When to anneal

[Straightshooter1]

I’ll probably get roasted for saying that I haven’t annealed a case in at least five years, I’ve never tumbled a case and I don’t record any noticeable spring back. Maybe I’m doing something wrong IDK i don’t seem to follow the crowd but I hold my own at one of the toughest LR venue’s in the country and when I do get my butt handed to me I don’t consider it lost on annealing. In all fairness there are some thoughts and discussions of annealing moving forward but certainly not every time.

Jim

. . . and you're using factory retail guns.

 

[Rat Rifle]

I've set off a live primer when annealing a 223 once. It didn't pop like I expected, just burned with a little orange flame for about a half second.

Sounds like a good reason to clean primer pockets.

 

[jimmymac]

When these annealing questions come up it would be helpful to know what the end goal is and what type of shooting is being done.

 

[LVLAaron]

View attachment 1569806

Yes, you understand me perfectly.

 

[boltfluter]

I don't anneal and have no plans to start. The consistency when seating a bullet is very important from an accuracy standpoint. Once this relationship is messed up it is very hard to find a fix. I am not really convinced most are really annealing correctly to realize any gains and in reality may be losing ground. All this work some are doing makes me tired at the thought of it. Flame suit on!! Lol.
Paul

 

[Bottom Fodder]

I’ve seen people spend way more time annealing than time in the winners circle and know people that don’t anneal and almost all way in the winners circle.
I only anneal on nights of a full moon and I feel like it gives my brass some some mystical powers. Never seen anything post here that everyone was in agreement on. Do any and all in any order YOU chose if it makes you happy do it like most things do what works for YOU

 

[quest450]

IMO using a quality annealer like the AMP reduces neck tension inconsistencies and variables, turning necks on a precission tool like the AutoDOD helps keeping the neck wall thickness within .0005" which further reduces variations in seating force keeping your match grade ammo consistent and uniform BUT that's a LOT of money invested in high end tools and not everyone is willing or able to spend that kinda coin, if you wanna compete at the highest level that's definitely something to consider, then again I do know top shooters who don't bother with any of it and do well so whatever floats your boat I guess.

here's a pic of 200 rounds prepped for a match about 15psi spread in seating force

 

[SecondsCount]

IMO using a quality annealer like the AMP reduces neck tension inconsistencies and variables, turning necks on a precission tool like the AutoDOD helps keeping the neck wall thickness within .0005" which further reduces variations in seating force keeping your match grade ammo consistent and uniform BUT that's a LOT of money invested in high end tools and not everyone is willing or able to spend that kinda coin, if you wanna compete at the highest level that's definitely something to consider, then again I do know top shooters who don't bother with any of it and do well so whatever floats your boat I guess.

here's a pic of 200 rounds prepped for a match about 15psi spread in seating force

View attachment 1569866

How did you do at the match?

 

[powderbrake]

I Tumble in corncob, then anneal, full length size in a bushing die after wiping on some imperial die lube with my fingers, wipe off the lube with a rag, trim and chamfer in a Giraud, clean primer pockets (I don't deprime first because corncob gets stuck in the small primer hole on 6BR), add dry lube inside necks, Mandrel inside necks, seat primers, add powder (V3 & Autotrickler), seat bullet with Wilson micrometer seater die.

 

[drop_point]

Making a decision on whether or not to anneal based on what somebody winning does and what somebody that isn't winning does is a logical fallacy. That decision tree ignores skill-level and who wins and who does not has no bearing on whether annealing does or does not improve consistency.

People used to win with much more primitive equipment, optics, and bullets.

Choose what to do based on data. This is something that can be measured.

 

[Webster]

So with all the great and not so great info on the net. When do you anneal in your process. Primal rights vid shows to anneal before any other process. Right after you fire them. Other's do it after they deprime and clean. i don't get turning the brass red hot and burning the carbon on or into the brass. Same for Keith Glasscock.

Always anneal before sizing. If you don't get the brass color red for a second or two you are not annealing. You might be stress relieving.

 

[quest450]

How did you do at the match?

Did really well in IBS 600 yard two weekend match, that was a BRA load I shot last year on my trip to St.Louis and Memphis
Won 2gun both days in BRRC St.Louis with eight target agg of 1.793"
and won 2gun both days in Memphis with eight target agg of 2.107"

 

[misser]

The great lengths people go to avoid simply tumbling off lube in corn media for 30 min.

right ,not like they have to stand there watching it

 

[Straightshooter1]

IMO using a quality annealer like the AMP reduces neck tension inconsistencies and variables, turning necks on a precission tool like the AutoDOD helps keeping the neck wall thickness within .0005" which further reduces variations in seating force keeping your match grade ammo consistent and uniform BUT that's a LOT of money invested in high end tools and not everyone is willing or able to spend that kinda coin, if you wanna compete at the highest level that's definitely something to consider, then again I do know top shooters who don't bother with any of it and do well so whatever floats your boat I guess.

here's a pic of 200 rounds prepped for a match about 15psi spread in seating force

View attachment 1569866

That really consistent! About the only variation that stands out to me is the starting points of the pressure due to variation in case trim length. And that's not all that much either, as best I can tell???

 

[misser]

I have absolutely nothing against annealing, nor would I discourage anyone from annealing, I just haven’t figured out how I’m going to go about it yet.
Jim

check out burstfire its not just a torch . for any that do have the burstfire there is a trade in deal going on for a few more days

 

[misser]

Wet tumble gives you a really clean/sticky surface, so I have to treat the insides of the necks with Neolube. If I didn't clean, or did a vibe tumble, I could skip some steps, I think.

i dont understand '' clean/sticky surface''

 

[LVLAaron]

i dont understand '' clean/sticky surface''

Torque a barrel rifle on without any lube, and you'll understand perfectly.

 

[misser]

Torque a barrel rifle on without any lube, and you'll understand perfectly.

wrong answer ,,try again

 

[quest450]

That really consistent! About the only variation that stands out to me is the starting points of the pressure due to variation in case trim length. And that's not all that much either, as best I can tell???

yeah it does look kinda fat but after zooming in there's .020" difference in 200 cases 0.155 - 0.175" I do trim my brass every time I squeeze it and all cases are within a 0.001" using a Giraud trimmer, I'd like to have a single line on the graph but that's just not gonna happen
My point was that annealing and consistent neck prep ( I do not clean my brass.....outside only ) does make difference on paper IMO, every single minute detail does make a difference if you trying to shoot small consistently, some ppl are not willing to go the extra mile, don't have equipment capable or do not think it matters so..... to each their own.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

IMO using a quality annealer like the AMP reduces neck tension inconsistencies and variables, turning necks on a precission tool like the AutoDOD helps keeping the neck wall thickness within .0005" which further reduces variations in seating force keeping your match grade ammo consistent and uniform BUT that's a LOT of money invested in high end tools and not everyone is willing or able to spend that kinda coin, if you wanna compete at the highest level that's definitely something to consider, then again I do know top shooters who don't bother with any of it and do well so whatever floats your boat I guess.

here's a pic of 200 rounds prepped for a match about 15psi spread in seating force

View attachment 1569866

15psi es for 200 is as good as it gets.