Is a AMP Annealer an essential piece of equipment for everyone?

[okshooter]

Is a AMP Annealer an essential piece of equipment for everyone? - NO

Is annealing, by some method, essential? - Depends on what your expectations are. For my hunting rifle that I plan to use to shoot a deer at 200 yards, absolutely not. For my wife and my F-class rifles, absolutely yes. For hitting a 3' diameter gong at 1,000 yards, no.

Given the type of shooting you do, I would be glad to give an opinion on the value of annealing (and it will be worth exactly what you pay for it).

Keith

 

[Sniper338]

Like other have said... just depends how deep your want to get into it. I don't think a new reloaded needs one. Spend that money on a fx120i scale set up.

 

[Fotheringill]

Lets' see. New guy buys a "kit" and a basic set of dies and thinks he is finished. That is like saying "the check is in the mail". It ain't true. This is not a cheap avocation.

Necessary? No.
Annealing better than not? Yes. There are a few ways to go. Electronic or propane. Both will work. How much do you want to spend to prolong brass life and what is the cost of your brass (availability may be a factor, as in primers and ammo). It is another step in the hand loading process. I went electronic because I am not allowed to play with live flames in my basement.

Two things-

Check out the warranty and reputation of manufacturer BEFORE purchase, and

Don't ever believe some of the morons posting a few You Tube videos on how to do it with gas. Look at them all and disallow those showing brass heating up to near the melting point.

 

[BenPerfected]

My suggestion is to call DJ’s Brass Service and have a discussion with DJ before you spend $1000 on a annealer.
Ben

 

[Longtrain]

I have annealed in a variety of ways over the years, my buddy bought an AMP annealer, it’s amazing. We anneal almost before every reload, so for us, it’s a time saver and very consistent.

Do you absolutely need one? No, but you don’t need a Ferrari when a VW bug will get you where you want to go. But, the Ferrari is a lot more fun.

 

[johara1]

You pay a 100.00 a box for Lapua brass and anneal it with gas or electric every firing and you can use them a 100 times, the annealer will pay for it's self, plus you get very even neck tension every time.... jim

 

[MarkG]

The research presented on the AMP website is impressive and my conclusion is annealing does improve the performance of hand loaded ammunition at long range. I have not seem an improvement in group size because my skill level is low and distance is too short but I do see improvement in SD and ES. Having read the Findlay patents, their genius and creativity is evident. On a limited budget, I would go with the FX-120i scale.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

Not needed if you finch. Or can't read wind. Or think a paper plate is a bullseye.

 

[Ccrider]

My suggestion is to call DJ’s Brass Service and have a discussion with DJ before you spend $1000 on a annealer.
Ben

Too late for me but what do you expect he and I would have learned?

 

[johara1]

My suggestion is to call DJ’s Brass Service and have a discussion with DJ before you spend $1000 on a annealer.
Ben

You don't need a 1000.00 annealer if you can count..... and have a socket and an adapter for a cordless drill..... jim

 

[AWS]

I got along without annealing for 40yrs for the past 20yrs annealing has become more important for making obsolete brass, keeping wildcat brass in service longer and preserving existing brass. Because I've started annealing my brass lasts a lot longer. A torch and deep sockets is plenty for me as I never do more than 50 cases at a time and usually closer to twenty.

 

[Richard Coody]

I find annealing helps with maintaining consistent neck tension.

Now as far as brass life for me I find even with my unanneal brass split necks are not a problem. My brass gets retired for loose primer pockets. Nothing annealing can do about that. I only use lapua brass. Don't know if that makes a difference.

 

[normmatzen]

Is the AMP worth the money? Yes, I think so, based on its research background and physics behind it.
I am an electronics engineer so I decided to design my own as I had experience designing state of the art switched mode power supplies. Well, I found working on it in retirement is different than getting paid for my design skills?! After blowing up a few power MOS transistors, I decided to buy an ANNIE!
I bought mine early in the manufacturing process and their design had a bunch of problems. But after Fluxeon replaced a couple ANNIEs for me, all was good. I maintained my patience as I was aware of the problems getting a new product into reliable production. the last few years ANNIE has been consistent and effective
I agree, the AMP is the best annealer on the market, but, it is also the most expensive. When I start with a new case, I have to do some simple experimenting with Tempilaq 750 to find the optimum anneal time. That done, I can anneal 100 cases in about 30 minutes. And I have not destroyed ANY cases during anneal.
I do believe I made the correct choice as my ANNIE cost $440 and an AMP is over $1000, especially with some of the accessory software available. And I can anneal quicker than with an AMP (no insertion into case holder) and am money ahead! And, my ANNIE takes up very little space!

