does 45 year old 1 X brass need annealing ?

[Baddog0302]

Found 2 ammo cans at an estate sale, both contained LC Match 63 head stamped cases. The wife said her late husband shot in USMC match's in 1972-3. This is what I'm basing the 45 year old 1 X on. My question is since then have been sitting in air tight USGI ammo can's do they need annealing ? My plan is to designate these for bolt gun only

 

[lpreddick]

Absolutely! Brass ages even if not being shot.

 

[LHSmith]

Absolutely! Brass ages even if not being shot.

+1 - for the naysayers go to Norma's website under "cases"

 

[watercam]

I have a supply of 1953 Weatherby 300 ammunition. I shot some and pulled the powder and bullets from the rest. The powder seemed to be 4350-ish in burn rate that only made 2500 fps w/ 180 grain RWS bullets. Somehow the brass just 'felt' like it needed annealing. Did so and have 5+ loadings on them with no issues. Less than scientific to be sure but I certainly felt better having assured myself of long case life!
Just do it in batches and be glad for quality brass!

 

[Shrek]

I know it does if it has sat loaded all that time but if it's not under tension I don't know for sure. I'd anneal it for good measure if I were you.

 

[Baddog0302]

Thank you, I also picked up a tool for annealing, a piece of copper tubing with the end formed into a 1" circle with small holes on the inside, ?? the wife said he used it to" heat the cases" with it. So, I'll give it a try

Again, thank you

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

Copper tubing is a very good example of what brass does as it ages. All you have to do to see it is compare the flexibility of new and old copper tubing. There's really no comparison. Brass is very, very similar as to how it hardens with age alone. I've taken old Norma brass that the necks split on virtually every un annealed piece after one firing. Stopped..annealed the rest...no more neck splits.

 

[nmkid]

While back I was given 20 boxes of 264 Mag. Winchester brass that had been reloaded in the 70's. Using my Hornady bullet puller I was pulling off the necks/bullets on some cases.

 

[Webster]

All the literature states that cartridge brass can only be hardened by cold working. It does not harden at room temperature with time. There is no mechanism to create hardening.
it is a single phase alloy with nothing in it to precipitate out of solution.

 

[OIF/OEF]

Is there something in the powder that would cause weakness in the brass from sitting all those years

 

[Terry_M]

Better to anneal and extend the life as much as you can, whether it is scientific or not. It will be worth the time and effort if for no other reason than peace of mind.

 

[Webster]

Agree just anneal it and be done with it.

 

[KMart]

If it was sitting in the garage for 45 years and going through a temperature change with the seasons....100 in the summer 30-40 in the winter in Fl.....the metal is always expanding and contracting. So the metal is being "worked".
Everything with time and temperature gets old and crusty. Anybody looked in the mirror lately?

 

[Webster]

Expanding and contracting 1 or 2 thousanths does not produce cold working. Why do people make up things they know nothing about.

 

[KMart]

Believe whatever you like.

 

[JRS]

Perhaps the millions of rounds of surplus military ammo that is sold, shouldn't be sold As long as that brass was stored in ammo cans, it's fine. If you simply want something to occupy your time, and have an annealer, go for it ;D