When to anneal?
- Thread starter DDRanch
- Start date
When you anneal properly, it makes the brass softer and reduces the amount of springback. Therefore, for consistent shoulder bumps, annealing should be done before sizing. Keep in mind an abrasive oxidation layer is left on the surfaces (inside and out), which should be cleaned off before sizing to also help with getting good consistency.
6.5 forever
Silver $$ Contributor
I agree shooter13
coldboreshot
Silver $$ Contributor
The 3 B's in reloading...
- Anneal BEFORE resizing.
- Double check which powder your using BEFORE you throw.
- Check your finances BEFORE you load up on components.
The last two will definitely get you in trouble, one way or another.
- Anneal BEFORE resizing.
- Double check which powder your using BEFORE you throw.
- Check your finances BEFORE you load up on components.
The last two will definitely get you in trouble, one way or another.
So if you only anneal after, say, 3 - 5 firings, would it make a difference?
I tried to get away from annealing, but found that heavy bolt lift started and fired case would not chamber. So went back to annealing. I've faithfully annealed for years, but decided one day that I will try and get away from it. I will anneal all the time.
Clancy
Silver $$ Contributor
bozo699
Gold $$ Contributor
Consistency is the key to accuracy, either anneal every time or not at all
Wayne
bozo699
Gold $$ Contributor
DDRanch,
Anneal before sizing and do it each cycle for the life of the brass. After I started annealing my sd/es went down and my 1000 yard groups got smaller. But remember not any one thing makes a winner it’s a combination to many things we do, trial and error and use what works and discard the ones that don’t
Wayne
Anneal before sizing and do it each cycle for the life of the brass. After I started annealing my sd/es went down and my 1000 yard groups got smaller. But remember not any one thing makes a winner it’s a combination to many things we do, trial and error and use what works and discard the ones that don’t
Wayne
It depends on what "difference" one is talking about. A lot will depend on just how much the cycle of firing and sizing is moving the brass. Take a factory barrel and a standard sizing die and you'll have a lot of movement with each cycle where just a couple of cycles without annealing will result in quite a bit of spring back due to the work hardening. Bases on my limited testing, where I've measured the hardness at different stages with annealing temperatures, going 5 firings is too much and 3 would be my limit. But that all still depends on what "differences" are important to you and the relationship of your sizing die with your chamber's configuration.
Clancy
Silver $$ Contributor
In regards to frequency… I’ve tried it every firing and found it unnecessary. It certainly won’t hurt though.
I will pick 3 random cases and size them. If the shoulder bump and neck measure what they do on annealed brass, I don’t anneal that cycle. If they don’t, I anneal. Generally every 3rd firing is enough.
I will pick 3 random cases and size them. If the shoulder bump and neck measure what they do on annealed brass, I don’t anneal that cycle. If they don’t, I anneal. Generally every 3rd firing is enough.
jnyfeler
Gold $$ Contributor
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