I never anneal and.........

[in2deep]

For the folks that do not anneal your brass feel free to chime in with your opinions and observations.
Is the thinking that after a few firings the brass will quit changing properties and eventually come to a uniform state that allows for more consistency? vs. annealing every few shots wherin the brass is never the same and is always changing?

 

[Sray53TXTN]

Are you trying to sell the idea?
Just wondering since you posted in the Marketplace.

Might move it to reloading section.

 

[in2deep]

woops wrong forum

 

[beergoggles]

Are you trying to sell the idea?
Just wondering since you posted in the Marketplace.

Might move it to reloading section.

.....i just lol'ed

 

[slm9s]

any interest in trading for:

I'm not sold on breaking barrels in. I figure if they are going to shoot, they are going to shoot.

 

[beergoggles]

any interest in trading for:

I'm not sold on breaking barrels in. I figure if they are going to shoot, they are going to shoot.

if he's not interested, i have a whole case of:
are counter sniper scopes any good? that i'm trying to get rid of.

 

[ridgeway]

I have a no turn(.272) BR and using Lapua brass from the old cardboard box. After 4 firings, I resize using a Harrells and out of 25 rounds, 3-4 rounds allowed my bullet to drop back into the case. I annealed, problem fixed, so after 3-4 firings the brass does change. So after that, I'm sure the brass will eventually work harden and split.

 

[Tomekeuro85]

I agree... eventually the neck will just split from over hardening

 

[Cheechako]

Experience tells me otherwise. Once, long ago, I went thru an entire Benchrest season with just 20 cases for one rifle. I wore the barrel out at 1500 rounds and I still had 15 of the cases left. You do the math. I never annealed or trimmed but I used a moderate load and neck sized only. I did have to switch to a smaller bushing. From a .259 to a .257, as I remember.

Ray

 

[fdshuster]

My experience is much like Rays. I have never annealed a case neck in my life, and have no intention of starting now. In 1998 I began life with a new Shilen chambered in 6ppc, .262" neck, with 100 dedicated Lpaua 220 Russian cases. At a recorded 2410 rounds fired the barrel had to be set-back & re-chambered. Those original 100 cases now have between 37 and 39 reloads on them, the majority are still usable, and have never had a split neck on a single one. So, in this example, the brass outlasted the barrel. I have Lapua 6BR brass used in 2 of my chamberings with .265" necks, and some of that brass also has between 35 & 40 loadings, and they are trouble-free, although I will admit, nearing "the end". My loaded round neck diameters are .260" for the .262" necked 6ppc's, and .263" for the .265" 6BR's. I believe I got my moneys worth out of the brass , and accuracy has remained unchanged. Ray: I've also reduced my bushing size by .001" & .002" as the brass gets older, so we think alike.

 

[K22]

I've been reloading rifle and pistol since the early 1970's. That doesn't make me an expert, just and old fart but I've never annealed cases. I get about 15 to 18 reloads per case depending on caliber and never saw the need to anneal. A bag of 100 cases last me several shooting seasons. However I do restrict my cases to a specific rifle and full size but only bump shoulder back about .002"

 

[Erik Cortina]

My experience is much like Rays. I have never annealed a case neck in my life, and have no intention of starting now.

Go shoot 1000 yards, you might change your mind!

 

[Cheechako]

I can't speak for fdshuster, but I do shoot both 600 and 1000 yards. I will make between 100 and 200 cases for each barrel and they last longer than the barrel.

Ray

 

[Erik Cortina]

I don't anneal to make brass last longer, I anneal to make it more consistent. I use the same bushing for the life of the brass, so that tells me that my brass is the same with one or ten firings... It's consistent!

 

[Heavies]

Thinking out loud.

Tight necks + match chambers = less to no need for annealing.

loose necks + factory chambers = need to anneal.

If I'm correct on this how is about,

no turn necks + match chamber?

I anneal about ever third firing on my Lapua brass for 6mmbr. So far working terrific I have 10 reloads on some of this brass with no signs of it giving up anytime soon; shoulder bumps are consistent and accuracy is good.
Any one with this type of setup do not anneal at all??

 

[Cheechako]

Erik

If you can show me that annealing results in better brass where the bullet meets the paper, I'll start doing it tomorrow.

Ray

 

[Erik Cortina]

Erik

If you can show me that annealing results in better brass where the bullet meets the paper, I'll start doing it tomorrow.

Ray

Then you better place an order for an annealer right now and have it shipped over night so that it gets there by tomorrow so that you can anneal! ;D

Joking aside, if that works for you, then fine, but when I started annealing I noticed my bullets would seat more consistently and I no longer have flyers. And like I said, I use the same bushing always!

But like I said, if it works for you, then have at it!... less time loading and more time shooting, you can't complain about that!

 

[6BRinNZ]

Ray - Frank how do you determine when to use another bush and what size...is it experience you have built up over time? This is always the bit that gets me.

 

[Erik Cortina]

Erik

If you can show me that annealing results in better brass where the bullet meets the paper, I'll start doing it tomorrow.

Ray

Ray, I have a question: Do you believe neck tension has an effect on accuracy?

If your answer is yes, then annealing brass will help accuracy since neck tension is for the most part always the same.

If you do not anneal then neck tension will be different throughout the life of the brass, hence the different bushings needed.

 

[fdshuster]

6BRinNZ: Nothing scientific or any hard and fast rules. When I see the number of times reloaded, could be as little as 18 or as many as 24, I may use the next smaller size bushing for a little more bullet pull, my thoughts being that the brass is at least a little more work hardened compared to when newer. With an even higher count, around 30 may even go for one size smaller again. Throughtout the whole range, I've never seen any changes in groups sizes, with the 6ppc's (4 chamberings) and the 6BR's ( 3 chamberings). "Heavies", thinking out loud: Tight fitted necks has to be a consideration. The ppc's are 2 at .272" chamber necks, loaded round neck dia. .270", sized with a .269" bushing = brass being worked a maximum of .003". The other 2 chamberings are .262" chamber necks, loaded round .260", bushing .259", for that .003" difference again. Two of the 6BR's are .265" chamber neck, loaded rounds at .263", bushing at .262". The brass just isn't going anywhere. In my .272" no turn 6BR, loaded round necks are .268"/.2685" with a .267" bushing, so still minimal brass movement. Gotta be the major reason I have no need for annealing. Factory chambers like my 222, 223, 22-250, 308, are used with Lapua and Winchester brass, bushing dies, so those necks are being worked more, but I'm getting 13 to 15 loadings before the occassional neck splits show up, and by then I feel I got my moneys worth out of the brass, so just toss it. The cost of replacement brass would be at least partially off-set by the expense of the annealing equipment, especially if going for one of the $400 units? Yes, I agree annealing can have its advantages and understand its benefits, it's just not for me/ too involved and I've gotten so much conflicting information when I question others about the proper way to do it, I don't want to get into it.