Let’s talk about annealing

Dcrafton

WKR
Joined
Aug 10, 2016
Messages
620
Location
Morgan utah
I’ve never annealed my case necks before,
Is it worth the cost of the machine,
What benefits are there??


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Huntin wv

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Dec 14, 2015
Messages
213
Location
West Virginia
I have always just used a propane soldering torch and a cordless drill. Use a socket or something in the drill that comes up just below the shoulder to keep from getting the case head heated. Spin the case in the drill with socket slowly with just the neck and shoulder in the tip of the flame. If you do it in low light, you can see the neck and shoulder start to turn blue/orange. When that color hits the shoulder dump it into a bucket of water. Annealing will soften up the metal in the neck/shoulder area that gets work hardened from reloading several times. It will keep your case necks from splitting and keep proper tension when seating bullets. It is important not to anneal the case head. It needs to be harder.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

robtattoo

WKR
Joined
Mar 22, 2014
Messages
3,294
Location
Tullahoma, TN
I have always just used a propane soldering torch and a cordless drill. Use a socket or something in the drill that comes up just below the shoulder to keep from getting the case head heated. Spin the case in the drill with socket slowly with just the neck and shoulder in the tip of the flame. If you do it in low light, you can see the neck and shoulder start to turn blue/orange. When that color hits the shoulder dump it into a bucket of water. Annealing will soften up the metal in the neck/shoulder area that gets work hardened from reloading several times. It will keep your case necks from splitting and keep proper tension when seating bullets. It is important not to anneal the case head. It needs to be harder.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yup, that's how I've always done mine.
 

Sled

WKR
Joined
Jun 11, 2018
Messages
2,148
Location
Utah
it goes fast the way that huntin wv described. the machine is great if you are doing huge batches but not necessary for the average reloader.
 

16Bore

WKR
Joined
Mar 31, 2014
Messages
3,020
Candle, hold the brass by the rim and rotate just off the flame. When it’s too hot to hold, your done.

So they say....I did it awhile and never noticed a thing. Then stopped bothering with it.
 

netman

WKR
Joined
Mar 30, 2018
Messages
764
Location
Indiana
I do exactly as Huntin WV. Key is lowlight. You need to see the brass change color.
 
Joined
Mar 6, 2013
Messages
3,034
I do the same thing with a drill and torch In the dark but use a Lee trimmer holder in the drill that holds the case rim.
 

Sekora

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Jun 4, 2017
Messages
291
I do mine with a torch and hold the case in my hand. When they get warm where I am holding they are done and get dipped in water. Annealing really does work to prolong case life and I have seen more consistent groups since I've been doing it. My 300wsm cases need annealed every 3rd firing or so. Its obvious when its time when resizing becomes a struggle.
 

cjl2010

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Jun 12, 2015
Messages
201
I use the machine from Annealeez. I run 3 cases through with tempilaq to get my speed set right and let em rip.
 

Baron85

WKR
Joined
Feb 23, 2019
Messages
348
I use the bench source machine. I noticed more consistent groups and easier resizing. To me it is worth it. I started with the hole in your fingers till hot method, then tried the drill and socket, I also tried a baking sheet with water and standing the cases upright to keep the head cool. I finally bought the bench source for the speed and consistency.

My precision rifles I buy 300-500 pieces of brass and load all at once and shoot till it’s almost gone then reload again, so I do pretty big batches at a time.
 

Vandy321

WKR
Joined
Feb 5, 2019
Messages
2,424
I send my cases to a professional. Charges $0.10 per case to deprime, Stainless tumble, and anneal. Worth it to me and he knows his s&$!

Could you post or PM me a contact for that service? That seems well worth it to me.

I've tried the propane torch method, but even in low light, I miss the color change before the case gets too hot to hold...I just seem to get a dark case neck, but never anything that shows a slight glow or color in low light.
 

Magnett

FNG
Joined
Jun 2, 2016
Messages
24
I send my cases to a professional. Charges $0.10 per case to deprime, Stainless tumble, and anneal. Worth it to me and he knows his s&$!
Hello Westex, I would be interested in contact information of your professional. I am sorry but, I don't believe I have enough posts to PM you directly. Thank you. Magnett
 

Scoony

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Oct 5, 2017
Messages
263
Location
Ky
I have a friend that has an Annealeez and anneals my brass for me. Is there a downside to annealing brass for every reload? does it weaken the brass in anyway?
 

dbransco

FNG
Joined
Nov 22, 2019
Messages
13
I believe a machine is very important for more consistent results. Just depends on the accuracy and consistency you are attempting to maintain. If you merely guess you may very well just be wasting your time either under Annealing or over annealing.
 

tdot

WKR
Joined
Aug 18, 2014
Messages
1,888
Location
BC
I picked up the Annie Induction Annealer. Consistent, fast to set up, once I have my settings recorded I just punch them in and go. No variance from a propane bottle running low, or fumes (I have a small reloading room)

Totally worth it to me. I buy 100-200 pieces of high end brass and expect a minimum of 15 reloads from them, probably more. I've lost count on some of the 308 Lapua reloads.
 

WestexSBK

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Nov 25, 2018
Messages
154
@Magnett @Vandy321 here is contact info for the guy I use. I also know another guy off of AccurateShooter that lets his child anneal cases for $20 per 100. He obviously supervises her and does all the setup but it teaches her responsibility and hard work. Goodluck

724CABE5-18CB-49B4-B3A4-380D1541AB51.png
 
Joined
Dec 30, 2014
Messages
8,184
I have a friend that has an Annealeez and anneals my brass for me. Is there a downside to annealing brass for every reload? does it weaken the brass in anyway?

As long as you are not over-annealing I.E. over heating or annealing too far down the case towards the case head, there is no downside.
 

Jon Pynch

FNG
Joined
Jul 23, 2012
Messages
65
Location
Oregon
annealing is great. it helps with consistent shoulder bumps and neck tension, and in turn consistent bullet seating I run a giraud and an amp annealer depending on what im working on. You don't need to do it every firing, but i have and it doesn't hurt .
 

Marble

WKR
Joined
May 29, 2019
Messages
3,219
I do the torch method described above. If you do it in the dark, it's pretty obvious when it gets to the correct temp range. Goes from an orange to a white color in darkness. I do it before I deprime and resize. Then I tumble, resize, check for trimming and go from there.
 
Top