogive used to set the bullet jump from the bullet to the lands? I was hoping you had something to check the neck tension of a case, a conclusion I jumped to since the discussion was talking about annealing the necks. Do you know of anything out there like that?

 

[Gearheadpyro]

BobLor;

Not much new has happened in the very recent history with my automatic induction annealer project. I've stumbled across a few issues (not the least of which is time).

I am still working on the project, but I'm currently waiting on a few things that are out of my control. I can't really start construction on the unit until I have the specific details for those things.

 

[pdog2225]

Hedditch, I don't personally know of anyway to accurately measure the neck tension. But Russ Haydon sells a straight line arbor press that has a gauge on the top. This is supposed to show you how much force is required to seat the bullet in the case neck. Here is his site address http://www.shooters-supply.com/. He deals with a lot of benchresters in the pacific northwest. pdog2225