Question for Starline brass users

[SBfan]

I just picked up some 222 Starline brass and I'm curious as to if the brass has been annealed. None of the shells has the usual heat stain from being annealed. Does Starline tumble their brass after annealing which would remove the stain, If the brass hasn't been annealed that's not a problem as I will do it. Just trying to save a step if it isn't necessary.

 

[OLeveraction]

I have been told by Starline that they do not anneal their 38-55 nor 45-70 brass.
So....

 

[jepp2]

None of the shells has the usual heat stain from being annealed.

Most if not all rifle brass manufacturers anneal the brass cases several times during the manufacturing process to maintain the proper hardness of the brass to allow for additional drawing steps.

When you see brass that does not show the heat stain marks, it doesn't mean the brass hasn't been annealed after final forming, it just means they polished the cases to remove lube and make the look nice.

You can be sure the Starline brass you receive does not need you to anneal it.

 

[dusterdave173]

Necks were snug out of the box on my 223

 

[alf]

Doesn't hurt to anneal it right out of the box......

 

[cdgaydos]

From my experience and understanding with/of Starline 223 brass, it is annealed before a final polish. It is also coated with a preservative which preserves the shine and helps with initial processing and/or chambering. They do recommend running it through an expander mandrel before loading to straighten any neck issues from shipping AND to remove the coating from the necks… which they say may affect neck tension… they also say that the coating can be completely removed by tumbling.

In my experience, a quick pass over the expander button has been adequate for the initial loading. Sometimes I use some dry graphite I’m the necks before seating (on the first loading).

In my experience, it does not require additional annealing.

I’ve cycled through 2500 so far and have not found an issue yet.

 

[William Vogel]

I have new 223 and 308 Starline brass in bags. It’s shiny polished and the necks are dented. I’m definitely going to anneal it, run it through my bushing die and then run the mandrel through the necks. If your interest is in only fire forming it, load it up and shoot it. I prefer to process my brass before I ever fire it. I like to think I’m making every shot count.

 

[DirtySteve]

If you buy it straight from Starline it will come with a slip of paper stating to anneal it if you are using it in Black Powder loads. I think they do not anneal it after the final step in manufacturing. Brass is annealed after each step in the forming process according to the folks that made the machines used at the Lake City Plant. I did looking around a while back trying to see how much setting up a manufacturing cell would be.

 

[pilediver]

I anneal all my Starline 223 before the first firing, the fireforming load seems to be as accurate as the remaining firings that way.

 

[Dgd6mm]

I have never annealed new brass before its first firing. I have a question, how many firings am I cheating myself out of?

 

[TTE]

If you have an 'annealing machine' set it up and run em' ............ can't hurt

 

[SBfan]

Thanks for all the good info.

 

[Bill Norris]

I am using Starline in one of my 260AIs with good results. Several firings on some of it and it acts a lot like Lapua. Primer pockets are still tight and neck tension seems consistent. I do not anneal my brass.