Which is the best for annealing

[Franky53]

Hi,
I will start annealing and I would like to know which system is the best. The propane one with torch, induction one like AMP and the salt one.
What I read torch or fire is the less one, but for the induction and salt one I don't know. Some said induction is best but have some problem and other said it was salt the best.
Can you help me to know except the price because one cost 1500,00 Canadian and the other one cost 100,00 Canadian so big difference.
Which one is the best and most important why?

 

[#40Fan]

I have a salt bath and just got done making an induction annealing machine.

Salt bath is stupid easy and made even easier putting it together with a PID temp controller. Make (or buy) different caliber cartridge holders if you need them and anneal away.

The induction machine, even though slightly technical to put together if you don't have any electrical experience, works great and probably the greatest thing, less messy. Plus, it is a plug in and go thing. Don't need to wait for the salt to get to temp which takes about 20 minutes in my Lee pot.

I'll keep my salt bath for .50 BMG for the meantime, unless I can figure out how to get it to work properly with the induction machine, which I am sure I will be able too. Nice how-to on making the induction machine on this forum. If for some reason you don't see it on the first page of this forum when you come back, search for the GinaErick.

 

[Preacher]

For ease of use the AMP is the one, no matter the price...
Slickest thing ever....

 

[watercam]

If price is no issue the AMP is the go-to unit. If it is too pricey, I have been using propane for years with zero problems (aside from running out of gas when I am not diligent).

 

[JimPag]

No doubt whatsoever the AMP is THE way to go.

 

[Texas10]

About a hundred fifty US dollars for the Salt Bath set up, including extra salt, voltmeter, temp probe, baffle/shell holder and lead pot.
Very fast to use, very consistent anneal, very dangerous if you spill. I prefer it to the propane torch method for it's accuracy and consistency.

 

[Richard Coody]

AMP

 

[Fotheringill]

Wife will not let me play with a propane torch in the basement. Silly woman.

Not willing to blow for the AMP, I got an Annie and am happy so far after over a year.

 

[carlsbad]

Last night I annealed 120 cases in my living room while watching TV in 20 minutes using AMP.

 

[jepp2]

I will start annealing and I would like to know which system is the best

I don't have an AMP, but there is no doubt in my mind that is best. But, I couldn't justify the extra expense over using propane. I used a $25 setup successfully for years. Then I splurged (at least for me) and bought a Mike's Reloading Bench annealing machine. It is nice, but I can't say it does it any better than I did with my $25 two torch setup. If done properly, I think any of the three can do the job successfully.

 

[Webster]

If price is no issue the AMP is the go-to unit. If it is too pricey, I have been using propane for years with zero problems (aside from running out of gas when I am not diligent).

I have been using a torch for years. Simple cheap and it works. Already had the torch. 0 dollars. Hard to prove an induction annealer is any better. Varmint hunting rifle groups always under .350". Short range serious BR shooters throw their cases away after about 8 firings.

 

[dcali]

An induction machine will give you a more consistent and controllable anneal than a torch. Whether or not you need that (or to anneal at all) is debatable.

 

[JimPag]

I have been using a torch for years. Simple cheap and it works. Already had the torch. 0 dollars. Hard to prove an induction annealer is any better. Varmint hunting rifle groups always under .350". Short range serious BR shooters throw their cases away after about 8 firings.

Well take it from this serious SR benchrest shooter, I don't throw my cases away after about 8 firings. Hell they are just starting to get broken in at that point. Half the guy's that I shoot against load at the range. They take about 25 cases that they use over and over again and have triple the amount of firings that you say should be thrown away. I just don't see what you are saying. Read Smokin' Joe's 30BR case prep article. He said that he used the same brass for a barrel that had 7400 rounds thru it.

 

[Gina1]

If your handy and have some electronic skills, try building the GinaErick induction annealer. Cost for the basic unit is about $350.00. Since the post on building it was published last year (August), many members from this web site have built theirs, others from oversea's also. So far there have been over 71,000 views on that post. Other builders have add improvements and up grades. It does a great job of precise and consistent annealing
Check it out..

http://forum.accurateshooter.com/threads/induction-brass-annealer-redux.3908353/

 

[KevinThomas]

I have been using a torch for years. Simple cheap and it works. Already had the torch. 0 dollars. Hard to prove an induction annealer is any better. Varmint hunting rifle groups always under .350". Short range serious BR shooters throw their cases away after about 8 firings.

That's funny, most that I know, including a couple of Hall of Fame inductees, routinely get 45-50 firings on their cases before they even THINK about retiring them.

 

[Webster]

Well take it from this serious SR benchrest shooter, I don't throw my cases away after about 8 firings. Hell they are just starting to get broken in at that point. Half the guy's that I shoot against load at the range. They take about 25 cases that they use over and over again and have triple the amount of firings that you say should be thrown away. I just don't see what you are saying. Read Smokin' Joe's 30BR case prep article. He said that he used the same brass for a barrel that had 7400 rounds thru it.

I stand corrected. I thought 8 firings was in Tony Boyers book. He says 20 cases 400 firings. Twenty times each.

 

[done111]

I have a salt bath and just got done making an induction annealing machine.

Salt bath is stupid easy and made even easier putting it together with a PID temp controller. Make (or buy) different caliber cartridge holders if you need them and anneal away.

The induction machine, even though slightly technical to put together if you don't have any electrical experience, works great and probably the greatest thing, less messy. Plus, it is a plug in and go thing. Don't need to wait for the salt to get to temp which takes about 20 minutes in my Lee pot.

I'll keep my salt bath for .50 BMG for the meantime, unless I can figure out how to get it to work properly with the induction machine, which I am sure I will be able too. Nice how-to on making the induction machine on this forum. If for some reason you don't see it on the first page of this forum when you come back, search for the GinaErick.

Can you expand a little on the temperature controller. How is it done.....what do you buy?

 

[DRNewcomb]

You have to define "best". Most accurate? Safest? Most cost-effective? Most flexible?

 

[JimSC]

I am using an Anealeeze modified with a $10 PWM speed control which has a digital readout for repeatability. I get consistent ES's and SD's in the single digits and have well over 25 firings on some .308 Palma brass with no neck issues. Cost of the Anealeeze modded was about $300 but after reading Bryan Litz's Modern Advancements in Long Range Shooting Vol 2 I am wondering if even that was too much to invest. He is doing more research on the subject for Vol 3 but until it is released and testing shows some positive benefits I would not drop a whole lot of money on a machine. Shooters got by for years using nothing more than a torch, a socket and a drill and consistently shot in the 1's and had brass life in the double digits

 

[#40Fan]

Can you expand a little on the temperature controller. How is it done.....what do you buy?

Mypin TA4-SNR, a SSR and a K Thermocouple. All off of Amazon.

I made the mistake of buying a TA4-RNR, but was easily able to convert it to a SNR with a little desoldering/soldering.

Johnny's Reloading Bench on YouTube has a video of one he made to control a Lee casting pot for lead molds. My version is immensely simplified with just the three items mentioned, a box made from scrap wood, some scrap wiring and a spare computer power cord.