When to anneal?

[gilream]

I like to anneal my cases at least every other loading. After ultra sonic cleaning I usually anneal, then procede with the case resizing steps. However, after cleaning my 7 mag and .243 cases yesterday I neglected to anneal (senior moment I suppose) and jumped right into neck sizing and bumping case shoulders.

Would it be counter productive at this point to anneal? Would annealing change the case, shoulder, neck dimensions? A little advice needed here.

 

[SmokinJoe]

If you anneal now, I would recommend running the brass back through the resizing step before loading.

 

[MrMajestic]

Would it be counter productive at this point to anneal? IMO yes unless you are willing to resize again.

Would annealing change the case, shoulder, neck dimensions? My experience is that it has effected neck tension which I found unacceptable. See above.

 

[johara1]

Open the necks up with an expander then anneal. I anneal every time for uniformity, i don't use a case cleaner any more...... jim

 

[BoydAllen]

Without having to commit to bullet seating to judge your cases' uniformity, another way that you might use is to use one of the caliper attachments to take a look at how uniform your shoulder bump is. It has been my experience that cases that vary much in hardness show more variation in shoulder bump than those that have been freshly annealed. If your bump looks uniform, I would guess that your seating force will be too.

 

[Terry]

What are you loading for, Matches, hunting?

 

[gilream]

Thanks to all for the comments.

Boyd...I will proceed with loading these cases and anneal next time around because the shoulder bump readings that I am getting are very, very consistent. I have been reading this forum and working diligently on my annealing and shoulder bump technique for some time now and have come a very long way thanks to your guidance and several others here. The lot in question is 20 cases Norma, 7MM Remington Magnum brass that I have turned the necks 90%, use the Redding FL/Bushing die and have fired them 5 times. After yesterday’s shoulder bump operation all 20 cases were within .001” and ½ of them were exactly at my target length (2.1145 measured with the Hornady/Stoney Point head space gauge that attaches to the caliper) which is a .001 reduction from the average fired head space reading for the entire lot of cases. I have made great strides in consistency in the last 6 months or so. I have also been giving my best effort while working up loads at the range, using wind flags each and every time, trying to shoot all groups during the same condition etc. I have two pinwheel type flags with a ribbon streamer. I place one at 25 yards and one at about 80 yards. Man, this stuff is fun and thanks again to all for your comments.

I load for hunting and target shooting.
…Mike

 

[BoydAllen]

;D

 

[SmokinJoe]

I will add just a bit more. Checking the shoulder bump consistency is a very good idea (shoulda said that myself because I too do that occaisionally). Something that you should work through is to determine the optimum number of firings between annealing. Just do what you have already done this time & keep extending the cycle until you start finding the bump to be inconsistent. Since you are using Norma brass, it may take 5 or so firing cycles before annealing is required. I guess it doesn't hurt to anneal every other time, but it is a significant amount of work that could be avoided. My goals in shooting have always been to find the least that could be done to maintain my standards in all aspects of shooting & reloading which would include minimal brass prep & minimal barrel cleaning.

 

[DennisH]

I anneal after 3 firings on the brass.

Open the necks up with an expander then anneal. I anneal every time for uniformity, i don't use a case cleaner any more...... jim

Jim, you state you don't use a case cleaner any more . . . . what do you use to clean your brass?

 

[jeepcj6]

sorry for a stupid question is it necessary to anneal
and sonic clean I newer do have been shootin for
some years an done well also in competition :-[

 

[BoydAllen]

A lot of the 1,000 yard benchrest competitors anneal because it gives them more consistent velocities, which reduces vertical in their groups. As far as sonic cleaning goes, I have never seen where it had any effect on accuracy, although admittedly, I do not use it. I think some guys just like shiny and clean regardless. Personally, I am of the opinion that necks should not have all of the powder fouling removed (from the inside), because it helps keep bullet seating force more consistent.

On the varmint side, a friend was having issues with inconsistent seating force, when loading for his .223 and .22-250. After annealing (not a full anneal, but something that preserves neck tension) his bullet seating force became much more uniform, and his average accuracy improved noticeably.

I mostly shoot a tight necked 6PPC and for that, with 133, I need all the neck tension that I can get with necks that are only about .008 thick, so I address the issue by shooting cases in rotation, so that they have the same number of firings, and by sorting, according to the force it takes to seat bullets.

 

[jeepcj6]

OK one more thing to learn
and one more way to spend cash
it newer ends

 

[A j shooter]

It's never ending. But that's ok it's what I love to do . You don't have to spend hardly no money to anneal cases . Al you need is a touch drill and a timer . Kinda simple. You don't have to buy all high end stuff to start . Maybe later on when you can afford it. Thats what I do.