 

[joshb]

No! I “went crazy” and splurged on a used Benchsource. $450 and it works great! I like using it. Set up is easy.

 

[Drolds72]

My amp comes tomorrow. Planning on annealing cases with it, and shooting back to back groups with brass that was flame annealed with my ballistic edge 400.....

 

[Richard Coody]

My amp comes tomorrow. Planning on annealing cases with it, and shooting back to back groups with brass that was flame annealed with my ballistic edge 400.....

If you don't do a complete load development with your new annealing method you may be disappointed

 

[itchyTF]

There’s also the Gina/Eric induction annealer project. Lots of info on this site. I would say significantly less expensive than an AMP.

 

[D-4297]

To answer the posed question by the OP ; the answer is NO . It is not a essential piece of equipment . It is a highly desired , and useful piece of the reloaders toolbox . But not the only one out there . There are many less expensive , and better suited annealers for new reloaders that will do a more than adequate job of annealing your brass , for a whole lot lower cost . Bench-source , Anealeez , to name a couple. Guess you could say the AMP is the Cadillac of the bunch , but not the final word .
I've used a AMP and ran through 400 cases in just over two and a half hours . And they shot great , after finish-up prep . Spend more time on learning proper case prep , and all the other things concerning the reloading practice , and you'll be farther ahead in the long run . Learn the basic sequence of brass prep first . Then try to refine those procedures as you go along . There is no way to "BUY" low SD's . A AMP will help the process , but it is not the answer to the process . Miss just one step in the brass prep procedure , and your SD will go right out the window . Change primers , and your SD can change . Simply stated ; SD is much more than just a annealing machine .

 

[johara1]

Is the AMP worth the money? Yes, I think so, based on its research background and physics behind it.
I am an electronics engineer so I decided to design my own as I had experience designing state of the art switched mode power supplies. Well, I found working on it in retirement is different than getting paid for my design skills?! After blowing up a few power MOS transistors, I decided to buy an ANNIE!
I bought mine early in the manufacturing process and their design had a bunch of problems. But after Fluxeon replaced a couple ANNIEs for me, all was good. I maintained my patience as I was aware of the problems getting a new product into reliable production. the last few years ANNIE has been consistent and effective
I agree, the AMP is the best annealer on the market, but, it is also the most expensive. When I start with a new case, I have to do some simple experimenting with Tempilaq 750 to find the optimum anneal time. That done, I can anneal 100 cases in about 30 minutes. And I have not destroyed ANY cases during anneal.
I do believe I made the correct choice as my ANNIE cost $440 and an AMP is over $1000, especially with some of the accessory software available. And I can anneal quicker than with an AMP (no insertion into case holder) and am money ahead! And, my ANNIE takes up very little space!

Annealed is annealed weather it be done with gas or electric, so how could one be better? I went from a socket to a rotating annealer and wore it out and got a new one and my cases last for ever and neck tension is very uniform so now explain how 1000.00 plus electric one is better.? Kind of like Hornadays sales pitch for the Creedmoor or what ever it is...... jim

 

[rwj]

Annealed is annealed weather it be done with gas or electric, so how could one be better? I went from a socket to a rotating annealer and wore it out and got a new one and my cases last for ever and neck tension is very uniform so now explain how 1000.00 plus electric one is better.? Kind of like Hornadays sales pitch for the Creedmoor or what ever it is...... jim

Definitely use the method that provides the results you desire! I too am using open flame annealing, but admit that I’m finding AMP’s documented metallurgical test results and automatic control compelling. Combine this with recently moving into a home lacking a convenient/safe place for an open flame, and induction has become a very attractive option.

Whether it’s worth the price is a personal decision complicated by not knowing if my shooting skills will mask any accuracy benefits!