If I anneal how many more firings?

[Justin B]

I'm sure it depends on what case, chamber specs ect. But on average how many more firings can I squeeze out of my brass?

Help with accuracy seems like yes & no? Depends on who you ask. I know there's been allot of post on it I'm wading through them now just thought I would ask again. Thanks

I shoot allot of 20 practical & 22BR & 300 Norma.

 

[rsmithsr50]

for most of mine it is every firing...consistent neck tension.

 

[DirtySteve]

You will be able to use them till the primer pocket get loose....

 

[Ned Ludd]

It all depends on what cause most commonly ends the life of your cases. If your case necks are hardened and splitting, annealing may improve case life. However, loosened primer pockets are one of the most common reasons for trashing cases, and annealing has no appreciable effect in terms of extending primer pocket life. The main reason many people anneal cases is to prevent hardening of the brass in the neck region as it is worked through repeated firing/re-sizing steps, which can lead to non-uniform neck tension.

 

[Zero333]

At least 5 more.

You could get 10+ more with out annealing again, but if you get a case with a split neck, you know it's time to anneal again.

 

[varget204]

It gives consistant neck tension, have loaded 6 creedmoor 23 times, 6.5/284 25-28 times, 204 ruger 35-40 times, have Not lost a 6 creed or 6.5/284 case

 

[mike06]

With Peterson brass in my 308 I am near 50 primer pockets still tight. I anneal after every firing.

 

[D-4297]

I shoot F-TR with a 185gr Berger Hybrid and a "moderate" load , compared to some shooters , and anneal after every firing . As others have said , it's for controlling neck tension ( interference fit ) , rather than concern over primer pocket life . Anecdotally ; I've found the fastest way to shorten case life , is to shoot heavier bullets with larger powder loads . Regardless of caliber . When shooting 200 / 210gr bullets with heavier loads , I get about 6 to 8 reloads less per case , due to loosing the primer pockets . No scientific data to back that up , but that's what happens .

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

My LC formed to 20p, I annealled after second firing. Saw some spring back after the second firing and bushing sizing. Loading it for an AR.

 

[searcher]

I turn the necks on my .20 Practical so try to get all the mileage out of them that is reasonable in my A/R.. I find that I need to anneal every three firings on Lake City to get a nice grip where bullets will not slip a bit when loading - and to prevent neck cracks. Doing it every other time would be better yet. I find that my A/R brass never makes it past 8 to ten firings at the level I load them. Pockets get a bit weak.

 

[Evan]

I'd suggest that if your necks are cracking at any sane amount of reloads (like <25x), then your die is sizing your necks too much and you should use a die with a larger neck.

I'd also suggest that if your primer pockets are loosening then your loads are hot. Moderate, safe loads will never loosen primer pockets. So if brass is more valuable than an extra 50fps, dial it back a bit!

I've not had split necks since I learned about how to properly size brass, and now all my brass outlasts my barrels. Also I don't anneal my brass.

 

[jepp2]

But on average how many more firings can I squeeze out of my brass?

Sounds like you don't anneal yet. A few questions to consider:
- what temp do you plan to anneal at? The 750° that many use that is stress relief, or the 1050° that AMP uses? I have used both, and to tell the truth can't tell much difference.
- My goal is to extend brass life by keeping the case necks from splitting. I don't load hot enough generally to enlarge primer pockets. But, I don't put much work into my case necks each firing cycle. I either hone my die necks or using bushing dies. And my rifle chambers (mostly) don't result in that much expansion of the case neck when firing. So I anneal at 3-5 firings. I'm sure I could go more firings, so I'm kind of splitting the difference between every time and extending case life.

I have seen what I consider a lack of elasticity in case necks when using a Lee collet die. More spring back when the necks get work hardened. I understand that is in conflict with an earlier post, but that is just my experience.

But enjoy your journey in learning about annealing. I think you will find as many different opinions as with barrel break-in, barrel cleaning, etc.

 

[Longtrain]

I don’t push my Dasher too hard, but it still needs to be a Dasher in as far as speed and accuracy. I’m not going to load to try to turn it into a 6/284. Keep your loads within the realm of what that cartridge is designed to do. If you want faster, quicker, heavier bullet loads, change to any one of the barrel burners out there. You’ll probably get better accuracy with a load less then max anyway.

I used to anneal about every three reloads, but discovered that my shoulder bump wasn’t consistent from case to case. Quite a while back I went to annealing after each firing and have found that sizing is more accurate and consistent. I have cases with 15 loads on them and the pockets are still within my acceptable range. But that’s me, my brass and my loads, YMMV of course.

That being said, annealing doesn’t do anything for the primer pocket, it can’t, if you were to anneal the whole case you could end up with catastrophic results (can you say BOOM?). So, the primer pocket looseness is pretty much a result of pressure, heavy bullet & heavy charges equal pressure, and changes to the pocket. If you decide to do that dance you have to pay for the music.

Annealing is a benefit to the neck, shoulder and upper case areas, allowing easy and consistent resizing, lessening the work hardness of the brass neck, working to help eliminate split necks. In that sense it will lengthen your case life.

 

[joshb]

I’m in the “anneal after every firing” crowd. As mentioned above,
I feel I get more consistent bump and neck tension.

 

[mike06]

I’m in the “anneal after every firing” crowd. As mentioned above,
I feel I get more consistent bump and neck tension.

Exactly that is what we are all after.

 

[Straightshooter1]

I’m in the “anneal after every firing” crowd. As mentioned above,
I feel I get more consistent bump and neck tension.

ditto

 

[PatMiles]

I’m in the “anneal after every firing” crowd. As mentioned above,
I feel I get more consistent bump and neck tension.

Me too.

 

[Gappmast]

I’m in the “anneal after every firing” crowd. As mentioned above,
I feel I get more consistent bump and neck tension.

Me too. Now if I was just as good a shooter as my dog thinks I am

 

[dcali]

If you’re not splitting necks, it won’t do a thing for case life. I think it’s safe to say that for most custom rifles of the types typically discussed here, primer pockets are what are going to fail first.

 

[Brians356]

... annealing has no appreciable effect in terms of extending primer pocket life.

It has no effect at all on primer pockets, appreciable or otherwise. If it did the case would have been rendered unsafe.
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